Victor Costa
Victor Costa | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 17, 1935 Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Occupation | Fashion designer |
| Years active | Mid-1970s–present |
| Known for | Transforming elite European fashion trends into accessible American apparel; leading figure in ultra-feminine gowns of the 1980s |
Victor Costa (born December 17, 1935) is a prominent American fashion designer often dubbed the "King of Copycats" for his skill in transforming elite European fashion trends into accessible American apparel. He rose to global recognition during the mid-1970s by adapting luxury looks for a wider audience.
By 1987, the New York Times grouped Costa with Christian Lacroix and Arnold Scaasi as leading figures behind the surge of extravagant, ultra-feminine gowns characterized by exposed shoulders, cinched waists, and flowing silhouettes. He established Victor Costa, Inc. along with Victor Costa Bridal, producing designs for major department stores throughout the 1990s and distributing collections to five different markets each year.
Costa developed a devoted following that included Betsy Bloomingdale, Brooke Shields, and Ivana Trump. His clientele extended to First Ladies Lady Bird Johnson and Rosalynn Carter, as well as President Richard Nixon’s daughters Tricia Nixon Cox and Julie Nixon Eisenhower.
Early life
Born in Houston’s Fifth Ward as the second child among three siblings to a Sicilian immigrant who worked in metal fabrication, Costa was raised modestly behind his grandparents’ grocery shop. His fascination with Hollywood style emerged early; he created paper doll designs sold to schoolmates and crafted prom dresses during his high school years. He pursued fashion studies at Pratt Institute and the University of Houston before advancing his education at Paris’s École de la Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, affiliated with the prestigious Chambre Syndicale trade organization.
Career
Upon returning from Paris, Costa began selling fashion illustrations to designers such as Oleg Cassini and Ceil Chapman. Subsequently, he joined Suzy Perette, where he honed a technique for capturing the spirit of popular European fashions.
Moving to Dallas, he acquired the Ann Murray company and commenced production in a 50,000-square-foot manufacturing plant. His enterprise achieved $1 million in sales during its inaugural year. By 1987, key retailers like Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus were purchasing $3.6 million and $3 million worth of merchandise annually from him. Additionally, he generated over $1 million per year in sales to Nordstrom, Bergdorf Goodman, and Marshall Field. By 1988, his company’s annual revenue had escalated to $50 million.
In 2000, Costa introduced the Victor Costa Occasion Collection on QVC, initially reaching $500,000 in sales and expanding to more than $10 million by 2008.
He holds membership in the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
Personal life
Costa married his high school girlfriend Terry in 1958 while studying in Paris. The couple had two children before ending their marriage after 28 years in 1986.
In 1984, he met Clay Cope, who became his partner for 28 years. In 2012, Costa wed Jerry Ann Woodfin.