Christian Siriano

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Christian Siriano
Christian Siriano at Fashion Week
Born November 18, 1985 (1985-11-18) (age 22)
Columbia, Maryland
Nationality American
Education Baltimore School for the Arts,
American InterContinental University

Christian Siriano (born November 18, 1985) is an American fashion designer and the winner of the fourth season of American reality show Project Runway. Siriano is the youngest winner in the show's history.[1]

Contents

[edit] Early life

Siriano was born in Columbia, Maryland, and raised in Annapolis, Maryland.[2] He is of Italian descent on his paternal side and German descent on his maternal side.[3] Siriano's parents divorced when he was four years old, though he has said his father is still a part of his life.[4] He has one older sister, a former ballet dancer, with whom he has said he has a close relationship.[3][4][5]

Siriano has said that his parents supported the arts and encouraged their children to pursue creative fields.[3][4] As a child, Siriano studied ballet,[3][4][5] and on a March 2008 Ellen appearance, he described himself as a "musical theater kid who loved costumes".[6] Siriano's interest in costume design inspired him to pursue a career in fashion.[2][4] He began designing clothes at age thirteen, while working as a hair washer and styling assistant at Bubbles Salon in Annapolis, and eventually began sewing clothes for the salon's annual hair shows.[7] During this time, Siriano began attending high school at the Baltimore School for the Arts.[7] The school allowed Siriano to choose fashion design as his course of study, despite the fact that they do not offer it.[2]

After being rejected by the Fashion Institute of Technology,[8] Siriano chose to study abroad at American InterContinental University in London, England.[7] Following the recommendation of a teacher during his senior year, he began interning at Vivienne Westwood, and later, at Alexander McQueen,[7] whom Siriano has stated is his favorite designer.[9] Siriano moved to New York City after graduating from college.[2]

[edit] Project Runway

[edit] Overview

Before auditioning for the fourth season of Project Runway, Siriano was working as a freelance make-up artist for Stila cosmetics and making wedding gowns for private clients,[4] as well as holding a brief intern position at Marc Jacobs.[2] Siriano decided to audition for the show after the suggestion of a friend's mother.[4] During his time on Runway, Siriano won four challenges, the most out of any contestants on the season.[10] Siriano advanced to the show's finals, and won a spot to show a twelve-piece final collection at New York Fashion Week. His collection was comprised of Musketeer-inspired couture, featuring ruffles, feathers and headwear.[11] During the finale, which aired on March 5, 2008, celebrity guest judge Victoria Beckham praised Siriano's collection as being a "breath of fresh air" and stated that she would be "honored to wear" any piece of his clothing.[11][12] Siriano was announced the winner of the show's fourth season, winning a fashion spread in Elle magazine, a 2008 Saturn Astra, and $100,000 US to start his own label.[13] In addition, Siriano was awarded the season's Fan Favorite award, based on votes from viewers. He received a check for $10,000 US, which was presented to him by season three Fan Favorite Michael Knight.[14] In a March 2008 interview, Runway mentor Tim Gunn stated of Siriano, "I really believe he is his generation's Marc Jacobs. I really do. We have found America's next great fashion designer... I'm confident."[15]

[edit] Media

Siriano began to receive pop culture attention during his time on Runway, primarily for his asymmetrical upswept hair-do (which Siriano called a "bi-level fashion hawk" during a March 2008 appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno) and his flamboyant attitude.[1] Several of Siriano's catchphrases, such as "fierce" and "hot tranny mess", were parodied in the media by multiple blogs and television shows like Saturday Night Live.[3][16] In March 2008, Siriano appeared as a celebrity guest on an episode of Make Me A Supermodel, where he critiqued the contestants' catwalks and designed an outfit for one of the contestants to model on the runway.[17] On May 1, 2008, Siriano appeared as himself on an episode of Ugly Betty, and designed some of the cast's costumes.[18] In June 2008, Siriano appeared in the music video for hip-hop artist Estelle's single "No Substitute Love."

[edit] Design career

In April 2008, Siriano signed on to design a fifteen piece collection for Puma.[19] In May 2008, Siriano designed virtual promwear for Gaia Online's virtual prom.[20] Siriano's first collection for Bluefly is set to be available on the website in late July 2008.[21]

