Elie Saab: Crafting Dreams into Haute Couture

Elie Saab, a renowned fashion designer born on

July 4, 1964, in Beirut, Lebanon, has become a
symbol of elegance and luxury in the world of
haute couture. His journey from a modest
background to global acclaim is a tale of
dedication, creativity, and passion.

Growing up during Lebanon's turbulent times,

Saab found solace in sketching and designing
garments, nurturing a profound fascination for
beauty and craftsmanship. At just 18, he opened
his first atelier in Beirut, captivating local elites
with his impeccable attention to detail and
innate understanding of fabrics.

Elie Saab's breakthrough came in 2002 when Halle

Berry adorned one of his creations—a burgundy
gown—during the Academy Awards, earning him
international recognition. This defining moment
propelled his career to new heights, solidifying his
reputation as a master of red-carpet glamour.

Saab's design philosophy revolves around celebrating femininity and intricate

embellishments. His signature style blends intricate lacework, sumptuous
embroidery, and flowing silhouettes, creating ethereal and timeless pieces that
enchant women around the world. His gowns have graced celebrities, royalty,
and dignitaries, making him a go-to choice for special occasions.

Beyond his fashion empire, Elie Saab is also an ambassador for Lebanese
culture and heritage. His designs reflect the amalgamation of his Middle
Eastern roots and a global outlook, adding a unique touch to the world of
fashion.

Today, Elie Saab's legacy continues to flourish with bridal collections,

ready-to-wear lines, and fragrances, each a testament to his commitment to
excellence. From his humble beginnings to dressing the world's elite, Saab's
journey exemplifies the power of artistry, determination, and the pursuit of
one's dreams.

Vocabulary

Match the words from the text with their meanings below:

1. Renowned
2. Intricate
3. Ethereal
4. Amalgamation
5. Dignitaries
6. Solace
7. Unwavering
8. Elegance
9. Haute couture
10. Reputation

Meanings:

a. High-fashion clothing created by top designers.

b. Famous and well-known.
c. Delicate and detailed.
d. A feeling of comfort or relief.
e. Graceful beauty or sophistication.
f. A mixture or combination of different elements.
g. People of high rank or importance.
h. something that remains steady, constant, and resolute, often in the face of challenges,
difficulties, or doubts.
i. A widespread belief or opinion about someone or something.
j. Extremely delicate, light, and airy.

Write true and false. Correct the false ones.

1. Elie Saab started his fashion career in Paris.

2. Elie Saab's designs focus on bold patterns and geometric shapes.
3. Elie Saab was born in Beirut, Lebanon
4.Elie Saab's breakthrough came when he designed a gown for Queen Elizabeth II.
5. Elie Saab is primarily known for his minimalist and understated designs.
6. Halle Berry wore one of Elie Saab's designs at the Academy Awards in 2002.
Match the underlined words with their synonyms or antonyms from the given
options.

a. famous
b. commitment
c. complex
d. strengthening
e. Flowy
f. fusion
g. Opulence
h. illustrates

Intricate

Solidifying

Exemplifies

Renowned

Amalgamation

Dedication

Luxury

Ethereal

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words from the word bank below to
complete the sentences.

a. Elie Saab's ____________ for beauty and ____________ began at a young age.
b. His journey from a modest background to global ____________ is inspiring.
c. Despite the ____________ of his early years, Saab found comfort in designing
garments.
d. Saab's designs are known for their intricate ____________ and attention to detail.
e. He has a strong ____________ for celebrating femininity and creating timeless
pieces.
f. Saab's ____________ as a fashion designer continues to influence the industry.
g. His creations have adorned celebrities, royalty, and ____________ alike.
h. Saab's commitment to ____________ excellence is evident in his various
collections.
craftsmanship acclaim fascination

embellishments legacy pursuing dressing

turbulence dignataries
Questions:
1. What is Elie Saab known for in the fashion industry?
A. His use of bold colors
B. His affordable prices
C. His attention to detail and luxury
D. His casual and comfortable designs

