Christian Siriano's show has become a hotly-anticipated highlight of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City. As I can attest, the half hour wait for standing room can be grueling, especially if you are a fashionista who insists on wearing heels. Good thing I opt for flats.
Siriano, however, is worth the wait. Once inside, the packed tent silenced to a hush as the "Project Runway" alum's mostly black and a few moss green looks hit the runway. There were structured jackets, sheer and tailored skirts, and of course his trademark architecturally-stacked shoes which will undoubtedly be the inspiration for his next Payless line.
It was obvious the models were having a hard time navigating Siriano's punky pumps and booties, and one took a spill in her pretty, strapless mauve cocktail gown adorned with petals onto the runway. Another wobbled and stumbled twice. Despite those minor, literal missteps, the collection was sharp, edgy, and extremely wearable. In true Siriano fashion, the closing look was a show-stopper: a sheer, short-sleeved charcoal top paired with a mauve ruffled ball gown that looked like bunches of moving Hydrangeas.
The Huffington Post said this fall 2011 collection marked a turning point in Siriano's career. "The show represented a big step in his evolution as a designer: away from the over-the-top style he's become associated with and into a purer, more toned-down aesthetic." I somewhat agree, but I've covered the 25-year-old designer's past three seasons, and I think he tends to tone things down for fall and then pump up the volume in spring.
