For the Fall 2014 Haute Couture collection by Elie Saab, the designer focused solely on red-carpet looks — cocktail dresses and ornate gowns, many featuring full skirts or trains, in pastel colors inspired by the reflections of the crystal chandeliers that served as a backdrop for the display.

Saab began with a cool palette of ice blue on a floor-length silk muslin dress embroidered with cabochons, sequins and pearls, the look draped with a matching fox fur stole. Next came variations on pink, copper, black, gray and white, often worked in dégradé on sequin-encrusted and Grecian dresses.

Tone-on-tone pearls were a key decorative element, whether scattered on a floaty midnight blue dress with butterfly sleeves or nestled amid sequins and stones on a pink and red silk tulle dress. The pearls worked best sprinkled on feather-light layered tulle, though it was hard to imagine how one would sit comfortably in these gowns.