At the Joy Awards 2026 in Riyadh, Katy Perry delivered a purple carpet moment that felt both quietly powerful and unmistakably glamorous. As she stepped onto the lavender carpet, the singer turned heads in a strapless couture creation by Saudi designer Waad Aloqaili. Her look shimmered with crystal fringe and luminous mother-of-pearl detailing.
Katy Perry stuns in ‘hand-crafted’ Waad Aloqaili dress at Joy Awards 2026
The custom gown was a masterclass in craftsmanship. Its structured, strapless bodice was crafted from carefully layered panels of natural mother-of-pearl. The silhouette hugged Perry’s frame with architectural precision. At the bottom, the skirt softened into a fluid shape. It flowed, with vertical strands of pearls and crystals that caught the light with every step. The effect was subtle yet lasting—the look balanced strength and softness in equal measure.
What made the moment even more meaningful, however, was the intention behind it. Speaking about the look, Perry shared that she deliberately chose to wear a local designer to honour the host city’s culture. “It is a designer from Riyadh. I wanted to wear a local designer to celebrate the local culture,” she said, underscoring the growing importance of global fashion conversations on major international stages.
Waad Aloqaili’s design, titled Mother Pearl from her Spring/Summer 2026 couture collection, draws inspiration from Saudi Arabia’s pearl-diving heritage. Artisans entirely hand-crafted the piece, building it from precisely cut and polished layers of pearl that they heat-bonded to the fabric to balance structural firmness with fluid movement. They applied each strand of pearl and crystal fringe individually, creating a steady, calming flow that echoed the sea.
Styled with sleek, pulled-back hair and minimal stud earrings, Perry let the gown speak for itself. It was an elegant nod to craftsmanship, culture, and conscious fashion choices. She turned a red-carpet moment into something more lasting, an elegant celebration of craftsmanship inspired by its cultural roots.
Originally reported by Viha Shah on The Fashion Spot.
