This week on the A List, I learn how an impulse audition marked the beginning of this designers meteoric rise in the fashion industry.

I just moved to New York City.

I had nothing, I didn't know much.

And I had never seen Project Runway because I had lived in Europe for the last four years.

So everyone was like, oh, I had no idea about anything.

I didn't even know what it was.

I auditioned on a whim, and I was 20 years old, so I.

But I had nothing to lose, you know what I mean?

But when you go into somethin with really nothing to lose, and you just let your inhibitions kind of fly and go for it, and that's what I did.

Join me as I sit down with luxury fashion desinger, Christian Siriano.

Coming up next on the A List.

In 2008 Christian Siriano won the fourth season of design competition series Project Runway.

At 21 years old, he was the youngest contestant to ever take the crown.

And that victory was just the first step in launching a remarkable career in the fashion industry.

From New York to Paris, his breathtaking designs have graced countless runways and red carpets.

But whether you are an A-lis celebrity or an everyday shopper wearing Christian Siriano i sure to make you feel fabulous.

I had the chance to sit down with Christian while he was in town to support CADAS Chattanooga with an unforgettable fundraising event featuring his show-stopping creations.

Well, Christian, welcome to the A-list.

Thank you.

And welcome to Chattanooga.

Thank you so much.

We're excited to be at the Westin.

And more excited that you are here for a first annual event to benefit CADAS.

Yeah.

It's incredible to me that what CADAS does in terms of rehabilitation and giving people second chances and also about inclusivity.

Really?

It's a perfect fi for what you do as a designer.

Yeah, I think that's why I'm here.

Yeah.

Well, tell me about that path.

And has it been something that's been your own lane in terms of that inclusivity?

Because I know body positivity is very important to you.

Yeah.

You know, I think just like growing up, like I was submerged in a world that was like, you know, different.

I grew up with, you know, a mom who was a curvier woman.

And then my sister was a ballet dancer and very petite and and then I went to high schoo in Baltimore City, where kind of I was the minority.

So, like, I just was submerged in a lot of different worlds, really young.

So I just didn't I never thought about it.

I just really didn't.

And I think that that' kind of how I approach it now.

And if clothes look great on somebody and they want to buy them and who cares?

I don't care where you come from.

As long as a check clears, we're good to go.

And as long as you, like, feel good in them.

That' that's really the whole point.

Well, and I mean, case in point, And you look fabulous I have one of your jackets on, which I mean was very accessible.

Yeah.

In terms of price and also for me to be able to wear it.

Yeah, it looks great on you.

It's a little fancy for interview.

But, you know, I want Why, youre with me.

Okay.

Perfect.

Perfect.

Yes.

On brand.

Yes.

But I love it.

And it's something I didn't, you know, it's not lik I saw it on a runway and thought I'll never fit in it.

And I'll never be able to wear it in my real life.

This is something I cannot wait to wear to every event.

Yeah.

So I thank you on behalf of real women everywhere.

For that, you have to have all the different price points, all the different levels.

We do a great collectio with HSN, which is so exciting.

And then those people who shop there can get a fabulous Christian Siriano piece maybe for $30, which is awesome.

We have things that are $30,000, but not everyone can have that.

Well, let's back up.

Talk to me about your upbringing in Maryland.

oh my gosh, were throwing it back.

It was great.

I mean, I grew up in Annapolis, which was, beautiful.

And, you know, we lived on the water in this beautiful kind of bay community.

And, I did love the beach, actually.

And, and I but I think, I jus was, like, searching for more.

You know, it was a very, you know we sponsor, the Naval Academy.

We had Mids sleeping in our house like, it was very that, which was fun.

And I loved it but I think I like the uniforms because they lik to look really beautiful, and, And it was great, but, you know, fun.

And then.

But I kne I wanted to do something else, which is why I ended up going to high school in Baltimore City, at Baltimore School of the Arts, because I really wanted to do something that was just more creative.

