Life
Fashion has always been political, but rarely does a coffee table book feel like a revolution. Costumes of Saudi Arabia: A Heritage of Fashion, the lavish new Assouline release by Her Highness Princess Noura bint Faisal Al Saud, is more than a collector’s item.
It’s a tangible piece of royal legacy, designed to take pride of place in the homes of those who appreciate art, history, and the quiet power of cultural reclamation. The book is co-authored with Sian Tichar, features photography by Laziz Haman.
Imagine your living room adorned with this weighty, clamshell-cased volume, its pages alive with the rich textiles and intricate embroidery of Saudi Arabia’s five regions, each garment a silent storyteller of trade, tribe, and tradition. This is not just decor; it’s an heirloom in the making, a conversation starter that speaks to a heritage the world has long misunderstood.
Princess Noura, a visionary in Saudi Arabia’s fashion renaissance and the architect of Saudi Fashion Week, hasn’t just curated a book but has crafted an experience. Flipping through its 192 pages feels like receiving a private audience with history. The heavy matte paper, the arresting photography by Laziz Hamani, the careful documentation of pieces rescued from family archives, and every detail whispers exclusivity. This is the kind of tome you display prominently, the kind that signals to guests that your taste extends beyond the superficial.
What makes it extraordinary is its intimacy. Unlike sterile museum catalogs, Costumes of Saudi Arabia thrums with life. The pink and silver bridal ensemble from Makkah, the thick wool coats of the north, the embroidered kohl pouches, these aren’t relics behind glass. They’re heirlooms pulled from trunks and private collections, many photographed for the first time. To own this book is to possess a fragment of that access, a connection to a narrative that has been meticulously preserved, and now, generously shared.
And then there’s the subversion. For years, Saudi fashion was flattened into a monochrome cliché. Princess Noura and her co-author, Siân Tichař, dismantle that illusion with every page. The vibrant palettes, the daring silhouettes, the intricate beadwork – they all testify to a culture that has always been dynamic.
Assouline’s signature gold-embossed spine ensures it will stand out on your shelf, but its true luxury lies in what it represents. It is a rare bridge between royal curation and personal enjoyment.
