The Celebrity Show at New York Fashion Week: Major Stars, Including a Powerful Selma Blair, Flock to Christian Siriano’s Glamorous World

NEW YORK — While a lot of designers at New York Fashion Week are struggling, Christian Siriano is flying high. The former Project Runway winner celebrated his 10th anniversary at fashion week with one of the week’s most anticipated shows, drawing a slew of high-powered celebrities on the front row (Whoopi Goldberg, Meg Ryan, Cardi B, Molly Shannon, and Laverne Cox), and on the runway (Selma Blair and Danielle Brooks modeled glam looks to wild applause).

“Just because it’s my 10 years, I want to give everybody one good hurrah,” Siriano said backstage before the show.  “Also, my business is booming. We’re getting requests every single day. We’re literally selling samples off the runway, off girls on the red carpet. It’s a great problem to have.”

To celebrate a decade of shows, Siriano was inspired by 18th century British art at the Queen’s Gallery in London.

“I really wanted this kind of British royal palace dinner party vibe. I think we have it. The collection starts in a cool British punk place and goes into something more ethereal, more romantic. A lot of texture, a lot of color. And I think a lot of powerful people on the runway is very important. So I’m excited,” Siriano said.

“I want that feeling out here that people take 15 minutes to be in a different world. That’s very important.”

Siriano, who has championed dressing women of all shapes and sizes, featured a diverse group of models in floor-length faux fur coats and attention-getting gowns which the designer is known for. Among the standouts were model Ashley Graham  in a tomato red slip gown with a crystal cage collar, Orange is the New Black co-star Brooks in a turquoise gown with flowing train, and a series of black ball gowns dotted with silver crystals that shimmer in the light.

To support the #MeToo movement, Siriano featured Blair in a skin-toned bodysuit emblazoned with script and a faux fur stole. Blair — who has appeared in films such as Legally Blonde, Cruel Intentions and Hellboy, and last year’s TV sensation American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson — has publicly spoken out about her own experience with sexual harassment by director James Toback.

“All the women that are standing up today, women and men, I think it’s so important to say what’s happening in our world. That’s why Selma Blair’s on the runway today. She spoke up. I wanted a strong powerful woman to be here to show people that that’s important in our culture. I think it’s very relevant,” Siriano said.

“Same with backstage here. We wanted everybody to feel comfortable. That this is a safe space. Fashion is hard. You’re getting naked, things are weird just because of the nature of what is happening. You’re trying on clothes all day. So it’s very important for designers also to make sure that we’re on board with what’s happening to create a safe space.

“Anybody that has asked for that (private space) we’ve made that happen. Pull-back rooms all curtained off. Obviously it’s super important if anybody feels uncomfortable to tell us. We want to know.”

In Houston, the Christian Siriano collection is available at Elizabeth Anthony.