I couldn't do that there.

And you applied to fit to the Fashion Institute of Technology and they rejected you?

Yeah.

After after high school, I moved to New York, and I remember I was, like, trying to apply for schools.

I applied, and I really only applied to fit.

I don't know why I should have applied to other schools.

But I didn't get in.

Which I always say to a lot of people that, you know, they're, you know, it's a such a cliche thing to say, like, oh, if something doesn't work out, you know, it's for a reason.

But it really was.

And I ended up deciding to go to a design school in London and which was incredible.

I moved to Europe for the first time.

My mom didn't even have a passport.

So we really took a risk.

And I think I learned so much there and got to work for amazing brands.

And and now fit has asked m to do their commencement speech multiple years.

And we have four pieces in their permanent collection at their museum.

It all worked out for everyone.

So you didn't have one of those pretty woman moment where you're like, big mistake.

Well, I still am.

Every time I get asked to do the commencement speech.

I say no because honestly, it's because I can't do it.

I don't have the time.

Not because I don't want to.

But, you know, maybe that, you know, in the back of my head a little bit.

Be nice to be a great full circle.

But I would love to do it one day.

Yeah, I love that.

So, youre 20 years old, and someone convinces you to apply for Project Runway?

Is that how it happened?

-Yes, it is!

-Who covinced you?

Yeah, a friend of mine, we were at dinner a friend I went to college with I just moved to New York City.

I had nothing, I didn't know much.

And I had never seen Project Runway because I had lived in Europe for the last four years.

So everyone was like, oh, I had no idea about anything.

I didn't even know what it was.

I auditioned on a whim, and I was 20 years old, so I.

But I had nothing to lose, you know what I mean?

But when you go into somethin with really nothing to lose, and you just let your inhibitions kind of fly and go for it, and that's what I did.

what did that entail?

Like, an a Like did you have to submit your work?

Yeah, you have to submit your work, you have to go in front of a panel, You show your pieces inside out, how theyre made.

made.

It's very different now in the process.

We're a little bit more thorough, but at that time, like, there was no social media.

Like you couldn't see work on the internet.

You had to, like, old school show photos.

It was so funny.

Yeah.

But great.

Yeah, yeah.

And everyone thought I was too young at the time and I was young and I think I.

But I think what I had was like, you know, ambition.

And I just wanted to try.

And I could have been out first and you never know.

But you won.

Yeah, but I won.

And I was 21 years old and I was really young, so I learned a lot.

So what happens?

You win Project Runway, and then there's something like a reality show Winner's curse, where some people have that 15 minutes of fame, and then you never hear from them again.

And then there are the very few that actually go on to be successes.

I think some reality shows are so different, like a competition show where it's about talent is much easier to hopefully hav a thriving business afterward.

But for me, again, like I never seen the show, so afterward I just wanted to like, make clothes and like, start a business.

So that's what we did.

I showed my first collection maybe four months later, and just kept going.

And I just wanted to, like, build a fashion brand I didn't really care about.

I mean, I know Amy Poehler played me on SNL, which was fabulous, and I.

But I didn't kno who Amy Poehler was at the time.

I was very naive at that time.

I quickly learned very quickly because every famous person was like asking for clothes.

I remember like Rihanna, Katy Perry, Gaga, they all ask for clothes, like literally within the first like month.

And I was like, I don't really know who they are but we're going to go with it.

So it was Victoria Beckham the first, though.

Victoria was the first to buy pieces.

She actually bought collection.

So she was the first supporter for Heidi.

Bought a few piece in the early, early, then Gaga, Rihanna, Whoop Goldberg was a huge supporter.

I dress her for the Tony Awards.

She was my first big award show.

I did all her looks for the Tony and it was amazing.

So like early on, really Fabulous women.

Oprah was bought a dress maybe in 2009, I got a $10,000 check in the mail and I didn't want to cash it, but I'm like, need the money.

I mean, yeah, yeah, I wanted t frame the check, but I really.

