Irish fashion designer dies aged 80

Irish fashion designer Paul Costelloe died in London at the age of 80.

Mr Costelloe became one of the best-known names in British and Irish fashion and was the personal designer of the late Diana, Princess of Wales.

His family said in a statement on Saturday that they are “deeply saddened to announce that Paul Costelloe has passed away after a short illness.”

They added: “He was surrounded by his wife and seven children and passed away peacefully in London.”

He was born in Dublin, where his father ran a successful company manufacturing raincoats.

After studying at the Grafton Academy of Fashion Design, she moved to Paris where she took a course at the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture.

In 1979 he founded his own label, Paul Costelloe Collections, and presented collections at London Fashion Week, as well as Paris, Milan and New York.

In 1983, he was appointed personal designer to Diana, Princess of Wales, and this collaboration continued until her death in 1997.

Paul Costelloe often used traditional Irish fabrics and textiles, including Irish linen and tweed, in his designs.

She has collaborated with Dunnes Stores and was the closing designer for Irish Fashion Week in October this year.

She was criticized in 1998 when she said Irish women lacked style.

“Irish women have a hard time with style because it’s not in their nature like it is in the Italians,” she said at the time.

But in an interview with Irish broadcaster RTÉ this year he said he felt Ireland was more European than it was years ago.