IRISH DESIGNER PAUL Costelloe has died aged 80.

He was one of the best-known names in fashion to come out of Ireland, and presented collections at London Fashion Week for more than three decades.

Costelloe passed away at his home in London.

“We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Paul Costelloe following a short illness,” his family said, adding he was with his wife and seven children when he died.

Originally from Dublin, Costelloe cut his teeth at the the Grafton Academy of Fashion Design, before heading to Paris, where he trained at the École d’Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture.

Costelloe with models on the catwalk at his fashion show during London Fashion Week in September of this year Alamy Alamy

His namesake label was founded in the UK in 1979, and sells clothing, bags, jewellery, homewear, eyewear, and more.

He was then appointed as Princess Diana’s personal stylist from 1983 and stayed in the role until her death in 1997.

He told Irish state broadcaster that he felt he had “made it” when he was asked to be her designer.

“She was very human, she didn’t act like a princess… She made a very good cup of tea and some scones,” Costelloe told RTÉ about his most famous client earlier this year.

Princess Diana wearing a pink suit designed by Costelloe Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Known for his romantic, tailored designs, Costelloe’s collections tied old-school styles with new, innovative twists, frequently featuring pops of colour, tweed patterns and florals.

Costelloe, who once compared being a fashion designer to being a tireless “athlete”, presented his latest 1960s-inspired Spring-Summer collection titled “We stroll down Rodeo Drive” at London Fashion Week in September.

His brand is also a family business, with his son William the design director creating the prints and backdrops for his collections.

“My ambition is to step back from fashion eventually,” Costelloe told Vogue in 2024. “To hire an old car and drive around France and paint”.

For the last 20 years, he designed clothing and homewear collections for Dunnes Stores.

Tánaiste Simon Harris paid tribute to Costelloe, saying in a statement today that the designer had “abiding pride in his Irish roots”.

“He leaves behind a body of work that shaped modern Irish fashion and will continue to shape it in the years to come,” Harris said.

“He will be greatly missed and warmly remembered. I extend my deepest sympathies to his wife, his children, his wider family, friends and all those whom he was close to.”

With reporting by AFP