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.

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DAZZLING DETAILS

Houston artist's Indian heritage inspires luxe new jewelry collection

Photo by Hung Troung

Maison Merchant’s debut collections feature sculptural gold designs, diamond accents, and customizable details handcrafted by master artisans in India.

Houston’s luxury jewelry scene welcomes a sparkling new addition with the official launch of Maison Merchant, the fine jewelry brand founded by Houston-based artist and designer Sneha Merchant.

The jewelry line is a new creative endeavor for Merchant, whose background as an artist serves as the foundation for the collection’s sculptural, highly detailed aesthetic.

“Maison Merchant is a fine jewelry collection inspired by my artwork, intricate circular motifs, and timeless craftsmanship, blending high jewelry with meaningful design and storytelling,” Merchant tells CultureMap. “This launch represents a deeply personal evolution of my creative journey, expanding my world as an artist into the realm of fine jewelry through pieces that feel luxurious, wearable, and enduring.”

Born and raised in Mumbai, Merchant's appreciation for jewelry began early when she would visit the family jeweler with her mother. “Being surrounded by that world from such a young age gave me a deep appreciation for craftsmanship, detail, and the emotional significance jewelry can carry,” she says. “Over the years, I began designing pieces for myself, and wherever I wore them, people would constantly ask about them.”

This led Merchant to debut her jewelry line with three collections. Cœur du Monde is inspired by mandalas and balanced geometry, while Muse d’Art transforms Merchant’s original artwork into wearable fine jewelry. The third collection, Renaître d’Or, explores transformation through sculptural gold designs accented with diamonds.

Sneha Merchant brings her artistic vision into the world of fine jewelry with the launch of Maison Merchant, a collection inspired by intricate motifs, craftsmanship, and personal storytelling.Photo by Hung Troung

“Every piece is designed to transition effortlessly from day to evening while retaining the craftsmanship and presence of high-end jewelry,” says Merchant.

Clients can personalize many designs in existing collections with different colors and material selections. The pieces are then handcrafted by master artisans in India with more than six decades of experience.

“Bespoke jewelry has always held deep meaning for me because I grew up watching my mother create custom pieces to mark the most important moments in her life,” she says. “Those pieces eventually became far more than jewelry. They carried history, emotion, love, and memories that were passed down through generations.”

Every Maison Merchant piece begins as a hand sketch, which she says is often the most time-intensive part of the process. “As an artist, translating a two-dimensional artwork into a wearable, three-dimensional form requires immense detail, proportion, and refinement before the design ever moves into production.”

Merchant's long-term goals go far beyond the debut collection, which is available exclusively online. “I want people to feel an immediate sense of confidence, refinement, and presence when they wear Maison Merchant,” she says. “My vision for Maison Merchant is to create collectible pieces that people return to season after season and eventually pass down for generations.”

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DAZZLING DETAILS

Houston artist's Indian heritage inspires luxe new jewelry collection