With Katie Holmes and Lil’ Kim on his front row and singer Marina on the mic high above his runway, Christian Siriano helped kicked off New York Fashion Week Tuesday night.

Model Coco Rocha walks the runway at the Christian Siriano Fall/Winter 2021 at Gotham Hall during New York Fashion Week on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in New York. It was a dreamy, color-saturated show during a tough time for fashion inspiration, Siriano said. While most designers have gone fully digital during an expanded New York Fashion Week that has stretched the traditional calendar, Siriano remains committed to the runway. Hopefully it will show people we can do this in fashion,” Siriano said of the growing reuse movement. “Honestly, I don't know," Siriano said, "because I love doing this but it's very hard to do in a pandemic.

For the rest of the fashion industry, Siriano livestreamed the show on a sunny, mild day, with his garden as backdrop and his grass as runway. It was a rare New York Fashion Week show to include physical guests, something he said both he and his clothes sorely required. His comic books became gray and black cartoon panes on a trouser and jacket set. Gone this fashion week were the hordes of celebrities and influencers usually seated on front rows. The designer and “Pose” star bonded at last year's Academy Awards when Porter took to the red carpet in a huge tuxedo gown Siriano designed.