The world is arguably falling apart; it feels like the end of times. The economy is in shambles (even though the White House won’t release an accurate jobs report), but on the bright side, for businesses affected by Trump’s tariffs, the Supreme Court overturned most of them. In times like these, escapism and surrealism are needed, and for many, fashion is a form of that.
Christian Siriano has always taken pride in dressing real women of all body types. Inclusivity has been his focus since he started rising to fame as a red-carpet dresser, dressing many curvy and full-figured actresses that other designers often refused to serve. While Siriano has designed for women of all shapes and sizes, Siriano’s true aesthetic has always been about glamour, fantasy, and opulence.
He continued to explore the idea of fantasy for his new collection, inspired by the dreamlike qualities of Salvador Dali’s paintings. While Siriano didn’t fully adopt Cubism, where subjects are broken down and reassembled in abstract forms, he played with proportions and exaggerations, much like Dali’s art.
The show opened with supermodel Coco Rocha wearing what, at first glance, seemed like a minimalist black outerwear ensemble with a corset jacket, but upon closer inspection exaggerated arms, shoulders, and a subtle flare at the top of the trousers. This hinted at the play on proportions to come, including a white feathered coat with oversized lapels, scalloped sleeves, and sculptural statement bodices.
Siriano aimed to blur the lines between reality and fantasy, successfully achieved through his use of fluid drapery and high-gloss textures. Rocha returned to close the show in a satin blue and green ombre gown with a balloon bodice, echoing the luminous contrast of a surrealist landscape.
Images courtesy of vogue.com
The architectural design of the gowns showcased Siriano’s craftsmanship, while the textures and handcrafted beading reflected his view of fashion as art. While Dali was a pioneer in Cubist painting, Siriano is demonstrating himself as a pioneer in modern glamour.
—Kristopher Fraser
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