By Danah Garii, Lara Al Juhani and Dawn Wood

Bisat Al-Reeh is Ramadan’s biggest charity bazaar that gathers people together to celebrate fashion, style, food and other trinkets, whilst raising money for different charity organizations in the process. It is also a primary opportunity for local designers to showcase their products upon a popular pedestal.

This grand bazaar is held every year in Jeddah and is the perfect opportunity for Saudi businesswomen, business owners, charity organizations and other buyers to come together to celebrate Ramadan in style.

Since its initial launch back in 2000, Bisat Al-Reeh has become an extremely important social event in the Kingdom’s calendar and is renown for its elite attendees.

Some of the biggest names in the KSA attended this year, including the royal family. Princess Adelah bint Abdullah, President of the NHHCF Western Province, said the festival proves its success year after year by attracting women from within and outside the Kingdom:

“This festival adopts different welfare programs that aim to develop and build new health care centers, programs, initiatives and awareness campaigns. It also helps collect monthly food baskets that go to less fortunate which the foundation fosters.”

Emerging fashion designers like Razan Alazzouni, Nour Kelani, who collaborated with Sarah Basaad on Wardrobe Designs, and Mohammed Ashi of Ashi Studios all did not disappoint in the style stakes when they displayed their vibrant collections of contemporary thobes, kaftans, and abayas to the public. Many Saudi designers have now chosen to launch exclusive jalabiyas, turbans, and jewelry ranges in line with the Ramadan season.

Saudi women from many different circles were present at this prestigious social gathering, including coveted designers like Alanoud Badr, Founder and Designer of Lady Fozaza, greatly talked about bloggers like Mimi Yamani as well as trendy boutique owners.

A rare scene in the conservative Kingdom, models stood side-by-side their designers and interacted with attendees, all the while explaining this season’s must have trends and inspirations.

Many designers incorporated American vintage into their jalabiya designs, drawing inspiration from classic movie icons such as Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn. Colors, colors, colors and shimmer were everywhere! Jalabiyas in a range of different hues and shimmering finishes gave a royal essence to many of the designs on offer.

Among the highlights was Cream’s Dana Malhas, who co-designed an exclusive capsule collection of jalabiyas with a ‘top secret’ British designer, and these varied in length to suit all tastes. A fan favorite, the collection featured many other stand out pieces such as sophisticated ‘over the shoulder’ bags adorned with metallic studs, and floaty tunic-style dresses that had lots of intricate embroidered designs around their hems.

One designer displayed original pieces and fabulous heels that were truly one of kind – heels varied in design, from eccentric cheetah prints to different shades of neon brights and rich golds. Turkish and Lebanese accessories were also one of the biggest hits of the bazaar, with people buying them by the trunk load. Another jewelry designer from Lebanon used verses from the Quran as inspiration and transcribed the words onto elegant gold, rose gold and silver cuffs.

It was evident that the ladies shopping at Bisat Al-Reeh this year were all about three things… 1. Stunning hair  2. Voluminous lashes 3. Luxurious, statement bags.

Stylish from head to toe, they all wore their custom-made abayas from different parts of the Middle East (mainly Dubai) and most of them were seen wearing nude or black platforms by high-end designer brand, Celine. Another shocking fact was the sheer amount of women who had glimpses of botox. Hello younger looking skin, goodbye wrinkles! Botox has officially made its way to the KSA. ;)

Overall, the event this year was very well prepped and that infectious Ramadan feeling was all over the place! Jeddah’s biggest social event of the year sure lived up to everyone’s expectations, and so here’s hoping next year will be even more style-savvy!

Bionda Castana Shoes

Mishael Rajhi

Tima Abid

Shade and Shadow by Ghada AlMashadi

Ris Living