Needed the cash right.

Is there a both.

And I know it's hard.

No.

And you couldn't do that.

You couldn't scan your check those days.

Well, and you list these famous people, these icons in not only the world, but in fashion in particular.

As if.

Right.

They're like just a group o friends that you hang out with.

Do you sometimes look at your life and think, when did my life exceed my dreams?

I know?

No.

I mean, becaus it's still a hustle every day.

Like if it was perfect and fabulous and I and it wasn't hard, then I would think that way.

But it's really hard all the time.

So it's runnin a fashion business is one of the biggest challenges, just to survive.

So.

Yeah.

So how do you balance that making fashion for people who are obviously in the public eye, making fashions that are runway appropriate or red carpet worthy, and then balancing it for people like me who have to go to work every day or, you know, wanting to go to a benefi or just to their kids wedding.

You need a lot of energy, all the time, every minute.

And I also I think the biggest thing for me is why I've been able to be successful is because I'm a very decisive designer.

I'm a very I don't overthink it.

I don't, you know, I don't need the next day to decide.

Usually it's kind of like, this is it.

This is what I'm going to do.

And usually that works out for me.

Pretty much every time.

So I think sometimes when you overthink it is when it doesn't work.

And you're trying too hard t make it work and I just move on.

If it's a great dress and or a great project, or I want to dress this person and it works out great.

And if it doesn't, early days I would get very upset.

I'd be like, oh my God, my career is over.

But now I'm kind of like, well, we've done a lot of great things and if it's over tomorrow, we'll do something It's clear that Christian's career is far from over since launching his brand.

His bold design have been celebrated by everyone from the fashion elite to the home shopper.

And along the way, he has created some truly unforgettable moments on the red carpet.

I want to talk about a few moments that, to me and I think t the public have felt monumental.

Billy Porter yeah.

Comes to mind.

I mean, that was already 2019, the first to wear a gown.

Certainly not the last, because that was a moment in time.

Yeah, I understand he was the most that that image is the most googled image.

Of the year.

That year in the billions with a B. Isnt that Crazy?

I know Did you ever expect that?

It was like maybe people are googling because they're lik really confused, which is fine.

I'm sure the rest of the world was very confused.

What that was.

But I think what's so great about that moment, you know, the first man to wear a gown on a red carpet, especially at the Oscars, whereas, there's a lot of judgment.

But he was still respectful, still looked elegant, and still was very Billy.

He wanted to be his his authentic self.

And I think what was great about that moment is really for the younger generation I think, honestly, was so this young kid could see themselve wearing what they want to wear because that's the thing.

Clothes, there are no rules.

I don't know who decided that.

There are rules.

What we are allowed to wear.

It's not a law.

What you can wear, we make.

Okay.

You want to dress up for events and things, and there's, I'm sur your mom might have stipulations on what part you're going to go to and wear, but I think other than that, there really aren't these, like, archaic rules anymore.

So whose opinion matters?

I think that's, but I still think opinions matter of the, of the world, the culture.

Who's shopping like the customer still is a very important.

I still think that there's a right dress or piece for the right moment.

I still think that's important.

So I think and I think obviously the editors and the designers and all the creators that do work very hard at this and business are still important.

Yeah.

How do you balance though?

But I mean, especially like on that first season and now, I mean, we have to come full circle now you're one of the mentors.

You are the mentor on on Project Runway where you really and I think to your credit, are balancing being in the thick of it with being able to really help others navigate that space.

I was the best scenario mentor for a new generation because I am a working fashion designer.

We love Tim Gunn who is incredible, but he just wasn't a working fashion designer.

So for me, when I leave my office and I say to this designer who's young and was like, oh, well, this is for Ariana Grande.

And I'm like but I just dress Ariana Grande.

Yesterday.

She's not going to wear that I'm telling you, because I know, not because I'm being mean.

I'm factually telling you she's not interested in that.

Look she just wouldnt be.

