From humble beginnings in East Houston to the rarefied luxe of Manhattan's Upper East Side,
Copycat
unveils the remarkable journey of a boy whose fascination with the golden age of Hollywood ignited a lifelong passion for haute couture. Victor Costa, hailed by one fashion industry titan as "the greatest copyist in the world," embarked on this odyssey inspired by the glamour of 1940s films. His artistic journey began at the age of ten, sketching women's clothes, and by sixteen, he was crafting prom dresses.
Venturing to New York in pursuit of his dreams, Costa initially found his niche in bridalwear. However, fate took a turn when a company specializing in "line for line" copying of couture designs recruited him as a womenswear designer. Over five decades, Costa garnered fame as a master copyist, offering designs mirroring high fashion at a fraction of the cost.
This candid memoir not only traces Costa's professional triumphs but also navigates through his personal tribulations with humor and retrospection. From marrying (and divorcing) his high-school sweetheart to exploring relationships with both women and men, Costa's life unfolds amidst the backdrop of a successful clothing company that ultimately crumbled amid scandal and bankruptcy. Yet, in an unexpected twist late in life, love found him once again.