Christian Siriano had to ship a gown across the country days before the 2026 Emmy Awards, finishing the dress for a celebrity attending the Los Angeles ceremony while simultaneously overseeing his New York Fashion Week presentation.
"I just finished a dress one hour ago that literally an intern had to run to FedEx," Siriano told E! News' Keltie Knight backstage at his Christian Siriano Spring/Summer 2027 show on Sept. 10. "I hope it makes it."
The 40-year-old designer said the pressure was compounded because hair and makeup were "still being done" on the models walking in his own runway show at the same time he was finishing the Emmys look. "That's intense," he said. "There's no models in clothes, so that's scary."
A star-studded runway
Siriano's Spring/Summer 2027 show drew a crowd of famous faces, including Evan Rachel Wood, Mena Suvari, JoJo, Brandy, Billy Porter and Debra Messing.
Siriano is a Project Runway alum who has built his label into a fixture of New York Fashion Week, the biannual showcase where designers unveil upcoming collections to editors, buyers and celebrities.
Balancing that show with last-minute Emmys requests made for a hectic week, he said, since the gowns he made for stars attending the ceremony at Los Angeles' Peacock Theater ran the gamut in style. "I had really ethereal to really vampy," he said. "People are going for different things."
Predicting the Emmys mood
Asked what trend might dominate the red carpet, Siriano said he had "no idea," given how varied his own Emmys designs were this year. The ceremony was hosted by Mariska Hargitay, known for her role on Law & Order: SVU.
"I think we're gonna see a lot," he predicted. "Maybe it'll be not so sexy. I think it's going to be a little more lady, elegance."
Whatever direction the fashion takes, Siriano said he hopes attendees lean into the occasion rather than play it safe. "I'm not a fan of underdressing," he said. "I rather see someone overdress at a party."
His bond with Zendaya
Siriano also spoke about his long relationship with Zendaya, who was nominated for her third Emmy this year for her role in Euphoria. The actress has worn Siriano's designs throughout her career, working closely with longtime stylist Law Roach.
"She's one of the first people I've ever dressed and I was one of her first designers, which is why she still wears me 20 years late," Siriano said, calling his bond with Zendaya and Roach "crazy."
"We were babies, we were literally little kids," he said. "It's really been a great journey to work with both of them all these years later. It feels really good that she's become the style icon that she has."
Watching the ceremony
The 2026 Emmy Awards aired the same day as Siriano's interview, Sept. 14, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC and streamed on Peacock. E!'s red carpet coverage began at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT.
