DUBAI – As the abaya witnesses a global resurgence, the sixth edition ofArab Fashion Week opened Wednesday with fallen angels, Rococo corsets,cupcake headbands and nary a kaftan in sight. Billed as an official fashionweek alongside the famed Paris, Milan and London shows, the Arab edition offashion week is the sole event dedicated entirely to ready-couture andpre-collections.

Hosted on the Queen Elizabeth II cruise ship, the show, which prides itselfon its Arab name, opened with angel-inspired and baroque kitsch collectionsby designers from Russia, Portugal, the UAE, the Philippines, Lebanon,Saudi Arabia and more.

Designer Furone One, loved in Dubai for his ethereal designs, opened thefour-day affair with his “White Noise” resort collection, inspired byangels both cherubin and fallen. With winged white liner, pearl teardropsbeneath their eyes and nude fishnet stockings, his models walked the runwayin hot-pants, tea-length dresses, mermaid gowns and sheer flowing capes,draped head-to-toe in lace, voile and crystals.

“The inspiration about this collection is angels. White angels, fallenangels all kinds of angels, who are here on earth — because we don’tknow,” said One, whose popular collections are frequently inspired bymythical creatures. “Angels are with us. They’re with everybody.”

Russia’s Tatiana V. Lyalina paid tribute to Marie Antoinette with aRococo-inspired collection featuring pink heart-print pantsuits underneathbright blue fur stoles, teal velvet gowns with brooches, glitter kneeboots, corsets and cupcake headbands.