The Art of Yarn

Nebraska native Shelia Hicks’ “Art of the Yarn exhibit was Christian Siriano guiding light for his Fall 2016 collection. Hicks’, who graduated from Yale University with a Masters degree discovered her interest in working with fibers while she was based in República de Chile. Since then, her work been featured in exhibitions internationally and Siriano was drawn to the many ways Hicks manipulated yarn to create art —it’s the same idea as designers tinkering with fabrics to fashion Ready-To-Wear.

Knits, stripes and tulle

This inspiration translated into a knee length cable knit dress, a wrap scarf worn as a shirt and braided knit turtlenecks. Clothes that weren’t interlocked wool took the form of a knit print that found itself on a sleeveless wrap dress, one sleeve gathered dress and a long sleeve panel dress. Other then Siriano’s modern take on knits a multi-stripe print, faux Alpaca coats and-and a floral appliqué jumpsuit and one sleeve dress made its way to the runways. These looks weren’t as jaw-dropping as the knitwear, but they also didn’t weight the collection down— the multi striped culottes and an Alpaca wrap jacket with wide-leg pants were flawless separates. Of course it wouldn’t be a complete collection from the Project Runway alum without evening wear, the most stunning piece being a textured strapless tulle tiered gown that was reminiscent of the Fall 2011 Christian Siriano skirt worn by Sarah Jessica Parker in Marie Claire magazine.

As a whole, this wasn’t Siriano’s strongest presentation, but it surely wasn’t the worst. He still is one of the few designers who can design for the 25-year-old millennial woman and her chic women of a particular age as well, and that will always help the young Annapolis native has his brand continues to flourish.

Words: Nigel Isaiah