Christian Siriano Shares His Thoughts on Fashion, Diversity and Body Positivity in a Powerful Open Letter

In the second installment of our Open Letter series, designer Christian Siriano shares his thoughts on fashion, diversity, and body positivity within the industry and his brand.

I often think about why I first wanted to become a designer, and how my brand has changed over the last ten years. In the beginning, I just wanted to make clothes for women who wanted to feel and look amazing when they wore them: women who were excited about getting dressed.

My message has not changed. It has grown.

"What is the size of my body? Where did I grow up? How many birthdays have I had?" None of that should matter when it comes to buying or wearing a piece of clothing. Somewhere along the way we lost the message that fashion is fun. Getting dressed should be one of the easiest and most exciting parts of the day. Self-expression is one of the greatest gifts of being human!

Christian Siriano Spring 2018 Runway

There is so much anger and hatred in the world at the moment, and our attention is demanded to fight it. What we wear can be armor, it can be therapeutic, it can be a source of joy, or an expression of strength. Fashion is not superficial; it is a dynamic tool to transform oneself, and it can be used to command the attention of those around you.

When I started my business in 2008, I was excited to see my clothing on women I admired. Whether it was purchased in a store or worn on a red carpet, I felt proud that I was able to make those women feel great about themselves. That was my goal from the beginning, and we have stuck to that, even when we were put down for our choices.

Christian Siriano Spring 2018 Backstage

But these choices are slowly becoming the norm. We are living in a new world where traditional fashion rules no longer apply. This is great; the concept of "rules" in fashion has always sounded to me like an oxymoron. There are still designers who balk at the idea of dressing a larger woman, or a woman from a background deemed unworthy. These are designers for whom restrictions have been placed upon themselves, by themselves, and to me, restrictions are the antithesis of art.

All people are beautiful. There is no correct size, shape, color, or age. As a creator of fashion, I celebrate the body that wears my work. What an honor to be chosen, to be appreciated, and to be seen. That honor extends in both directions.

Related: Designer Kerby Jean-Raymond Got Death Threats for His Collection About Black Lives Matter

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