Runway Report: Michael Costello Spring 2018
Michael Costello is possibly best known for his red carpet and award show creations. Having dressed major celebrities like Beyonce, Costello has solidified his name in the fashion industry as one of the go-to awards season designers. This New York Fashion Week, however, Costello’s stepped away from his usual lacy eveningwear and fitted party dresses, and applied his love for all things glamorous to a bridal collection.
Models adorned in blush pink ruffled tulle gowns, cream wedding dresses with sparkling floral applique, and lavender layered ensembles, filled Robert Miller Gallery in Chelsea, Manhattan. The occasion? Costello’s Spring 2018 presentation — a first for the designer — showing off his latest bridal-inspired designs.
We chatted with the designer during the presentation about the new Costello woman, how he came up with a bridal line, and why it is so important to listen to customers of all body types.
FashionFiles: You haven’t done a presentation before?
Michael Costello: No, I’ve never done a presentation before so it’s my first and I’m super excited. Looking around the room I see so many friends and I see so many family members, friends of the brand, and people who are always there either sitting front row or sitting somewhere else. So it’s nice to see everybody and hear, ‘Oh, I love this,’ and ‘Oh, I love what’s happening here,’ or ‘I love what they did with this and what they did with that.’ So, it’ fun.
FF: Walk us through the Michael Costello Spring 2018 collection. What was the inspiration behind it?
MC: I wanted to do my very first bridal line. I wanted to give our women an opportunity to see the collection as bridal but also giving her ideas for her bridesmaids’ dresses or reception dress. I still wanted to do my Michael Costello collection in eveningwear as well. It was about listening to our customers, and listening to all of our people, listening to the women who want to see dresses on their body types as well. So not only in the show do we have girls who are [size] two and four, but are six, eight, 10-12, 14-16. All of the dresses and everything is relatable. Yes, it’s still sheer and sexy but it’s sheer and sexy in all different sizes, so that’s what we’re trying to do tonight.
FF: Tell us a bit more about the Michael Costello woman. Who is she? Where is she going?
MC: Where isn’t she going!? I feel like the Michael Costello woman is going everywhere. She knows she’s getting married this season, she has a huge wedding, she’s going to Capri, she’s going to the Netherlands, she’s going to Rome, and she’s going to Italy. For us, it’s all about her celebrating organically and becoming a woman, becoming a mom, becoming a god mom, becoming a wife and celebrating that.
FF: Where is she going in the fall?
MC: In the fall? I don’t know. I’ll have to check back up on her in February [laughs]
Take a look at the full Michael Costello Spring 2018 collection in the slide above.
