If you’re a Project Runway stan or watch any major awards show, you may think you know everything about fashion designer Christian Siriano—but did you know his mother’s favorite gemstone is pearl?
That’s why Siriano included pearls in his first jewelry collection, which debuted this month at Zales. The collaboration with Zales is part of the Designer Edit, a program the jewelry chain started earlier this year to work with up-and-coming jewelry designers and diverse creators.
Zales x Christian Siriano jewelry is a tribute to Siriano’s mom, who shops at Zales, as well as the many people who desire a fine jewelry look at any time, he says.
“It was important to me that we try to make this first collection feel classic and elegant but also have a bit of playfulness and fantasy,” Siriano says. “That’s why we picked some shapes and silhouettes that are bit different than what people may have already had at home.”
Siriano became the youngest winner of Project Runway when he captured the top prize on Season 4 at the age of 22, and is arguably the most successful designer to come out of the Bravo reality competition. His eponymous clothing brand is known for, among other things, a commitment to size inclusivity.
Since his 2007 Project Runway win, Siriano has dressed Hollywood’s and Washington’s elite. His celebrated creations include Billy Porter’s tuxedo gowns for the 2019 Oscars and 2023 Golden Globes and the conceptual camp gown Janelle Monáe wore to the Met Gala in 2019.
Siriano’s Zales collab alludes to those moments with Runway, one of two collections he created for the jewelry chain. The other, Every Day, is trend-focused and affordably priced, featuring 14k yellow gold plated over silver with black diamonds and other gemstones, including aquamarine and amethyst. Its prices range from $299 to $999.
Runway, which is only available online, leans toward fine jewelry, with 14k white and yellow gold and lab-grown diamonds. Prices run from $1,099 to $29,099.
In September, The Bear actress Liza Colon-Zayas wore a Zales x Christian Siriano lab-grown diamond necklace and matching earrings at the Emmys, where she won for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
“I got to see my own jewelry on the red carpet,” Siriano says. “I’ve been dressing people for the red carpet for so long—now they also get to wear my jewelry.”
To highlight Siriano’s size inclusivity, Zales x Christian Siriano offers extended sizing, up to size 9 for rings and up to 22 inches long for necklaces. Siriano says this was important to him because it is a keystone of his fashion work but also because of his family.
“My mom is a curvier lady, and my sister is a petite ballet dancer. Both like the same jewelry pieces, so they should be able to wear what they like together,” he says.
“It was important that the necklaces were the right length and the rings could fit as many sizes as possible. Zales was already doing that, but we in my family also talked about that a lot growing up.”
Siriano, who has a new book out about his life in fashion, says he worked closely with Zales on his designs, giving himself space to learn more about fine jewelry and what consumers want. He sketched out his ideas with pencil and paper, some inspired by his famous gowns.
The pieces he designed for Zales are suitable for everyday wear and for special occasions, says Siriano, adding that his favorite elements of the collections are the enamel, the big, bold colors, and the black diamonds.
“Jewelry creates a lot of memories, and it’s sentimental, even more so than clothing,” Siriano says. “It’s a timeless part of a person’s closet, and they may want to pass it down to family or friends.”
Top: Christian Siriano and a model show off some pieces in his collaboration with Zales. (Photos courtesy of Zales)
Follow JCK on Instagram: @jckmagazineFollow JCK on Twitter: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Facebook: @jckmagazine
