March Madness: Catching Up with Chris March

In the club that is Project Runway alumni, there are winners, there are losers and there is Chris March. Safe to say, the Season Four contestant won the hearts of viewers, even if he didn’t win the competition (details schmetails). If you’ve been jonesing for another Chris March fashion fix, your wish is Bravo’s command. March returned to our living rooms last month with Mad Fashion, his new show chronicling the trials and tribulations of crazy clients and larger-than-life creations. 

Julie Bensman: What can viewers expect from Mad Fashion this season?

Chris March: It’s a half hour program, which is a new thing for Bravo, and we cram a lot into that time, making stuff you’ve never seen before: outrageous fun stuff for outrageous fun people. These are not your everyday red carpet dresses.

JB: Celebrity appearances on the show include Jennifer Coolidge (who wears a March-designed ensemble for a Mardi-Gras float) and Chrissy Teigen, for whom you make a gown out of human hair for the MET Costume Gala. I know Chrissy pretty well and this sounds right up her alley…

CM: When Chrissy and I met, she said, ‘Remember that dress you showed at Bryant Park with the human hair? Can we do that?’ and I was like, ‘I’ve been waiting for someone to ask for this!’ We were both very inspired by Black Swan at the time and the MET was celebrating Alexander McQueen that year, so it was a perfect fit.

JB: Viewers have gotten to know and love you through a Project Runway lens. With Mad Fashion, what will we learn about Chris March that might surprise us?

CM: One thing the producers were going to show on Project Runway (but never did) is the fact that I’m a HUGE Stevie Nicks fanatic. I actually write her name inside of every piece I create. I’m a little superstitious that way.

JB: What’s your favorite Stevie song?

CM: I’d have to say Landslide. I just saw her perform upstate near Woodstock a couple months ago, the same weekend as Hurricane Irene. She moved the show up by an hour and just as she was finishing, the rain began.

JB: Aside from Stevie, who’s playing on your iPod right now?

CM: Florence and the Machine and Bruce Springsteen. I’m a huge Springsteen fan.

 JB: You’ve dressed a cross-section of celebrities including Meryl Streep, Beyonce, and Madonna. How would you describe your point of view as a designer?

CM: One of my main things is remembering to always flatter my client. I listen to what they want, look at their proportions and then create pieces that are glamorous, fun, and always make a great first impression.

CM: I recently was able to work with Lady Gaga, which was so exciting. When I first received the email, I thought it was another person asking me to make a Lady Gaga costume. Then I looked a little more carefully and realized the request actually WAS from Lady Gaga’s people. She wanted something to wear at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas last month. Gaga rode in on a giant motorcycle thing with a keyboard; we made her this super studded long coat. It was amazing.

I would also really love to dress Christina Hendricks. I feel like no one has done her justice. Her, or Cher. I think Cher’s agents work at the same agency as mine, so maybe there’s a chance.

 

You can catch Mad Fashion on Tuesdays at 10 PM EST, only on Bravo. For more on Chris, visit chrismarchdesign.com or pick up his book, I Heart Chris March.

image: Bravo TV

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