Victor Costa, now 88, has shared the story behind his rise from humble beginnings to building a $50 million fashion business—only to see it all unravel amid scandal. Costa, originally from Houston, Texas, discovered a rare talent for replicating high-fashion designs at a young age, which he later turned into a lucrative career.
As a child, Costa became captivated by the glamorous dresses he saw in films. He would sketch these outfits and sell the designs for a nickel to local dressmakers. By age 14, he had bought his own sewing machine and started creating prom dresses for his classmates.
His skill eventually launched *Victor Costa, Inc.*, a fashion empire that provided high-end designs at affordable prices. Costa’s method was simple yet effective: he would attend fashion shows by prestigious designers, sketch their runway looks, and recreate them for department stores in New York City.
“I would pay to attend the Dior show in Paris,” Costa explained in an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com. “As long as you bought a ticket, you could copy the designs line for line.”
Using high-quality fabrics, Costa often worked overnight to produce copies that were so precise, even industry experts struggled to tell the difference. He recalled one instance when Mildred Custin, head of Bonwit Teller, mistakenly praised one of Costa’s copies while criticizing the original Dior gown.
By the time he hit his first year in business, Costa had already grossed $1 million in sales. By 1988, his company was pulling in $50 million annually, earning him the title “King of Copycats.” However, his success was short-lived.
In the early 1990s, Costa’s empire was rocked by scandal. In 1993, former employee Lorna Pilgrim accused him of sexual harassment, claiming he made degrading, sexually charged comments during their interactions. Costa insisted the accusation stemmed from a misunderstanding related to Pilgrim’s pregnancy, which he said he was unaware of at the time. “She ended up suing me for sexual harassment. It was a mess,” Costa said, adding that she never received any compensation from the lawsuit.
The business also faced financial difficulties after a trusted employee was caught embezzling company funds. Costa discovered that the staff member had been using the company’s money to fund personal projects, including building a house and buying cars. “It was a big blow to realize I was being stolen from,” Costa shared.
Amid these financial and legal troubles, Costa was forced to declare bankruptcy and close his business. Despite this setback, Costa didn’t give up. In 2000, he launched the *Victor Costa Occasion Collection* on QVC, which found a second wind in the market. Over time, he earned a reputation with celebrity clients, including Ivana Trump, Brooke Shields, and First Ladies Lady Bird Johnson and Rosalynn Carter.
Now, reflecting on his storied career, Costa considers himself fortunate. He recently released a memoir, *Copycat*, detailing his remarkable journey. In his personal life, he found happiness as well, marrying Jerry Ann Woodfin in 2012. “We’ve been married 12 years now, and we’re very happy,” Costa shared. The couple resides in a beautiful apartment in New York City and a country home in upstate New York.
Looking back, Costa sees his career as a fairytale story that, despite its ups and downs, has led him to a life filled with love, success, and contentment.
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