Christian Siriano Spring 2012

What can I say about Christian Siriano that hasn't been said already? Perhaps the most loved Project Runway contestant ever, he's arguably the most successful as well, smartly leveraging a shoe line with Payless (and several other strategic partnerships) to fund his ready-to-wear line. He might be one of the most talented contestants as well; there's no question as to his design skill, especially after seeing his show on Saturday. For spring, Siriano explored the neutral/acid brights motif that's already a big trend for the season, and watching him play with different proportions was a delight: Sometimes a beige day dress with a chartreuse belt, then a dramatic pair of crepe palazzo pants in the same shade, and finally, as if he couldn't hold it back any longer, a dramatic tulle trumpet gown in an overwhelming burst of color. Sometimes, however, a little restraint could have been in order—Siriano went a bit overboard with the pleating on a few organza numbers, and several of the show-closing ballgowns overwhelmed the models (and if a gown swallows a six-foot woman, think of how ridiculous it will look on an average-size one). Still, there's a reason he's carried in high-end boutiques like 4510 and Neapolitan, and it's not the novelty factor—Siriano simply makes beautiful, ladylike clothes.