New York Fashion Week: Christian Siriano presents a world worth celebrating in the sand

NEW YORK (AP) — There wasn't a sandworm in sight Thursday night on the runway Christian Sirianobut he certainly had Dune in mind when he started New York Fashion Week.

The Enchanting Sands Band had places to go and see people with their earthy colors and orange shimmer worthy of a Sahara desert sunset. The film, and now its sequel, served as his starting point.

“I was thinking, what if we lived in this world that was kind of apocalyptic, but in the sand in the desert. But where's the magic? Where's the evening clothes? What would they wear if people had to live in this culture on a planet?”

Well, velvet with lace in body-hugging gowns, for example, and lots of metallic copper tones, orange-hued tulle and ocher sparkles, apparently. Maybe they'll leave Siriano's huge peplum and bloated shoulders at home.

Under the twinkling chandeliers of The Plaza, Siriano presented 60 looks for dinner parties, cocktail parties, parties and other social circle affairs, mixing bare-chested men in jackets with dazzling displays of earth tones, including subtle creams in flowing gowns and tuxedo designs. For women in black.

The designer often thinks of other worlds, with the caveat: “Don't forget beauty.” He's particularly a fan of the Sandy franchise starring Zendaya, whose clothes he's dressed several times, and Timothée Chalametwho would love to wear it but hasn't done so yet.

“Dune: Part Two” hits theaters March 1.

“I actually didn't know the new movie was coming out now, so it's great timing. Maybe there'll be something for him in this show,” he said of Chalamet with a laugh.

Gone, except for one black appearance, are Siriano's signature voluminous gowns. He showed off plenty of mini looks, including some in shiny gold with touches of red, the latter a color that's having a moment.

He has Alicia Silverstone in red on his front row. She was joined by “Succession” star J. Smith-Cameron, Ashlee Simpson, Sophia Bush and Melanie Lynskey, all of whom were not wearing red. It did what red does: it exploded.