Siriano Christian - Fierce style: how to be your most fabulous self

Copyright 2009 by Christian Siriano

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First eBook Edition: October 2009

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ISBN: 978-0-446-55823-5

For my mother, family, friends,

and all you aspiring artists!

My first impression of Christian Siriano wasnt a great one. To be fair, we hadnt met face to face yet: It was the spring of 2007, and I was looking at his audition profile for Project Runwaya stack of paper about twenty pages thick. I fast-forwarded to the education section, as I always do. We dont ask for would-be contestants ages on the show, so the education section reveals something about their age and experience. And Christian Siriano had just graduated from design school.

Why are we seeing this guy? I asked my producers and fellow judges. Hes a kid! He cant possibly compete. We had already cast a number of very experienced designers and wed been saying no, generally, to anyone who had recently graduated from design school. The producers told me that Christian had already passed the prescreening process, so we may as well see him. Said a producer, Maybe the whole thing will take about ten seconds and hell be out of here.

In fact, it did take about ten seconds. It took me that long to recognize just how talented Christian was. He had not even opened his mouth. He was still holding the garments that he brought in when I turned to the judges and said, Look at this work! And upon speaking to him, I declared that this was an old soul. This was not a twenty-one-year-old kid. In thirty years of teaching, working with young people, and launching careers, I had never met a fashion prodigy until I met Christian.

From the onset of his time on Runway, it was nothing but wow moments. It was the ambitiousness of his ideas and his deft ability to execute them. I would see his sketches and think, How is this going to happen? And shortly I learned, well, it is going to happen. And its going to happen consistently. Theres exuberance in his designsnothing is ever a basic silhouette. Its all about the details. And he takes enormous risks. What I love about risk taking is that it is how great work comes aboutgreatness doesnt come from playing it safe.

Thats why, to me, Christian epitomizes a fashion designer as opposed to a clothing designer. There are lots of people who can design beautiful clothes, but a fashion designer is an altogether different breed. They are almost barometric gauges of this culture, so their work comes out of a context thats societal and historical and political. Thats why fashion always changes in a way that clothes dont need to. We need clotheswe dont need fashion. But I do think we need Christian Siriano.

Beyond what he brings to the runways, Christian has lessons to teach others, even at such a young age. First off, if youre going to portray yourself as fierce, you better really be fierce and have the goods to back it up! I will say, very candidly, that Christians disposition in the Project Runway workroom could become very grating. There were times that I just wanted to haul off and smack him! But he always delivered the goods. Sure, he was full of pomp and circumstance and bravado, but he had the work to back it up. (And in truth, he really is a wonderful individuallovable, smart, funny, witty, and, really, a sweetheart.)

And then theres his fearless approach to life. Feeling and acting fierce, as Christian would say, allows you to walk through doors that you wouldnt otherwise walk through and almost always begets new experiences. You never know where life is going to take you, and youve got to be fierce and fearless about that. Open that door thats closed at the moment and see whats behind it. You can always take another route.

Finally, if anyone is wondering exactly what fierce means, Ill offer my own definition. (Christian will define it for you later, as well.) To me, fierce is something thats undeniably and in-your-face great. Theres nothing remotely subtle about things that are fierce. Like Christian himself! Its a word with potent meaning, and one that I cant help but use. When I would greet Christian at his worktable on the show, I would always begin by asking of his design, Okay, how fierce is it?

I hope you enjoy Christians book. Maybe looking, feeling, and acting fierce isnt right for everybody, but I do believe there are a lot of people who should strive to attain fierceness. Because its self-perpetuatingif youre fierce in life, youre going to stay that way! Who wouldnt want that? And theres no one better to learn from than the person who defines and personifies it.

Yours in fabulosity,

Tim Gunn

What up, divas!? Ever since I won Project Runway, people have been asking me about one thing: being fierce. Sure, they talk about my clothes, too. (Obviously. Hello!) But the more people I meet, the more I realize that theyre also interested in how I became the person I am today. So what exactly does it mean to be fierce? Let me paint you a little picture

Its September 11, 2008, and Im presenting my first full collection at Fashion Week. Right before the show begins, I am backstage with all my models, adjusting hats and shoes and checking straps and hemlines. (Im looking flawless, too, of course, in a classic Christian outfit: black tee, gray vest, black skinny jeans.) My collectiona sea of grays, blues, and yellowsdances around me. Its months of hard work come to life, and I stop, for just a moment, to take it all in. This is exactly what Ive always wanted and Im actually living it. I worked hard, took risks and took chances, and Im about to show my first full collection at Fashion Week! But theres no time to reflect now. I have to get back to fixing all the last-minute snags that keep cropping up: a wrong shoe here, a change of hairstyle there. I can barely hear the music pumping outside or the chatter of attendees awaiting my show. I cant hear anything, really; its all just a soundless, surreal blur. Then Heidi breezes in to wish me good luck. (Heidi Klum! Who knew?) We exchange air kisses (both cheeks) and she heads back out toward her seat, blending into the maze of models.

And just like that, its showtime. I feel like Im holding my breath for all twenty-eight looks. I can hear applause, even cheering, but Im still a nervous wreck. But before I know it, the show is over. And it went off flawlessly. The crowd and the press alike loved my work. Well-wishers and cameras and reporters flood the backstage area. I accept dozens more air kisses, compliments, and hugs. I really did it.