Fashion darling Christian Siriano is involved in a multitude of fashion projects, from shoes and bags at Payless to make-up at Victoria's Secret, and from chic maternity wear to dramatic runway looks.
Christian Siriano's Style
The Christian Siriano collection features chic, modern styles and an undeniable element of surprise. Ethereal, barely-there diaphanous fabrics are paired with powerful metallics and muted hues found in nature are combined with bold strokes of vibrant colour: cloudy grey with fiery orange, ocean blue with earthy brown.
The result is unexpected: the clothes are sexy yet comfortable, dramatic yet wearable. Colour combinations previously unseen on the runway become acceptable and the resulting look is one of confident femininity and effortless elegance and grace.
For his show at New York Fashion Week, Siriano entrusted Antoinette Beenders, Vice President Global Creative Director for Aveda – who also developed hairstyles for the Yigal Azrouël show – with creating a hair look in tune with his main source of inspiration for this collection: the ocean. The result? Models sporting hairstyles that are at once textured, airy, and sleek – a contemporary look reflective of Christian Siriano's own unique style.
How to Get the Look
The style is an elegant, elaborate version of the classic ponytail.
- Separate the front, top section of hair, using a fine tooth comb.
- Part hair into a horseshoe shaped section on the top of the head.
- Tie the rest of the hair into a low ponytail.
- Rake the front, top hair back with a texturizing cream. (Try Aveda Light Elements.)
- Curl with a curling iron.
- Brush through the curls and tease hair slightly.
- Pin the teased hair to the base of the ponytail to create loose waves.
- Set hair with finishing spray.
"I call this look the 'wave'," says Beenders, "because of the back-combed wave that floats atop the ponytail." (Aveda Trend Report Notes, September 2009.)
About Christian Siriano
Born and raised in Annapolis, Maryland, Christian Siriano attended the Baltimore School for the Arts and the American Intercontinental University in London before making New York City his home. At the tender age of 23, the designer's name is already tied to those of industry giants: Siriano interned with both Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen.
The designer's career skyrocketed when he won the Project Runway competition, and went on to design for a variety of celebrity clients including Victoria Beckham; Lady Gaga; Pink; and Nicole Scherzinger and the Pussycat Dolls. Christian Siriano created a make-up line for Victoria's Secret as well as a line of shoes and handbags for Payless, and was recently hired to design a full collection for the upcoming Uma Thurman film Eloise in Paris.
"I'm extremely proud of him," Project Runway's Tim Gunn said of Christian Siriano. "He really is the next great American fashion designer, I'm confident of it." (Newsday, September 2008.)
Sources:
- To learn about upcoming beauty trends, visit the Aveda salon nearest you.
- To find out more about Christian Siriano, visit the designer's official site.
Andree Lachapelle - Andrée reviews books, movies and local events, and brings you essential beauty, fashion, travel and wedding planning tips.
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