Christian Siriano says designing for Michelle Obama, Jill Biden, and Kamala Harris is 'the ultimate compliment'

• Fashion designer Christian Siriano dresses some of the biggest names in entertainment and politics.
• He's designed outfits for Michelle Obama, Jill Biden, and Kamala Harris.
• Siriano told BI that being chosen to dress powerful women in politics is "the ultimate compliment."

Fashion designer Christian Siriano has dressed celebrities for red-carpet events including the Oscars, Grammys, and Golden Globes, but his creations have also graced the stages of the Democratic National Convention and the State of the Union.

While promoting his partnership with Persil laundry detergent, Siriano spoke with Business Insider about designing outfits for first ladies Michelle Obama and Jill Biden as well as Vice President Kamala Harris.

"When you get to dress those people, it definitely feels really great because the whole world sees them," Siriano told BI.

In 2016, Obama delivered her famous "When they go low, we go high" speech at the Democratic National Convention wearing a blue Christian Siriano dress with cap sleeves and a flowing skirt.

"When I dressed Michelle Obama for the DNC and she walked out in that blue dress, it felt really powerful because it felt right for the moment," he said. "It was elegant and sophisticated, but still young and cool."

Siriano also designed another first lady's Democratic National Convention look: a lilac ruched wrap dress for Biden in 2020.

"Michelle was more daring, Jill's more, I think, chic and sophisticated and sometimes looks Old Hollywood, and I love that," he said.

Siriano also crafted a custom maroon suit for Harris to wear at the 2023 State of the Union address.

"I got to make a suit for the vice president and it was amazing," he said. "We really tailored it and I felt like she looked really powerful and confident."

Siriano said that designing for high-profile women in politics has been a career highlight not just because of their visibility, but also because of their stature.

"You feel so great because a person who everyone's looking up to chose to wear something," he said. "It's kind of like the ultimate compliment."