Luxembourg

Designer Diaries – Elie Saab and the Luxembourg Royals

Note: For more information on the designer himself, see our first post on Elie Saab and His Royal Clientele.

When wedding bells peal, the Luxembourg royals reach for their Saab gowns. And why not? The designs work for them, and the distinctive Saab embellishment complements the old worlde persona of the Cour Grand-Ducale.

For the pre-marriage festivities of the heir, Hereditary Grand Duke Guilliame, to Stephanie de Lannoy, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa wore a gown decorated in Saab crystals from head to toe. Her new daughter-in-law followed suit, donning a grey Saab with a distinctive folded neckline. These are still two of my favorite appearance of Saab ever, and it’s a pity we don’t have better photos of them at the event.

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For the religious ceremony, the Hereditary Grand Duchess wore a Saab design that out-Saabed Saab. It contained 70 meters of silk crepe, 30 meters of satin organza, 50 meters of Chantilly lace, and 40 meters of Calais lace. The embellishments? Only 50,000 pearls, 80,000 crystals, and 10,000 meters of silver embroidery thread.

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When Claire Lademacher married Prince Felix of Luxembourg the following year, Saab once again popped up on the scene. Her dress was similar but very different in certain respects. The white dress is covered liberally with Chantilly lace embroidery – the primary design element – yet still contains the Saab quota of crystals, pearls, and silver thread.

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Go ahead and spam Saab bridal designs in the comments – royal or not! You know you want to!