Talk / The Conversation
The Power of an Outsider
Designer Christian Siriano didn ’ t really feel included by the fashion industry . So now he ’ s changing it — to include all of us . As told to Emily Mahaney
igrew up in Annapolis , Maryland , a preppy , traditional military community a few minutes from the Naval Academy . I felt , at times , super different . I was young . Gay . Eccentric . A little guy . Those things made me feel insecure sometimes , but they also made me feel connected to other people who are different , who break conventions .
I wasn ’ t interested in the “ popular girl .” I was interested in the “ cool girl ” with tattoos or unique clothes . I worked in a hair salon , where I made friends with these two really individualistic girls . One had colorful hair ; the other wore six-inch stilettos every day . They were so different , but they were proudly themselves . I was that way too : People were probably like , “ Why is this little kid so confident ?”
I would need that self-belief . I studied fashion design in London and interned for British designers , but I broke into fashion at 21 in an unusual way : Project Runway . I was there to show how much I loved to create , but I became this character ( so much so that Amy Poehler played me on Saturday Night Live ).
When Runway ended , I instantly had a brand without having a brand . Viewers wanted to buy a piece of Christian Siriano , and I had nothing to sell them . I had to hit the ground running , quickly figuring out how to create product and sell it to stores .
Unfortunately I didn ’ t have much industry support . My network was in London ; I was living in New York . I had no mentors nearby . I knew no one . People in the industry who knew of me found it strange that I broke through on TV .
I was never a fashion darling , whom the industry rallied around . There were buyers who were like , “ Eh , no , not for us ,” and editors who never showed up to see a collection , let alone pull my designs . If I had waited to get a 10-page magazine spread , I would still be waiting .
Mr . Feel Good Siriano made a name for himself dressing women of all ages , races , and body types .
So I asked myself , If you don ’ t have the typical model of success , being in the coolest store , dressing the It Girl , appearing in every fashion magazine , what do you do ? Give up ? No . I had to do my own thing , or I wouldn ’ t have a business .
And I did just that : In my first year , I got a high-end retailer , Saks , to sell my collection , but I also took on a mass opportunity , designing shoes and purses for Payless . Some designers might have had reservations about that move , but I was so excited to have designs in thousands of stores !
I focused not on dressing It Girls but rather on girls who were iconic to me . I dressed new faces , who have a harder time securing designer looks . I saw Gaga perform in ’ 08 and outfitted her for one of her first TV spots . I didn ’ t know she ’ d become Lady Gaga ! I just thought she was cool .
And I always championed body inclusivity . Still do . People noticed that last year when I sent plus-size models down my runway , launched a line with Lane Bryant , and designed Leslie Jones ’ dress for the Ghostbusters premiere . Leslie couldn ’ t find a designer to dress her , and unfortunately I hear stories like hers a lot . But whether it ’ s Leslie or Gwyneth Paltrow , I don ’ t think about a woman ’ s size when I dress her . I ask myself , Am I a fan ?
Now people in and out of fashion are coming around . My line got picked up by retailers like Moda Operandi last year . We ’ re dressing up-and-comers and major girls . Nine women wore my looks to the Emmys ! Michelle Obama wore one of my designs . And I ’ m a Council of Fashion Designers of America member to boot . I ’ ve found an exciting , new model of success .
I think that kid in Annapolis believed something great would happen for him in art . But I don ’ t think he could have imagined being a part of something bigger . I get to be a voice of inclusivity . I get to bring people along for the ride with me . And I ’ m not done yet !
The Big Question : DO YOU THINK IT ’ S SEXIST TO CALL WOMEN “ GIRLS ”? YES : 22 % NO : 78 %
SIRIANO : KEVIN TACHMAN . SURVEY DATA COLLECTED FROM 301 WOMEN AGES 18 – 44 OCTOBER 3 – 5 , 2016 , USING SURVEYMONKEY AUDIENCE
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