On the last Friday in February, Dallas’s glitterati and fashion-forward gathered to see one of their own, Shirin Askari of Project Runway fame, air her debut collection at Southside on Lamar. Hosted by the Fashionistas--which held tutelage to Askari when she was a part of their F2 program-- and produced by fashion icon Jan Strimple, the show was a complete creative success, showcasing the talent of a burgeoning designer and emphasizing the importance of encouraging and promoting local artists.

 

Askari’s designs featured asymmetrical shapes and barely-there hemlines, sculpted ruching and rich colors in ivory, sapphire, ruby and fuchsia. She played with soft, delicate materials like Chantilly lace and silk, set off by edgy, in-your-face details like neck to hemline zippers and one-shoulder cuts. “The line reflects Shirin,” said Strimple. “It’s confident and feminine, and has an awareness of the female body because it suggests curves. She also has a delicate way of dealing with fabric; she bends it, molding it almost into a floral design.”

 

As for Askari’s almost overnight success? “”People ask me how I got from the University of North Texas to Project Runway,” said the designer. “What I tell them is this: You have to kind of go above and beyond in every project you do, in every design. You have to fully explore your creativity. Test the limit.”