OK Ladies (and the odd gentleman), who loves Christian Siriano? Let me hear you! Who is fascinated by how his maniacal fashion mind works as he manages to succeed in an industry that often crushes new designers and an economy that crushes everybody else? Me! I am!

I got a chance to talk to Christian at the Fall Release event for Payless at their showroom in Manhattan. I will admit that most of the information in the interview is paraphrased (hey, I had a notebook, not a tape recorder). But these are the facts. The cold, hard facts.

Part 1: Memories….la la la la

So we all remember the runway versions of Christian Siriano’s soon-to-be-ready-to-footwear. They were…aspirational. Celebrities starting wearing them even before they tripped lightly down the runway at his Fall 2009 show. Needless to say, the question of how those 7-inch stunners would be modified for a population who walks farther than runway–>limo–>premiere–>limo was foremost in my mind. Here’s a reminder of what the runway versions looked like:

Cute, but Ouch!

Part 2: Here comes the love

First of all, let me say that Siriano was the picture of graciousness throughout the Payless event. He chatted with all the journalists who were milling around, smiling and posing for photos. My Payless contact told me that he had come in on a red-eye flight that morning, but you certainly couldn’t tell by looking at him. After exchanging greetings, I dove into the interview.

Twinkletoes: Can you tell me about the inspiration for your Payless collection?

Christian: My inspiration is the diva, Cleopatra, in Egypt. You can see in the colors palette that we have the browns of the sand and the blue of the Nile. The detailing also comes from Egypt; we have inverted pyramid zipper pulls and a blue hieroglyphic-like pattern. Even the curved, conical heel is an inverted pyramid. Also, the snakeskin-like fabric is totally Egypt.

T: Talk to me a little about how your runway shoes are different from the shoes that will be sold at Payless.

CS: The Payless shoes are definitely modified to make them more wearable, but they are very similar. I designed the runway shoes with Payless, so don’t think that the retail shoes will be inferior in any way. The Payless customer wants an everyday shoe, not something they can wear just once. You can see that the retail shoes are dramatic enough with the color and the details. They don’t need to be 7 inches high for drama. They have enough drama on their own.

T: I noticed that on the blue hieroglyphic bootie, the zipper is farther toward the front of the shoe than on most ankle boots. Was there a reason for that design decision?

CS: I was to democratize fashion a little and I love it when people take something and make it their own. With the zipper moved forward like this, the wearer can actually unzip it part way and fold over the top, making a whole different look. On the runway, the shoes actually had a double zipper so that they could be modified even more.

T: How was designing your collection for Payless different from designing your own collection?

CS: Well, first of all, working with Payless was wonderful. They have so many resources so there are a million different options. At the same time, when I design for Payless, the first this I have to think about is making my design wearable, then I add drama. It’s actually the opposite process when I design my own collection. With my line, it’s all about the drama. I want it to be fabulous. If it’s not, then my take is “If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. Let’s throw a poncho on her and call it a day.” Wearability comes later. I loved working with Payless though! And there are plans in the works for more collections! I am already working on a Holiday collection and a Resort collection and there will be a Spring collection as well. This is just the beginning.

T: Do you have a deep-rooted love of shoes?

CS: Actually, my sister has over 400 pairs of shoes! And they are dramatic ones, not everyday ones. I remember that when we were little, she would get a new pair of shoes every week, so that there were so many of them in all kinds of colors. She loves shoes. One of the perks of me designing, in general and for Payles is that I can send my shoes to her and my mom. So far, I haven’t heard any complaints from them. So it definitely comes from them.

***

Christian’s shoes for Payless are due out in August and they are very cute. He stayed true to the runway versions for the most part, bringing the heels down a notch and dropping a chain or a spike here and there.  There are also even some flats in the collection for the girl on the go. All the shoes will be priced below $50.00, which is true for all the designer collaborations at Payless. Detailed photos won’t be available until late summer, but ladies, get ready to pounce on Payless when those shoes debut. For a sneak peak at the collection check out this photo from Racked.com.

I just want to thank Payless for letting me talk with Christian so I can share his thoughts with all of you. There is more coming from the Payless event. They are a brand that has come a long way in the last several years, becoming more recognizable and more respectable. I will also be posting about their designer collaboration with Alice & Olivia and their eco-friendly line Zoe & Zac as well as some other tidbits. Stay tuned!

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My mama always told me trends come in threes.  Didn’t yours?

No?  Well, ok, my mama didn’t exactly say that either, but I think we can safely assume that three designers picking up a shoe trend means it’ll be making an appearance at the retail level for us plebs.  And I can’t say as I’m unhappy about that when the shoe trend in question is the lacy details that showed up in the Marchesa and 3.1 Phillip Lim shows and then again yesterday at Rebecca Taylor.

Me, I wouldn’t pair these pumps with trouser socks, but you know… whatever floats your boat.

Zac Posen seems to be trying to send some business over to the folks who make the Bedazzler.  Otherwise, how to explain the rhinestones on some of his shoes.

Also, no, your eyes are not deceiving you.  That is a velvet and clear vinyl knee boot on the right there.  *shudder*  Not a Zac Posen fan, me.  Very much not.

But the show I was most looking forward to, in news that should surprise none of you if you’re faithful Shoeblog readers, was Christian Siriano’s.  Much as I may find the man incredibly annoying to listen to, I can’t argue that he has great conceptual clothing.  And after Twinkletoes’s preview hinted at fabulous shoes to come, I was giddy with the anticipation.

