As fashionistas everywhere eagerly await the beginning of Project Runway Season 16, many may wonder what some of the former realty show designers are doing now.
You may be surprised to learn that you have already seen many of their designs on red carpets, talk shows, music videos and magazine covers.
Christian Siriano, winner of Project Runway Season 4, has been the most successful designer from the show. He has dressed everyone from Michelle Obama, to Jennifer Lopez, a frequent Project Runway designer customer.
According to Elle, his business is worth between $10 and $20 million dollars. Was it all because of his Project Runway success? Neiman Marcus fashion director, Ken Downing, confessed “I didn’t care for his attitude” on the show. But after a few years, he discovered that Siriano was quite different in person, than in how he was portrayed on the reality show. Downing could see that Christian knew how to create garments that women want to wear.
“I have customers who fly in from all over the country to his trunk shows. For them, it’s all about his success on the red carpet and how easily those dresses can translate to cocktail parties, weddings, bar mitzvahs. Unlike some designers who get more press and praise, 99 percent of what Christian sends down the runway ends up at retail. His clothes are designed to sell.”
Besides Christian Siriano, who are some of the other designers that celebrities are wearing?
Natalia Fedner may not be on the top of everyone’s list of potentially successful designers from the show. The Ukraine-born designer was on the only season of Project Runway: Under the Gunn. Although Oscar Garcia-Lopez, was the winner of that season, everyone remembers Natalia. She was eliminated in the midst of some heated designer-mentor controversy. Clearly, she is not looking back.
She has now designed looks for JLo, Beyonce, Kristen Stewart Lenny Kravitz, all of the Kardashian sisters and the list goes on. She has even shown collections in New York and Paris!
Why is Natalia so popular? She creates gorgeous garments using a modern sort of “chainmail” that she created. This is a 100 percent metal textile that fits perfectly along the curves of the body, creating a sexy and dramatically sheer look that so many celebrities love to wear on the red carpet, or while performing. The fabric molds to the body and becomes a second skin.
When Michael Costello appeared on Project Runway Season 8, there were a lot of catty comments by fellow designers about the quality of his sewing, and even his level of taste. Yet, this Palm Springs-based designer has watched his career soar, because he knows how to make a woman look sexy.
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The self-taught designer had apprenticed with Bob Mackie as a teen, which makes perfect sense, as his current red carpet looks demonstrate that he has the same sort of sexy appeal of his mentor. Michael Costello has created dramatic and voluptuous gowns for red carpet events and even music videos.
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He recently created the striking, voluminous gold gown that Jennifer Lopez wears in the “Ni Tu Ni Yo” music video. Through all of the dramatic fabric, JLo’s magnificent figure is still the star. Who could imagine so much billowy fabric could be so sensual?
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Clearly, Michael Costello’s biggest customer is Beyonce. His Instagram is a treasure trove of gorgeous looks by the Lemonade singer. Olympic medal downhill skier, Lindsay Vonn has also worn Michael Costello’s designs for many red carpet events. Vonn, like Beyonce and JLo, has a killer figure and Michael Costello’s garments have movement and sexiness from every angle.
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Daniel Vosovic was only 24 when he appeared on Project Runway Season 2, nearly 12 years ago. The runner-up to winner Chloe Dao has been quite busy with his own company since then. He has dressed Emma Stone on many occasions, and most recently, he dressed Cobie Smulders.
What Vosovic cares most is the relationship he has with his client, as he explained to Fashionista.
“I’ve learned that trying to build genuine relationships with everyone at every level in this industry has proven to be more successful for me than trying to dress a Real Housewife. It’s just not why I wake up in the morning, and it’s certainly not why I work 15 hour days. I do it because I want the people who are wearing my stuff to love it.”
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Who are some of your favorite, former Project Runway designers that are currently dressing celebrities? Share your opinions below!
[Featured Image by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images]