2006 was Elissa’s breakout year and the beginning of her love affair with Christian Dior dresses. That same year, Christian Dior chose to collaborate with her — the first time the brand partnered with an Arab personality. Here, she is in a little black dress by Christian Dior, which she wore to the Christian Dior Fall 2006 show during Paris Fashion Week. She was personally invited to attend this show by the house of Dior, along with other notable celebrities such as Liv Tyler and Drew Barrymore. Later that evening, Elissa was photographed in the dress posing with designer John Galliano. Elissa also wore a Christian Dior dress and was styled by the brand for the video of the single Ayshalak directed by French director Fabrice Begotti. Christian Dior gowns and dresses epitomize French luxury and are known for their craftsmanship, structure, and detail.
At the 2005 World Music Awards, Elissa chose to wear a custom couture gown by Michael Kors. In an eggshell blue shade and with intricate Swarovski crystal embellishments, Elissa perfectly showcased the show-stopping gown from the designer, who is generally known for his clean lines and simple, wearable construction. The star made such an impact wearing the dress that it prompted Us Weekly magazine to run a reader poll comparing a photo of Elissa in the Spring-Summer 2005 dress to a photo of Jennifer Lopez wearing the same dress at the Shall We Dance premiere in New York. Elissa won the poll handily, beating Jennifer Lopez with 67% of the votes.
Elissa continues to wow at international music festivals, choosing to wear a silver-gold metallic Marchesa Resort 2009 collection gown for the 2010 World Music Awards. With a heavily embellished neckline and ruching details, Elissa lets the dress do all the talking by keeping accessories to a minimum and wearing dark eye makeup with a nude lip.
In 2011, Elissa attended designer Elie Saab’s Haute Couture show in Paris and the after-party to celebrate the launch of the perfume ‘Elie’. The singer chose a form-fitting cocktail sheath dress by Dolce&Gabbana Fall 2010 ready-to-wear collection with a striking rosebud print. The long-sleeved version of the dress has also been seen on celebrities such as Eva Herzigova and Kerry Washington.
Elissa is often spotted front row at Fashion Weeks and is known to wear dresses by Lebanese couture designers such as Zuhair Murad and Elie Saab. Here, spotted sitting with Chantal Thomas at the Elie Saab Haute Couture Fall 2012 show at Paris Fashion Week, she pairs a chic bodycon cocktail dress by Lanvin with satin peep-toe heels and a silver clutch for maximum impact with minimal effort.
Elissa isn’t always dressed to the nines in couture gowns. Here, she is spotted at a Cartier event wearing a simple but immaculately tailored asymmetrical pleated sheath dress by American luxury cashmere house, Magaschoni, paired with a necklace from Van Cleef & Arpels. Elissa also often chooses daytime wear by Tom Ford, whose flattering silhouettes and luxe fabrics have made him a choice for many celebrities.
No one makes sassier dresses than Gucci, and Elissa rocks this gold silk maxi dress at an event. The dress was seen on the Gucci Fall 2006 Ready-to-Wear show runway.
