STYLE FILE Frank Agostino is one snappy dresser — it’s just that generally he’s not dressing himself. For the past 30 years, he’s been in the business of creating fine couture and ready-to-wear garments for women. “I love women,” he gushes. “I love their form. I play and work with that, so when they put on the garment they look and feel wonderful and beautiful.” Loyal customers have been returning religiously to his store and atelier, which has been located in Bryn Mawr for the past seven years. And for the past few years, Agostino’s collections have been on the racks in fine specialty stores around the world. He explains to MAINLINE how a kid from Brooklyn ended up behind a sewing machine.

FASHION SENSE Personal style: Very eclectic. I’ll wear a custom-made or a Hugo Boss suit, but then I’ll also throw on a sweat suit. I recently saw a Roberto Cavalli gold speckled t-shirt that I absolutely loved. Inspiration: I learned dressmaking when I was a kid. Growing up in Brooklyn, it’s not exactly what guys do, but I learned from my Aunt Rose who had been a couturier in Italy. Favorite designers: Jean Paul Gaultier and James Galanos. Wardrobe essentials: Three great black suits and a black cashmere sweater. I’m not into shopping and buying things — I don’t need it! Favorite 2007 Oscar look: Cate Blanchett’s Armani Privé gown. Favorite Oscar moment: Designing Bhavna Shyamalan’s gown for the 2000 Academy Awards, the year that Night was nominated for The Sixth Sense. It was fun to have my gowns being worn at those events, but the best part of the experience was meeting and working with Bhavna and Night. She is one of the most elegant young women I have ever seen. Foray into menswear: I never had any interest in making men’s clothing. I did make suede running shorts for a friend once, but I’m not sure he ever actually wore them to run in.

THE HOME FRONT The abode: We live in Merion, in one of the original houses on the Main Line dating back from 1880, with a big entrance hall and lots of fireplaces. At-home style: We have a lot of antiques, but we also have Modern art, so it is very eclectic. Personal collections: Antique and contemporary cufflinks; celestial globes; traveling inkwells and botanical artworks. In the living room: A 1930s sofa, a Victorian sofa, German chairs and a Lucite table.

FRANK ON FRANK Growing up fabulous: I always had the latest and greatest. I come from a family where my mother and father had all custom-made clothes, so I grew up with that heritage and the understanding that you should have beautiful things. Unless I got what I wanted, I would rather have nothing. It had to be fabulous! On saying no: We had a dress in our window two years ago that a woman bought for the Academy Ball. We later turned away six other customers who wanted to buy that same exact dress. We have a high profile in this area and we would never sell the same dress for a big event. Why the Main Line: The customer base. There is so much creativity and fashion here. The Main Line has the stigma of being conservative…but I don’t find that at all. I find excitement: The women that come in here are looking for new and fresh clothes. Missed calling: I would have been a singer. I used to do off-Broadway!

1. bring more articles like this back! this is fashionable, well written and interesting. what happened to this mag? need to get this style back…

   Posted by jane | February 10, 2010, 3:00 pm