S is for Christian SirianoBest known as the fiercest mouth on the runway, designer Christian Siriano may be young – but his success and favour with fashion’s elite has already proved he was born to design.
Born in 1985 in Maryland, Christian had his big break just this year as the vivacious, fabulously “fierce” – and sometimes bitchy – winner of the latest season of fashion reality show Project Runway.
He began designing clothes at age thirteen while working as a hair washer and styling assistant at a hair salon, and began sewing clothes for the salon's annual hair shows. After being rejected by the Fashion Institute of Technology, Christian chose to study abroad at the American InterContinental University in London, and just months after arriving in Europe, showed a small collection during London's 2005 fall fashion week. His ambition earned him an internship with punk legend Vivienne Westwood and, during his senior year, a prized position with Alexander McQueen, whom he cites as his favourite designer.
After returning to the States and moving to New York City after graduating, Christian worked as a freelance bridal designer, makeup artist, and held a brief intern position at Marc Jacobs. His big break came after auditioning for Project Runway, and despite fierce competition, he earned his spot as the show's youngest ever winner, managing to take out four challenges during the season – the most out of any contestant.
Christian made the final three, and had he opportunity to show a twelve-piece final collection at New York Fashion Week, which celebrity guest judge and fashionista Victoria Beckham described as a “breath of fresh air”, also stating said she would be “honored to wear” any piece of his clothing
He describes his design style as “a bit Avant-garde and creative”, and says although his pieces are
not always wearable for every woman, he loves that his work is considered art. His design aesthetic is Euro, urban, and expressive with new shapes and huge attention to detail, and though he was sometimes criticised on the show for “over-designing”, fashion guru and Project Runway mentor Tim Gunn has said of Christian, “I really believe he is his generation's Marc Jacobs. I really do. We have found America's next great fashion designer... I'm confident.”
Christian’s flamboyant attitude made him a fan favourite and somewhat of a pop culture icon, and in 2008 he even had the chance to play himself in an episode of Ugly Betty and design some of the cast’s costumes. He was a red carpet fashion correspondent for this year’s MTV Movie Awards and Kids Choice Awards, a guest judge for the 2008 Miss USA Pageant, and host of the 2008 Logo Awards, and has designed for Victoria Beckham, model and Project Runway host Heidi Klum, Kimberly Locke, and rapper Eve among his growing celebrity fan base.
As the winner of Project Runway Christian won a fashion spread in Elle magazine, a new car, and $100,000 to start his own label. In addition, he was awarded the season's Fan Favorite award based on votes from viewers, and received an additional $10,000. During the finale of the show, Tim Gunn visited him in his small apartment where he lived, worked and slept in one room.
Now Christian lives in a 1400 square-foot loft in Brooklyn… not bad for a fiercely mouthy kid barely out of high school!
By Nikki Webber - Christchurch
