Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Meet & Greet with Michael Costello and Project Runway All Stars at Palm Springs Fashion Week

Written by Colleen Tsoukalas (Treasure Seeker Colleen)

Absolutely loved the setting and friendly, efficient staff for Palm Springs Fashion Week (El Paseo) March 16-22nd, 2014!  Not realizing the distance to drive between our location in Palm Springs, I was very happy to meet five fantastic designers in two days, thanks to Dorothy Mannfolk, Press Contact.  Next time, I would definitely stay right in El Paseo to write about all of events during the week.  A fabulous array of events included: Style and Beauty Bash, El Paseo Shopping Passport, Q and A sessions with designers,  trunk shows, Cocktail Receptions, and even a special fashion documentary, "Versailles 73" (The Battle of Versailles) which details the first ever fashion show collaboration (battle) by American and French Designers, right at the Palace.  For more info on this not to be missed fashion week: www.fashionweekelpaseo.com.

 Susan Stein, Fashion Director PSFW, Uli Herzner, Michael Costello, 
Ariyaphon Southiphong (Andy South), Irina Shabayeva, Viktor Luna, Helen Castillo



Michael Costello is an American Couture designer, who started his first boutique, locally, at age 14!  He was in his kitchen when he got the call to audition for Project Runway.  Only three designers were selected out of thousands.  His career has been non-stop since his success as an All Star on the show.  His very first client was Brooke Shields and since then, many of his designs have been seen on the red carpet. He is also on "Fashion Police" as a panelist with Joan Rivers. His advice to young designers is that success doesn't happen overnight.  Building a business takes time, persistence, working well with all kinds of teams.  Articulate, focused, excited, passionate and engaging describe him well during the Q and A, on the runway and at his trunk show.  He patiently and enthusiastically signed autographs for young kids, interested in their own fashion careers, and seemed delighted to reconnect with the many local fans who came to reconnect. He brought four other All Stars to this Q and A session and it was truly a captivating and inspiring one hour session.  (Photos before and after as well as continuing interviews)

Michael Costello's first collection



Michael Costello's second collection


Helen Castillo was the youngest of the team and is known for her couture evening, ready to wear and bridal gowns.  She interned for Vivienne Westwood in London and also with Vera Wang in NYC.  In 2013, she was a Vogue Young Talents winner as well as achieving success on Project Runway.  In her apartment, she is surrounded by dress forms and sewing machines and receives her daily inspiration from them. She watched PR and googled how to apply.  She says she "put her everything" into her application and continues to "develop her skills and grow" from that experience.

Helen Castillo


Ariyaphon Southiphong (Andy South) was a finalist on the 8th season of Project Runway and advised new designers to "find their purpose".  Her line has been picked up by Neiman Marcus (Hawaii).  She is a strong advocate and voice for trans gender rights (LGBT).  She also advocates for strengthening the domestic garment industry in the USA.  She says she always felt she was "meant to do more".  She believes her career choices give her the opportunity to do what she believes in. Her evening wear and ready to wear collections are fitted to flatter and to me, reflected confidence, statement, peace and color.

Ariyaphon Southiphong (Andy South)



Irina Shabayeva graduated from Parsons and won the Saga Design Award.  She studied fur design in Denmark and is a 2009 PR winner.  She has a Luxe line on the Fashion Network.  Her bridal collection brought gasps and ovations at her runway show.  She told a story about her dad being in the front row when she received her award and not really knowing what it was all about.  I loved her story about him attending an after party and introducing himself (nicely) but emphatically to someone who had called her a bitch.  Very down to earth and definitely a designer who could make your special day.

Irina Shabayeva



Viktor Luna was born in Guadalajara, Mexico and was raised in LA.  He, like Michael and Helen was strongly influenced by a creative mom.  He launched his first collection in 2003 and was a finalist on PR.  His 2012 Spring Collection was shown at New York Fashion Week.  His says his fans inspire him and that social media is a big part of his career.  He has always been a big fan of the show and saw Helen's and Irina's collections and then applied.  Being part of the PR All Stars family has been huge for him.  He, like Michael says it takes a lot of time to build a collection.  I loved his military jackets and funky designs.  I could see movie sets springing up all around him, especially when he was wearing his bow tie and jelly shoes. At the end of his runway show, he came out, bowed and waved a fan.  Delightful!

Viktor Luna



Uli Herzner showed an early interest in fashion, designing her own clothes at age eleven.  She travels the world as a wardrobe stylist. works on TV and has her own show, "It's Very Uli", a reality show on Plum TV.

Her specialty is colorful, carefree resort wear but she could design anything your heart desires.  Very interested in watching her wonderful runway show replayed on video, she wanted to comment but I didn't listen because it was just perfect.

Tim Gunn called Uli to be on Project Runway and she is very proud to call herself a designer.  In business, she says it's so important "to be there" not just for yourself but for your clients.  She tried on many of her designs, next day at the trunk show and as I watched her, I thought just maybe I could be that well dressed traveller, looking put together, ready for sun and fun.

Uli Herzner



Rob Bagshaw, Executive Producer of the Project Runway Program,  explained that All Stars already have careers and are chosen to showcase their talents and take their careers further. Their schedule is insanely short, requiring them to design and do the show in five weeks. The show must be a good experience for both the designers and the audience.  The designers have no assistants and must do everything themselves.  Competition, he said, is just a small part of it.  It is really about the creative process and teamwork. Advice to get on the show: start by having a well developed portfolio with lots of internships and work experience. 

I know Tim Gunn was busy in New York, but I could swear he was there, chin in hand.(thinker's pose) He is greatly admired by this team.

The Q and A was very effectively run by Susan Stein, Fashion Director.  She ensured that each designer had the spotlight at least a couple of times and that the audiences, especially very young fans, had time to ask questions.  There was time for autographs and then more interviews afterward.  We all had great seats, accoustics were first rate and the show was taped for later viewing.  We had preview packages first, introducing each speaker and their names were clearly visible as they spoke.  Love that El Paseo Fashion week raises so much for charity and other programs and that the whole community takes part in making this event memorable.

Big thanks to Susan Stein, Fashion Director, Dorothy Mannfolk,  Press Contact, Michael Mathews, Director of Community Relations and Events and of course, to the very talented Project Runway All Stars: Michael Costello, Helen Castillo, Ariyaphon Southiphon, Viktor Luna and Uli Herzner.  It was a rare treat to hear from Rob Bagshaw about a production that we all watch. 

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