Christian Siriano wishes ‘the judgment wasn’t so intense’ on red carpets

• Christian Siriano is known for his designer fashion and red-carpet takes.
• He told Business Insider he wishes people were less judgmental of red-carpet looks.
• Siriano also hopes to see more diversity on red carpets in the future.

Though he’s known for his candid opinions on celebrity style, Christian Siriano thinks people are too harsh about red-carpet fashion.

Siriano, 38, made a name for himself with his couture designs. His career has evolved since he won “Project Runway” in 2007, as he has been working under his eponymous label since 2008 and dressing celebrities including Melissa McCarthy and Billy Porter.

In the past month alone, he released his coffee table book, “The New Red Carpet,” and dropped a new bridal and bridesmaid collection in partnership with Azazie.

Siriano has also become a familiar face on red carpets, commenting on celebrity looks during E!’s coverage of events like the Emmy Awards. But speaking to Business Insider, Siriano said he thinks people can be too critical of celebrities’ attire for awards shows.

“I do wish sometimes the judgment wasn’t so intense,” he said, adding that the public is quick to form an opinion on what actors, musicians, and other celebrities choose to wear on red carpets.

For instance, Bebe Rexha previously shared that she has anxiety about posing on red carpets because of the comments people make about her appearance, and other celebrities, including Kim Kardashian, have taken drastic measures to get the red-carpet look they think is best.

Siriano also told BI that he appreciates people “taking risks” on red carpets. If they’re dressing to feel like their best selves, he thinks they’re making a good fashion choice regardless of what others think.

Throughout his career, Siriano has championed dressing people of different genders, body types, and ethnicities so they feel good. He hopes to see more of that diversity on red carpets in the awards season to come.

Siriano said he infused his line with Azazie with that same inclusivity. The collection’s pieces come in sizes 0-30, and the most expensive gown is $1,199. According to The Knot’s Real Wedding Study, the average wedding dress cost about $2,000 in 2023, so even Siriano’s most expensive gown was below average.

“I’ve made a lot of clothes in my career, and a lot of them have been expensive,” Siriano said.

With this line, Siriano said he wanted to create dresses that would work for real people he knows.

“I felt like my friends that I hang out with on the weekends and that I just chill with, a lot of those people are young and have a good job but can’t afford a really expensive dress,” he said.

“I don’t like that mentality that you can’t have something amazing on your wedding day and feel really good and feel couture at an affordable price point,” he added.