Last Thursday, I had the honor of being invited to the extremely talented Michael Costello Launch Party, debuting the Pre-Fall Capsule Collection. Located in the heart of Downtown LA in Costello’s Showroom, this event is pure elegance and luxury. It happened later that night and the invite stated that black clothes were requested. Walking into the event, all you can see are flashes from photographers on a step-and-repeat in the foyer of the building. After checking in with the guest list service and having your photo taken, you climb a marble staircase that opens to a party decorated in all white curtains and spotlights. At the top of the stairs, there’s a fantastic cake in the form of a dress bearing the name Costello and his public relations company which organized the event. As you walk to your right you’ll find your way to an open bar serving wine and light mixed drinks together with light hors d’oeuvres. If you walk to the left of the stairs, you’ll find yourself inside a showroom complete with a dangling installation of Michael’s Pre-fall Collection. With at least 10 dresses hanging all over the room, everything was perfect. All of them have a conventional Costello touch to them – floor-length robes with charming beading, shoulder pads, seductive cutouts and plunging necklines, each produced from the most feminine of materials. Walking through this room, you find your way into a back room where you will see a display of Costello’s bow ties made for men together with displays made for the House of Borel – a tremendous brand of small handbags and crosses. -the body purse Michael paired for his Pre-Fall Collection. There are very fun interactive “selfie” stations set up for you by Selfie Station a company where guests can hang around together and pose as the party goes on behind them. Meanwhile, a looping video of Michael Costello’s latest runway show is being projected on the back wall for all partygoers to see. Another attraction the party presented was a live performance by Grammy Award Winner Melanie Fiona together with live models posing for photos wearing Costello’s Pre-fall Capsule Collection.
The all-night delay was very elegant. The attendees wore their best black clothes. Looks ranged from floor-length dresses resembling Costello’s originals to long cocktail party dresses. There is a romantic feel to all the ladies’s makeup and hair. The party video feels more like Old Hollywood Glam. Those people wore black trousers and button-down shirts or some (like me) took a different approach and went high fashion for black and arrived in cool black jackets, or a mixture of LA street style elevated into evening wear by blending dress pant shapes. with a tank and tee layered with a leather jacket or blazer. Everyone in attendance made sure to leave the house in their best jewelery and shoes to complete their all-black look. With an overall invitation to become a stylist, blogger, model or fellow designer, fashion and unique are at the top of the list. Special appearances being Anastasia from Beverly Hills, Etienne Ortega, Hrush Achemyan– Celebrity Makeup/Hair Artist, Nicole Scherzinger, Natalie Halcro, Stanaj, Renee Olstead, Vivian from Hulu’s East Los High and lovely model Zolee Griggs amongst many others.
I enjoyed getting a one-on-one interview with Michael Costello and here’s what he had to say:
What was your inspiration for your Michael Costello Men’s Collection?
“I want to design clothes for men that I truly want to look like. I like various things! I do not like traditional blazers, even though I wear them and that I make them, but I like Men’s clothing a little more unconventional but not too feminine. I still like to be masculine with a little bit of androgyny but things that really men can wear and WANT to wear.
Who is the ‘Michael Costello Woman’?
“I certainly must say that the ‘Michael Costello Woman’ is very hot. I know he’s very confident. She’s a Woman, a Girl, a Movie Star, a Red Carpet Queen, she’s a Glamazon, she’s everything. She likes to wear charming dresses with sexy cuts, low cuts and high slits.
People just think I make things for models, but I also LOVE making things for curvy women because they fill dresses AMAZING!”
In addition to high-end robes and red carpet robes, do you see yourself in the future creating more casual everyday wear and ready-to-wear?
“Sure! In the future you know, God willing, everybody will get the opportunity to own a little little bit of Michael Costello’s ready-to-wear. I know plenty of our clients and folks who want to shop with us cannot all the time get a custom couture dress. So in the end we want to be capable to give them something in the $200-$400 cocktail price range.”
So I know you have styled many celebrities, actresses and models. Who is the one person you have not styled yet, who you would really like to meet?
“To be honest, I do not understand how to style. I’ve never styled anyone. I do not understand how to do it, when to do it, what to put with what. I love making dresses and making those dresses and letting stylists come in with Celebrities, have them try them on and they wear them.
I would say, I would be the worst stylist in the entire world, because I did not know what to put with what.
BUT, to answer your question, I’ve never worked with Angelina Jolie and I’m really, most likely, trying my hardest to work with her and do something cool with her. She is solely the epitome of sex appeal.”
In 5-10 years, where do you see yourself? Where do you see your name, your brand, where would you like your work to be featured?
“You know, wherever God decided to take me. Or whatever door God decides to open for me it will be awesome. I mean, I’d love to venture into fragrances, handbags, designer shoes, you know, all of that. I wish I could do all of those things.”
Who inspires you?
“Honestly, this may sound a little arrogant, but I all the time encourage myself. When I’m at work, when I’m in my zone, when I’m in my moment, I immediately encourage myself all the time. I can take fabrics and curtains and do things and play with them and that I get inspiration for new collections.
I’ve been working on 3 collections and I’m yet to finish the Spring event debuting in September.
So inspiration can come from zippers, it can come from shoes, from hair, glasses, and that is what I love about what I do.
What got you into this industry. What made you say, “Fashion is where I need to be”?
“Oh, I never wanted to go into fashion. I was born with this. There’s a difference between people wanting to be involved and going to school for it, but when you wake up in the morning and you cannot wait to get to work and it is the very first thing on your mind, you were born with it.
My mom would tell stories about when I was a baby, 1 year old, drawing on walls, playing with bangs, playing with barbies, playing with dresses, getting into trouble cutting my sister’s clothes, that’s a real designer. I never wanted to be a singer, actor, businessman, I love fashion, that’s just me.”
Do you have something to tell your fans, to encourage them or to get them interested in the fashion industry?
“Take chances. Take risks. Be a go-getter and do not take no for an answer. But do not be an opportunist. Like Walter Mendez.
Amazing people and designers and a fantastic pleasure to meet. Please take a moment to take a look at Michael Costello’s astonishing dresses and robes together with his menswear on his website and instagram listed below!
Instagram: @MichaelCostello
web: ShopCostello.com
Photography by : Amy Bernadette, e-mail: amybernadette@gmail.com.