And then came the show itself.  And you know what?  Christian Siriano’s shoes were the best part.

They’re edgy and cool and young and sleek, if not anything terribly far outside the box.  They sure as hell outdo the clothing, if you ask me.  Apart from two dresses, I found the whole thing to be a largely shapeless, unflattering collection of blah browns occasionally enlivened by a metallic texture or a teal tone.  Dare I say it (and here’s something I never would have thought I’d say about Christian), a lot of the outfits looked cheap and poorly-made, and the shoes are what provided the style spark.  Case in point:

That dress is a horror.  I’m sorry to be blunt about it, but that looks like something I could pick up at Forever 21 for $19.  The shoes, though?  Well, the shoes are a very Christian-appropriate FIERCE (and look at the retreating model’s gorgeous footwear, too)!

For those of you who followed that particular Project Runway season (and you can check out our shoe coverage over this way), you’d certainly recognize the over-dependence on ruffles and giant shoulder-bulging sleeves.  I’m disappointed in the line overall.  Except for the shoes.  And except for these two dresses, which are—to use another keyword of Christian’s—fabulous.

Want to check out the rest of Christian’s line?  Elle has pics here.  Agree with my assessment?  Disagree?  Comment your little hearts out.

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Christian Siriano isn’t presenting his Fall 2009 collection until Thursday,  but thanks to the folks at Payless Shoe Source, we have a special behind the scenes sneak peak at the Project Runway winner’s newest collection, including the fabulous shoes he’s designed for Payless.

The Christian Siriano collection is said to be inspired by the pyramids of Egypt and the colors of the desert. I’m left drooling to see the actual collection with these appetizing quotes from Christian:

…if i was a diva woman who was really fabulous and wore heels everyday, the whole collection is what i would want to wear.

..so i think shoes and handbags really complete anyone’s look. i really think, for us, we have this beautiful subdued color palette, lots of browns, lots of camels. It’s all the same but different textures and i think the shoes bring it to life …like they bring something new, a different texture, if it is patent, or it it has some shine,  i think it gives like more almost, it almost finishes the look so if you have a really simple gloss, a really simple shirt, and a really FABULOUS shoes it makes the look even better.

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Project Runway alum Jillian Lewis showed her Fall ‘09 collection in presentation format this year. In case you heard, Presentations is NY Fashion Week’s answer to financial recession. You can have them in a smaller spacea, people can come in an out and take many many, photos, and they require fewer high-priced people to stage. Presentations come in many styles. Some consists of models standing in a row on platforms looking a bit like living dolls. Some are very much like shows, but they run repeatedly for an hour, and some combine both. Jillian Lewis did the doll-like thing, but there was nothing doll-like about her collection.

She had many “puzzle” pieces (her words, not mine). They involved a patchwork type technique with sheer and opaque fabrics as below:

Fancy, huh? I actually thought the Puzzle Pants would be awesome as leggings on your average fashion-lovin’ lady, but it would take a brave woman to pull off that puzzle dress. (Perhaps this is that woman). But wait….did you see the shoes?????

Guess who made them. No, seriously. Guess. Actually, I’ll give you some more material to work with first:

I thought these shoes were super cute and that they went well with the collection. Here’s a hint on the source. The brand is not uncredibly well-known, BUT it has been mentioned on this very blog several times as making designer knock-offs. For a knock-off brand, they are pretty pricey (around the $200) mark for most pairs. More clues here and here.

Alright, I’ve had my fun. Jillian Lewis sourced her shoes right from Pour La Victoire. They are relatively affordable, on trend, and some of the same styles can be found online like the:

Pour la Victoire ‘Sacha’ sandal which is $289 at Nordstroms or $339 at Zappos or $314 at ShopBop (how’s that for giving you store options?)

Pour la Victoire ‘Jeana’ boot on sale for $159 (50% off) at Nordstroms for the black patent version or $100 at Shopbop in the gray version seen on the model

Pour la Victoire ‘Bianca’ sandal which is $259 at Nordstroms,  $279 at Endless.com in black and $292 at Shopbop in gray

Jillian’s collection was all about the “Urban Warrior.” It was very sensual and extremely body conscious. The models seated on their silver trunks wore very dark smudgy eye makeup and 20s style headpieces over teased hair. Jillian’s famously curly hair was not at all teased. In fact, I almost didn’t recognize her when I first saw her at the show. (Hey, it was crowded! Jillian is mighty popular). See here’s a photo:

She was charming and very excited about her first show (since her debut on the PR finale last season). PR alums Jack Mackerouth and Malan Breton also put in appearances.

Overall, her collection was very cool with BEAUTIFUL signature trench coats body-skimming knits.

So what do you guys think? Do you like Jillian’s new collection or do you prefer her PR pieces?

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When the fug girls posted this image of Lily Allen wearing these Louis Vuitton wedge/stilettos (welettos?) (stiledges?), I thought “Oh that kooky Lily Allen has done it again. Yet another crazy accessory.

But then the Project Rungay boys posted an image of Heidi Klum wearing the same shoes! And she wore the on the red carpet of the Victoria Secret Angels Fashion Show Afterparty. A time when you would think “sexy” would be the key word. The words these suckers conjure for me are “confusing,” “split-personality,” and “Why?!?” From a distance they just look like giant clodhoppers interrupting the line of Heidi’s insanely long legs. Up close they are just weird. Here they are on Heidi:

My opinion is pretty clear here. But what do you think? Obviously designers have been going to great lengths to make new and unusual shapes in shoes. Is this stepping over the line? What’s next?

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