The Stunning Transformation Of Michael Costello: From Project Runway To Red Carpet Royalty

Let's take a moment to think about some of our favorite celebrities. Who were the first three people to pop into your mind? If we had to guess, at least one of them has worn something designed by Michael Costello. Out of all the designers who have graced "Project Runway" over the years, Costello has transformed into one of the franchise's most successful alums. Dozens of Fashion Weeks? Check. Appearances on other reality TV shows? Double-check. Countless mentions on Reddit? Of course. 

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Costello's net worth as of 2026 is $10 million, and looking through his Instagram, it's not hard to see why. Costello's eponymous brand and abundance of collections are drop-dead gorgeous to look at, let alone wear. If there's anyone who can drape fabric into a dramatic silhouette, it's him. Costello's transformation over the years is just like the clothing he makes: beautifully inspiring. 

Michael Costello was born in Los Angeles, California, on January 20, 1983. He is the eldest son of Nancy and George Costello; he had a younger brother, Chris, who passed away in January 2024. Costello's cousin, Stephanie (who is frequently mislabeled as his sister), is a fashion designer as well. "My dad never had a 'job job,'" Costello once told Palm Springs Life. "Whatever he could make a quick buck on, he would get into."

You wouldn't be able to tell by Costello's physical appearance or last name, but he comes from a diverse, multi-ethnic family. "I'm a minority from a family of people who have been called a derogatory term for years – 'Gypsies,'" Costello wrote on Instagram in 2023. "I am Romani Gypsy with Afghan, Arabic, Greek, Italian, and Kazakhstani roots, and 36% South Asian Pakistani."

While born in Los Angeles, Costello grew up about two hours away in Palm Springs. "Every time I do get a chance to go back [to Palm Springs], all the childhood memories come back – first girlfriend, first boyfriend, first kiss, first all this," Costello remarked to Modern Luxury in 2023. "It's nice to go back and see all my friends, all my family, all the people who have supported me from day one in my career."

Long before Michael Costello became one of the most successful "Project Runway" stars out there, he was an ordinary teenager with an intrinsic flair for fashion. Costello explained to California Apparel News in 2019 that he was first inspired to create by his mother. "From a very young age, I saw my mother designing and sewing ... eventually, she would teach me how to make my own pieces."

As Costello has frequently talked about over the years, he opened his first clothing boutique in Palm Springs when he was just 15 years old. In 1998, Costello's father noticed a "For Rent" sign at 286 North Palm Canyon Drive; the landlord wanted just $500 a month, an unheard-of amount today. To make an extremely long story short, Costello's store quickly gained traction. Some of his biggest clients at that point ended up being Toni Braxton, Céline Dion, and Faye Dunaway. 

"For the first 10 years Michael never got paid. He'd dress all the celebrities for promotional reasons," Costello's mother told Fox News in 2021. "He would not put prices on his garments. He would take what people offered right here in Palm Springs when he was between 13 and 15."

In the fashion world, Bob Mackie was one of the most influential designers around — you can thank Mackie for the most daring outfits worn by Cher over the years, as well as being the initial mastermind behind Marilyn Monroe's iconic 1962 gown. As a young man with a host of accomplishments already, Michael Costello chose to ignore proper fashion school for more hands-on training with Mackie. He studied under him for approximately one year. 

Costello wrote about his time as Mackie's protégé on Instagram upon his death in September 2026. Costello revealed that he initially met Mackie at a book signing, and that his father would drive him between Palm Springs and North Hollywood several times a week for the internship. 

"Bob took me under his wing and became so much more than someone I admired. He became my mentor and my friend," Costello explained. "He taught me to love what I do, have fun with fashion, never force creativity, work hard, and above all, always be kind.

Michael Costello was married and divorced before 30, with the union anything but conventional. According to Costello, he got married in 2001, when he was 18, as part of an arranged marriage. The pair separated in 2005, largely because Costello was gay, and divorced in 2006. "I just wanted to make my parents happy," Costello explained to Palm Springs Life. "I think [my ex-wife] always knew that I wanted something else."

Costello's early marriage produced two children born 13 months apart: a son, Giovani, and a daughter, Coco. Giovani lives a quiet life out of the spotlight, although he's been featured on Costello's social media a few times over the years. "[Giovani] is the greatest kid, so smart, so talented. I am so blessed to have you in my life," Costello wrote on Instagram in 2015. 

As for Coco, she grew up in Texas with her mother and was subsequently estranged from Costello for most of her childhood. In 2023, Costello announced in a since-deleted Instagram post (via OK!) that he finally reconnected with his daughter. "For the past 15 years, I have cried dreaming of this moment," he wrote. 

