STYLEChristian Siriano on the Muse For His New Fall Collection
Brimming with movement, poise, and a touch of feminine sass in the form of stud-clustered stilettos and one particular pair of netted trousers, Christian Siriano’s Fall 2014 collection is purely enlightening. But the designer, known for creating strong and womanly shapes in modern textures and patterns, chooses to call the dreamy assortment a “muse.”
To understand how this well-tailored (and emotion-enticing) muse made its way into New York Fashion Week, we ventured backstage and got the scoop from the source himself. Keep reading to find out more about his new collection, (that will literally bring you to tears) those gorgeous sketches he always Instagrams, and what he thinks about Sarah Jessica Parker’s new shoe collection.
Brad Goreski on Taking Selfies at Fashion Week
OK! Magazine: So tell us a little bit about the collection?
Christian Siriano: It’s a little bit of a muse for the season. Lisa Fonssagrives, who was married to Irving Penn and another photographer name Fernand, was really their muse and also our muse for the season. It is the collection Lisa Fonssagrives' feeling in the late 50s/early 60s and a little bit of a French undertone. I wanted the collection to feel a little bit cool, very lady, very sophisticated and very dressed. That was important. The idea of Fernand photography of her Lisa Fonssagives was very inspiring. He played with a lot of light and shadow on her body, a lot of texture, and a lot of things that are very graphic. That’s what we turned this collection into, but also made it very wearable and real for real women.
OK!: What were some of the challenges of working with this texture—there’s a lot of texture here.
CS: It’s about streamlining certain shapes. Is it about the texture or is it about the shape? That was the challenge. There are some pieces that are quite simple, and there are some pieces that are quite voluminous and have more texture. I think the fabrics are very luxe, and that’s really important in this collection.
Karolina Kurkova's Leather Skinny Jeans Rock New York Fashion Week
OK!: Everyone always asks what you’re doing after the show, but we want to know what you’re doing tomorrow once it’s over?
CS: I have four fitting with four private clients and a bride. I have five fittings!
OK!: So you keep going!
CS: Listen, you have to sell the clothes! (laughs) I have to say, that’s what’s hard—because after the show we have to work! But tonight, we’re having a really fun dinner and a party. It’ll be nice.
OK!: You put your sketches on social media a lot, probably more often than other designers. Why do you put your sketches out there so much?
CS: I show the sketches that are more artistic. Sometimes when I come home after a long day, I like to paint and to do these watercolor sketches. They are more dream ideas of clothes that I love, not necessarily in a collection that's happening. I don’t share things actually being made. These are more fantasy things. I like to share because I think people also like to see the process of when you sketch and how the transition happens.
Want OK! each day? Sign up here!
OK!: Have you ever given them to anyone really cool?
CS: I did a really cool personal sketch for Alexa Chung. Alexa wore an outfit of mine on the cover of Time Out New York. We sketched her in it, and we’re good friends. That was really fun. And Christina Hendricks! We did a beautiful sketch of her for the Emmys. When an iconic person wears something, I like to send them a little gift.
OK!: Your shoes are so graphic—love them. And you know Sarah Jessica Parker has a shoe line coming out. Would you ever collaborate on something?
CS: Of course. I love Sarah. She’s worn so many clothes and shoes, and she put Manolo on such a platform for every woman in the world to know what it is. I think it’s such a great thing for her.
OK!: You Instagram pictures of your puppies quite a bit. Would you ever do any dog collars or clothes for them?
CS: My dogs don’t wear clothes. They don’t even like to wear collars! I got dogs that hate clothes! I’m not that into in. I don’t know why. I just like them being furry and cute.
What do you think of Christian's sketches? Ready for Fall Fashion? Tweet @OKMagazine and leave a comment below.
