With a line of fashion taste makers and wannabes winding down a cold New York City block, waiting to get inside one of Christian Siriano's Fashion Week shows is like waiting to see a rock concert. That was the scene for the diminutive designer's Fall 2012 showing at Eyebeam Studios.
Once inside, things weren't a bit less chaotic. To his credit, however, at least Siriano knows how to generate buzz. In the packed crowd we glimpsed actress Gabourey Sidibe sitting in the front row on one side and celebrity stylist Brad Goreski on the opposite side.
After reading the New York Times' insightful profile on Siriano, "Moving Past 'Fierce'," it was great to see how the "Project Runway" alum's fans rally around him -- even though the fashion elite reportedly dismiss him as a reality TV flash-in-the-pan.
Perhaps in an effort to appease New York fashion editors, the 26-year-old has streamlined his collection to include more chic, wearable sheaths in black and black, cropped leather jackets worn over flowing cocktail dresses. The New York Post called this collection "his best yet," noting that Siriano's "palate of icy grays, blacks, graphic prints and merlots felt cohesive, and a slick, almost black lipstick added an edge to the clothes' overall aesthetic."
The second half of his Fall 2012 show showcased his flair for creating gloriously glamorous gowns that will undoubtedly grace the red carpet on some sassy startlet. Two show-stoppers were a cream gown with delicate "wings" attached to the back and a mermaid-like black gown with his signature ruffles. Applause erupted during the show, which is rare, when several of these looks came down the runway.
The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) hasn't accepted him yet, but from his Payless line of shoes and accessories to his aspirational ready-to-wear, Siriano is the people's designer. And yes, he's still fierce.
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