Between back-to-school shopping and heading into fall, this time of year is all about fashion. What will everyone wear? What will be the hot colors this season? But this year in particular, the theme comes with another very clear theme: budgeting. That’s why it’s so welcome to hear designer Christian Siriano announce a sartorial riff on this year’s “it” trend.
In fact, Siriano is a long-time sartorial repeater—skinny jeans, classic T-shirts, and black glasses have become synonymous with the former runway plan winner. So who better to turn to for advice on everything from recycled styles and thrifting to color seasons and TikTok impulse buys?
Here’s what Siriano had to say when we sat down with him for a costume-centric Zoom chat.
Scary Mom: I love the idea of re-wearing, especially in this economy. But how to do it in a way that still feels fresh?
Christian Siriano: I’ve been noticing a lot lately, it’s obviously like repeating outfits, but you have your favorite shirt, you have your favorite jeans, you have your favorite jacket, it’s always your go-to, like , well you wear it often and it becomes Appearance. I like this. I feel like everyone has a signature look.
It almost became more fashionable than not, and then I was like, okay, well, you’ve done that, so how do you now take out old stuff, stuff that you’ve never worn? This might become your new jeans, that might become your new cool T-shirt, and That Become your signature outfit. So, it’s almost like taking something from the past and turning it into your signature look. This is a new way of thinking about clothing.
SM: You’ve always had a signature look. But for many people (myself included), aesthetics can be tricky. What advice do you have for moms on how to incorporate their own personal style so we don’t look like Adam Sandler everywhere?
CS: Look, I have a lot of moms who are friends with me, and I think that’s obviously important because every mom is so busy. But I think you still don’t want to lose yourself and the things you love. So my thought is, if you’re an athletic mom, that’s great – really lean into that, “I’m looking for cool athleisure items.” Or if you’re more into oversized dressing, or If you like the color blocking or monochromatic look trend, whatever it is, I’d rather you go to the extremes to some extent. I think it creates a cooler vibe. Again, you have a signature.
That’s how you perform, that’s how you feel good, but you definitely have to be a little more committed than normal, which I think is fun. Maybe you always wear oversized glasses when you pick up your kids every day, and it’s become a habit. This is cool.
SM: Speaking of color, I feel like we’ve been hearing a lot lately about seasonal color analysis, like, are you fall? Are you summer? Trying to figure out if your season is worth it?
CS: I think it helps if you’re in a season and you’re choosing a color palette that’s appropriate for the season, but my bottom line is it doesn’t matter because everyone should have colors that they feel good about, They think they look good with their skin color, body shape, or whatever.
I know many beautiful women who wear white all year round. I know so many beautiful women who wear bright cobalt and saturated jewel tones year-round because that’s how they feel good. That’s not them. One actress told me, ‘I would never wear that color. I don’t care where I’m going. I won’t even look at it. I love her for this because it helps me narrow down what I do for her. Even Oprah, I designed Oprah’s outfit for the Democratic National Committee, and she said, ‘I want to be regal. I want to wear purple clothes. This looks good to me. I’m confident in the color purple,” and that’s who we created her to be.
So I don’t want people to come into this world should wear. You should wear clothes that make you feel truly confident.
SM: Of course. Well, today’s teenagers are heavily influenced by social media and they want to see all the viral stuff. How parents can help their children feel trendy when they don’t have the budget to buy anything all things?
CS: I definitely notice this among the younger generation. A lot happens on TikTok, and it happens really fast. “Oh, you gotta get a cool hoodie. You gotta get this. Here’s the new cropped shirt. I don’t have kids, but I’ve noticed that I think it’s not always the best to jump on the trend right away. , because this trend is developing very quickly.
It’s more about the overall larger style picture, so you focus on, ‘Okay, you know what? Today’s jeans are a wider, baggier style. They are not as thin as before. Let’s buy a pair or two of really cool shoes.
If you can’t buy everything (and most people can’t), then you have to buy these pieces – I’d rather you spend money on three really cool, amazing pieces than have a giant Pile things you want to throw away or throw away.
SM: What are your thoughts on high-waisted jeans versus the hip-hugging or low-rise jeans we’re seeing again?
CS: Very, very high-waisted wide-leg jeans, which I love, but again, I think, it’s not always on trend. Sometimes, it’s just about something that looks really chic and feels good on you. Oprah once again wore a pair of wide pants that were really flowy and more lively. This isn’t a tight, well-tailored suit, so it just depends on who you want to be.
I guess I thought about it a lot. Even for the friends I hang out with on the weekends, I love that my girlfriends still wear tight, low-lying clothes and they look super cute in them. And then my girlfriends all wear big, huge, wide, extra large, but that’s their personality. So, I love seeing that. I’m not someone who always says, “You have to wear this.”
SM: I like that – not doing absolutes. So, as clothing becomes more repetitive and thrifty, what are your tips for picking out clothes and making sure they actually last?
CS: That’s why we collaborate [the laundry detergent] Persil—You have to find the right product. Just like skincare, you have to find the right product for what you do; it’s really important. I wear a lot of black t-shirts, so I look for t-shirts that are durable because I wash them often.
Also, generally speaking, there aren’t many rules on how often to wash clothes, or can I wear the item again and again? Is it dirty or clean? any. You have to make your own plans that way, which is why I think retro is fun. Yes, it has been worn and I’m sure washed a million times, but that doesn’t mean it can’t have a whole new life in the next 10 years.
But sometimes, things obviously get stale. Usually when I see things that really don’t last. Otherwise, the clothes do last a long time. I mean, listen, quality matters. If it was a $5 item, I don’t know if it would last the longest.
SM: Is there anything you’re really excited about that you think you’ll see a lot of in the fall?
CS: I think over the past few years, everyone has obviously been into that very nude, monochromatic thing—the Skims world—that’s the look. But I think it will be warmer, cozier, and richer. I think people might want to wear something that feels good. This is what I noticed.
In fact, we’ve been making a lot of red clothes lately. Red is a color of passion, power, so maybe people want something quick, instant, feel-good. As for Burgundy, we’ve done a lot of that, but yeah, so I think that’s it.
SM: Perfect. We love a good red moment.