[edit] Criticism

In March 2008, Margaret Price, a columnist for Bitch magazine, wrote an editorial entitled, "Is Christian Siriano Making A Hot Mess of the Term 'Tranny'?", in which she expressed that Siriano's use of the terms "tranny" and "hot tranny mess" were offensive to the transsexual community and that, by using them, he was popularizing an "as-yet unclaimed slur."[22] In a May 2008 interview with Time Out New York, Siriano responded to a question about the lasting power of drag culture by stating, "If you think of heterosexuals, they have white-trash women and trailer parks, and we have drag queens and trannies. I don’t know if I’m the one who can explain it. It’s, like, drag queens are just there."[23] The remark garnered criticism for its derogatory slang and its comparison of transsexuality and drag queen culture to "white-trash" and trailer parks.[24][25] Siriano released an apology to GLAAD in which he stated, "I mean no disrespect to the transgender community and I never will."[25] Of his comments in the article, Siriano remarked, "I wish that my words were not taken in that way. When I was speaking, some comments that I made were not used in the article."[25] He further commented that he is "actively working to remove" the term "tranny" from his vocabulary.[25]

[edit] Personal life

Siriano has tattoos of a squid and an octopus on his right arm that he has said are "a tribute to Maryland and the sea life".[2] However, Siriano later contradicted this statement by saying that his tattoos "mean nothing... Totally random. And yes, it's permanent, but I'm young. In twenty years, there's totally going to be ways to remove it."[8]

Siriano is openly gay[24] and has been dating photographer/musician Brad Walsh since November 2007.[26] During the finale of Siriano's season of Runway, show mentor Tim Gunn visited Siriano in a small East Village apartment where he lived, worked and slept in one room. In June 2008, The New York Sun reported that Siriano now lives in a 1,400 square foot loft in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.[27]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Buckman, Adam (03-05-2008). Christian Siriano Wins 'Project Runway'. The New York Post.
  2. ^ a b c d e f White, Tanika (13 November 2007). Sheer Talent. The Baltimore Sun.
  3. ^ a b c d e Transcript: 'Project Runway' Winner Christian Siriano. The Washington Post (03-10-2008).
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Moreno, Andrew (November 2007). Denovo Interview with Christian Siriano. Denovo Magazine.
  5. ^ a b Christian Siriano Official Biography. ChristianVSiriano.com.
  6. ^ "11 March 2008". The Ellen DeGeneres Show. 2008-03-11.
  7. ^ a b c d Tucker, Abigail (03-05-2008). Christian Siriano Shows Why He's A Fierce Competitor. The Baltimore Sun.
  8. ^ a b Interview with Christian Siriano. gURL.com.
  9. ^ Dyball, Remmie. "Fierce Factor". People magazine, March 26, 2008, 80.
  10. ^ Wenzel, Ryan (03-11-2008). Rubbing Elbows, Making Art. The Advocate.
  11. ^ a b Cavna, Michael (March 6, 2008). Christian Siriano Wins On 'Project Runway'. The Washington Post.
  12. ^ Christian Siriano Wins 'Project Runway'. Us Weekly (March 6, 2008).
  13. ^ Barker, Olivia (03-05-2008). 'Project Runway' Winner is Fierceness Personified. USA Today.
  14. ^ Annapolis Native Wins Fan Favorite on Project Runway. The Baltimore Sun.
  15. ^ Marcus, Bennett (March 18, 2008). Tim Gunn: Christian Siriano Is The Next Marc Jacobs. New York magazine.
  16. ^ 'Runway' Winner Reacts With 'F' Word To SNL Skit. People magazine (10 March 2008).
  17. ^ Naomi Catwalks Onto 'Supermodel'. OK! Magazine (March 18, 2008).
  18. ^ Project Runway's Christian Siriano to Appear on Ugly Betty. Us Weekly (March 27, 2008).
  19. ^ Christian Siriano Designs For Puma!. People magazine (April 30, 2008).
  20. ^ Gaia Prom Crashers with Christian Siriano. Gaia Online.
  21. ^ 1st Peek at Christian Siriano's Exclusive Bluefly Collection! (May 14, 2008).
  22. ^ Price, Margaret (14 March 2008). Is Christian Siriano Making A Hot Mess of the Term 'Tranny'?. Bitch magazine.
  23. ^ Let the Gays Begin. Time Out New York (May 29, 2008).
  24. ^ a b Caplan, David (May 30, 2008). Christian Siriano: I Didn't Mean To Offend Transsexuals. People magazine.
  25. ^ a b c d Romine, Damon. EXCLUSIVE: Siriano Clears The Air on Trans Trip. GLAAD.
  26. ^ Pompeo, Joe (7 March 2008). 'Project Runway' Winner's BF Unveils Nightlife Photos -- In Park Slope!. The New York Observer.
  27. ^ Cohen Blatter, Lucy (June 5, 2008). Hot Fashion Designer Claims 'Fierce' Williamsburg Loft. The New York Sun.

[edit] External Links

Preceded by
Season 3		 Project Runway
Season 4		 Succeeded by
Season 5
Preceded by
Jeffrey Sebelia		 Project Runway winner
Christian Siriano		 Succeeded by
TBA