Peter Speliopoulos

Peter Speliopoulos was born in 1961 in Greece. His Greek parents were constantly traveling between New York and Paris. He spent his childhood in Springfield Massachusetts and finally settled in New York. He studied fashion at Parsons School of Design in New York and graduated with a BFA in 1981.

His first job as a fashion designer was as assistant stylist with Laura Biagiotti in Rome in 1982. He then worked briefly at the French couture house of Christian Dior and later for New York sportwear designer Gloria Sacks Inc. whose label went out of business in 1992. In 1985 he was named Creative Director at Carolyne Roehm, a New York fashion house that had been created in 1984. He left in 1991 to direct collections for Joseph Abboud.

From 1993 to 1997 Peter worked as a designer for Donna Karan in New York. He replaced Narcisco Rodriguez as head of design for the women’s collection at Nino Cerruti in 1997. While at Cerruti, he gave the label a fresh modern look using fine detail and exquisite fabrics. He left Cerruti in 2002. He returned to New York and began a post as Vice President of Design for Donna Karan New York.

He says that he is always inspired by the construction of Balenciaga, the essentialism of Halston and the genius of Yves St. Laurent. He tries to make his garments a mix of feminine sensuality and mens tailoring, creating versatility in a woman's wardrobe.

Since 1986, his partner is Robert Turner, whom Peter considers his soulmate.

Peter began his collaboration with Karole Armitage in Greece in the summer of 2000, designing costumes for the Athens Opera production of "The Birds" by Aristophanes. He has created the costumes for Karole Armitage's dance productions of "The Birds" and Schrodinger's Cate, Bluebeard's Castle, Sonata di Caccia, Melodien, Rave, Drastic Remix and Nadaswaram. His dance costume design work now takes up most of his time.