Designer Dish
Christian Siriano says no more Project Runway and David Peck makes it work atFashion Houston
Christian Siriano is over Project Runway, but not Houston — his show highlightsthe first night of Houston's fashion week.Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz
Siriano is dressing stars like Mad Men's Christina Hendricks for the red carpetthese days.
David Peck made a wardrobe malfunction work for his show.Photo by Noah Hawthorne
Editor's Note: During Audi Fashion Houston week — and beyond — CultureMap contributor Heather Stabile offers the latest designer dish on — and off — the runway.
The fashion news junkie in me has been satiated over the past month thanks to a steady influx of show-by-show tweets from New York, London, Paris and Milan fashion weeks. I follow designers and fashion journalists alike on Twitter, inhaling the freshness of spring 2011 and all its ladylike charms, scrambling to the computer to see what Cathy Horyn and CultureMap's own Clifford Pugh have so aptly described.
It’s a relief then, that our city, is putting its best boot forward (think Christian Louboutin over-the-knee, not cowboy thankyouverymuch) showcasing the rich slate of local designers and welcoming those outside these Texas borders. For the next four days, Audi Fashion Houston is picking up where the last of the shows left off. There are designers sending their best down the runways, glam parties and perhaps, an opportunity for the city’s fashion rep to be taken seriously.
Christian Siriano and all his fierceness is one of the designers showing Monday night at the Wortham Theatre. He is most well-known for winning Project Runway, although he is somewhat over that title now.
These days, Siriano is dressing celebs for the red carpet like Mad Men’s Christina Hendricks. She didn’t win high marks from the style police for a peach, satin ruffled concoction, but when Siriano debuted his Spring 2011 collection in September, all was forgiven. He wowed with colorful, voluminous gowns that tastefully hugged curves in all the right places.
His Payless shoe collection — yes that’s right, I said Payless — were the stylish slippers of choice for the shows and we can assume that will be the same here as well.
Siriano’s arrival in Houston may be just a bit anti-climactic, but that’s really not the city’s fault. After all, it’s hard to compete with fish and chips in London, shopping at YSL in Paris and hanging out with Whitney Port in Dubai. OK, so maybe Whitney isn’t beyond major, but you get the idea. After his Monday night show, Siriano will be at Neiman Marcus from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday and according to his Twitter page, he wants to shop…with you!
Honestly, so many of his gowns easily walk right off that runway and into any number of charity galas, so he should find a rapt audience.
Take that Target, Designers Love Payless
Designer Lela Rose shares something more than the runway with Siriano. She also helms a shoe collection for Payless Shoe Source and her current offerings include rhinestone pumps, cut-out flats and purses. Rose shows her collection at Fashion Houston Tuesday.
Lyn Devon, Tootsies Team Up
It looks like New Yorker Lyn Devon will be enjoying some Texas hospitality after she shows her collection Monday night. Devon will be at Tootsies Thursday and Friday for trunk shows and some shopping with fans of her line.
Making It Work
Local designer and my pretend boyfriend David Peck was putting the last-minute touches on his collection showing last week when there was a wardrobe malfunction of sorts. It seems that an errant rolling rack chewed up one of Peck’s long gowns, completely ruining it.
The last-minute solution? He recut the skirt for a taller model and says the dress is even better than before.
