Christian Siriano, one of the most popular designers in America, has been inspired by Old Hollywood glamour from the very beginning of his career, but he has never let it influence his clothing and design as much as he did this season.
When asked to describe his spring/summer 2023 collection, which the 36-year-old designer unveiled on September 7 to start off New York Fashion Week, Christian Siriano is at a loss for words. I’m also currently influenced by 1950s and 1960s-era furniture.”
Siriano said that his Spring 2023 collection is more about “being inspired in the moment” than it is about what will come up for the warm-weather months of the coming year. With a range of sharply fitted suits, couture-inspired accents, and feminine evening gowns in intriguing shapes and patterns, I adore the concept of reintroducing beauty into our lives.”
He examined some of the most fashionable ladies of the 20th century, such as Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Katherine Hepburn, Bianca Jagger, Judy Garland, Ava Gardner, and Elizabeth Taylor, to provide historical references. Taylor’s former New York City home served as the setting for the Sept. 7 show, where editors, celebrities, and other industry tastemakers congregated to see the collection’s runway debut. The latter functioned as more than just a model for Siriano.
According to Siriano, “We all have a little bit of that old Hollywood glitz in us.” Therefore, my objective is that the collection takes you to another era and enables you to discover your inner style icon. Over the years, the designer has been a red carpet favourite, dressing celebrities including Michelle Obama, Lizzo, and Lady Gaga. What big fashion moment stands out in particular for Siriano? In 2019, Billy Porter walked the red carpet for the Oscars.
He reflects, “One of the first to come to me is Billy Porter at the Oscars in the tuxedo gown. It is so iconic.” Not only was this the first guy to wear a gown on a red carpet, but it also made a big difference in terms of how people dress, particularly in terms of gender-bending clothing.
This season, Siriano is also celebrating a new partnership with Four Seasons in addition to his most recent collection. Siriano created six unique sketches that were printed on postcards for the Letters of Love experience at the Four Seasons New York Downtown during New York Fashion Week.
From September 9 to 14, both hotel guests and fashion enthusiasts can stop by the pop-up event and send a postcard to a friend or family member. The recipient’s address will be handwritten by calligrapher Viviane Rodrigues, and Four Seasons will take care of the postcards’ postage and mailing. In between performances, guests can cool off with free gelato.
I had a great time working with Four Seasons on this project, says Siriano. “These notecards are incredibly lovely and stylish and have a variety of uses. I was born to design and create, so when I’m asked to make something other than clothing, it always excites me.”
Siriano like how adaptable the postcards are, whether they are used to inspire a few lines of writing or to send a nice memory to a loved one. The fact that they are special to the hotel and unavailable for purchase elsewhere is also a plus, he adds. “The whole point is that everyone can fall in love with a lovely, romantic sketch.” For instance, one postcard shows a one-shoulder column gown with a dramatic bow design, while another shows a smart, tailored pantsuit coupled with a vintage hat box.
Whether it’s the pink appliqué gown or the pin-striped suit girl, Siriano explains, “I wanted it to be like Sex and the City, where everyone can relate to a character.” It makes you feel extremely important that they took the time to sit and consider their response and what to say to you.”
