Saudi Cup Style: Fashion Wins the Race
The Saudi Cup, the world’s most lucrative horse racing event, has now become a full-fledged fashion moment for the Kingdom
Saudi Cup Style: Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s Deputy Editor, Jessica Michault, shares the fashion highlights from the races.
The Japanese long-shot Panthalassa might have been the steed that won the $20 million dollar Saudi Cup in Riyadh with a surprising victory, but perhaps the real winner of the two-day event was the fashion. The who’s who of the KSA and beyond (yes Martha Stewart made an appearance) pulled out all the stops to come up with ensembles that paid homage to the vast and varied sartorial heritage of the Kingdom.
Men looked dashing in their thobes, bishts and shemaghs with a smattering of ornamental daggers at the waist added for good measure. While the women used the Saudi Cup like a 48-hour red carpet extravaganza. Think Met Gala meets the Royal Ascot. Ladies strolled the greens in front of the King Abdulaziz Racetrack wearing custom-made ensembles designed to celebrate the rich heritage of the nation.
Women appeared with crowns of fragrant white flowers, abayas that jingled with the sound of gold coin-covered hemlines or ornate Battoulahs on their faces. Some women pulled out and wore with pride garments that had first been doned by their mother or grandmother. While others used the occasion to honour the past by celebrating the future of Saudi fashion, many of whom turned to designers that were part of the inaugural Saudi 100 Brands, which have been supported and celebrated by the Saudi Fashion Commission.
Mona Alshebil’s designs were spotted on Her Royal Highness Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on day one of the Saudi Cup. Influencer Nojoud Al-Rumaihi was seen in a striking white column gown with a dramatic blue beaded embroidered cape by the Saudi designer Nour Al-Dhahri, and Alanoud Badr turned to Sara Intabi Couture for a throbe-themed gown, which she finished off with gems from Luda Jewelry.
And then there was the pigeon tower-inspired gown from the white hot Saudi brand Qormuz, which was worn by the fashion model Linda. It consisted of dress with a number of deep pocket in which real pigeons were nesting. Through the course of the first night Linda would take one of the birds out and release it into the wild with poetic flourish so it could find its way home. It was the talk of the cup.
One of the reasons the fashion quotient went up a significant number of notches this year was the introduction of the Ministry of Culture’s Saudi 100 Brands exhibition to the Saudi Cup. Not a repeat performance of the pieces shown in the inaugural exhibition back in December of 2021 but a whole new gathering of fresh designs from both established and up-and-coming Saudi fashion, jewellery and accessory brands such as, KAF by KAF, Form, Masisa, Raghad Mereani, Linen By A and MD.29.
In fact, for its fourth edition the Saudi Cup vastly expanded the scope of its event. Turning it into a cultural nerve centre that took full advantage of the fact that the event fell during the long four-day weekend brought about by the newly minted Saudi Founding Day, which became a holiday only last year. Besides a wide selection of dining options – from food trucks to restaurants with racecourse views- there were stores selling everything from riding gear and books to abayas and artwork. Not to mention a vast stage where a line up of traditional and modern musical performances, including sets from DJ Bedouin and The Mayyas, took place throughout both days.
But the pièce de résistance was the massive interactive art exhibition that was put on by the famous sparkle artist Sara Shakeel. Her Oasis Gallery was a multi-layered experience that included shimmering indoor sand dunes, an interactive video display that featured glittering versions of Saudi monuments like Elephant Rock and a sparkling horse statue covered in more that 25 million crystals that took 864 hours to create. The exhibition was selfie catnip, while at the same time an inspiring take on the beauty of Saudi.
All of which is to say that the Saudi Cup has become a true high point in the Kindom’s annual calendar. But not just for its high stakes races. Rather it is the people that make it so memorable. The pride in Saudi history, its culture and its bright future can be felt in ever traditional handmade gown, elevated abaya or embroidered bisht.