Fashion Week Designer Download: Costello Tagliapietra

By Nandini D'Souza
February 11, 2011

Costello Tagliapietra They’ve been known to serve cold Buds at their shows instead of the requisite champers. Their personal look is lumberjack—suspenders, plaid shirts, jeans and boots, complete with old-timey curved mustaches and beards. And yet for over a decade, top fashion designers Robert Tagliapietra and Jeffrey Costello have been turning out some of the most feminine silhouettes to march down the fashion runway. For their first few years in business, the duo specialized in jersey (that all-forgiving, all-flattering material), earning them the moniker, “Jersey Boys.” Then they deftly and succinctly shed that persona, turning out season after season of beautiful clothes, mostly drapey, thoughtfully-constructed dresses.

Top fashion designers Jeffrey Costello and Robert Tagliapietra have won the prestigious Ecco Domani award and been named finalists for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund twice. They fly under the radar in terms of mass appeal (save for collaboration with Japanese fast fashion brand Uniqlo last year), but within the industry, to say “Costello Tagliapietra” instantly conjures up a vision of beautiful clothing that flatters. Celebs aren’t immune to their sartorial charms, either. Indeed, the brand boats an impressively diverse clientele, from Patti and Bruce Springsteen to Angelina Jolie, FischerSpooner, Oprah Winfrey and Madonna.

Jeffrey Costello and Robert Tagliapietra’s eBay search keywords are just as unexpected. But we talked Fall 2011 fashion trends first.

The Inside Source: Your Fall 2011 runway fashion show is today at Milk Studios. What's the inspiration?

Costello Tagliapietra: The core this collection, for us, is about movement and bringing a lightness and sense of whimsy to this season.

Costello Tagliapietra Fall 2011

Costello Tagliapietra Fall 2011 Runway Fashions (Photo by Stefan Gosatti/Getty Images)

The Inside Source: What are your favorite pieces from the Costello Tagliapietra spring collection and why?

Costello Tagliapietra: This is always a difficult question as it changes from week to week! Right now we are most excited about the fuller skirts we did this season.

The Inside Source: Thinking about what you showed last season, what fashion trends are you most excited about for Spring 2011?

Costello Tagliapietra: Length! We have always been strong supporters of the longer lengths and are happy to have them back in the store. Another thing we always have are mixes of taupes and nudes and are happy to see them take precedence on the sales floor alongside brights like our acid leaf green.

Costello Tagliapietra

Costello Tagliapietra Spring 2011 Runway fashions (Photo by Andy Kropa/Getty Images)

The Inside Source: Describe your designer collection in five words.

Costello Tagliapietra: Timeless; respectful of history and thoughtful to the future.

The Inside Source: Everyone knows the day before a fashion runway show is chaos. What will you be doing the day after the show?

Costello Tagliapietra: Sales! The work doesn't end; it's just a little less crazed! We hopefully will grab brunch with our friends first, though!

The Inside Source: What are your favorite eBay search keywords?

Costello Tagliapietra: Vintage Bear magazines; vintage Bear magazine t-shirt; flannels; work/khaki pants for rebuilding, vintage sewing items—hat boxes, yarns—things outside the normal flea market finds.