Michael Costello auditioned for "Project Runway" several times before he finally made it on Season 8 in 2010. As Costello seemingly explained to Chron in 2012, he did not make the cut for Season 2. He was later offered spots on Seasons 3 and 6, but turned them down for unspecified reasons. 

If Costello's Palm Springs store garnered him attention, "Project Runway" Season 8 put him fully on the map. In the end, Costello finished in fourth place behind Gretchen Jones, Mondo Guerra, and Andy South. While Costello butt heads with Jones and another contestant, Ivy Higa, throughout the competition, his natural talent won over fans at home.

"I had such an incredible time and it is so crazy to look back at the journey to see how far I've come," Costello remarked on Instagram in 2020. "Thank you Ivy Higa, even though you didn't like me...it's totally ok."

You know what they say: if at first you don't succeed, try, try again. In 2012, Michael Costello — along with Mondo Guerra, whose previous loss became one of the biggest scandals in "Project Runway" history — appeared on the first season of "Project Runway All Stars." When asked why he decided to return, Costello told RealityWanted: " I felt like I was robbed and wanted to show the world that I have other talents and of course to promote my business."

Costello's run on "Project Runway All Stars" was similar to his time on Season 8, although with a noticeable lack of tension between him and the other contestants. Costello won several challenges and made it all the way to the finals, where he ultimately finished in third place behind Austin Scarlett and Guerra. 

"I thought I had it in the bag," Costello admitted during his exit interview (via Lifetime). "I was crushed inside. I was really hurt, because I knew it was coming ... however, I'm walking away with two tickets to Paris."

As the great Tiffany "New York" Pollard once said (via YouTube): Beyoncé? Beyoncé? BEYONCÉ? Yes, Michael Costello got his breakthrough in 2014, when he designed Beyoncé's stunning white gown for the 56th Grammy Awards. Costello told E! News that he created the look without taking Beyoncé's measurements in just three days. "I made four other pieces that night for Beyoncé, so that Ty [Hunter, stylist] had good options," he added.

Costello has understandably referenced this career highlight several times over the years, with a particularly long Instagram post uploaded in January 2025. "Dressing someone like Beyoncé opened doors and introduced me to incredible individuals who have become lifelong friends," Costello's caption said in part. "Because of this dress, I became a key player in reshaping the fashion landscape, especially in the age of social media."

BTW, Beyoncé has worn Costello's designs more than once. She donned one of his many black dresses for the 2015 Grammys and a pink ensemble for Shakira's birthday party in 2020. 

Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk's "American Horror Story" has been a TV staple for over a decade now. A horror anthology series sort of similar to "The Twilight Zone" (we're making the comparison extremely light here), "American Horror Story" has remained a hot topic of discussion not just for the story, but also for the wardrobe. Lady Gaga's character in "American Horror Story" Season 5 became particularly discussed upon its premiere in 2015, in part because of how amazing she looked.

Well, you can thank lead designer Lou Eyrich and Michael Costello for Gaga's "American Horror Story" fits, especially the fuchsia gown she made her debut in. Costello created approximately 60 costumes for the show, although only half were used. Eyrich's costume department ended up winning the 2016 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Costumes for a Contemporary Series. 

When Refinery29 brought up Gaga's iconic dress, Eyrich revealed: "The designer, Michael Costello, made the dress in a day, maybe two ... I had Michael come up with some sketches, and Ryan loved the fuschia, so that's what we ended up with."

While the Hollywood Walk of Fame has become a staple landmark in Los Angeles, it's not the only star-studded stretch of pavement out there. The Palm Springs Walk of the Stars was founded in 1992 and has honored hundreds of celebrities since; honorable mentions include Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and Elizabeth Taylor. 

Michael Costello's career experienced a full-circle moment in March 2017, when Palm Springs awarded him a star of his own. Costello received the 414th star with "Film and Television Fashion Designer" inscribed on it. As reported by Palm Springs Life, Costello dedicated the monumental achievement to his parents, as well as Fashion Week El Paso curator Susan Stein. 

March 18 was subsequently declared "Michael Costello Day" in Palm Springs, although Costello recognized it as March 20 in a 2021 Instagram post. "Every time I'm home, I walk [past] the star just to reflect on my journey and remember where I come from," Costello wrote. "Thank you all for always supporting me!"

Michael Costello enjoyed several collaborations with Essie nail polish during the late 2010s, although not in the way you might think: Essie curated custom nails for Costello's shows at New York Fashion Week. For Spring-Summer 2017, Essie ambassador Rita Remark created a unique maroon and gold ombré effect. Then for Spring-Summer 2018, Remark and celebrity manicurist Julie Kandalec made multiple nail designs that included another ombré, florals, and varsity-inspired lettering. 

