Designer Quote: “It was really all about the petal shape and these very dark tones, these dark, dark, muted, almost creepy green colors. She’s almost like a creature in a way… From jacket lapels that are really oversized to look like leaves and plant life to very flowy and organic draped cocktail dresses, that also give that effect. Other than that, I took it into a way that I still wanted the clothes to be wearable,” Christian Siriano.
The Collection: Leave it to breakout designer Christian Siriano to dazzle writers and editors on the first full day of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. Breaking out of the Project Runway title, Siriano’s Fall 2011 collection was an ode to petals, flower petals that is. Confections of orchids ornately adorned short black cocktail dress while the same theme carried on throughout the second half of the collection in a multi-tier one shoulder gown with sheer chiffon connection connecting two ruffle orchid hemlines, one at the knee and the other grazing the floor; his finale was a pink petal ball skirt paired with a sheer grey chiffon top.
Aside from the over the fantasy gowns, Siriano sent out beautiful cocktail dresses in moss greens, blacks and a subdued honeysuckle pink color. He also sent out a some suits and coats appropriate for daytime, showing that he can create both out of this world fantasy gowns and everyday pieces for the woman who wants to have it all.
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| Model falls at Christian Siriano Show |
Shoes play a big part in Siriano’s collections, especially because of his partnership with Payless to create affordable footwear for the budget babes. Wearers be warned, the shoes are high and can be a bit awkward to walk in, just ask the model that fell in front of Neiman Marcus’ Ken Downing during the show. Another model finished the show with only one shoe on.
Siriano took box-toed shoes, reminiscent of a ballerina’s point shoes, to knew heights in platform pumps and booties with gold accents and embellishments. If the girls who are paid to walk in those them can’t do it, how are mere mortals expected to? Actress Gabrielle Union, who wore one of the shoes from the Fall 2011 to the show, told me that they were unexpectedly comfortable but took a lot of practice for her to strut her stuff in the tents. If you prefer cuteness over comfort, then stake out Payless for the Siriano collection and make sure you have door-to-door car service when wearing them.
