Recognized for her signature feminine creations, 29-year-old Razan Alazzouni is a blossoming Al-Khobar based talent whose work is characterized by soft silhouettes, delicate embellishments, and feather-light layers of tulle. Alazzouni’s label manifests the art of classic cocktail dressing with a side of whimsy thrown in for good measure. During London Fashion Week, Style.com/Arabia headed to the Razan Alazzouni Fall 2016 showcase in Belgravia for a tête-à-tête with the designer.
“I love roses and referenced petals while creating movement in the layered fabric; all the embellishments have a floral theme in some way or another, which flows through to the line of accessories,” explains Alazzouni as she begins to take us through the Fall 2016 lineup. “There’s always a reference to old Hollywood glamour in my work, and I like to think of my creations as a rework of classic styles with a modern twist,” she adds.
Razan takes Style.com/Arabia through the Fall 2016 Collection LFW Showcase
Indeed, we discover a midnight blue tulle cocktail dress complete with powder blue sequin flowers, that one could picture on a young Grace Kelly in To Catch A Thief (1955).
However, Alazzouni goes on to explain that this Fall 2016 collection was actually designed for the working woman in mind, “Someone who likes to play with different textures and enjoys layering separates.” Illustrating her point, she plucks a work appropriate day dress off the rail and motions how adding a full organza swing skirt underneath can fashion an unexpected office-to-dinner outfit.
The addition of rigid tweed and jacquard fabrics make this collection a conscious departure from Alazzouni’s fanciful demi-couture. The Fall 2016 offering anchors her signature diaphanous organza and tulle pieces to create unexpected, harmonious pairings. Expect Bardot necklines layered under wrap-effect skirts and dresses, designed to highlight demure slices of skin. Referencing the color palette, Alazzouni explains, “We were lucky that burgundy and midnight blue were trending because they are favorite colors of mine.” A pale cornflower blue and coral helped create depth, while shots of metallic and warm nudes added a welcome brighter note.
A collaboration with Kopenhagen Fur saw the addition of mink to the Fall lineup
Moving through the collection, Alazzouni points to a secret detachable panel on a fur coat, which converts it into a luxurious, cropped jacket in a matter of seconds. More playfulness in the art of accessorizing came in the form of clip-on mink pockets that can transfer between tailored shorts to trousers and even onto a floor-length gown. “This is the first time we have used mink in a collection,” Alazzouni reveals. “In previous seasons we used fox, but we were selected for a collaboration with [Denmark-based] Kopenhagen Fur to come up with some unique designs.”
The collection also features a growing line of statement accessories with floral motifs including a pair of pearl-adorned high heels and a selection of head-turning ear baubles.
“Pearl diving is so much a part of our culture so, we used pearls set in gold.”—Razan Alazzouni
What’s next for Razan Alazzouni? A line of kaftans to benefit the Ataya Charity in May (part of the Emirates Red Crescent under the patronage of H.H. Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan Al Nahyan). “For me, it’s always important to design for a worthy cause,” she concludes.
