Zuhair Murad Couture Spring 2014

A vivid rendering of a garden in bloom provided the backdrop for Zuhair Murad’s spring couture show, in which the Lebanese designer expanded his repertoire from the racy gowns that have made him a favorite of stars including Jennifer Lopez and Kristen Stewart.

Zuhair Murad kicked off in familiar mode with a series of red-carpet looks in ivory, black and gold, some incorporating animal-skin motifs. A short-sleeve column dress was covered with black sequins arranged in a zebra pattern, while a nude tulle gown with a sweeping skirt featured a black sequin motif inspired by panther skin.

Then came the new territory: a sequence of heavily embellished gowns in a rainbow of pastel hues. Piled with shiny fabric flowers, sequins and feathers, they veered toward the wrong side of opulence.