Project Runway Mentor Christian Siriano Reveals His Best Fashion Advice

As Project Runway's newest mentor, Christian Siriano is no stranger to the workroom. Since launched his namesake label over ten years ago, Christian has gathered a number of impressive accomplishments in a short amount of time. From dressing stars like Michelle Obama and Angelina Jolie to landing on Time's list of 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2018, he knows a thing or two about what it takes to make it in the industry, making him the perfect mentor for the latest group of aspiring designers. 

When Christian stopped by Bravo HQ to talk about the current season, he opened up about the best fashion advice he offered the Season 17 contestants, and it all comes down to pushing boundaries. "I think sometimes the designers start playing it safe and I think the biggest mistake that you can make is to play it safe on this type of show," he said. "It’s a one chance moment and you also want the fans to remember the huge, amazing, spectacular things that you can create, so I hope that they take that advice."

Given his early introduction to the world of fashion at just 22 years of age, Christian has received plenty of advice himself — though not all of it has been beneficial. "I feel like I get fashion advice all the time, but it’s, like, bad advice...it was like, 'Oh you should do this, you should do that,' by so many people that I actually stopped listening to it and I started really thinking about what made me feel really good every day when I went to work, when I went to the office or was looking at something on a red carpet," he revealed. "I started just doing what I wanted to do, so I actually think that that’s the only advice that you can really sometimes listen to, is your inner self."

But, if he could go back in time to talk to his younger self, would he still pursue fashion? "Oh God, go back to when I first started designing? Don’t do it. Go play golf or something," he joked.

All kidding aside, Christian says he would "would never tell myself anything different from the beginning to where I am now." So, you probably won't catch him on the putting green any time soon. 

To see if the contestants followed Christian's tips, watch Project Runway on Thursdays at 8/7c.