Christian Siriano

Christian Vincent Siriano (born November 18, 1985) is an American fashion designer and member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA).

Siriano first gained attention after winning the fourth season of American design competition show Project Runway in 2007, becoming the series' youngest winner.

He launched his eponymous Christian Siriano collection in 2008, which brought in revenue of over $1.2 million by 2010 and was estimated to have reached $5 million by 2012.

As a child, Siriano studied ballet, and on a March 2008 Ellen appearance, he described himself as a "musical theater kid who loved costumes".

Siriano's interest in costume design inspired him to pursue a career in fashion.

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.

After being rejected by the Fashion Institute of Technology, Siriano chose to study abroad at American InterContinental University in London, England.

Following the recommendation of a teacher during his senior year, he began interning at Vivienne Westwood, and later, at Alexander McQueen, who Siriano has stated was his favorite designer.

Siriano moved to New York City after graduating from college.

Before auditioning for Project Runway, Siriano worked as a freelance make-up artist and made wedding gowns for private clients while also holding a brief intern position at Marc Jacobs.

He decided to audition for the show after the suggestion of a friend's mother.

During his time on the fourth season of Project Runway, he won three challenges, the most of any contestant that season.

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 made up of Musketeer-inspired couture, featuring ruffles, feathers and headwear.

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.

As the winner, he was awarded a fashion spread in Elle magazine, a 2008 Saturn Astra, and US$100,000 to start his own fashion label.

He was the youngest designer to win the competition.

In 2008, shortly before debuting his fashion line, Siriano began collaborating on several mass market retail collections.

In April 2008, Siriano designed a fifteen piece collection for athleisure label Puma.

On December 4, 2008, it was announced that Siriano had signed a deal to design a line of low-cost shoes and handbags for Payless ShoeSource for retail in Fall 2009.

Siriano's eponymous fashion line, Christian Siriano, debuted at New York Fashion Week on September 13, 2008.

His collection is retailed at Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus.

In February 2009, Siriano teamed up with LG to create a fashion-themed phone, the LG Lotus (LX600).

That April, Women's Wear Daily announced that Siriano had partnered with Victoria's Secret to retail his own makeup line, "Christian Siriano for VS Makeup".

He also contributed limited-edition designs to Starbucks and O-Cel-O.

In 2010, Siriano was named one of Crain's Top 40 Entrepreneurs Under 40, which reported that his line had brought in over $1.2 million in revenue.

In February 2011, Siriano launched a limited collection for catalog retailer Spiegel, named "Christian Siriano for Spiegel."

Siriano was the first designer chosen for the catalog's designer collaborations line, "Signature Styles."

Siriano's line at Payless expanded in 2011, when he signed on to release four collections for the chain annually, including a higher priced "Gold Collection."

In 2012 the New York Times estimated his label's revenue at around $5 million.

In September 2012, the first Christian Siriano flagship store was opened on Elizabeth Street in Manhattan's Nolita neighborhood.

The store launch included celebrity guests like Heidi Klum, Allison Williams from HBO series Girls, stylist Brad Goreski, and DJs The Misshapes.

In January 2013 Siriano launched a limited collection of affordable dresses, separates, and accessories for the Home Shopping Network, "Striking by Christian Siriano."

Siriano was included in Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2018.

Siriano was born and raised in Annapolis, Maryland, where he spent a year at Broadneck Senior High School before transferring to Baltimore School for the Arts.

The school allowed Siriano to choose fashion design as his course of study.

He has one older sister, Shannon, who is a community builder and founder of Rebelle Con.

They are of Italian and German descent.

Siriano has said that his parents supported the arts and encouraged him and his sister to pursue creative fields.

Siriano returned to the show to mentor designers in seasons 17 (2019), 18 (2019), 19 (2021), and 20 (2023).