BEADING, PLEATING, JACKET

Black Silk Bolero with Smocking and Pleated Sleeves by Aurelio Costarella, Western Australia

This dramatic and sculptural black silk bolero was designed, made, and hand-embroidered by the late Aurelio Costarella, internationally recognised West Australian couturier. A showcase of Costarella’s innovative approach to structure and surface, the bolero uses pleating, smocking, and gathering techniques to create texture and movement across a silk crepe base. The garment sits across the shoulders and bust with a curved, open front and does not extend to the waist, offering a cropped silhouette with no closure.

Various silk fabrics in different depths and weights are gathered and layered asymmetrically, stitched to the foundation fabric by machine. The 100mm deep pleated frill sleeves are attached via a bias-bound armhole for comfort and finish. Elsewhere, the edges remain raw and softly fringed—hallmarks of Costarella’s embrace of beauty in imperfection. A three-part lining accommodates a broad back, while a small side seam is the only join in the main structure. Labelled "Aurelio Costarella", no size.

Costarella’s architectural training and fine art sensibility are evident in this piece, which reads as both garment and textile sculpture. Always more than fashion, his work served as personal narrative—layered, emotional, and intricately crafted. His legacy continues in national collections and in the memory of a design career that fused precision with poetry.

The label Aurelio Costarella.with no size. Original price $379 our price $303.20

This is such a fun piece! The wearer would enjoy the attention of admirers as she walks by with the bolero in constant motion