VUE

he designer's eponymous fashion line made its debut during NYFW in 2008 and was later picked up by Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus. Following his initial success, Siriano went on to sign deals and partner with other well-known retailers including Puma, Lane Bryant and New York's most famous bridal boutique, Kleinfeld. In 2012, Siriano opened up his first flagship store and in 2013, he was inducted into the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). However, Siriano's much- desired designs have expanded beyond just clothing—delving into the world of shoes, eyewear, makeup, handbags and even bedding. His award-winning clientele spans from Sarah Jessica Parker, Kerry Washington, Christina Hendricks and Leslie Jones—to name a few—and have garnered him a great deal of attention after speaking out publicly regarding diversity and body positivity in the fashion industry. Most recently, Siriano put his design skills to the test for his collaboration with Italian wine company, Ecco Domani. For the past three years, Ecco Domani has enlisted the help of high-fashion designers to craft their limited-edition Designer Label Pinot Grigio bottle. Succeeding last year's selected stylist, Zac Posen, VUE had the chance to chat with Siriano about his latest venture and his budding relationship with Ecco Domani. "Part of why I signed on for the project is because I think it's super important to work with companies that are not only supportive of the fashion industry, but also young brands," Siriano said. "What's great is that Ecco Domani has been a huge supporter of young, aspiring designers and we really need more of that." Fifteen years ago, Ecco Domani founded and began sponsoring the Fashion Foundation Awards, a design competition which has since contributed more than $1.8 million to the success of previous winners which include Proenza Schouler, Rodarte, Alexander Wang and Derek Lam. "When Ecco Domani asked if I would be interested in designing for them, I immediately just loved the idea. It was an interesting and different experience for me and I just wanted the wine bottle to feel very cool and special." Siriano's Designer Label took cues from 1960s Palm Springs, an era and location that served as inspiration for his own Resort 2016 collection. "I really love that vintage and whimsy quality. Everything was really light and effortless at that time," Siriano explained. The bottle itself mimics the bright, fruity flavor of the wine by highlighting hues of citrus and fuschia, and nods to Palm Springs with wrap-around leafy accents. Siriano also stressed the importance of trying to create VUE ON LIFESTYLE V U E N J . C O M 34

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