Christian Siriano

RSVIP: Mercedes-Benz NYC Fashion Week at Lincoln Center (Part I)

While it seems inconceivable that such a publication exists, RSVIP has been told by designers that a kind of fashion playbook can be bought each season that lists upcoming trends. Of course, the very best designers lead the march of fashion every season or even decades in advance. But, oddly enough, to play it safe, some simply present their version of items on the trend list.

RSVIP's first show at the new tents at New York's Lincoln Center was Christian Siriano, the "Project runway" winner on Thursday, September 9. Backstage, Siriano spoke of mixing cultures and ethnicities. But on the runway, we spotted several trends that would be hammered home again and again this season: tan leather skirts, jackets, and dresses in the style of the original "Planet of the Apes"; thin rope belts; big, fat double-clasp leather belts; sheer fabric as an overlay; colorful prints; mixing belts with ball gowns; and dynamic, arty prints. And while Siriano hit these notes, one couldn't help but feel that if the gigantic fluffy ball gowns that he ended the show with, right, had been made by Oscar de la Renta's tailors, they would have been a fashion editor's dream. Sand and taupe, by the way, are the new black.

At 6:00 p.m. that day at Milk Studios, on West 15th Street, a serious jaunt from Lincoln Center, designer Jen Kao covered the runway with mandala-like sand drawings. And the collection included sandy desert hues. The stringy sandal straps snaked up the legs of models. And we saw macramé, large leather patches sewn onto dresses, and much sheer tied on and sewn over sheer pants, sheer skirts, and flowing sheer shirts.

And while some of the clothes appeared overwrought in person, they photograph beautifully. RSVIP spotted Kelly Rowland in the front row, but it was tricky to chat before the show without disturbing the sand.

Tags: bcbg by max azria, charlotte ronson, christian siriano, New York Fashion Week, rsvip, zac posen

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Aspen Fashion Week: Combining Play With Philanthropy

by Susan Kime (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Events, By Design

An important part of Aspen's cachet lies in its relative isolation combined with its great wealth. This unusual combination is part of its history. It was in 1879 when a few pioneers crossed the Continental Divide, and discovered a Ute hunting area, a valley sheltered on three sides by mountain ranges, rich with game, and fresh water. Also, they discovered, a great abundance of silver. So even then, the possibility of wealth, combined with isolation equaled a kind of intrigue, and helped define Aspen as it was then and, to some degree, Aspen as it is now.

These days, Aspen is defined not by the possibility of wealth, but by the reality of it: the most billionaires per capita in a small town, again a town consistently on the most-expensive-places-to-live lists, a town with a sustained and sustainable luxury energy. This energy is defined by partly by the enjoyment of high altitude sports and cultural events, but it is also defined by a great amount of philanthropy, as are many areas in this country blessed with great wealth. Along with Ralph Lauren, Dior, Prada, Bulgari,Gucci, Fendi, and all other luxury boutique emporia, is The Aspen Institute, The Sports Philanthropy Project, The Aspen Foundation, The Aspen Community Foundation, to name just a few. And this is a small town – about 6000 people, about 3.5 square miles long. The most recent coming together of wealth, philanthropy and enjoyment was Aspen Fashion Week held from March 14 to March 19, 2010. It was a destination fashion event designed to showcase and market the winter resort, ski and tech outerwear both at home and slope side.

"The second Aspen Fashion Week quickly developed into a must on the fashion and entertainment calendar," said Lisa Johnson founder of AFW. "Aspen is prime for an event of this caliber; combining world class designers, young designers and brands with unique art programs, film screenings, and great music."

Gallery: Aspen Fashion Week

Tags: Aspen Colorado, Aspen Fashion Week, Aspen Institute, Christian Siriano, Cos Bar, Douglas Keeves, Gabriel Conroy, Heidiski, Helly Hansen, John Forte, Kjus, Obermeyer, The Feed Foundation

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Christian Siriano Creates Exclusive Online Store

by Ariston Anderson (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

One of our favorite young designers is no stranger to fusion lines. Christian Siriano has teamed up with Payless to design several lines of edgy shoes and Victoria's Secret to create a line of makeup in Mediterranean hues. But now the star designer is bringing fashion to the public in a completely new way. In just another testimony to Siriano's business savvy and creativity, he recently released a line exclusively sold on his website, with six limited edition pieces all under $200. Now, finally fashionistas everywhere will have an opportunity to own their own authentic Christian Siriano piece. What makes the line truly luxurious, other than the delicate silk fabrics and gorgeous drapes, is that the line was inspired by his own Spring/Summer 2010 collection, which had models walking on water in seafaring colors and swaths of oceanic prints. By creating high-quality, affordable pieces taken from his same runway fabrications, Siriano is clearly out to revolutionize the fashion industry.

We spoke to Christian more about this in depth, and why he decided to incorporate these shapes. "The collection is very similar to my ready to wear collection," Siriano tells Luxist. "The fabrications are the same but the shapes are simple and very easy for women to piece into an existing wardrobe. Also these shapes are a limited collection and are not available anywhere else. Therefore the price is able to target the younger and fashionable Christian Siriano Fan."

Siriano says that he created the lower-priced collection for one reason alone: "We receive e-mails everyday, all day from fans who cannot afford anything over $200. It is my way to have my brand more accessible to women everywhere. That is the main goal at the end of the day, to have women wearing my clothes, feeling fabulous."

Our favorite piece is the Oceanic Scarf, a print taken straight from the runway, which is sure to add a fabulous pop to any monotone outfit this season. Check out the rest of the line in detail below. Click here to shop now, because these pieces won't last long.

Gallery: Christian Siriano Online Store