Christian Siriano might have laid the ground fashion career at Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen, but with his own brand, he took a wholly different turn. Since making his debut at New York Fashion Week 11 years ago, the designer became famous for dressing A-list actors, icons of music and darlings of fashion in his cocktail dresses and fantasy gowns.
Naturally, a nine thousand square-foot Grand Ballroom behind the brass doors of Gotham Hall became Siriano’s venue of choice. As per Siriano’s tradition, clothed in the elegant eveningwear were women of all shapes, sizes, colors and ages. To a commendatory round of applause, 71-year-old model Maye Musk strutted onto the runway in a belted eye print textile ensemble — a hint of surrealism influenced by Jeff Koons’ Easyfun-Ethereal series.
The heart of the ballroom set the theme for the show: painting and portraiture with pop-art-esque works by Ashley Longshore, a painter and gallerist from New Orleans. In keeping with the artistic theme, there was a lot of pigment on the Christian Siriano runway this season, with colors ranging from metallic greens to vibrant fuchsias.
“I wanted the collection to feel playful, colorful, bright and romantic, but still powerful and exciting,” the designer explained. Bermuda shorts with flowing overskirts and tiered fringe numbers made an appearance, as well as transparent tulle gowns with built-in corsetry — a subtle nod to Siriano’s punk pedigree.
* * *
Photos courtesy of Luca Zanoni
