Pacinthe Badran Serves Up a Sultry Sequel to Her ‘Rosalia' Collection

CairoScene

25-03-2025

This collection announces itself with tiers of ruffles and volume, loudly and joyfully feminine – without apology.
There are fashion collections that walk in quietly—shy, tentative, almost unsure of themselves. And then there are ones that sashay in with a wink, a whirl, and a whole lot of ruffle. Egyptian fashion house Maison Pacinthe Badran's sequel to its 'Rosalia' collection does exactly that. Think: volume for days, drama without the drag, and a flirty confidence stitched into every pleat. From movement-filled silhouettes to mood-lifting colour, this second chapter makes one thing clear: Rosalia was never meant to end in one act.
The Muse
The collection's inspiration, once again, is Rosalia—a persona rooted in the spirit of a Spanish artist who embodies confidence, creativity, and a touch of theatricality. 'Wherever she goes, she turns heads with her sophistication and distinctive style,' says Badran. 'It's not just how she dresses—it's her whole energy. She's flirty, playful, and completely herself.'The original Rosalia collection introduced this persona to the world—now a signature for the fashion house. 'The first version was fun, but it felt unfinished,' Badran explains. 'I wanted to take it further: more colour, more character.' Some of those early pieces caught attention during Paris Fashion Week, making this sequel feel like a natural evolution.
The Collaboration
The second chapter of Rosalia found its visual counterpart in photographer Salma Adel, an Egyptian creative based in Paris. The connection was instant. Adel grasped the spirit of the designs from the start, making collaboration feel inevitable. Shortly after, she flew to Cairo to shoot the collection, capturing a vibrant series of images that reflect its bold, self-assured mood. The shoot was designed to mirror the duality in the collection itself—indoors, a refined, vintage-leaning space conveyed quiet elegance; outdoors, movement and natural light allowed for looseness and spontaneity. The contrast wasn't incidental. It echoed what the dresses do best: straddle two moods and make them work in harmony.
The Collection Dissected
Romantic, expressive, and confidently feminine, this collection leans into drama with control. Badran doesn't shy away from theatrics—cascading skirts, floral appliqués, pleating that flirts with sculpture—but it's never a costume. 'My design philosophy revolves around couture that looks complex but wears effortlessly—pieces you can slip into, dance in, and feel like yourself,' she says. 'When you wear the dresses, you feel the confidence you've been chasing.'The colour palette is dynamic—jet black, vivid reds, ocean blues, muted pastels, and creamy neutrals all coexist. There's a deliberate tension throughout: corsets shape and hold, while tulle skirts spill and soften. The balance of strength and softness reveals Badran's core interest—not restraint, but refinement through excess.Spain's influence—through Rosalia and its cultural textures—runs deep. 'Spanish streets and architecture are full of contrast: bold colours next to sun-faded tones,' she says. 'That contrast gave me freedom. I didn't have to commit to all pastels or all brights. Why not mix both?'
The Collection in Three Words
'Strong, fun, and flirty,' she says.
The Designs Through Badran's Lens
Silhouette leads the way. Volume, texture, and movement drive the narrative, with organza remaining Badran's signature fabric. Her trademark elements—draping, exaggerated volume—are still present, but remixed. 'We experimented with super-fine draping on the corsets,' she says. 'It added structure and softness—almost like sculpted fabric.' The ruffles, though, are the heartbeat of the collection. 'I wanted each piece to move with you,' she adds. 'You know that feeling when you wear something and you have to spin around?'Still, the challenge was keeping the balance. 'When you're working with an ultra-ruffled skirt, finding the right corset isn't as straightforward as it seems,' she says. 'You want the eye to read the dress as effortless, but behind the scenes, it's a puzzle. How the layers interact, how the structure holds, how it all moves—it took a lot of back-and-forth to find that rhythm.'
Where to Wear It
'I imagine the collection at Cannes, floating up the red carpet in a trail of ruffles and movement,' Badran says. It tracks. These aren't pieces for wallflowers—they're made for grand entrances, camera flashes, and the kind of spaces where fashion gets to perform.
Who Would Wear It
Internationally, Badran names Blake Lively as her dream wearer. 'She's got the attitude, the elegance, and the playfulness to carry something like this.' Locally, Asmaa Galal tops her list. 'Especially in the red ruffle or mint gown—her skin tone and hair would contrast beautifully.'
How to Style it:
Scene Styled Suggests:
Simkhai | Bridget Oyster Shell Clutch
Gucci | Crystal-Embellished Satin Slingback Pumps
L'Azurde | 18K Gold Circular Necklace with Diamonds
MCQUEEN | T-Bar Crystal-Embellished Drop Earrings
The Star of the Show The black dress reads like something lifted from a gothic fairytale—bold, sculptural, and dripping with drama. Layers of ruffled, textured tulle create a silhouette that feels alive, almost feral in its beauty. Strapless and meticulously sculpted, it walks the line between elegance and intrigue—made for midnight escapes or chandelier-lit ballrooms. It's not just a dress; it's a story in motion.
The Verdict
For Badran, timelessness isn't a goal—it's instinctive. Her silhouettes shift, her fabrics evolve, but each piece carries a quiet permanence. There's no checklist, no repeatable formula. Instead, her sense of longevity is rooted in intuition: a reflection of her taste, her upbringing, and how she reads a garment from first sketch to final stitch. The result? Dresses that don't just follow trends—they outlast them.