Christian Siriano in DC: I’m having a moment!

Striking a pose with "His Fierceness" Christian Siriano

Fashion prodigy and Annapolis native Chrisitan Siriano, 26, recently debuted his spring/summer 2012 collection at the 3rd Annual Pink Rocks the Runway charity event benefiting breast cancer organizations.

I met up with the Project Runway Season 4 winner (BTW, did you know that he is the youngest winner in the history of the show?) before the runway event at Gibson Guitar Studio in Chinatown, where he described his new collection as “fresh,” “young” and “colorful.”

Read on to find out more.

Markette Smith: Oh my gosh, I’m having a moment! You’re previewing your collection in the Ronald Reagan building tonight. It is such an historic place and it’s huge!

Christian Siriano: Yeah, I know, right? I was like how big is this venue and they said it was like really, really, really massive, which is cool. After fashion week in New York, I like to take the collection and we show it in different cities. I think it’s really important for the collection to be showcased in different venues and different areas because that’s how I learn for next season what  the customer looks for and what would be interesting to do.

MS: This is also a charity fashion show and Pink Jams has 14 breast cancer survivors modeling local designers, too.

CS: I’m so excited to see their clothing – all pink and fabulous and I’m sure they’ll feel great about themselves.

Photography by Erin Kelleher. Click this photo to visit her blog at: http://ekphotog.wordpress.com

MS: And your collection will premiere after the local designers on a 50-foot runway!

CS: Yeah, we’re really just taking the New York Fashion Week experience and bringing it here.

The 50-foot long catwalk at Pink Rocks the Runway.

MS: So tell me about your spring/summer 2012 collection.

CS: It’s very colorful, vibrant, exciting.

MS: What type of woman did you have in mind when you designed it?

CS: The girl is very fresh and young and cool…

Siriano's Spring/Summer 2012 collection.

…there’s a lot of wearable clothing. I wanted this season to be things that women really wear – that they will take home and piece it in their closet and have a signature Siriano piece. So, I think that will kind of be a surprise for everyone. It’s not just a show, it’s actually clothes you can wear.

Siriano's signature evening gown in his 2012 collection.

MS: I saw on your website you had lots of tops and bottoms with belts. Tell me more about that.

CS: I wanted to show a range of separates because a lot of women live their lives in separates. You throw on a great blouse with your jeans, or everything. I wanted to have that kind of look. I also think that’s a very chic way of dressing – you don’t have to wear a cocktail dress. You can wear a beautiful blouse and a Palazzo pant and it’s gorgeous, so that was the whole idea.

Christian Siriano hits the catwalk after debuting his collection at Pink Rocks the Runway.

MS: Bringing it back to the goal of Pink Rocks the Runway, which is raising breast cancer awareness in women and men under age 40. Has the illness touched your life in any way?

CS: Nothing direct in my family, but everyone in my life has had some family member, friend, or relative that has suffered from breast cancer. That’s why I think it’s becoming more and more important to support it as much as we can and raise as much money as we can for research.

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Pink Jams presented a check for $30,000 to the Capital Breast Care Center at the close of Pink Rocks the Runway. More  photos from the event here:

I'm with the band... the Baltimore-based rock group Charm City Devils served as the house band for the third year in a row.

Hanging with Fox5's Will Thomas, DC matchmaker Lisa Goldberg and guest.

Sharing a hug with featured local designer Afua Sam of Studio D'Maxsi.

The swag bags at "Pink Rocks the Runway."

Me, hitting the red carpet at "Pink Rocks the Runway."

Hotness! Shoes courtesy of Shoedazzle.com

Hope you enjoyed the pics! Click here to see more photos from Pink Rocks the Runway.

xoxo,

Markette