Velvet has always refused to be a seasonal filler. It doesn’t trend so much as it returns—every winter, without asking permission, reminding us why it never really left. Plush, light-absorbing, and unapologetically tactile, velvet is fashion’s quiet power move: luxurious without shouting, dramatic without excess. This season, let’s take a quick look at Arab icons proving exactly why velvet remains a cold-weather constant, whether sculpted into red-carpet drama or tailored into something sharply modern.
Nancy Ajram – Miss Lebanon Pageant (2025)
At the Miss Lebanon 2025 pageant, Nancy Ajram embraced velvet with a sharper, stage-ready edge. The black one-shoulder mini dress featured ruching and a daring slit, breaking away from velvet’s traditional formality. Under bright lights, the fabric took on a sleek intensity, paired with gold accents and a powerful stance. It was proof that velvet can be bold, youthful, and commanding, without losing its depth.
Haifa Wehbe— GQ Middle East Photoshoot (2025)
Velvet asserts itself as winter’s unwavering constant in this devoré velvet catsuit, sculpted close to the body with a tiger-stripe burnout that moves between sheer and opaque. The velvet absorbs light, emphasizing depth and texture, while the high neckline and long sleeves keep the silhouette controlled and deliberate. It’s sensual without excess—velvet used as structure rather than softness.
Dorra – Joy Awards (2024)
Dorra’s Joy Awards look is velvet at its most cinematic. The deep red gown clings and drapes in equal measure, wrapped asymmetrically around the body with a single-shoulder cut that feels both statuesque and fluid.
The fabric catches the light just enough to emphasize movement, never overpowering the silhouette. This is velvet doing what it does best: amplifying presence. The rich hue, paired with the gown’s sculptural construction, turns the look into a study in controlled drama.
Aseel Omran – L’Oréal Paris Le Défilé, Opéra de Paris (2024)
On the runway in Paris, Aseel Omran’s velvet moment takes a different route: clean, graphic, and modern. The black velvet gown is sharply contrasted by a white, sculptural bodice detail that breaks the softness of the fabric with precision.
The result feels almost architectural, where velvet becomes a canvas rather than the main spectacle. Worn at the Opéra de Paris, the look bridges classic elegance and contemporary restraint, reinforcing velvet’s versatility beyond traditional eveningwear.
Yasmine Sabri – (2019)
Yasmine Sabri’s velvet tuxedo dress remains a quiet reference point for how velvet can be tailored, not just draped. Designed by Lebanese designer Antoine Kareh, the black velvet piece merges menswear structure with feminine ease: sharp lapels, gold buttons, and a thigh-high slit that disrupts the formality just enough.
The velvet softens the severity of the tuxedo silhouette, making the look feel powerful rather than rigid. Even years later, it reads as timeless, an argument for velvet as a material that thrives in precision, not just opulence.
Assala – Joy Awards (2025)
Crowned Favorite Female Singer at the Joy Awards 2025, Assala stepped onto the lavender carpet in a velvet Nicolas Jebran gown that felt equal parts regal and commanding. The deep wine hue amplified velvet’s natural gravitas, while the cinched waist carved a sculptural silhouette. An asymmetrical neckline and dramatic sleeve added controlled theatricality, proving that velvet, when expertly cut, doesn’t overwhelm—it defines. The look matched the moment: celebratory, authoritative, unforgettable.
Nour Arida – Arab Women of the Year Awards (2023)
For the Arab Women of the Year Awards in London, Nour Arida delivered a modern take on velvet glamour. The emerald off-the-shoulder dress balanced softness with intention, letting the fabric’s plush texture do most of the work. Under low city lights, the velvet absorbed shadow and shine alike, creating a cinematic effect that felt effortless yet considered. This was velvet as modern luxury, confident, unfussy, and perfectly timed.
Together, these looks underline why velvet continues to define winter wardrobes. It adapts, it endures, and it elevates—whether wrapped, sculpted, or tailored. Trends may come and go, but velvet remains fashion’s most reliable indulgence: familiar, commanding, and endlessly relevant.
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