Christian Siriano Is on the Nice List

Christian Siriano knows it’s better to give than to receive. “I want everything,” the fashion designer said with a laugh, mulling over what’s on his holiday wish list on Tuesday night. “No, I want nothing. I just bought my mom a house…that felt really, really good. That’s actually more exciting for me.”

With Christmas less than two weeks away, gifts were top of mind for Siriano as we chatted in advance of the Elegant White Elephant Exchange at the Public Hotel, where he was playing host. On a bitingly cold New York City night, Siriano made spirits bright with the trademark humor that made the plucky reality TV contestant an instant star when he was crowned Project Runway’s youngest winner back in the early aughts. Before Pernod Ricard USA’s collection of spirits flowed and attendees ogled a 23k gold bespoke cocktail trunk created by South African artist Johnathan Schultz, Siriano took a moment to reminisce about years gone by.

“Everything’s going so quickly. I do try to make sure that the gifts are a little bit more meaningful now as I get older. I think a lot of people think like that, especially if you don’t have kids. My sister has two boys and it’s so interesting ’cause the holidays are so different for them,” Siriano said.

And this year, he’s taking that idea to heart, creating custom presents for his friends and family. “I’m gifting lots of art,” he said. “That’s kind of actually [what I do on] my chill days—painting and sketching—so I’ve been gifting that. I think it’s almost like, ‘What am I gonna buy people?’ I can give them Christian Siriano clothes and bags, but they’ve been getting that for years. It’s like original, beautiful, one-of-a-kind little artwork. Hopefully I can finish everything. We’ll see.” 

With awards-show season only weeks away—the 80th Golden Globes air Tuesday, January 10—where Siriano’s custom designs flatter all shapes and sizes, he’s hoping to enjoy some downtime before things kick off.

“I’m taking a break!” Siriano said. “It’s so funny ’cause at the Emmys, I was like, ‘We’re gonna try to be really focused,’ but then, it’s so hard when actresses I know [reach out] and they’re my friends, so it’s so hard to say no. You never know what people will actually wear. Like even Jean Smart, she won her Emmy, but we made that dress for her last year. It’s so interesting how it works sometimes. You never know. Somebody literally just emailed us about the Golden Globes and I was like, ‘Guys, I need to have Christmas with my family.’” 

And as for being synonymous with looks that exalt a variety of body types, Siriano is honored.

“I like that I get to give the confidence back,” Siriano said. “That’s always when it’s the best too, because then they feel good…it’s the best photos, it’s the best everything. And that’s what you want. So it’s not just a dress, then, it’s a better feeling, which is always nice.”