Photo: Dazl Production
It’s no secret that wearing the same outfit as another attendee at an event is not ideal, much less so when it’s the Vogue Ball of Arabia with coveted spots on the best-dressed list. However, despite our presenter Abla Fahita‘s best efforts to ensure co-host Jessica Kahawaty does not steal the spotlight from her on stage, the two showed up in strikingly similar ensembles to Jumeirah Mina A’Salam on December 15. On a call with Kahawaty ahead of the evening, the witty Egyptian asked her to “stay away from anything shiny,” opt for dull hues, and even go barefooted, but the two-time Ball of Arabia host, known for her impeccable sense of style, was clearly not one to back down.
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As it turned out, both emcees tapped Georges Hobeika for a sparkling and dreamy white creation in line with the Ball of Arabia dress code, and the Lebanese couturier certainly delivered. Speaking to Vogue Arabia ahead of her appearance, Kahawaty shared that the custom look had been inspired by Cher’s iconic naked dress. As Fahita joined the Lebanese model and philanthropist on stage, she quipped, “By the way, nice dress. I didn’t know they also made it in your size.”
It took the Georges Hobeika atelier three full days of embroidery and 300 hours of work to create both jumpsuits, which came with sheer silk tulle adorned with silver Swarovski sparkles, and feathers, while the sleeves featured Charleston fringes dazzling with crystal droplets. Repartee aside, Fahita and Kawahaty made for the perfect duo to co-host the 2022 Ball of Arabia, bringing equal parts style and sass to the special celebration. As for the question of ‘who wore it better?’ We’ll let you decide…
