The Bite Magazine - Spring/Summer 2023 - Issue 33

bitecatwalk PAUL COSTELLOE FASHION WEEK LONDON Spring/Summer 2023 P aul Costelloe is a longstanding, beloved Irish fash- ion designer who has been a staple in the industry for nearly 40 years. He's known for his beautiful and feminine womenswear, and his collections are charming examples of classic, timeless elegance that clever- ly take a bite of the traditional and seamlessly blend them with current trends to create the perfect look for the mod- ern woman. This season, his SS23 collection, 'A Painter's Palette of Dreams’, is the ideal representation of what Mr Costelloe does best, designing beautiful clothes. What walked this season was like a bouquet of freshly picked flowers. Pretty hues and shades of oranges, satu- rated reds, bold pinks, golden sunshine yellows, powdery blues and soft violets set the tone of this fluorescent catwalk presentation. They made one feel as if they were walking through a magnificent garden. Flirty and sweet baby doll- like dresses, chic wide-legged trousers, skirts, swingy tops and ladylike coats and trenches were paired with colourful coordinating tights, a range of purses and weekend bags, bold and bright make-up, super cute blonde bobbed wigs with dip-dyed ends completed these coquettish ensembles. My favourite looks were #9 and #16. The shade of bright canary yellow in this colour-blocked ensemble with the slightly billowy fabric, low scooped neck top and matching high-waisted wide-legged pants made me smile ear-to-ear: I loved the effortlessness of it all. With a change of shoes and bag, it could take you from work to an elegant night out was exactly what I look for in wardrobe staples. Look #16 was a pure gold perfection! The perfect tea-length, deep-v neck quilted, simple yet stunning dress makes clothing magical. Dreams, vivacious and vibrant colour palettes and daring yet wearable clothes that make people happy are finally re- turning as the main inspirations behind many designers’ collections this season. Gone are the doom-filled pandemic days, the darkness of the unknown and terrifyingly unex- pected that was day-to-day life the past few years. We’re now seeing a welcomed resurgence of hope, the daring at- tempts to dream again for a brighter tomorrow, and we’re excited to get dressed again in ways that show our new- found enthusiasm. Mr Costelloe has always been a light, a source of stability in fashion you could always rely on no matter the time and know you’ll look your best. So, here’s to him for always dreaming of a better outlook on fashion and its role in life. www.paulcostelloe.com