We’re living in very peculiar times. In a pre-pandemic world, attending a fashion show (or in the case of Christian Siriano, asking your BFF to walk in one) wouldn’t seem out of the ordinary, let alone potentially lethal. But boy, have things changed since. Yet the proverbial show must go on, and so it did earlier today at Gotham Hall in New York City, where model and entrepreneur Candice Huffine not only walked in Siriano’s show – she served as his muse.
From the confines of my apartment, just 25 blocks south of the venue, I – along with approximately 1,000 others – got a front-row seat to the action via Siriano’s Instagram Live. Surprisingly, the presentation felt the same – albeit virtual. Approximately 20 minutes after the scheduled start time (fashion shows almost always begin late), “Stay Closer” by the electronic musician Zhu blared from my laptop speakers as Huffine and other models emerged from beds positioned around the venue to walk the runway (we love a piece of performance art). Other highlights included pops of lime green and fuchsia, silky sheens, XL ruffles, voluminous shoulders, and, of course, size diversity.
Instead of fleeting remarks from fellow attendees, I saw an influx of positive comments roll in (“So inclusive,” “Come on body positivity,” and “Aunt Candy!” to name just a few). It reaffirmed what we already know: Christian Siriano is one of the most inclusive designers in the game, always on the cusp of the next great way to expand his brand, whether through mask-making, reality TV, or, for this collection, partnering again with online clothing reseller thredUP to bring awareness to the fashion industry’s waste problem.
What’s more, Siriano did it all with Huffine by his side. Here, Huffine talked to us (via video, natch) about modeling for Siriano and the importance of body diversity in fashion.
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