Miss Havisham?

I cannot attest if Elie Saab has, or not taken Miss Havisham as an inspiration for his Spring 2011 Couture collection. Because the dresses here are all too pretty to be worn by this sad and horrible character in Charles Dickens' novel Great Expectation (1861). Aside from the waxwork and skeletal that she was, this collection cleverly builds across a palette of colours from fleshy pinks to black. Possibly to depict her demise from a young, hopeful bride-to-be to the jilted, bitter spinster whose last wish was to be forgiven. Well, the man who put Halle Berry in that sheer, burgandy embroidered dress 10 years ago, is well and truly forgiven now.

Elie Saab Spring 2011 Couture

Elie Saab Spring 2011 Couture

Elie Saab Spring 2011 Couture

Elie Saab Spring 2011 Couture

Elie Saab Spring 2011 Couture

Elie Saab Spring 2011 Couture

Elie Saab Spring 2011 Couture

Elie Saab Spring 2011 Couture

All images from style.com