Who Is Costarellos? Christos Costarellos and the Athens House He Built
Who Is Costarellos? Christos Costarellos and the Athens House He Built
Costarellos is a Greek eveningwear house founded in Athens in 1998 by Christos Costarellos, who is still its Founder and Creative Director. The label is known for French lace, crystal embroidery and romantic, feminine evening dresses, and it designs and produces its collections in-house. It is sold through more than 50 retailers worldwide, including Harrods, Net-A-Porter and Coveti.
Quick answer
- Founded: 1998, in Athens, Greece.
- Founder: Christos Costarellos, born in Duesseldorf, Germany, and raised in Greece.
- Training: fashion design in Greece, then a master’s in theatre costume design at the London College of Fashion.
- Known for: French lace, crystal embroidery, embellishment and long, romantic evening lines.
- Prices at Coveti: $290 for the Lex bralette up to $5,470 for the Belina crystal column gown.
- Sizes: French sizing, FR 34 to FR 46 in most styles (some from FR 32). Knits come in letter sizes.
Who is Christos Costarellos?
Christos Costarellos was born in Duesseldorf and grew up in Greece. He studied fashion design in Greece before moving to London for a master’s degree in theatre costume design at the London College of Fashion. That costume training shows in the work. His dresses are built for an entrance, with structured bodices, long skirts and surface detail that reads from across a room.
He opened the house in Athens in 1998 and has run it as Founder and Creative Director since. He still sketches every design himself and oversees production, which is unusual for a label sold in this many stores.
How Costarellos makes its clothes
Design and production both happen in-house. That gives the studio control over the parts of a dress that take the most time: placing lace motifs by hand, setting crystals along a neckline and finishing a bodice so it holds its shape. The fabrics are the ones you expect at this level. The current collections use French lace, French tulle, silk velvet, silk mikado, lurex georgette and triacetate crepe.
The house draws on Greek mythology, Greek tradition and the Greek landscape. You see it in the draped georgette gowns, the floral cutwork and the soft colour palette of mint, rose, ciel and sage.
The signatures
- French lace. The Andrie French Lace Gown ($3,730) and the beaded Leona midi dresses are cut from it.
- Crystal embroidery. The Belina and Mellorie gowns are crystal-embroidered tulle from neck to hem.
- Repeat styles. The Kalissa guipure lace dress and the Brennie lurex georgette dress return season after season in new colours.
- Petals and florals. Pre-Fall 2026 is built around floral-cut satin, petal lurex satin and sequin florals, in a story the house calls “Fall in Bloom”.
Costarellos at a glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1998, Athens |
| Founder and Creative Director | Christos Costarellos |
| Production | Designed and made in-house |
| Signature fabrics | French lace, French tulle, silk velvet, lurex georgette |
| Signature detail | Crystal embroidery and hand-placed embellishment |
| Sizing | French sizes FR 34 to FR 46, some styles from FR 32 |
| Stockists | 50+ retailers, including Harrods, Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, Net-A-Porter, Mytheresa, Moda Operandi, Luisa Via Roma and Coveti |
| Current collections | Pre-Fall 2026 and Fall Winter 2026 |
Who wears Costarellos?
The red carpet list includes Jennifer Lopez, Sarah Paulson, Chrissy Teigen, Gillian Anderson, Hannah Waddingham, Kelly Clarkson and Alia Bhatt. The house also dresses royalty: Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, Queen Mathilde of Belgium and Princess Rajwa Al Hussein of Jordan have all worn it.
The best-known Costarellos moment came in May 2021, when Carrie Johnson (then Symonds) wore a Costarellos dress for her wedding to Boris Johnson. She rented it through the rental service MyWardrobe HQ. The dress retailed at around GBP 2,830.
Where the collection is now
Two collections are in store. Pre-Fall 2026 carries the floral story, with pieces like the Minari Lurex Georgette Strapless Gown in Ciel ($3,590) and the Palla French Tulle Crystal Mini Dress ($2,940). Fall Winter 2026 turns darker and richer, with velvet, silk mikado and mohair knits trimmed with lace and feathers. The Lissia Mohair Wool Feathers Sweater ($1,190) is the easiest way into it.
Five pieces that explain the house
1. Kalissa Guipure Lace Dress in Vintage Rose
$2,430. The repeat style most people picture when they hear the name: corded guipure lace with an asymmetric skirt.
2. Brennie Lurex Georgette Dress in Pink
$2,000. A floor-length lurex georgette gown with a deep V-neck, gathered sleeves, a buckle belt and a high split.
3. Belina Embroidered Crystals Column Gown in Black
$5,470. Crystal-embroidered tulle in a column shape with a keyhole neckline and a detachable belt. It is the top of the current range.
4. Aliska Silk Velvet Lace Applique Gown in Electric Blue
$3,730. Silk-blend velvet with hand-beaded metallic lace appliqué, a high neck and bishop sleeves.
5. Terena Mohair Wool Lace Sweater in Off White
$1,190. A mohair-wool knit with corded lace appliqué and ostrich feathers, in sizes S to L.
Shop the full Costarellos collection and the wider edit of designer evening gowns at Coveti.
Read next: is Costarellos a luxury brand, the celebrities and royals who wear Costarellos and the Costarellos gown edit.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Costarellos?
Costarellos was founded in Athens in 1998 by Christos Costarellos, who still leads the house as Founder and Creative Director and sketches every design.
Where is Costarellos from?
Costarellos is a Greek house based in Athens, where it designs and produces its collections in-house.
What is Costarellos known for?
Costarellos is known for romantic evening dresses in French lace, crystal embroidery and lurex georgette, and for repeat styles such as the Kalissa guipure lace dress and the Brennie dress.
Did Carrie Johnson wear Costarellos?
Yes. Carrie Johnson wore a Costarellos dress for her May 2021 wedding to Boris Johnson, rented through MyWardrobe HQ. It retailed at around GBP 2,830.
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