Note: I moved a few diaries around. We were going to do a throwback Swedish designer today, but since we’re doing a lot of history around here this week I thought we might want to take a look at some contemporary clothes instead.
Fadi el Khoury has made his name by designing for a large swath of Swedish upper-class women and ultimately becoming a great favorite of the Swedish royals. He is one of Sweden’s few couture artists and has honed a very specific style that is easy to spot once you know what to look for.
Is one of the Swedish royals wearing a delicate gown, elegantly embellished with lurex thread, glass beads or rosettes? Is it constructed of layers of light fabric like tulle or silk organza? Is it a light color or pastel? Is it frothy? It’s very likely you are looking at an el Khoury creation.
Crown Princess Victoria
One of the most memorable gowns el Khoury designed was this silk organza gown in greige, which was worn by Victoria for her sister’s wedding in 2013. Greige sounds like a terrible color, but the hand-colored double-sided silk organza is coupled with layers of hand-colored tulle in three shades, and the color holds interest as a result. The designer also incorporated silk threads, lurex threads, beads and Swarovski crystals so the whole effect is sparkle and flow.
In 2012, Victoria wore this el Khoury dress with shoulder detail for the opening of Stockholm Fashion week. Later in the year she removed the shoulder embellishment and added the coat (also by el Khoury) for the wedding of Guilliame and Stephanie in Luxembourg.
Princess Madeleine
Madeleine, with her exuberant, girly approach to evening wear, is a natural fit for this designer. In 2014, she wore this silk organza and Italian tulle gown to the Nobel ceremony. The color is greige rose, and the entire affair is hand embroidered with glass beads dyed in shades of taupe and burgundy.
The next year, at the 2015 Ceremony and banquet, Madeleine turned to the designer again, and debuted this grey, embellished gown. The dress has a high neckline, long, unlined sleeves and a row of buttons on the bodice.
For the 2016 Nobel ceremonies Madeleine went full el Khoury. This is the designer at his most fantastic, including the heavily embellished skirt (those are acres of flowers, my friends) and the soft pink top. Word was that they were working the fit of this gown up to the last minute.
Fadi el Khoury is known for his imagination, and on a personal level, as a very good guy. Word is that he has an excellent relationship with his clients, so if you are a fan of his designs, then there is a very good chance you will see them again on the Swedish royals.
Next week we take a look into the past, to the mother of Swedish haute couture.
