Mr Costelloe died in London on Friday.
In a statement, his family said they were: “deeply saddened to announce the passing of Paul Costelloe following a short illness”.
“He was surrounded by his wife and seven children and passed peacefully in London,” the statement said.
Mr Costelloe was on of Ireland’s best-known designers.
Costelloe married his wife Anne Cooper in 1979 and the couple have seven children — Jessica, William, Robert, Gavin, Justin, Paul-Emmet and Nicholas.
Born in June 1945, the Irish-American began his career in the 1960s and opened a store in Knightsbridge in London in the early 1990s.
He famously dressed Diana Spencer, the former Princess of Wales. He also produced a wedding dress for Richard Nixon’s daughter and built a successful partnership with Dunnes Stores.
Costello was the youngest of seven and described his father, who ran a factory in Dublin, as “very successful”.
In an interview with the Irish Independent in 2022, he said: “We lived in Dublin, in a big old house with an acre back garden. I was just left out like a pet. In the garden from 10am, then lunch, and after I’d be back out until 6pm. Then bed by 8pm”.
Costello began in the fashion industry at the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture in Paris.
He was then appointed Design Assistant to Jacques Esterel, the French couturier and musical composer, before moving to Milan to work for Marks & Spencer. He later worked in Milan designer for the luxury department store La Rinascente. A move to the USA was followed by his appointment as designer to American fashion designer Anne Fogarty in New York after which Paul established his own label, Paul Costelloe Collections.
The designer was later invited to show his work at London Fashion Week in 1984.
Costello attended fashion week in London for decades to follow, right up to September 2025, during which he showcased his 2026 spring/summer collection.
His brand continues to this day selling collections including womenswear, menswear, bags and accessories, homeware, jewellery, eyewear and children’s occasionwear.
Costelloe also developed a successful business in developing corporate wear concepts for major multi-nationals and sports teams including British Airways, Delta Airlines and the Irish Olympic Team.
At this year’s London Fashion Week, his brand presented a show which was the epitome of his work over the past four decades: An ode to the old heritage, bold and vibrant streets of Rodeo Drive in 1960s Beverly Hills, with the collection titled Boulevard Of Dreams.
He continued to lead the design team for his company until his death.
In 2010, Costelloe was one of six contemporary Irish fashion designers featured on a set of Irish postage stamps issued by An Post, alongside Louise Kennedy, Lainey Keogh, John Rocha, Philip Treacy and Orla Kiely.
Along with Kennedy, he was a celebrity guest judge for the 2013 final of RTE Television’s Craft Master show.
More to follow..
