In 1954 Christian Dior (international iconic fashion designer) wrote a book titled: The Little Dictionary of Fashion. In 2009 Christian Siriano wrote a book titled: Fierce Style: How to Be Your Most Fabulous Self.
Comparing the two books, a lot has changed in women’s fashion during this fifty-five year span. One important thing has not. More on that—and Christian #1’s book later. (See tomorrow’s blog.)
The very "ferosh" Christian Siriano, 24-year-old Boy Wonder of U.S. fashion design.
Christian #2 is the lesser known of the two, due to his short time on the fashion scene and the fact that he hasn’t created a fashion movement that changed how women dressed from one era to the next. However, at the age of twenty-two the younger Christian won the 2008 season of Project Runway. You have to start somewhere.
After winning, Christian the Younger (who Tim Gunn of Project Runway calls a “Fashion Prodigy”) has been a busy boy, designing a full collection every season since. I like his Spring 2010 styles and colors.
Christian Siriano Spring 2010 dress.
I bought a vintage dress on EBay because it resembles the Siriano print.
My vintage wiggle dress with similar Christian Siriano print.
C the Y designs for celebs, the movies, Starbucks, Puma, and Victoria Secret make-up. I enjoy his line of shoes and purses at Payless Shoes, first because they are snazzy-looking (although the heel height on some make them semi-unwearable), and second, they’re affordable. I am considering these fuchsia flats–see below. What better color and what better price ($29)? What’s stopping me? Do I really need another pair of fuchsia shoes?!
But most of all, I enjoyed reading C the Y’s book. It’s beautifully produced—artistically-designed layout, shiny thick paper stock, and lots of gorgeous photos and drawings. I liked learning new fashion lingo, like “hot tranny mess” (which actually means you’re ‘extrafabulous’) and “tickety tack,” which is a non-tacky way to say tacky.
I agreed with his list of what NOT to wear: UGG boots, flip-flops, baggy jeans, sloppy-type, non-fitted hoodies, and sweatpants. But I disagree with C the Y’s diagnosis of wire-frame eyeglasses as a fashion faux pas. FWIW in my fashion experience, it’s not the material from which eyeglasses are made that determines whether they’re a “Go” or “No Go.” It’s the shape of the frame that must compliment the shape of the face that makes all the difference in the world. C the Y recommends plastic tortoise-shell glasses. I think those are okay up to a point. You need to consider the “substance” of the face (for lack of a better word— or maybe “delicateness”?)
The younger face: more substance and less delicate. Think Miley Cyrus or Taylor Swift. Both those young women can wear plastic glasses. How about Charlize Theron? Maybe not. Past a certain age, the face slides more to the delicate side of the scale. An “older” face cannot aesthetically handle a heavy structure on it. Think Helen Mirren or Queen Liz II. I’d say no way, but then again, I’ve never won Project Runway.
The best part of the book for me is that fact that C the Y and Miss Fuchsia are likeminded in personal philosophies. The number one characteristic of being a FuchsiaWoman is to have done one bold thing. C the Y’s philosophy of fashion includes being bold, taking risks, thinking big, being true to yourself, feeling good about yourself, and finding your path. These are descriptions of FuchsiaWoman as well.
Similarly, C the Y talks about a woman’s “inner ferocia.” (Love that term!) It’s about cultivating your inner diva, becoming more “ferosh,” until to get to “FIERCE,” which is a state of being.
But this is where C the Y and FW part ways. Being “FIERCE” also encompasses being “flawless and fabulous.” FW has dismissed the notion of being flawless—because it’s not necessary. A lack of “flaws”—whatever that means—does not determine a woman’s fabulousness. SHE DETERMINES IT. If you say you are–and mean it—THEN YOU ARE.
Who is anyone to argue? Not even Christian Siriano, talented cutie pie that he is.
Christian Siriano "talon-heel" shoes at Payless shoe stores.
Christian Siriano fuchsia-print flats available at Payless.
