Christian Siriano Presents a Rose-Filled Ode to Audrey Hepburn

With plenty of diamonds, too!

On Thursday evening, tulle and magnified, satin roses fluttered under Gotham Hall's golden dome, kickstarting New York Fashion Week with the latest offering by Christian Siriano. The catwalk went from luxurious little black dresses to purple power suiting: a collection inspired by one of Hollywood's icons: Audrey Hepburn, and her sojourn through gardens around the globe.

"It's Audrey Hepburn's rose garden, but maybe at midnight... or like two a.m. So she's still cool and glamorous, but what is she wearing when she's out in her rose garden in the evening?" he told Fashionista backstage. "She did this amazing mini series called 'Gardens of the World.' I just wanted to transform everybody. New York can be so tough everyday, and when you walk into a room like that, I hope it makes people feel good."

Quinta Brunson and Lindsay Lohan sat front row in darling looks. On the runway was a collection that sticks to a minimal color palette, between black, white, a purple-ish shade of midnight rose and sunshine yellow. Fabrics were draped effortlessly while oversized grommets were used to embellish trench coats. Accordion-pleated tulle accentuated models' walks, and prints of roses adorn several garments. Hats gave models allure and diamonds added a touch of twinkle.

"A lot of things actually are quite technical in this collection because I wanted to show such a range of what my world is as a designer," Siriano said of the various techniques used for Fall 2023.

Siriano, who shot to fame after winning "Project Runway" season 4, is known for taking on a task that much of the rest of the fashion industry can't seem to grasp: designing plus-size clothes. The runway reflected this, making for a diverse start to a week — really, a month — infamous for homogenous casting.

When the runway seemed like it couldn't get much better, the lights dimmed for the last look: Coco Rocha, a Siriano favorite, closed the show in an asymmetric gown, ruffled with accordion pleats, a satiny lapel and double-breasted buttons. She served face with a walk as electric as the electronic beat playing overhead, inspiring the audience to give Siriano a standing ovation when he appeared after all the looks. It all made for a graceful ode to beauty and the bodies that bring life to garments.

See the full Christian Siriano Fall 2023 collection below.

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