Saudi Arabia Just Had Its First Fashion Week

All SA women go outside head to toe in black and with near total facial covering. This show will not liberate them from that basic requirement while men can wear whatever they want, in110 degree heat btw. The western world looks and sees non equality and repression. This fashion show is a fantasy for a few.

Yawn. As long as women have to look like they are wearing bags, no matter how pretty you make the bag, it is not fashion, it is misogyny.

Truly bizarre. Expensive designer clothes many of which can only be worn by a Saudi woman while in the company of other women or her husband. If the Saudi prince thinks this is progress he is very misguided. This is not progress.

Forget Fashion Week -- let women drive instead!

Lovely. Kudos to these designers, and may they thrive.

Maya Anwar's first photo - with swirling indigo blue -is delightful.

There is something surreal about offering up a high couture fashion show, with ultra expensive and in some cases unwearable attire (e.g., the "street wear piece" with the chiffon shirt falling off the hips and a swim cap over the head) as a signal of female empowerment. I mean, I'm glad that the female designers were showcased and glad that women had something to do other than go hang out at a shopping mall (which seems to be about the only thing Saudi women can do). But empowerment? Sorry, but empowerment is an adult having control over her life - her movements, her finances, her medical decisions, and yes, her wardrobe choices. Buying costly gowns to wear in private doesn't cut it.

Great. The Saudis have successfully infantilized their women, such that fashion is the height of excitement.

Having just visited Jeddah in February, I celebrate yet another step towards more freedoms for Saudi women. Yes the culture is very different from Western ones, but change is coming slowly in ways that are acceptable. While I was there many progressives urged caution in change happening too quickly as there are obviously some who disapprove. The women I spoke to were intelligent, well traveled and interested in preserving aspects of their culture while embracing new opportunities- going to university in other countries, access to coding and engineering in school, the ability to work. Those of us on the outside must respect the shift being done on their own terms. It is not for us to say how things should be done and how quickly. Good luck to all Saudi women in this next chapter!!

A step into the modern world. The fashions were creative and beautiful while honoring the dress code of its country. I doubt all women there have a problem with "modesty" fashion.

I'm torn about this piece. I don't see anything worth celebrating in Arab fashion week, as the designs are conservative and reflect the second class status of women in Saudi. But if copying the real fashion weeks in Paris & NYC exposes more Saudis to the reality of the free world, bring it on.

“...an amazing opportunity to shift the disconnect in the minds of outsiders about Saudi women" I mean, what "disconnect" could the "observer" possibly be referring to? And why should it be "shift[ed]"? I don't need disconnecting from the reality that Saudi and other Arab women are treated UTTERLY as second class citizens - whose male counterparts are given nearly full control over almost every single aspect of their daily lives, including: who and when to marry; when to seek medical advice and treatment; when to leave the house (!) and where they can go. Forget about controlling their own finances, including opening a simple bank account. I'm glad to see that 'reforms' are dribbling in, but I don't feel there is anything to celebrate about the near total oppression of females in the Arab world.

It is crazy, it is insane .... When there be will be bikini show in Jeddah or Riyadh? When there will be alcoholic bar and dance club in Taif? What happened to religious police department or Saudi Mufti? Are Casino and gambling center will be opened in cities? It is like 1960's in America. Stay tuned.