interview by Jorge Perezchica
If you’re one of Michael Costello’s 1.4 million instagram followers, you already know how the superstar designer stich and post at the same time, in real time. Whether he’s launching a new swimwear collection, designing for A-listers (Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Cardi B, Paris Hilton) or collaborating with Revolve, Michael is busier than ever before. In 2017 the Palm Springs native received a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Fame and March 18th was recently declared the official “Michael Costello Day.” So when Coachella finally arrived Michael took 3 days off to enjoy his success despite 123+ missed calls, 284 unread text messages and 384 unopend emails. Read on for the fashion trendsetter’s take on how social media and music festivals effect are impacting the fashion industry…and more.
How is working in fashion different today than when you started out?
Fashion is constantly evolving and it’s so important to keep up with the times! I’m not just talking about boho chic style or 90s denims and chokers being recycled every decade, I’m talking about the social media platforms that exploded in the scene! A decade ago, there was no Instagram, Snapchat or Twitter. Facebook and Myspace were brand new. People were looking at the first generation of social media platforms as an outlet to express themselves. When Instagram first launched in October 2010, I saw an opportunity to use the photo-sharing app to share my creation with the world and sell my dresses. Every time I posted about a dress, I’d get calls within seconds and that dress would be sold-out in hours. I advise anyone who wants to work in fashion today to truly utilize the power of social media to showcase their skills.
What are some festival fashion statements that you saw this year at Coachella?
There’s something so effortless about festival fashion that I absolutely love! Fashion and nostalgia have always gone hand in hand and there’s something romantic about having a music festival in the desert. I love a hippie look mixed with grunge elements. I love a 70s flower child vibe with lace and ruffel sleeves. I also love seeing a good mixture of patterns and fabric. I can’t believe fanny packs are making a come-back this year and I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve seen some super cute fringe ones! It’s all about individuality and I applaud all the festival goers who are unapologetic in their style and self-expression!
What impact do festivals have in the fashion industry?
Festival season has always had a huge impact on the fashion industry. The outfits people wear to Coachella are almost exact replicas of what their parents or grandparents wore to Woodstock. There are huge collaborations between fashion brands and licensing deals with festivals like Coachella. Festival season has not only become a “must-have Instagram moment” but also a major fashion moment. Most of the new pieces in my collection with Revolve pay homage to my hometown Palm Springs and paints the perfect picture of a gorgeous, effortless, festival girl who just wants to have the time of her life with her friends.
You recently launched a collaboration with Revolve. How did it come about?
I’m so excited to tell you about my collaboration with Revolve because this is truly something that my consumers and fans have asked me about for a long time! Ever since I started my career as a fashion designer, I get tons of messages daily from women of all walks of life begging for a more affordable collection. About a year ago, I noticed that Revolve had been gaining massive traction in social media. Their team reached out to me and I was shocked to hear that they’ve been a big fan of mine and been wanting to collaborate with me for a while! It just felt like a perfect fit. I wanted to make sure that my Revolve pieces are not only affordable (price ranging from $150-350) but that I was making pieces catering to women of all shapes, sizes, and body types.
Every celebrity is different. Before I make each dress, I imagine the woman wearing it – what she’ll be doing, etc. JLo’s team is so incredible, Rob Zangardi and Mariel Haenn trust my creative process. JLo is such a dynamic multi-faceted icon and she is very bold in her fashion choices! When I pitched them the idea of making a jumpsuit out of dollar bills to promote her new single “Dinero”, they shockingly said “Yes!” Cardi B has been a huge supporter of mine for a long time as well! Even before she blew up with “Bodak Yellow”, she was a frequent attendee at the Michael Costello NYFW show!
Your first swimwear collection launched this year at Fashion Week El Paseo — what has been the reaction so far? What’s the next area you want to explore?
We’re still getting tremendous feedback from the Michael Costello Swim debut at El Paseo Fashion Week! I’m very proud to say my team and I have taken the desert by storm. I have been wanting to do swim for a while and the biggest challenge lies in keeping true to the Michael Costello style aesthetics in something that’ss so simple. As far as other accessories go… stay tuned!
How do you want women to feel when they wear your clothes?
When a woman wears Michael Costello, I want her to feel confident, bold, and sexy. She is proud of her heritage and unafraid to share her unique story with the world.
What is your favorite part about being a designer?
My favorite part is that no two days are alike. Whether it’s creating a custom piece for a huge celebrity in less than 4 hours, or planning the biggest show NYFW has ever seen, I feel like I have to overcome challenges every single day. I thrive under pressure and I’m so lucky to have found such a solid team of workers. I challenge them to reach their potential every day.
There’s so much pressure for designers to come out with their greatest collection season after season. What advice would you give young designers just starting out?
I would advise young designers not to focus on making it in the industry, but on how they can improve their pieces each season. There is truly magic in creation when you’re not concerned about what critics are saying and what buyers want. Although life is all about finding a good balance, because you do have to make sales in order to sustain yourself at the end of the day. I would encourage designers to not compromise too much of their artistic integrity. There will be days when they feel like they want to give up. This is not meant to be an easy journey. For me, it’s the only journey that is destined for me.
WEB: shopcostello.com
INSTAGRAM: @michaelcostello
Michael Costello at Fashion Week El Paseo 2018, Palm Desert, CA.