Brides-to-be rave run of Elie Saab catwalk

PARIS — It was hard to spot the bride at Elie Saab's haute couture show last week, as nearly all of the merengue-y, sequined-encrusted looks could have passed for wedding wear.

There were brides in bone white goddess gowns with trailing trains, in flirty, ivory bodice dresses and in creamy tweed skirt suits, all dripping with sequins, beads and crystals that sparkled like freshly fallen snow.

The show, held in the same salon in central Paris where Chanel held its couture display last season, was strikingly reminiscent of the luxury giant's collection, which also had an all-white, snow queen theme. Saab's collection was heavier on the frou-frou — bubbling over with wispy ostrich feathers, fluttering silk flowers and baubles — than Chanel, where the lines were pure and graphic.

Still, all that froth seems to have served its purpose.

Front-row guest Melanie Laurent, who co-stars in Quentin Tarantino's new WWII revenge flick "Inglourious Basterds" said she was eyeing several of the looks for possible red-carpet wear.

"Usually, I'm more into black than white, but I'd be willing to give it a try," the French actress said with a broad smile.