Christian Siriano looked to the ornate interior of the St. Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theatere for inspiration for his 2013 fall/winter collection. Always one to tap into opulence and gilded glory, Siriano’s choice of a night at the Russian opera was a good one, and this choice fits handsomely into Siriano predilection and abilities to create collections that go beyond the standard retail trap that far too many American designers have fallen into as they desperately water down their creative oeuvre for the American consumer who is afraid to take fashion risks.
“My Autumn/Winter 2013 collection is inspired by the golden age of the Russian Opera. The lavish interiors of Saint Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theatre inspired me to work on this glamorous and opulent collection, rich with sophisticated shapes, gilded and embossed fabrications, deep jewel-toned colors,” detailed Siriano.
Never one to diminish his creativity for quick sales, Siriano just may be the American Galliano, or even better his own wonderful creation, comparable only to himself. With this 2013 fall/winter collection, Siriano is proving that is has far exceeded the flash-in-the-pan brilliance of a gifted wunderkind, and has progressed to that rare upper echelon of fashion designers who someday will leave their indelible mark on the industry.
Granted not every piece is this collection was a surefire hit; however, Siriano had far more successes than misses; if there were any real misfires. Siriano chose to stay mostly in the color palette of black, imperial gold and sundry variations on goldleaf. What really elevated this collection to fashion-as-art status was Siriano’s formalwear which combined metallic fabrications with exquisite incarnations of silk chiffon, tulle, and organza.
By combining his modern perspective on the aristocratic style of imperial Czarist Russia with turn-of-the-century Russian peasants, evidenced in head scarves/babushkas, Siriano eliminated the possibility of this collection looking like a costumed homage to Imperial Russia. And the modern touches of mixing comfy silhouettes with the fabrications of leather and wool also elevated this collection to a contemporary interpretation of what modern women want to wear.
Bravo Siriano!!
—William S. Gooch
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