By Dara Clariza Evangelista
Black and white are often colors of restraint and formality, but Christian Siriano’s Spring 2026 show at Macy’s Herald Square proved they can be pure joy. He transformed the basement of the iconic department store into a cream-draped dreamscape and sent out a parade of playful pieces that made monochrome feel anything but serious.
There were stripes that spiraled like licorice, polka dots blown up to cartoon size, and silhouettes that danced between Old Hollywood glam and bubblegum whimsy. Even with the very 80s drama of puffed sleeves and sculptural shapes, the collection radiated fun, like a black-and-white movie suddenly bursting into color.
I’ve loved Siriano’s work since he was still on Project Runway, and it’s been magical to see how his vision has only grown bolder over the years. What hasn’t changed is his flair for theater, no one does a finale quite like him, and his knack for surrounding himself with models who understand his world.
Chief among them is Coco Rocha, his frequent muse. She opened the show in a sharp striped suit and matching fascinator, serving poses that turned the runway into performance art. Rocha has that rare ability to bring happiness out of even the most structured look, and here, she lit up the room like confetti.
Look after look reveled in contrasts. A black velvet dress bloomed with giant striped inflatable-like swirls, while another swished by in a metallic bubble skirt dotted like champagne fizz.
There was a clean white mini corset dress with looping black embroidery, and a slinky black number with ruffled hem rippling like piano keys mid-song. Then came the showstopper: Rocha again, in a voluminous white gown smothered in fuzzy black polka dots, looking like a couture Dalmatian cloud. It was impossible not to smile.
Even the accessories joined the fun. A metallic pouch shaped like a giant Capri Sun pack winked at the audience, its beaded tassels bouncing down the runway. Elsewhere, models carried slick top-handle bags in glossy black and shocking pink, their expressions as cheeky as the styling.
This collection wasn’t about severity or minimalism. It was about joy, theatricality, and the thrill of fashion that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Siriano reminded us that black and white can absolutely be happy colors, if you just make them dance.
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Miss Jay-Ann is on the cover of STYLISH Magazine’s special Women In Style cover edition as she talks about her business, vlogging, and her luxury bag collection — from Chanel to Hermès.
Read our cover story here.
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