With everything going on in 2020, Christian Siriano didn’t intend on creating a pre-fall collection. After outfitting soon-to-be First Lady Dr. Jill Biden for the Democratic National Convention and giving Hollywood its election cycle fashion motif via a “Vote” print that turned up on the backs of Julia Roberts, Julianne Moore, and Lizzo, Siriano’s year has been eventful.
Still, when style is what you live and breathe, not working is harder than giving in to the urge to create. “To be honest, I decided just to keep making clothes because it’s what I love to do,” Siriano shared over Zoom. “When I get up each day, that’s what I’m focused on—it’s not something you can fully take away. When I texted the team [about pre-fall], they responded in five minutes because everyone in our field wants to be able to work and do the things they love.”
With that team and a few like-minded friends he set to work utilizing resources he had at his disposal. During uncertain times when demand is hard to gauge, sourcing from his archives seemed wiser than ordering new materials. “We didn’t buy anything,” says Siriano. “All the fabrics are things we either revamped or remade.” This environmentally-friendly (and budget-conscious) mindset posed a series of fresh questions: Which elements from previous collections are worthy of revisiting, and how do you avoid repetition while utilizing them? Which eveningwear pieces make sense in a world without nightlife? What exactly should one do with the remnants of a diminutive pop diva’s tulle skirt? “The piece with the eyes is part of what we’d originally made for Janelle Monaé at the 2019 Met Gala, and the skirt is from Ariana Grande’s Time 100 look,” he explains. “Every [element] is something that has been repurposed. Our brand is still very fancy and evening, but this season it’s also no-waste, and I love that.”
With their “use what you’ve got” spirit these clothes had heart. Always in favor of a fabulous event dress, Siriano went all out with a canary yellow-tipped ball gown large enough to take up an entire room. After months of sweatpants, sneakers, and clothing centered on comfort, such flamboyance felt hopeful. No, there isn’t a party to attend right now, but in Siriano’s world, good times appear to be around the corner.
