Assala's Outfits at the Damascus Concert: Golden Embroidery Meets the Damascene Sword

- The return of the Syrian artist Assala Nasri to singing in the Syrian capital Damascus, after nearly 15 years of absence, had a notable aspect in terms of fashion, as she appeared in two outfits designed by Lebanese designer Nicolas Jebran and Syrian designer Muthanna Haj Ali, both of whom are names associated with her previous experiences. In the first part of the concert, Assala wore a dress designed by Nicolas Jebran, which combined beige color with tulle fabric that wrapped around her body with draped cuts extending to the sleeves and chest area, before cascading into a massive skirt at the front and back, giving the design a shape closer to wedding dresses.

The golden embroideries were distributed across parts of the dress, adding shiny touches that enhanced its festive character. The details of the look did not stop at the dress, as Assala opted for a high bun hairstyle adorned with golden accessories that reflected the embroidery details, and these elements appeared in the form of earrings, creating a coordinated look between the dress, hairstyle, and jewelry.

In the second part of the concert, Assala chose a white dress designed by Muthanna Haj Ali, who had previously collaborated with her on several occasions, the latest being the work related to her Syrian album. Haj Ali explained in an interview with Afaq News in Arabic that the idea stemmed from an attempt to combine the classic and contemporary, incorporating elements inspired by Damascene heritage through the different details and sizes on which the design was built.

This is clearly evident in the upper part of the dress, where a prominent shape wraps around Assala's body, abstractly inspired by the Damascene sword for which Damascus is famous for its craftsmanship. This part was adorned with crystals and golden stones, in an attempt to mimic the sparkle that characterizes the metal.

On the right side, there was a detail inspired by the abaya, which holds significance and symbolism in local heritage and is used on various occasions. Haj Ali added details related to Damascus, most notably the handmade embroidery crafted in the city specifically for this look.

The Syrian designer stated that he was keen for the look to be able to retain its presence over time, so that when looking back at the photos of the ceremony after 30 years or more, it would seem as if it belonged to that very moment. With the white dress, Asala chose a high and voluminous ponytail.

As for her makeup, it relied on dark nude shades for the eyes with winged eyeliner, along with a shiny pink lipstick outlined with a dark pencil, adopting the trend of lip contouring with a darker color, which is one of the prominent makeup trends this season.