Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin — a 7th generation descendant of Cornelius — is building her own empire. And, 21st century style, it’s all about putting talented people together. A pop star turned entrepreneur, Vanderbilt is launching her own brand of connectivity, Soho Muse, a Beta Product designed to be a trusted source of creativity. To let the branding begin, she co-hosted a Southampton bash at a $30 million estate with Resident Magazine, on the eve of the annual 1640 Society Hamptons Family Office & Wealth Managements Forum.
The Forum featured such speakers as George Soros, venture capitalist Kimbal Musk, USA Network Founder Kay Koplovitz, Barry Sternlicht, and Sharon Bush. “These are extraordinary seminars based on family legacy, how to continue wealth through the ages, how to keep growing your business and alternative ways of thinking from an entrepreneurial perspective,” Vanderbilt told Hamptons.com. The party in the Kean Development Company home featured performances from classic cellist Michael Fitzpatrick, pop singer Charlie Scopoletti, and opera singer Cristina Fontanelli. The event was held at 7 Olde Towne Lane in Southampton, which is represented by Erica Grossman and Michaela Keszler for Douglas Elliman. Relish Catering provided finger food. Wines were by Frescobaldi, Chateau St. Maur and Courtage and bespoke cocktails by Camus. Luxury sponsors included Tourneau, Drettmann Yachts, Turks & Caicos, Southampton Land Rover & Jaguar, IGS, Dottie Herman & Howard Lorber.
With her creative soul and enterprising spirit, Consuelo is emblematic of the fulcrum between art and commerce. She’s a blue blood pop star whose mother was Serena Vanderbilt Van Ingen Mccallum and movie producer step-father, Richard McCallum, was George Lucas’ “Star Wars” partner. Consuelo’s last five singles were top 20 in the US and she’s a big enough star in Germany to get her own TV show there, “Rock in New York,” that starts in September. Her jewelry line, “Homage,” brings the Vanderbilt estate sensibility to the Home Shopping Network audience. Husband Rafael Feldman is an actor who most recently appeared in HBO’s critically acclaimed “Masters of Sex.”
Last year, as Brand Ambassador to England and the United States for the Italian luxury shoe brand Michela Rigucci, she not only brought the line to America, but, later, put them together with Malan Breton. That collaboration not only garnered the third largest tweets for their fashion show in February, but inspired plans for a second show and a collaborative line.
Named after her great grandmother Consuelo, once known as the Grand Dame of New York, and channeling the drive of cousins Gloria and Anderson, Consuelo is bringing greater connectivity to the arts community via Soho Muse.