So I'm trying to give them really real advice because I'm really in it, which I think is very beneficial for anybody.

I mean, I would love that advice.

When I was growing up.

All right.

Another moment.

Yeah.

Leslie Jones.

Yeah.

The best.

I mean, Leslie.

Was in my office last week and got it still all these years later.

I mean, it's been like ten years.

Still, he fittings are the best fittings.

She screams around the room.

It's hilarious.

It's so much fun.

It's just the best.

But share the story about her.

You know, going to the awar ceremony for for, Ghostbusters.

No one wanted to fit her.

Yeah I mean, this feels like archaic.

What I think what I remember about that is, you know, Leslie couldn't get a dress, but Leslie was in a huge, major, major budget film.

I mean, this was a huge red carpet.

Big actresses, and I think it took a lo of humility for her to even say.

I mean, it was kind of embarrassing for her to have to be like nobody wants to dress me, right?

That takes a lot of courage already, because it's embarrassing.

I wouldn't tell anybody.

I would just be like, oh, go buy a dress, right?

Right.

No.

She wanted the world to know that that wasn't really fair.

And I think that that's what we did and we accomplished a great goal that I think a lot of now.

I mean, after that, so many women came forward being like, designers wouldn't make something for me or I couldn't get it.

I mean, Bryce Dalla Howard did that at the Oscars.

She was like, I bought my dres because no one sent me a dress.

She's nominated like wild.

So I think that that happens sometimes and it's sad.

So yeah.

So I think that that was a great moment.

Okay.

If she looks.

Fabulous, she looked fabulous.

That dress fit her to a T. An amazing.

And she's.

Beautiful Its in the FIT museum, which is.

Really funny.

Yeah.

We're all thing that you didn't see could happen end up there.

Yes.

It ended up in the FIT museum.

So if you were listening earlier, we're full circle with our story.

So unpack tha a little bit for us that are not in the fashion industry, what does that mean that someone reaches out to had to do a dress for you.

So you see a famous person who wins an award as a designer, are you automatically like, I need to do this for you, I have an idea for you.

Sometimes, And then they get to pick and choose usually.

Or how does that work?

Yeah, I mean, it can be really organic like that.

Like a, an actor or musician can come into the studio, we can try lots of different things on, or we can just go from a sketc and we make it for them custom.

And then we do a fitting, it really varies.

And sometimes they're really involved and sometimes they're not involved at all.

And I send i and they show up in it and done.

It can be really easy or can be really not.

I won't tell you who the people who are not easy are.

Oh, that's my next question.

They have to know the difficult ones.

There's there's difficult ones.

There are, there definitely are.

But you know what?

Everybody's difficult because there's a lot of pressure on them.

Yeah.

And a lot of women i my life are very self-conscious.

So imagine a woman going on a huge red carpet or going on a stage.

It's a lot of pressure to look good because also we as humans are, like, very tough.

And we say like, oh, like tha we we judge very quickly, like, you either love something or you hate something, which is interesting.

I never judge thing that way.

I'm always like, well, I like this part and I like that.

I don't love this.

I don't hate anything.

It's a dress like you can't hate it, you know.

But can you?

I know.

No you cant, because it's never that bad.

It really isnt.

It's just maybe not for you, you know?

Yeah.

Has someone ever hired you to.

To build something or construct something?

And you finally just said, I can't do it.

Every now and then?

Yeah.

We've had a bride.

I think we have a brid right now that I don't know, but we're going to make it better.

Don't laugh.

My team, I don't know we're going to make it through.

She won't know who it is.

But, you know sometimes they're just so picky.

And then it's like, oh, so I need the money that bad I don't know.

No.

They're just so, you know, and I think some people will now, I will say in the world of social media, in the world of you can get anything anywhere.

You can see anything.

AI is out there.

People bring us AI images.

This is what I wan my wedding dress to look like.

I'm like but that's not physically real.

There's no seams anywhere.

