For those of you that were able to visit with Victor Costa this Fall at various events as his much anticipated book, Copycat, was released, I hope that some of you were able to be with us at the Italian Cultural & Community Center for our Evening With Victor Costa!! It was such a fun night, filled with so many great stories and very candid moments making for many of us, another night of memories with the “King of Copiests”.
About Victor Costa: When I think of the heart of fashion, both globally and personally, the name Victor Costa immediately comes to mind. As a Houston native who has gone on to dazzle the world with his designs, Costa’s story is nothing short of remarkable. His memoir, Copycat, released this October, is a true testament to the perseverance, passion, and flair that define both his career and his character.
Victor’s journey began in the most unassuming of places—East Houston, the Fifth Ward, specifically, a neighborhood not traditionally associated with the glitz of the fashion world. But from an early age, he found inspiration in the cinematic world of 1940s Hollywood, where the glamour on-screen sparked his imagination. By the tender age of ten, he was already sketching women’s clothing, and by sixteen, he was creating stunning prom dresses. His talent and ambition quickly propelled him beyond the borders of Texas to the fashion capitals of the world—New York City and Paris, France.
For those of us who know Victor personally, it’s been a joy to watch his career soar. In his earliest days of attending St. Thomas High School and sewing in his garage, he made spectacular dresses for my Mom, Christine Orlando and many other Italian women in our city.(Oh how I wish I had those dresses today!) For me, personally, our relationship began when my Mom connected us during my years of first attending Tobe Coburn Fashion School and staying to work in retail in NYC, as Victor was living there then. However, my greatest memories of Victor were the days of planning my wedding here in Houston in the ’70’s……my dream dress, my bridesmaids and my Mom’s MOB gown like no other, which I would wear to this day! I know I speak for so many Houston women(Gina Gusemano Leck, Renee Broussard Jongebloed,&many more!) that’s greatest memories were in Victor Costa garments always made especially for each of us!
In conclusion, as someone who has long admired Victor, not just as a designer but as a dear friend, I can tell you that this book is more than a memoir—it’s a celebration of a life well-lived, stitched together with both creativity and heart. For those of us who have shared our hometown roots with Victor, Copycat is a beautiful reminder of how far talent and determination can take you, even from the most unexpected of beginnings.
He found his stride in New York’s bridalwear industry but quickly transitioned to something that would define his legacy—”line for line” copying of couture designs. While some may bristle at the term “copycat,” Costa embraced it with grace and creativity. His work was much more than imitation—it was an art form. He made high fashion accessible to everyday women, translating the grandeur of designer collections into affordable, yet equally elegant, pieces. No wonder a leading figure in the fashion industry once called him “the greatest copyist in the world.”
But Copycat is not just about the clothes. It’s also a deeply personal reflection on his life, filled with humor and candid stories about love, loss, and resilience. He shares the highs of his career as well as the difficult moments—like the scandal and bankruptcy that threatened his $50 million business. Through it all, Victor’s passion for fashion remained unwavering, and his ability to pick up the pieces, reinvent himself, and find love later in life, is nothing short of inspiring.
I encourage all fashion lovers and Houston natives alike to dive into Copycat, a memoir as stylish and elegant as the man himself.
Copycat is available online only at Amazon, Brazos and Barnes & Noble. Don’t miss your chance to walk through the pages of Victor Costa’s life, a journey from East Houston’s Fifth Ward to the heights of Manhattan, with Paris inbetween, all told through the eyes of a fashion visionary.
Overview of the sampling of Victor Costa garments on loan for the evening…….
VIDEO intro of Victor Costa for the evening’s chat
Photos courtesy of Piero Brignole
Roz thank you so much for this marvelous coverage of Victor Costa. I have been a fan for years but I had no idea of his past and all the personal stories that you described. When Andre Talley ,my friend from school days long ago ,invited me to attend the Met Gala where he was being honored, I was seated next to Victor, I remember this like yesterday. He asked me if I was in the business and I had to explain what I did in Houston. After a brief chat, he pointed out that Andre was standing in the front row waving for me joining him.
Victor pointed out that my friend Andre , was pointing out for me to join him. What a great opportunity to meet Victor. I explained to him that I was a loyal fan and excused myself to join Andre. Of course Victor would not remember me after such a brief encounter but his graciousness touched my heart. Should you have the opportunity , i hope that you would relay my gratitude for the kind words and interest he shared with a stranger from Houston who was a guest to this fantastic event .💕Yvonne
Thanks Yvonne…..I always love your comments on my blog! I will definitely share your comments with Victor and his memory of details has been mind-blowing!! Happy Holidays! xoxo
I still have a Victor Costa hanging in my closet from high school (in the 80s). It still fits…. and it looks just as stylish now as it did then. I actually wore it to a gala a few years ago and got tons of compliments.
Great write-up and photos/video clip about Victor, Roz! I’m sure yours will be one of, if not the highlight of his book signings. I need to call his booking person about him speaking to our group in March…this surgery recovery and then coming down with an upper respiratory infection has set me back. Hopefully this week will be a turnaround!
I’m living vicariously through you and Alan enjoying the holidays in your social media posts…loving that you’re having so much fun! ♥️💚
EXCELLENT, ROZZIE!!!
Thank you, Jackie…..I love that you, like so many of us, still have Victor Costas in our closets. I wish there was a way to gather all of this together and do a photo collage. When the ICCC honored Victor a few years back I requested Victor’s dresses from loyal purchasers to use in the fashion runway show and received photos of 147 dresses……it was hard to choose!!
Happy Holidays to you and yours!
xoxo