Okay, here’s my blog post about recreating an Elie Saab Spring 2003 look:
So, I got totally sucked into this Elie Saab Spring 2003 collection. I mean, seriously, the flowy fabrics, the intricate beading… pure magic! I decided I had to try and recreate one of the looks, even if it was just for fun, you know?
Getting Started
First things first, I spent hours just staring at pictures from the show. I needed to pick a look that was achievable but still had that signature Saab wow factor. I ended up choosing a gorgeous, pale green dress with delicate embroidery and beading around the neckline and waist. It felt ambitious, but not totally impossible.
Sourcing Materials
This was the tricky part. I’m not exactly rolling in designer fabrics, haha. I headed to my local fabric store and spent a good couple of hours just feeling different materials. I was looking for something that had a similar drape and lightness to the original. I finally found a light green chiffon that seemed promising. It wasn’t perfect, but it was the closest I could get on a budget.
- I grabbed a bunch of different shades of green thread.
- I dug through boxes of beads and sequins, trying to find ones that matched the design.
- I also picked up some basic sewing supplies, like needles and pins.
The Sewing Process
Okay, I’m no professional seamstress, but I can handle a sewing machine. I started by sketching out a rough pattern based on the dress I saw in the pictures. I used some of my old dresses to guide the process.
Then, I cut the chiffon, which was terrifying, by the way. Chiffon is so slippery! I pinned everything together and started sewing very, very slowly. There were definitely some moments where I thought I’d completely messed it up, and used a lot of my seam ripper.
The Embroidery and Beading
I think it is the most time-consuming, it took about serval days.
This was the really fun, but also super tedious, part. I spent days hand-sewing the beads and sequins onto the neckline and waist. I followed the pattern from the original dress as closely as I could, but I definitely took some creative liberties here and there. Let’s just say, my version is “inspired by,” not an exact replica!
The Final Result
Honestly, I was pretty amazed at how it turned out! It’s definitely not perfect, and it wouldn’t hold up next to the real Elie Saab, but I was proud of myself for actually pulling it off. I tried it on, and it felt surprisingly glamorous. It was a fun project, and it definitely gave me a new appreciation for the work that goes into high fashion!
