Christian Siriano: Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week 2010

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There was a seating snafu at my very first fashion show EVER. I was supposed to be sitting in the sixth row, halfway down the runway, at the Christian Siriano show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center in New York City. Instead, I wound up in the front row. Apparently there were “celebrities” present; camera crews and flashbulbs were everywhere. I , however, couldn’t take my eyes off Cathy Horyn, fashion critic for the New York Times, seated directly across the runway from me. That is, until the show began.

Over the past five seasons, we’ve seen Christian building his signatures. There are a few ideas he revisits season to season:  gathering and ruching, a neutral juxtaposed with a jewel tone, an asymmetric shoulder or hem, an exaggerated diagonal ruffle. His vision (as well as his construction) seems to have been refined this season. The show opened with beautiful daywear in cream tones, then quickly spiraled into gorgeous dress after gorgeous dress, with shorts and suits thrown in for good measure.

Most of the pieces wafted by in varying tones of red, some in a pop of turquoise, in sumptuous silk, satin, chiffon, and leather. Christian’s reptilian prints had a washed, softened effect, almost blurred as if they were being viewed underwater. And shoes? I struggle to put the platform beauties into words; may the pictures speak for themselves. I can’t wait to see how the runway footwear translates into his Payless collaboration!

Christian Siriano, taking a bow at the end of a beautiful show.