Like there's no darts.

You can't make a dress like that's not a real dress.

So that can be scary.

We're trying to work through that.

And explain how your team works.

Is it huge now?

Do you still so small?

You're still, like, doing everything?

We grew, And we got a lot of people and then we downsize.

Because honestly, if you just have great people like you don't need a lot.

Sometime it'd be nice to have a few more, but then things get lost in translation and, you know, that wasn't really working.

So the core group is great.

And you're still doing all the designs.

Yeah.

I mean, everybody in the office helps, though.

Okay.

Everything, you know, every I, I listen to opinions as much as I can, which is very hard for me.

We're going to interview your team.

That's.

And see how that works.

Are you still doing everything by hand?

Sketch everything by him?

No.

Computers?

No.

We make every pattern by hand.

Wow.

we we don't.

I don't even think.

I don't even think the studio uses a computer anymore.

I think it's broke.

You know, like it's hilarious.

Yeah, I just like that.

I don't know, I like to sketch every dress.

I like to do it that way.

We drape a lot.

We.

It's very organic process.

And then we make you know, patterns from scratch.

Yeah.

As he navigates a demanding and ever evolving industry.

Christian has found a wa to remain true to his creative point of view while expanding his brand to celebrate everybody at every price point.

His inclusive approach to design has shined a light on a steadfast commitment to empowering women of all shapes, sizes and stages of life.

All right.

So I also want t talk about Christina Applegate and that moment, I mean, which is in recent recent history where she was getting the award and had just found ou that she was diagnosed with Ms.. Yeah.

And you made her what I can only describe as the ultimate, like, badass power suit.

I don't know if I can say that all, but but it was, what was the conversation like with her and really executing that?

I love Christina so much.

Oh, my.

She's incredible.

And I just dressed her for the Emmys recently, and we had so much fun, but she really just wanted t look, yeah, that's what it was.

Powerful and still.

But still sexy.

Still her.

She's also kind of a rock girl.

She grew up in that era, s she wanted to, like, look cool.

And, and I think, you know, she was like, I have to wear shoes that I can walk.

I think she was barefoot by the end of, like I have to use my cane, you know, I want to feel comfortable but I still want to look good.

So all those elements, She literally had, like, Doc Martens.

Like, underneath she.

Wears a doc shell.

That's all she wants to wear.

Or she's barefoot.

So I.

You get one of the other, bu I'm like, I would love a shoe.

But she's amazing and so strong.

And another yet Ms..

Survivor.

You know, Selma Blair who is doing so much better now.

She can actually walk.

She still uses her cane, mostly, but it's unbelievable to see what happens to these women.

Like it's wild.

I mean, it affects your entire body.

It's.

And these women who used to literally, like walk a cart, walk a carpet and couture beaded gowns, they can't do that anymore.

It's really interesting.

And, but they're so strong and incredible, and I love dressing them.

But when you look back o on those like Billy, the Leslie, the Christina, did you ever imagine your fashion would also become activism?

Yeah, I didn't think about it ever.

Really.

But I do think now what I love, sometimes those moments are better than just a beautiful dress, because it is means more.

I think I've dressed.

I mean, we did, like, a thousand red carpets last year, I think.

And, or looks in on people, which is crazy.

And, bu the meaningful ones are special.

They feel really great.

Yeah.

Whether it's like Michelle Obama at the DNC, giving an A the most incredible speech eve or things like that, you know, feel really good.

When you look back to do you watch the show like your original show?

Do you ever watch it?

I haven't seen it in so long.

I mean, I'm not that long, though, but I remember things kind of.

Yeah.

Do you think there there's one of one of.

Not you, bu but one of the other contestants had talked about how they don' feel like they've changed that.

Like their DNA is the same, but they have evolved.

Yeah.

Would you say the same?

Sure.

I think any whenever you're young.

I mean, I was 20 years old so of course I'm, I've changed.

I'm going to be older than that now.

