This New York Fashion Week [1] has been an interesting one, with most shows taking place virtually, and Christian Siriano took it to a whole new level. The designer showed his spring '21 collection — in association with Lowe's — at his own home, inviting a small crowd to gather poolside (including Billy Porter!), where models opened the show wearing plaid suit sets with matching masks. After watching a sea of campaign videos this Fashion Week, it was shocking (refreshing, maybe?!) to see that there were guests in attendance, all social distancing and wearing masks — and that it is possible to have a real-life runway show [2].
As always, Christian included models of all different sizes [3]. If you suspected that the designer might put out something more stay-at-home friendly this season, you'll find that Christian stuck to his roots, giving us bold evening wear and event-worthy dresses that are meant to be seen on the red carpet.
There were some off-the-shoulder dresses with ruffled accents, all accompanied with matching hats and masks. Some dresses had exaggerated puff sleeves, and '80s-inspired prints also made an appearance, packaged in cute sets. The models all wore heels from Sarah Jessica Parker [4]'s collection and carried refined top-handle bags across the outdoor runway.
At a moment when the 2020 presidential election is top of mind — and Christian has never shied from making political statements in the past [5] — the highlight of the show was an important reminder to get out the vote: a black, long-sleeved gown and hat with the word "Vote" written all over it.
The show ended with an array of voluminous gowns that were perfect for a red-carpet event, each more eye-catching than the next. Think ruffles, tiers, and feathers. A pregnant Coco Rocha closed the show in a red ruffled gown before jumping into the pool – reminding us that, even during a pandemic, there's still fun to be had at Fashion Week.
Keep reading to see a sneak peek of the collection.