2. What inspired Elie Saab to become a fashion designer?

A. His love of sketching
B. His desire for fame and fortune
C. His family's background in fashion
D. His interest in technology

3. When did Elie Saab gain international recognition?

A. In 1964 when he was born
B. In 1982 when he opened his first atelier
C. In 2002 when Halle Berry wore one of his gowns
D. In 2010 when he launched his fragrance line

4. What is Elie Saab's design philosophy?

A. To create masculine clothing
B. To celebrate femininity and intricate embellishments
C. To focus on functionality over style
D. To use only sustainable materials

5. Who has worn Elie Saab's gowns?

A. Only everyday people
B. Celebrities, royalty, and dignitaries
C. Only models on the runway
D. No one, as his designs are too expensive

6. What is Elie Saab's contribution to Lebanese culture?

A. He has designed traditional clothing for the government
B. He has created a museum showcasing Lebanese fashion history
C. He has used his designs to reflect his Middle Eastern roots
D. He has written books about Lebanese fashion

7. What is the legacy of Elie Saab?

A. He is known for his affordable clothing lines
B. He is no longer relevant in the fashion industry
C. He has only designed bridal collections
D. He exemplifies the power of artistry, determination, and the pursuit of one's dreams.
nurturing, timeless, solace, embellishments, gown, heritage, signature, luxury, revolves,
craftsmanship, go-to, artistry, embroidery, acclaim, propelled, fabrics, background, innate,
pursuit, flourish

Elie Saab, a renowned fashion designer born on July 4, 1964, in Beirut, Lebanon, has
become a symbol of elegance and _____(1) in the world of haute couture. His journey from
a modest _____(2) to global _____(3) is a tale of dedication, creativity, and passion.Growing
up during Lebanon's turbulent times, Saab found _____(4) in sketching and designing
garments, _____(5) a profound fascination for beauty and _____(6). At just 18, he opened
his first atelier in Beirut, captivating local elites with his impeccable attention to detail and
_____(7) understanding of _____(8).
Elie Saab's breakthrough came in 2002 when Halle Berry adorned one of his creations—a
burgundy _____(9)—during the Academy Awards, earning him international recognition.
This defining moment _____(10) his career to new heights, solidifying his reputation as a
master of red-carpet glamour.Saab's design philosophy _____(11) around celebrating
femininity and intricate _____(12). His _____(13) style blends intricate lacework, sumptuous
_____(14), and flowing silhouettes, creating ethereal and _____(15) pieces that enchant
women around the world. His gowns have graced celebrities, royalty, and dignitaries, making
him a _____(16) choice for special occasions.Beyond his fashion empire, Elie Saab is also
an ambassador for Lebanese culture and _____(17). His designs reflect the amalgamation
of his Middle Eastern roots and a global outlook, adding a unique touch to the world of
fashion.Today, Elie Saab's legacy continues to _____(18) with bridal collections,
ready-to-wear lines, and fragrances, each a testament to his commitment to excellence.
From his humble beginnings to dressing the world's elite, Saab's journey exemplifies the
power of _____(19), determination, and the _____(20) of one's dreams.

Correct answers:
1. luxury
2. background
3. acclaim
4. solace
5. nurturing
6. craftsmanship
7. innate
8. fabrics
9. gown
10. propelled
11. revolves
12. embellishments
13. signature
14. embroidery
15. timeless
16. go-to
17. heritage
18. flourish
19. artistry
20. pursuit
Questions:

1. Who is Elie Saab and what is his background?

2. How did Elie Saab get interested in fashion design, and what inspired him to pursue it as
a career?
3. What was the defining moment in Elie Saab's career, and how did it impact his reputation?
4. What is Elie Saab's design philosophy, and how does he create his signature style?
7. What types of collections does Elie Saab offer beyond haute couture, and how do they
reflect his commitment to excellence?
10. What can we learn from Elie Saab's journey from a modest background to global
acclaim?

