Reem Acra Fashion Designer Profile

Learn about the life, success and style of Lebanese fashion designer Reem Acra.

Host: Internationally renowned Lebanese fashion designer Reem Acra is known for her beautiful and luxurious bridal and formal gowns that have taken the world by storm. Now a designer to the stars, Acra began as an embroidery artist in New York. She received many prestigious awards while studying Design in both Paris at the Esmonde Ecole de Mode of Design and New York at the Fashion Institute of Technology. She shot to fame and gained international recognition when she began her own bridal gown company in the mid-1990s. And with her opulent fabrics and intricate beadwork, she began making some of the most beautiful bridal gowns in the business. Her classic designs transformed the wedding gown using the finest silks, complex beading and delicate embroidery. Her collections now include daywear and evening gowns which show her sense and passion for design incorporating traditional and classic with modern styles for today’s women. Reem Acra: The woman that loves luxury, the woman that knows how to lounge, a woman that is very confident, that’s very well-traveled and that just loves fashion in a very classical way. Host: Acra’s bridal evening and ready-to-wear collections are now carried in many retailers around the world including Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue as well as her own boutique. In 2007, her Spring/Summer Collection in New York was all about fusion as Acra mixed up her usual luxury evening gowns with glamorous daywear by incorporating favorite touches from her evening designs on to some of her traditional daytime pieces and vise versa. This technique was most obvious in outfit such as the metallic jersey tank head with a floral silk jacquard skirt in moonstone and the gown with pockets. Earthy, golden tones were given a chance to shine with her use of glazed linen satin and hand it dyed organza, georgette and chiffon and a couple of eye catching outfits in reds stood out from the natural hues. She put luxe to New York in 2008 with her Fall/Winter Collection with a palette that ran from purple to mustard gold. Dresses, skirts and jackets were adorned with feather, sequins and glitter and she explains that her collection was all about color. Fabrics used range from cashmere knits, felts and wool felts and according to Acra, there’s only one accessory these designs needed and that’s personal confidence. Recently, the designer was able to help celebrate the birthday of one of the world’s biggest icons with an over-the-top runway show. And her muse and new starlet to dress was none other than the blonde Queen of Plastic herself, Barbie. Joined on the runway by other designers such as Vera Wang and Tommy Hilfiger, Acra designed an elegant red gown for the show and was delighted to get involved with the celebrations due to her love for the doll that she’s had since she was a little girl. Reem Acra: Who would not dream of designing for Barbie? I got the call just not too long ago to design for Barbie and I was so excited like any woman would be. Host: However, this was not Acra’s first venture with the famous doll, in 2007, she designed Barbie’s bridal gown but making the pint-size dress was not a simple task as it featured her signature stunning embroidery and beading, making this satin wedding gown as romantic and elegant as any other. Actresses Alexis Dziena and Michelle Krusiec dawned Reem Acra gowns while attending film premiers and House Star Olivia Wilde looked graceful in her lavender gown. With her attention to detail, beaded embroideries and use of fabrics, Reem Acra has become one of the leading fashion designers for bridal and eveningwear with celebrities and brides all turning to have for that opulent design for that special occasion.