Zuhair Murad agrees: His dress for Kristen Stewart was shocking

Zuhair Murad is the current winner of the celebrity dressing derby, and not just in France. He is especially popular with young Hollywood, his creations having appeared on Jennifer Lopez, Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Blake Lively, Marion Cotillard and Kristen Stewart -- the latter star having famously worn his nearly-nude number to the premiere of “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part 2” in Los Angeles in November.

“The dress was a good contrast with her personality,” Murad said in our conversation backstage at his spring-summer 2013 haute couture show in Paris on Thursday. “She’s rock ‘n’ rock with her attitude, her hair and her makeup. The long dress was very delicate, feminine,” and perhaps the transparency of the lace was “a little bit shocking.”

Judging from the sexy, feminine and dramatic styles in Murad’s spring-summer collection, it is no wonder his gowns are popular on the red carpet. Some were as golden as the Oscar statuettes. Many were overlaid with intricate patterns of lace; others trailed capes.

Murad said he was inspired by the sculpted bas reliefs and baroque frescos of the 17thcentury. Also inspiring was the venue: the gilded ballroom at the Paris Westin Place-Vendome, where the great Yves Saint Laurent also held his haute couture shows.

French actress Melanie Doutey appeared at the show in one of the Lebanese designer’s daytime frocks. Singer Maya Diab appeared in a somewhat glitzier number: a slick gold brocade shorts set, edged in lace. “I wore this at my concert and Zuhair asked me to wear it to his show,” she said.

Stylist Frederique Lopez accompanied Douty.

“I discovered Zuhair Murad’s work about six months ago,” Lopez said. “Now I’m an admirer.”

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