Christian Siriano gives behind-the-scenes at fashion in new book

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Christian Siriano, the modern-day arbiter of glamor, stepped back into the literary world with The New Red Carpet – a book as dazzling as the creations that have made him a household name.

For those familiar with his bold designs and unrelenting dedication to inclusion, Siriano’s latest offering is a captivating glimpse behind the velvet ropes of Hollywood’s most coveted events. It’s not just a book about dresses; it’s a chronicle of red carpet intrigue, cultural shifts, and the slow unraveling of fashion’s long-held exclusivity.

Siriano made his way to Virginia for a few book signings – the same place he recently purchased and designed a historic home for his mother. He explained to Newsweek how designing the interior of a home is not so different from designing a collection. “I start a little bit similar because I go right into fabrics, and colors and silhouettes so I actually do it similar to how I do a collection. I try to create some type of a palette, and I think that that is why, and I think also because I have so much fabric knowledge, because I’ve obviously been working in fabrics in my whole career. Fabrics are very important to me, even if it’s subtle – every chair, every sofa, every piece is reupholstered in something. To bring something warm to the room, I design that way – very visceral and in the moment.”

The New Red Carpet takes the reader on a journey from the glitzy corners of award shows to the hidden back rooms where last-minute fittings are frantic and drama-filled. Here, Siriano played the part of both ringmaster and confidant, offering stories that bring to life the personalities behind the dresses — celebrities, stylists, and even his critics. Each page brims with photographic evidence of Siriano’s talent: gowns that shimmer in the limelight and skirts that have swept down the carpet like a tidal wave, commanding attention, whispers, and often applause.

But, with so many talked about red carpet moments to choose from, where does one begin? Siriano spoke to Newsweek about the editing process, saying, “It was hard because we’ve had so many looks over the years, the whole reason why I call it The New Red Carpet – is because I really wanted to showcase what I think the new red carpet should look like. It should be diverse and different and special and celebrating beauty. I think That’s really how I chose everyone; I wanted to have a really good diverse group of people. I think for the reader or any young aspiring fashion designer, they really want to see that it’s all possible you know?”

But the story is deeper than fabric and sequins. Siriano has crafted an insider’s tale about power dynamics on the red carpet, where who gets to wear what can shape careers, shift narratives, and even serve as statements of inclusion. Through revealing anecdotes, we learn how the designer has strategically dressed not just bodies, but ideas — iconically draping Billy Porter in a couture tuxedo gown to question gender norms, fitting curvier celebrities to redefine beauty standards, and using the red carpet as a stage for cultural conversations as much as for flashbulbs and fashion pundits. The book reads almost like a dispatch from a battlefield where high fashion meets cultural evolution, with Siriano as the daring general pushing forward unfazed by tradition, critics, or gossip.

Siriano doesn’t shy away from the clashes, either. He has recounted the resistance he’s faced for designing beyond size zeros or for championing up-and-coming artists over established names. He told Newsweek, “I mean I think I found a way – usually I find an artist really early on in their career and that’s when I usually become friendly with them, and the story becomes, ‘Oh, Christian was the first designer to dress me, or the first fashion show I was invited to was Christian’s show.’ I don’t know why that always keeps happening, I think it’s because I’m not close minded in the beginning to people, like when I first met Lizzo for instance.”

Siriano continued about his encounter with the “Boys” singer, saying, ” I knew Lizzo was going to be one of the biggest stars in the world. And I think at the time she barely had a song out, and then she performed at one of my after parties one year and then we became friends.” He then went on to recount similar instances with other high-profile celebrities. “The same with Gaga, the same with Cardi. I’m interested day one, I find who I like and who I think is cool, and then it helps to become friends with these people – because I think they remember. That’s part of how I’ve dressed so many people. I mean Gaga is a great example, I dressed Gaga before anybody really knew who she was, and she still asks for clothes all these years later. And she can get anything. It’s pretty cool to see.”

Siriano’s work is not merely a fabric-bound fantasy; it’s an unfolding narrative of social change, captured in fabrics, daring looks, and a lot of drive. The New Red Carpet is more than a fashion book – It’s a sharp, elegant account of the evolution of the role style plays in modern culture. Siriano has sewn his way into being a household name through grit and talent. So when he is speaking with young designers who are in the throes of the fashion business and seeking advice – he doesn’t mince words. “You really have to focus and narrow it down to those core pieces and that great thing that you do, whatever it is, and that’s what you focus on and work on. We kind of streamlined my whole business years ago. I was like, you know what? I’m just going to focus on the evening wear, the suiting the tailoring, that’s what’s selling and that’s what’s working. Everything else I kind of stopped doing, we don’t sell to any wholesalers anymore, we do everything direct. That changed everything for us, you kind of just have to pivot and attack it in your own way that works for you. I think people think that there’s a lot of rules in fashion, but there aren’t really, because it’s your own business and it’s your own company so do whatever you want. Whatever works to get the sale, I mean who cares?”

Whether you’re a fashion devotee or simply curious about the power plays behind the flashbulbs, Siriano’s new book is an invitation to step behind the curtain of the industry’s most glamorous stage. With every page, it’s clear that the red carpet is no longer just a path to the awards — it’s a bold march toward progress.