My Favorite Customer Isn't Famous!

The designer-to-the-stars dishes on his most inspiring clients and weighs in on the fashion trend he dislikes most

Since his memorable 2008 win on Project Runway, Christian Siriano has gone on to make a name for himself as one of the most in-demand fashion designers in the world. And while he’s worked with everyone from Angelina Jolie to Rihanna to Taylor Swift, the 38-year-old’s everyday clients inspire him the most. “We’ve dressed every famous person in the world, and that’s great,” he says, “but my biggest influence is the normal woman who goes into stores and shops and buys clothes.” Here, Christian — who’s been dating fellow designer Kyle Smith for five years — talks to In Touch’s Fortune Benatar about his famous and not-so-famous clientele, his dream customer and his guilty pleasure.

Why do you love your regular customers?

CS: They give us feedback on what women actually want to see. I feel like we owe it to them.