Strong and standout, the Elie Saab Pre-Fall 2022 collection is for women who are sophisticated and always strikingly clad, with a distinct edge that brings vibrancy, liveliness and a ton of clever fun to their carefree everyday.

There is a lot of energy in this collection, which includes dressy day options, some made using menswear fabrics, which is unusual for this label. A beautiful cashmere coat is one standout. Still, it’s the couture-like touches that Saab brought to glamorous dresses that command most of the attention. The palette, which includes violet, fern green, brick red, and deep teal, among other shades, is sophisticated and rich, and the monochrome looks are as stunning as the elaborately worked ones. Besides the gradient beading and featherwork, the patterns and prints looked fussy.

“People want to be happy, want to be special,” said Saab, and they want that now. The most striking looks in this collection are also the most direct ones.