Elie Saab pulled out all the stops and then some to celebrate the 45th anniversary of his eponymous brand in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The epic soirée, dubbed The 1001 Seasons of Elie Saab, was attended by 900 guests and featured 90 models in a 300-look fashion show—quite a tour de force performance.

The evening had the feeling of an Oscars night with local celebrities and influencers decked out in full glam walking a mile-long red carpet in a lavish venue built from scratch for the occasion.

Choreographed by Spanish dancer Blanca Li and styled by Carine Roitfeld, the show was a dazzling stream of haute couture creations radiating such shimmer, they could make Versailles’ Hall of Mirrors seem subdued.

Many gowns were crafted specifically for the occasion, while others were revived from the designer’s archives.

The lineup was quintessentially Saab, with goddess dresses galore dripping in feathers, sumptuous drapings, and, of course, an abundance of unapologetic glamour.
Unfolding in four thematic tableaux, the Broadway-style production was punctuated by live performances from an exuberant Jennifer Lopez, wearing a skimpy fringed bodysuit à la Liza Minnelli, and Camila Cabello, zingy in a sequined bustier minidress paired with matching thigh-high boots.

The spectacular celebration reached its peak with the dazzling appearance of Celine Dion.

Clad in a regal chiffon cape dripping with gold sequins over a matching body-hugging mermaid number, she brought the house down with goose-bumping renditions of “The Power of Love” and “I’m Alive.”