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When it comes to body-baring, dead-sexy and richly-embellished, Beirut
and Paris-based designer Zuhair Murad has a lock on the look.
He’s dressed nearly every star in the Hollywood galaxy for the red
carpet, most recently outfitting Jennifer Lopez in a semi-nude glittery
black jumpsuit for the Latin Grammy Awards, Beyonce in thousands of
flower-shaped crystals at the Country Music Awards, and Kristen Bell in a
fairytale floral print gown at the Emmys.
Latin Grammy Awards; Beyonce, center, at the 2016 Country Music Awards;
Kristen Bell, right, at the 2016 Emmy Awards.
While in Los Angeles this week for fittings, the designer hosted a
cocktail party at his penthouse suite at Sunset Tower for stylists (Jen
Rade, Joseph Cassell, Law Roach, Tanya Gill and more). He chatted with Pret-a-Reporter about his favorite red carpet moments, his personal style and his thoughts on the U.S. election.
Pret-a-Reporter: Tell me about the brooch you’re wearing! It’s amazing.
Zuhair Murad: It’s by Alexander McQueen. The suit is
by Saint Laurent. I’m always in black, so I have to play with
accessories. I make the most beautiful dresses in the world, but
sometimes I have to take care of myself!
What are your favorite red carpet moments?
There are so many, Jennifer Lopez at the 2010 Met Gala, which was one
of my earliest, Kate Beckinsale at the 2014 Golden Globes, Kerry
Washington at the 2011 Emmys. Every time is kind of like the first time.
I’m surprised and excited. If it were to become a routine, there would
be no more challenge.
2010 Met Gala; Kate Beckinsale, center, at the 2014 Golden Globes; Kerry
Washington, right, at the 2011 Emmy Awards.
Do you watch awards shows live in Beirut?
Yes, sometimes it’s 4 or 5 o’clock in the morning, but we wait and
watch. It’s big publicity, the entire world is watching and everyone is
interested in what the celebs are wearing and what’s the trend.
Does dressing celebrities impact your business?
Absolutely, the day after clients on the couture level start calling,
on the ready-to-wear level also. Then we receive phone calls from
department stores and boutiques that want to carry the styles. So it’s
very important.
Which celebrity garners the most interest?
Everybody loves JLo, especially in the Middle East and Europe. She’s
an idol. She’s forty something and she looks even better than she did
before, and whenever she wears one of my pieces, she has a certain
shine.
What do you love about LA?
L.A. is very similar to Beirut in the look of the roads, the weather
and the buildings. Besides vintage shopping and visiting galleries, I
love the classical era of Hollywood. There’s something very dreamy about
it, particularly Rita Hayworth and Audrey Hepburn.
What was the last film you saw?
I don’t remember, I don’t have time to watch too many. But I do love horror movies.
What do you think about the U.S. election?
I don’t like politics but I was as surprised as everyone else. We
have to see what he will do. We also had an election in Lebanon at the
same time and chose a president after two years of not having a leader.
The person we chose is good, Michel Aoun, but he’s very old, he’s 84. So
like America, everyone is wondering what he will do.
