This year I received a very special birthday gift … a visit to the Branch Museum of Design in Richmond, Virginia, where Undeniable: The Designs of Christian Siriano and Ashley Longshore are on view through March 22.
This being awards season in the film industry (and Fashion Week in New York), it was appropriate that Siriano’s work was on display at Richmond’s newest museum where all things design – art, architecture, fashion, etc. – are celebrated. It’s also fitting that the museum’s namesake, the Branch family, was comprised of women who championed women’s rights, notably the right to vote and higher education.
Designed by the esteemed architect, John Russell Pope, the home incorporated John Kerr and Beulah Branch’s love of European architecture. Built in 1919, it served as their holiday home, as the family resided at the Monument Avenue residence from November through February. (Their other residences were in New York State and Italy.) In 1953, the family gifted the property to a charitable organization. It later became the headquarters of an insurance company and gained further recognition due to its inclusion on the Virginia Landmarks Register, as well as the National Register of Historic Places. The property then became the Virginia Foundation of Architecture, remaining so until two years ago when it became the Branch Museum of Design, working in close collaboration with the growing design curriculums at Virginia Commonwealth University.
JLo, Gaga, Whoopi, Celine!!!
Annapolis native, Christian Siriano, has ties to Richmond, as his sister, mother and other relatives live there. His mother’s Federal-style home, which is located in a historic district, represents Siriano’s other talent: Interior design, an endeavor he launched in 2021. “She was probably my hardest client!” he told Architectural Digest.
That’s saying a lot, considering his clients and muses have included the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Oprah Winfrey, Celine Dion, Halle Berry, Ariana Grande, Jane Fonda, Billy Porter and the list goes on. The fashions on display were seen on the red carpets of the Oscars, Golden Globes, Emmys, Grammys, the Met Gala and other events. According to Kristen Cavallo, the Branch’s executive director, the exhibit came about thanks in part to her working relationship (marketing and advertising) with Siriano, who gained fame as the winner of Project Runway during its fourth season (2007-08). He won the competition at the age of 19, making him the youngest winner to date. His credits include studying fashion in London, where he interned for Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen and, on this side of the pond, for Marc Jacobs. He launched his own label in 2008.
Siriano is also known for – and revered – for his willingness to create custom gowns for the “curvy” girls, including Leslie Jones, Melissa McCarthy, Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey and BeBe Rexha. “He makes you feel secure in his clothes,” Jones said of Siriano during his recent New York Fashion Week show. “It doesn’t matter what size you are; he’s going to make you feel beautiful and that’s the essence of Christian.”
Cavallo shared some interesting stories about the gowns seen in the exhibit, which Siriano curated himself by reaching out to clients and asking if the dresses he designed, and they now own, could appear in the show. (He retains ownership of some of the gowns.) Halle Berry’s gown is amazing. She wore it to the Academy Awards in 2025. Siriano designed it to honor the fact that she had broken the glass ceiling by being the first Black woman to win the Best Actress Oscar for Monster’s Ball in 2002. Composed of 7,000 pieces of broken glass, the shimmering gown weighs 30 pounds. Cavallo explained Berry was happy to share the gown but there was a problem. During the “crush” of the red carpet, the train had been stepped on numerous times and was heavily damaged. Siriano instructed her to send the gown to him and he would make the necessary repairs. It’s a showstopper!
Because of Siriano’s love of creating costumes (from the age of 13), his designs are a favorite of Met Gala attendees. One, created for Lili Reinhart, is covered in handmade silk flowers. The design honored the 2021 theme, America: A Lexicon of Fashion, with the embellishments representing the state flower of each of the 50 states. “That one was all over social media,” Cavallo reports.
As the museum is a celebration of all-things design, the building’s incredible architecture and artist Ashley Longshore’s vibrant artwork provide the perfect backdrop for Siriano’s fashions. The exhibit also represents an educational opportunity that was extended to VCU students, as design majors helped to set up the displays, which provided the opportunity for them to see the designs from an up-close perspective. Siriano also conducted a seminar for students.
America … Made in Virginia
Undeniable will be on view at the Branch through March 22. Address is 2501 Monument Avenue in Richmond. Information: Branchmuseum.org
Why not make it a long weekend? Before making your way to Richmond, take a morning to visit Mount Vernon, George Washington’s estate along the Potomac River. The house recently reopened after a two-year revitalization project. Information: Mountvernon.org. Afterwards head for Old Town Alexandria for dining, shopping, history and art. Needlework fans will love the 63rd annual competition/show that is held at Woodlawn, which is part of Mount Vernon. It’s open daily (except Tuesday) March 1-30. Information: Woodlawnpopeleighey.org
As for Richmond, it’s home to Civil War era museums and historic trails, unique shopping destinations, historic neighborhoods, great restaurants and a wonderful arboretum (Lewis Ginter). Information: Visitrichmondva.com
Richmond is also about an hour’s drive from Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown.
Heading west, there’s Farmville, whose tobacco warehouses are now filled with furniture, rugs, accessories and other things for the home (otherwise known as The Green Front). Information: Visitfarmville.com
Wine is also synonymous with Virginia, and you’ll find a wide selection of wineries (as well as breweries and distilleries) throughout the state. Also, don’t miss Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s architectural wonder near Charlottesville. Information: Monticello.org
If you’re into antiques and vintage, head for towns such as Lucketts, Middleburg, Sperryville, Culpepper and Washington, which is home to the award-winning restaurant, The Inn at Little Washington. Information: Theinnatlittlewashington.com
Virginia is For Garden Lovers! Virginia is home to an incredible statewide home-and-garden tour (Historic Garden Week) that began in 1927, when members of the Garden Club of Virginia raised funds to save trees that Thomas Jefferson had planted at Monticello. Since then, it has grown into a statewide event that is hosted by the club and its 48 affiliated clubs. Tours (29 in all) will be held throughout Virginia, April 18-25. Proceeds support restoration projects of historic properties and public gardens, as well as graduate-level research fellowships. Information: Gcvirginia.org
Also upcoming is an Outlander exhibit at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, where more than two dozen of the costumes from the show (including Claire’s wedding gown and the infamous red gown) will be on display as part of Outlander: Costumes Woven in Time. The exhibit runs through May 18. Information: Jyfmuseums.org
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