Why You Should Care About Fashion Week: $30 Christian Siriano Shoes

RedPlum's been hitting the tents, viewing all of the Spring 2010 collections to bring the looks from runway to real life for you! Keep coming back for more news from the catwalk at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week!

We're not afraid to say it: a former reality star staged what may be one of the best shows at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. True, many of the biggies have yet to show their Spring 2010 collections, but of those who have already sent their models stomping down the runway, Christian Siriano's is an absolute RedPlum favorite. And the peanut-sized pop-culture darling (who won season four of "Project Runway" and coined, then beat to death, the catchphrase "fierce") wasn't just showing red-carpet looks with platinum price tags. The models were, in fact, teetering down the runway in—and in some cases falling off of—the shoes that will be featured in the Christian Siriano for Payless line, out this spring.

While the jaw-dropping dresses were the stars of the show, the shoes took center stage when the models came out for their last bow. That's when, with the rest of the show's models following tightly behind her, one willowy miss slipped right out of her platform. While the audience braced for a manequin domino, she dipped down, grabbed the errant shoe, kept moving, then grabbed the other platform off her other foot and walked the rest of the runway in stocking feet. (Miss Jay would have been proud.)

The collection itself was based on the colors of Italy's Amalfi coast, starting out with soft nude dresses, then transforming into the reds and golds of the land and the blues and greens of the sea. In large supply were red and blue versions of an ornate pattern Siriano created from antique maps of the region. He blew up, distorted the maps, then printed them on dresses, shoes, and what can only be described as a body stocking. But the look that earned a round of applause from the crowd was a multi-tiered red and gold stunner that, to borrow a phrase from Rachel Zoe, needs to have a red carpet moment.

On-hand at the show were the many, many celebs who can't help but adore the outspoken designer, and his creations. Papa-bear Tim Gunn, who has called Christian "his generation's Marc Jacobs," was seated in the front row, as were Tori Spelling, Mena Suvari, Kelly Rowland and Alessandra Ambrosio. A standing-room only crowd got a little unladylike as it pushed its way into the venue; about one hundred disappointed hopefuls ended up out in the tent's lobby.

Though this latest line won't hit stores for months, you needn't wait until spring to snap up a couple pairs of Siriano foot candy. His Fall 09 line for Payless hit stores this month. Like all of the store's capsule collections, they're limited editions, so get shopping!  

Check Back Soon For More News From RedPlum at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week!