STUNNING! GORGEOUS! ETHEREAL!

Those are only a few of the words my brain can initially utter in response to the Christian Siriano Spring/Summer 2025 show, which, if I can be candid in this extremely public review for ELLE, was a dream come true to attend. When I got invited, “excited” didn’t even begin to cover how I felt about getting to sit front row at the highly sought-after designer’s NYFW show and having the chance to wear one of his stunning pieces. His designs and eye inspire me so much, and I was honored to wear an all-lace gown with nothing but my inhibitions covered (which I would only be able to do with one of Siriano’s dresses on my body). If this review wasn’t for ELLE, I would tell y’all in a much more colorful way how I felt wearing a Siriano piece. The word would start with a C and end with a T, but for now we’ll just say that I felt stunning.

drew afualo christian siriano
Adam Simmons
Drew Afualo wears Christian Siriano to the designer’s Spring/Summer 2025 show.

I think the reason I was the most excited is because of what Christian Siriano means to me. I have followed his journey from Project Runway to now, and aside from his one-of-a-kind vision, he has been fearless in his crusade to create stunning pieces for ALL women. Witnessing his dedication to platforming fat and plus-size women when creating his collections, especially in the world of high fashion, brings a tear to my eye. And last night’s show was no exception. Each person that walked down the runway had different skin tones, hair textures, and body types. The only thing every model had in common was that they were wearing the unbelievable pieces created by Christian Siriano and his brilliant mind. Some of my favorites were the gowns with large amounts of tulle on the bottom, as well as a baby pink one-sleeve suit that I WILL dream about tonight.

christian siriano new york fashion week rtw spring 2025 runway
WWD//Getty Images
A model walks at Christian Siriano’s Spring/Summer 2025 show.

I also loved how the music shifted with the collection, as the opening pieces were very edgy and sexy, set to the background of intense beats and tempos. As the collection progressed though, it started to become more whimsical and introduced a pastel palette—and the music followed suit. Suddenly the tone switched to a more lilting and romantic energy, matching the beauty in each individual look.

christian siriano new york fashion week rtw spring 2025 runway
WWD//Getty Images
A model walks at Christian Siriano’s Spring/Summer 2025 show.

At the end of the show, the last two models looked like angels and posed together at the end of the runway—a gesture that every attendee, myself included, had no choice but to applaud and cheer on. Both models were smiling ear to ear as they walked back hand in hand, and I couldn’t help but feel like that’s a reflection of Christian Siriano’s career and vision, whether intentional or subconscious. His ability to make women of all shapes, sizes, and skin tones feel like the baddest bitch alive is truly a gift, and one I can now personally attest to. And as we thin, fat and plus-size women alike walk through what can be an extremely intimidating and daunting industry like the world of high fashion, maybe it isn’t so scary after all when we have the honor and privilege of walking alongside someone like Christian Siriano. Thank you so much to Christian Siriano and his team for the invite, the stunning dress, and the opportunity to witness his genius live. It’s an experience I will never forget.

Headshot of Drew Afualo

Drew Afualo is a content creator, women’s rights advocate, podcast host and New York Times bestselling author best known as the internet’s “Crusader for Women”. From her hilariously witty content to her no-BS approach to shoveling misogyny out of the TikTok app via viral takedowns, Drew takes female empowerment to new levels and has established herself as a preeminent feminist leader of her generation with an audience of over nine million of social media. She was named Adweek’s 2022 Digital & Tech Creator of the Year, Meta’s Creator of Tomorrow, one of Time magazine’s Next Generation Leaders, and one of Forbes’ Top Creators of 2023. Drew also served as the official red-carpet correspondent at the 2023 Academy Awards and hosts the Spotify-exclusive podcast The Comment Section. Her New York Times bestselling book, LOUD: Accept Nothing Less Than the Life You Deserve, was published July 30th, 2024 via AUWA Books.