Choose the correct verb form (present perfect or past simple or present simple) to
complete the sentences.

a. Elie Saab, who ........................ (be) a renowned fashion designer, ………………..….

(have) a journey filled with dedication and passion.

b. Saab's design philosophy ………………..…. (revolve) around celebrating femininity and

creating intricate embellishments.

c. Halle Berry ……………… (adorn) one of Saab's creations at the Academy Awards, which
……………… (earn) him international recognition.

d. His gowns ……………… (grace) celebrities, royalty, and dignitaries, making him a go-to
choice for special occasions.

e. Elie Saab's legacy ……………… (continue) to flourish with bridal collections,

ready-to-wear lines, and fragrances.

f. Over the years, his commitment to excellence ……………… (become) evident in his
various collections.

g. Saab's journey……………… (exemplify) the power of artistry, determination, and the

pursuit of dreams.

h. The designer……………… (blend) intricate lacework, sumptuous embroidery, and flowing

silhouettes to create his signature style.
 The passive voice

The passive voice is a grammatical construction that emphasizes the action

done to the subject of the sentence, rather than the subject performing the
action. It's often used when the focus should be on the action itself or when
the doer of the action is unknown or less important.

To form the passive voice in English, you generally follow this structure:

Passive Voice = [Subject] + [auxiliary verb (be)] + [past participle (main

verb)] + [by + agent (optional)]

Here are some examples in different tenses:

**Present Simple:**
- Active Voice: They build houses.
- Passive Voice: Houses are built by them.

**Past Simple:**
- Active Voice: She wrote a book.
- Passive Voice: A book was written by her.

**Future Simple:**
- Active Voice: They will finish the project.
- Passive Voice: The project will be finished by them.

**Present Continuous:**
- Active Voice: He is painting the fence.
- Passive Voice: The fence is being painted by him.

Remember that not all sentences are suitable for the passive voice, and it's often used
when the focus is on the action or when the doer of the action is less important.
Here are some examples from the text using the passive voice:

1. **Original (Active Voice):** Elie Saab, a renowned fashion designer born on

July 4, 1964, in Beirut, Lebanon, has become a symbol of elegance and luxury
in the world of haute couture.

**Passive Voice:** Elegance and luxury in the world of haute couture have
been symbolized by Elie Saab, a renowned fashion designer born on July 4,
1964, in Beirut, Lebanon.

2. **Original (Active Voice):** His gowns have graced celebrities, royalty, and
dignitaries, making him a go-to choice for special occasions.

**Passive Voice:** Celebrities, royalty, and dignitaries have been adorned

by his gowns, making him a go-to choice for special occasions.

Now let’s turn these sentences from the active to the passive voice

1. Elie Saab's breakthrough in 2002 earned him international recognition

when Halle Berry adorned one of his creations during the Academy
Awards.

International recognition …………………………….. by Elie Saab in

2002 when one of his creations was adorned by Halle Berry during the
Academy Awards.

2. Saab's design philosophy blends intricate lacework, sumptuous

embroidery, and flowing silhouettes, creating ethereal and timeless
pieces that enchant women worldwide.

Intricate lacework, sumptuous embroidery, and flowing silhouettes

……………………………….. by Saab's design philosophy, creating
ethereal and timeless pieces that enchant women worldwide.

3. Elie Saab's designs reflect the amalgamation of his Middle Eastern

roots and a global outlook, adding a unique touch to the world of
fashion.
 The amalgamation of his Middle Eastern roots and a global outlook
……………………………… by Elie Saab's designs, adding a unique
touch to the world of fashion.

4. Elie Saab, a renowned fashion designer, opened his first atelier in Beirut
at just 18 years old.

His first atelier in Beirut …………………………….. by Elie Saab at just

18 years old.