And, it's been a long time.

I've been in business for 17 years.

We've done a million projects and things, and.

Yeah.

So you just grow?

Yeah.

For sure.

Do you still love it?

Yeah.

Today?

I can't think so.

Don't ask me tomorrow.

Well, it sort of haunts me.

I imagine it haunts you.

That line that Heidi would always use, which is, you know, one day you're in, and the next day you're out.

Does it always does.

You always have to be always creating.

I mean, that's what' really scary about the business.

Like, let's say I skip a red carpet or I don't do an event, I don't do something.

It's like people are like oh, he's done.

He's it's over.

Yeah.

Which is so funny because people are so quick to judge.

I'm like, wait, lots of people don't don't do everything all the time.

I mean, I dress somebody on pretty much every red carpet every single year.

You cannot keep that u like it's impossible right now.

I don't even want to do that anymore.

It's not that it's not that much fun.

Yeah.

So what do you want to do?

What does the future hold?

No, I mean, we want to, you know, we love making clothes for people.

We love making people feel great.

And it's still fun to buil the business and try new things.

I mean, we're here in Chattanooga.

I never would never imagine coming here doing a charity fashion show.

So it still is nice to try and new things.

Some work, some don't.

So that's kind of where I am now.

So.

Yeah.

What do you tell a young designer who might be watching this and has, you know, has maybe been turned down so many times or.

Run away.

You're run away.

Okay.

Run away.

No, no, actually, real advice is, I think, for young designers, a lot of young designers try to do too many things.

And that doesn't work.

You have to focus and be great at something, great at a fabulous jackets, great at eveningwear, great at denim.

Whatever it is, it has to be amazing because you're never going to be able to compet with all the brands out there.

So if your stuff is really so amazing, then I think it'll you'll, you'll make it.

Because I think what's happening is a lot of young designers try to do everything they want to do evening, they want to do sportswear, they want to do denim, they want to do it all.

But that doesn't really work right now.

You can't do that for years.

I mean, I only did it eveningwear my first five years in business, we barely made a suit or a pant.

Now we make more suits and custom clothes than anything.

So, like, yeah, you just have to.

It has to be a build.

And then if someone's listening, who you have not outfitted yet, who's your dream person?

Oh.

Who's listening?

Yes.

Who might that be that you haven't done a dress for everybody?

I wanted to dress on my list.

There's new people that come out all the time that we haven't really done anything for.

Oh, Tilda Swinton, I don't talk about her a lot because I don't necessarily know.

She would love what I do, but I would love to dress her for something.

Or Cate Blanchett.

So those two, because haven't done anything for them.

But a lot of women, I really where I had a list, checked it off.

You had a.

List?

Stop making a list because you know what will make the list?

It doesn't happen, actually.

Yeah, Halle Berry was on my list.

So for a long time, to dress Holly Berry for the Oscars was literally my number one goal.

Since I think, and it's somewhere written, I think it might be even in m first book, I have to find it.

And so we made that happen this year, which was great.

I saw that it took 16 years.

Did she know that that she was on the top of your list?

She did.

Yeah, I love that.

She doesn't care who they are.

She's like, if the dress is great, I'm going to wear it, babe.

That's how she rolls.

Halle Berry is very old school that way.

She's like, I love you so much.

She goes, but it's a good dress.

I'm going to wear it.

If it's not a good dress, I'm not wearing it.

Well, if fashion is fleeting what do you hope your legacy is?

Oh, gosh.

Yeah.

I always think if it was over tomorrow, I just hope that people see that I left behind that I change the perception of like what beauty is what is stylish or fashionable.

Or what should be celebrated.

Yeah, I think so.

Well, on behalf of everybody who's bought your clothes and everybody that it fits.

Thank you Christian.

Thank you so much.

Watch even more of the shows you love any time with WTCI passport.

An exclusive benefit for members of WTCI PBS.

Watch your favorite shows and passport on the free PBS app.

Download it today.