Costello had a lot of things going on during this era of New York Fashion Week shows, since he actually partnered with Essie and Inglot Cosmetics at the same time. For Spring-Summer 2017, makeup artist Edward Cruz used darker Inglot tones for Costello's collection. "This season we really thought about how the natural beauty of a flower resembles that of a woman: Delicate, radiant, unique," Costello said at the time (via World Bride Magazine). 

For Spring-Summer 2018, Inglot lead makeup artist Michaela Polaco utilized lighter and more accessible makeup products to accentuate Costello's collection (and those Essie nails we just discussed). "We're converting the idea that glamour is something reserved for the elite," Polaco explained to Athleisure Mag. "The palette is ethereal yet evokes the thought, 'I could pull that off.'"

Although Michael Costello has been involved in a couple of feuds over the years, he did receive a wave of positive attention in 2019. At the beginning of the year, singer Bebe Rexha slammed the fashion industry; she alleged that multiple designers refused to dress her for the 2019 Grammys due to her size. Several people stuck up for Rexha and offered to work with her, including Costello and Christian Siriano, another famous "Project Runway" alum.

"I don't blame her for being upset. I've been friends with Bebe for a very long time," Costello told TMZ. "I'm sad she didn't call me first because I would've said 'yes' ... Bebe, call me. You have my number. I'm not too hard to find." Costello further implied that he would dress her for free.

In the end, Rexha stood out as one of the best-dressed stars at the 2019 Grammy Awards, although despite Costello's public offer, she went with Monsoori. 

Any "Throughly Modern Millie" fans in the house? Saks Fifth Avenue has been a big deal for over 100 years now, since its first store opened in 1924. In 2022, Michael Costello and Saks Fifth Avenue teamed up to promote Costello's brand. His designs were placed next to Halston's, something he could barely wrap his mind around at the time. "I pretty much had a heart attack and almost passed out because Halston is one of my favorite designers," Costello admitted to Modern Luxury.

"I was so nervous that I developed my own [Saks] collection in 16 days. I made 32 looks for them," Costello later told GLOSSY in 2023. "I was so excited because you work so hard in your career for these types of moments ... you never feel like you've completed something or like you're a major player in the industry until you're sold at a high-end, well-known department store."

Today, only a handful of Costello's designs are available on Saks Fifth Avenue's official website; they're considered limited, albeit still gorgeous.

From Céline Dion's massive win for Switzerland in 1988 to Portugal's record-breaking score in 2017, the Eurovision Song Contest, aka Eurovision, has dominated the global music scene for over half a century. While everyone tunes in for the singing, the featured outfits and other performance elements also become a hot topic of discussion. For Eurovision 2024, Michael Costello was chosen to design the looks for Nebulossa, who represented Spain.

"I am grateful that RTVE asked me to design Nebulossa's outfits for Eurovision. The fact that my designs will be on a global stage is a massive opportunity," Costello said in a translated statement (via Eurovoix). "It was my dream to contribute to an event like Eurovision, an event that celebrates diversity and creativity."

While Nebulossa looked great, their performance didn't hit a lot of beats. In the end, Spain finished in 22nd place out of 25 countries. 

Another year, another abundance of beautiful gowns from Michael Costello. After Eurovision 2024, Costello released "Life After Death," a self-expressive collection he debuted at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid. Costello alluded to several challenges that inspired him on Instagram, which included his brother's death. "It wasn't just personal, but it also left a lasting impact on me emotionally," he wrote. 

Costello's latest collection at the time of publication, ROOM 1979, was released in June 2026. If we had to describe it in only three words, we'd go with: moody, sultry, and absolutely stunning (okay, so four). Costello's gowns and bodysuits highlight dark colors, interesting cutouts, and the perfected draping he's become known for.

The inspiration story for ROOM 1979 paints it as a breathtaking yet purposeful nocturnal dream where all is steady and calm. 

Alright, Michael Costello being Revolve's (stylized REVOLVE) "biggest" designer could be considered subjective. Are we wrong, though? Costello's collections have remained in high demand for almost 10 years. Costello first partnered with Revolve in 2017 with a holiday collection of gowns, which received positive reviews for its aesthetic and relatively low prices.

In the years since, Costello has released so many collaborations with Revolve that trying to keep track of them all would be futile. In 2020, however, Costello made waves with his first swimwear line with the company — released at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, no less. "Your summer plans may be canceled, but summer is NEVER canceled," Costello told E! News. "No matter who is wearing Michael Costello x Revolve swim, I want her to feel like a baddie in an exotic, tropical location."

As of October 2026, nearly 400 of Costello's designs are available to purchase on Revolve's official website.