About an hour before his runway show was about to begin, I captured designer Christian Siriano backstage, pensively staring at his own creations. The Season 4 Project Runway winner is just 23 years old! He began designing at just 13 years old and attended the Baltimore School for the Arts and the American Intercontinental University in London, where he interned with punk legend Vivienne Westwood, and with Alexander McQueen. Fast forward a few years later, and he’s not just won Project Runway, but has several Fashion Week Shows behind him. Coverage of his 2009 Fall/Winter Runway Show appeared on the Advice Sisters Web Site, including a feature on backstage beauty and exclusive video of the show.
Christian has already designed for a growing list of celebrity clients including: Victoria Beckham; Heidi Klum; Mena Suvari, Vanessa Williams, Becki Newton, Maggie Grace, Tori Spelling, Shailene Woodley, Katrina Bowden, Whoopi Goldberg, Lady GaGa, Pink, Estelle, Nicole Scherzinger and the Pussycat Dolls…just to name a few.
(these two photos by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz)
36 looks strutted down the runway featuring bold colors and prints, and very dramatic silhouettes, textures and detail. The inspiration for this collection was the ocean, with wavy, silky, flowing designs that were also young and modern.
The fabrics ran the gamut from smooth to textured, and, as with many of the Spring collections, key colors were sand, nude, and blush, and beige, and then brilliant colored prints. The handbags and the stilettos were all designed by Mr. Siriano (Christian Siriano for Payless). These had cutouts and zippers and dangerous-looking chains on the toes. Accessories also included huge picture hats by Heather Huey, large, jeweled Swarovski crystal collars (designed by Christian Siriano), and chunky metal bangles and fish-scale earrings, created by Robert Lee Morris.
Siriano is already a master of draping as you can see from the photo I shot of some of his dresses, backstage. Also check out the attention to detail: matching shoes that Siriano designed, to go with just one of the spectacular finale dresses! The finale gowns would be just the thing for a Tilda Swinton, or even a young, rock princess, to wear to a premier or awards ceremony. Like Siriano himself, you have to have confidence and attitude to pull off these clothes!
Success like Christian Siriano’s doesn’t come without a lot of hard work and worry. Siriano had to grow up fast. I took the photo on the left backstage at the Spring 2010 runway show, while the photo of Christian I took for the Fall 2009 runway show backstage is almost the same pose, but Christian looks somehow, years younger.
For more on Christian Siriano’s Spring 2010 Runway Show, check out the Advice Sisters Backstage Beauty feature!
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