Welcome to The Director’s Cut, an interactive column featuring fashion, beauty and career advice from RGNN Director and Founder, @isabelevabohrer.
When in doubt, wear all black. A classic mantra in the fashion industry. And so it seemed, to also be the mantra behind Michael Costello’s spring/summer 2025 collection. At last in the beginning.
The backdrop vibe at Michael Costello | Video credit: RGNN.org
Costello, who conventionally shows in Los Angeles and occasionally at New York Fashion Week, made his runway debut at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Madrid last night. It was the closing show of established fashion designers (and I say established because the emerging designers in Madrid are always showing on the last Sunday, today).
As one might expect, the glamorous looks were many in Costello’s collection. Black velvet, black sparkles, grey shimmering sequins… it looked to be an all black show at the beginning. But then the colors started coming in; call it maroon, purple, dark burgundy, and gold in all of its variations.
The gold dress that topped them all | Video credit: RGNN.org
My favorite look? A gold maxi dress that can be worn two ways – watch the video and you’ll see what I mean. I could see myself wearing that.
But I couldn’t help but wonder about the wearability of some of the other designs, especially the maxi dresses. Just that morning, I had filmed a GRWM wearing a co-ord top and maxi skirt set from another brand that, standing still or sitting down, looked spectacular. But it was so hard to walk in; the maxi skirt was very tight at the bottom. And there it was, the same issue with some of Costello’s maxi designs that evening.
Having just yesterday seen Isabel Sanchís’ immaculate construction, worthy of the L’Oréal Prize for best 2024 collection and including tight maxi dresses the models could walk in, the critical fashion journalist in me can’t help but say that Costello’s construction still has some way to go. Would that stop me from buying and wearing one of his designs to a glam (primarily stand up/sit down event)? Probably not. I frequently check his latest offerings on Revolve, after all. That said, not all of the dresses had the same issue.
Paula Echevarría’s runway debut | Video credit: RGNN.org
The real gem, and debut, came at the end of the show. Spanish actress and model Paula Echevarría made her way down the runway in a spectacular gown that flared out at the hip. It is not the first time she is spotted in Costello’s designs; in fact, as she walked out hand-in-hand with the designer himself at the end, you can clearly see that they are friends. We hope you both come to show, and walk, in Madrid again!
Thank you, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid, for inviting us.
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