Christian Siriano at Belk SouthPark in Charlotte for Fashion

Fashion designer and “Project Runway” winner and mentor Christian Siriano will be at Belk’s SouthPark Mall in Charlotte on Tuesday to launch a new clothing line in partnership with Gloria Vanderbilt.

Siriano joins a long list of celebrities and fashion icons who have graced the flagship store over the decades, from Oscar de la Renta and Tommy Hilfiger to Elizabeth Taylor, Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York and Cam Newton.

Siriano has partnered with iconic women’s designer jean brand Gloria Vanderbilt to create a contemporary collection of jeans, dresses and tops. The inclusive size line comes in sizes 26-34, small and extended sizes.

Expect embroidery, mosaic and Gloria Vanderbilt’s signature swan emblem.

Belk officials did not respond for comment on this story.

How to meet Christian Siriano

The public event with Siriano kicks off at 6 pm Tuesday with a 15-minute Q&A hosted by local lifestyle blogger Miranda Miller. Take a free photo with Siriano from 6:15 to 8:00 pm Get to know him first by making a purchase from the GV x CS collection on Tuesday.

About Christian Siriano

Siriano gained attention after winning the fourth season of the “Project Runway” design contest in 2007. At 21, he is the youngest winner of the television series. He studied with Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen in London and launched his namesake collection in 2008.

Christian Siriano’s collection is shown each season at New York Fashion Week and presented in New York and Paris to retailers. Siriano is known for extravagant designs, from fanciful evening gowns and cocktail dresses to tailored sportswear and intricate accessories.

In 2012, the first Christian Siriano flagship store opened in New York City. In 2013, he was inducted as a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

He was named “Designer of the Year” at the 2016 American Apparel and Footwear Association’s American Image Awards and won Couture For A Cause’s “Designer of the Decade” award that year. He also co-founded accessories e-commerce retailer “Send the Trend” and served as chief curator until its acquisition by QVC.

Belk focuses on inclusion and diversity

The Gloria Vanderbilt and Christian Siriano clothing line is the latest addition to Belk’s focus on equity, inclusion and diversity.

This year, Belk added more minority- and women-owned brands andSize-home, apparel, beauty and accessories listed in The Culture Shop, The Charlotte Observer previously reported. The store opened last year highlighting beauty products and cosmetics in a variety of skin tones, along with t-shirts and apparel for historically black colleges and universities.

The 134-year-old department store chain emerged from bankruptcy in February 2021.

In September, Belk named Don Hendricks as CEO, following the abrupt departure of former CEO Nir Patel in May after less than a year on the job.

In August, Belk filed a lawsuit against Patel, former senior vice president of supply chain Tim May, and their employer GameStop accusing them of stealing employee and payroll information, the Observer previously reported.

Belk, owned by private equity firm Sycamore Partners, has nearly 300 locations in 16 southeastern states.