Fashion Week Front Row: Christian Siriano Spring 2012

Christian Siriano has created a dramatic collection for Spring ’12 channeling exotic underwater specimens found while traveling to Bali, Honduras, and Belize.  

 The Christian Siriano for Payless Gold Spring ’12 collection, Christian's exclusive line for Payless inspired by his runway shoe and handbag designs, incorporates the stunning and intricate details of these tropical life forms with a strong use of jellyfish shapes and coral and tortoise shell materials and embellishments.

The Spring ’12 line features eight styles accented by pearlized shell, marbleized tortoise, curved heels, metallic linen, faux-reptile, strappy elastic bands evoking a jellyfish wrapped around the leg, and off-set pod-platform soles suggestive of stepping onto a rock or piece of coral. Iconic of Christian's shoe designs, the Sculptural Wedge Boot is a dramatic, large sculptural platform silhouette that features a thick platform sole that appears as a wedge, but actually has a split separated heel.  

Aligned with Christian's inspiration, the Swirl Bootiefeatures a unique curled shell embellishment up the vamp of the shoe. Threecoordinating handbags include an everyday satchel, shoulder bag and a uniqueframed clutch, which is a perfect contrast to the soft feminine tone ofChristian's ready-to-wear apparel.