I know that the Spring 2013 Fashion Week ship has long ago sailed, but I finally caught up with Elie Saab‘s mesmerizing designs from his spring couture collection. Your grandma would approve of the long sleeves and demure neck to ankle coverage, but modest gowns these are not.

His gowns are like a fine optical illusion, for the varying transparencies of lace and tulle makes it hard to determine where the dress begins and ends on the body. Combined with the strategically placed come-hither intricate bead work and embroidery, Saab creates an understated allure that simultaneously leaves little and plenty to the imagination. In fact, I imagine myself to be quite the alluring illusion in one of his gowns, even if only in my dreams. Le sigh.

What an allursion!