Michael Costello Spring 2017

This season's runways were in full bloom. Sure, you can go with pastels, but Project Runway alumni Michael Costello went for a richer, darker palette for spring 2017. The silhouettes were unabashedly sexy with many of the dramatic dresses with leg slits at navel height. I can imagine daring starlets having a great red carpet moment (or malfunction) with those.

Deep wine colors, sparkling off-black and beautiful little embroideries made this formal collection a winner. Costello was clearly aiming for dressing entire celebrity families. Handsome Tyson Beckford made his way down the catwalk as a teaser to the impending menswear collection. His suit a shimmering brocade. Two children's wear looks also came down the runway, once a young girl another a toddler. Could this be an attempt to pander to the Kardashians and Beyonces of the world?

I loved the gigantic flower crowns. I have seen too many wimpy music festival ones the past few years. The styling of this show made each model look like a Goddess of the wine harvest. The full-on glamor of the capes, satin jumpsuits, sequin gowns are a celebration of the bombshell and hourglass figures. His boutique in Los Angeles is just calling out to any celebrity who will have him. I am just happy to see my favorite colors being featured through spring and summer. Congrats to Michael Costello on Spring 2017

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#NYFW Art Hearts Fashion - Michael Costello Fall 2015

If you're the last designer and last fashion show to close out the Lincoln Center era of New York Fashion Week, go out with a bang. Michael Costello and Stephanie Costello did just that last night for the finale of the Art Hearts Fashion presentation for AIDS Awareness.

Most people will talk about the naked male model, Laurent Marchand. Perhaps they might talk about a fabulous "V" like reveal of the model to lizard alien face (spectacular makeup on that one BTW). If that's all people talk about though, that would be a shame. I first saw these gimmicks as just that, something that a lesser talent would pull just for the sake of publicity. Then I read the designer's statement of how this collection was "inspired by the daring, outspoken and misbehaved". Also, "centralized around the unconventional, & challenging boundaries". Now it makes more sense.

The rest of the runway was indeed very sexy, but it had a lot of gorgeous looks too. Definitely figure-hugging and not for the timid. The Project Runway alum has already shown more growth from his spring show. I still think his collection is begging for some high drama pop divas to showcase them properly on stage. Now that he has the world's attention, I hope Michael Costello can focus on pure, fashion design with the distractions. They are showstoppers in their own right.

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Michael Costello Art Hearts Spring 2015

Aliens on the runway! That was my first impression of former Project Runway contestant Michael Costello’s fashion show. His collection at the Art Hearts Spring 2015 presentation at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week sent mixed signals.

The fabulous costumed aliens (I think) that flanked the runway for the models made me think that this would be an avant-garde, artistic show. The looks that came down the catwalk though, were sexy, dark, evening wear pieces that were daring, but not particularly forward. The deep browns, black, blue along with lots of sheer lace and metallic have a sultry look to match the models. Many of the body hugging silhouettes with revealed leg, fishtail hem or cut-outs are just screaming out for a Kardashian sister to wear them. Costello’s West Coast base also makes him primed to serve many a red carpet in the upcoming awards season.

Less successful were the few pieces of lace bottoms. Very sheer lace bottoms with a triangle patch at the crotch? These are the cringe-worthy items that women shake their head at and only a male would design.

Other spacey touches included spiked and studded masks that many of the models wore. I was unclear if this was part of the collection, a separate accessories brand or meant to convey a character? Also, those aliens were distracting because they were so cool, they took focus away from what otherwise was a great ‘diva’ collection.

Aside from these minor rookie mistakes, I am looking forward to what else Michael Costello Couture has in store for on this planet or the next.

photos by Mariana Leung

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