During his senior year, Siriano nabbed an internship at Vivienne Westwood and then Alexander McQueen, whom he considered his fashion mentor. Determined to gain as much exposure as he could in the fashion world, Siriano studied at American InterContinental University in London, England, soaking up everything pertaining to high fashion, including making couture dresses and bridal gowns. After high school, Siriano applied to the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, but was rejected. He worked as a styling assistant at a salon in Annapolis, which gave him a chance to show off his clothes at the salon's annual hair shows. He began showing his creative streak in his early teens, when he would make dresses for his older sister, Shannon. Christian Siriano was born in Columbia, MD. Siriano went on to conquer the retail world, selling his collections at both high-end and more mainstream stores, dressing up everyone from celebrities to the everyday woman, and proved that he was undeniably one of the fiercest and most inventive designers of his generation. For displaying a deft hand in manipulating fabrics, colors and patterns, and consistently making show stopping creations - such as a voluminous avant-garde gown coupled with an edgy biker chic outfit deconstructed from several pairs of jeans - he emerged as the clear winner. His rise to prominence came via the popular reality competition series "Project Runway" (Bravo, 2004-08 Lifetime, 2008-18 Bravo, 2019-), where he developed a reputation as a diva - albeit a loveable one - in the show's fourth season. After seasons focused on excess, that may be just the palate-cleanser Siriano and his customers are craving.With his edgy, daring, and unexpected designs, Christian Siriano carved out his own place in the highly elite world of fashion design. White columns fit for the bridal season, sweeping black gowns with bell sleeves and high collars, and the occasional flourish of tulle ruffles in smoke gray or millennial pink made for a collection that aimed for glamour that avoided ostentation. Given that he’s best known for outfitting his coterie of famous muses in high-drama pieces that require little extra adornment, his outlook seemed comparatively subdued. With awards season looming, Siriano used pre-fall to update his vision for after-hours. The trick to neutrals is offering something that isn’t already hanging in a customer’s closet, and except for standards like marabou-accented cocktail dresses, Siriano did just that. Transparency added oomph to basic black, and pants, skirts, and corsets were all offered in see-through versions. The tactile pleasure of knits with teddy bear texture or faux-fur crop tops is instantly evident, but the real fun came via croc-stamped miniskirts and matching blazers with ’80s-style wide collars and puffed sleeves. Without punchy color to add vigor to his designs, Siriano relied on interesting fabrications and techniques to spice up the wealth of black and beige. A reflection of both his current mood and pre-fall’s increased retail importance, the switch to neutrals was a departure. The lineup was a 180 from his vibrant Ashley Longshore–influenced spring look, and the change felt significant. Interiors, particularly the work of Giancarlo Valle, the architect and interior designer whose studio specializes in artsy spaces with lived-in charm, served as the starting point for a stripped-down collection of separates in shades of slate, cream, and black. The designer knows a thing or two about the 24-hour work cycle-his pre-fall showings fell days before the premiere of Project Runway-and as such, he gravitated toward tranquil themes. A year of frenzied schedules and alarmist news has many craving the calming effects of simplicity, and this season Christian Siriano is one of them.
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