Michele Savoia was a menswear designer who created clothing for celebrities to include Ricky Martin and Tom Hanks.
Born in Hoboken, N.J., Savoia originally wanted to become a cartoonist for Disney. An art teacher encouraged him to use his talent for fashion.
Savoia's Sicilian grandfather, who landed in Hoboken from Ellis Island in 1933 was a master tailor who also inspired him to become a fashion designer. His father taught him how to dress.
Savoia graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in the 1970s. He trained under designer Bill Kaiserman, then launched the House of Savoia in 1984. The firm was soon dressing Hollywood stars like Matt Dillon, Robert DeNiro, Chris Noth and Mickey Rourke.
Savoia created costumes for Broadway shows as well, including the revival of "Evita" and Nora Ephron's posthumous play, "Lucky Guy."
The self-proclaimed "bad boy of fashion" also designed nightclub interiors and owned two clubs -- Fat Black Pussycat and The Cheetah Club -- until the mid-1990s.
Outside of work, Savoia was an old-school New Yorker with a penchant for the art deco era. He liked to smoke, ride motorcycles, listen to Tony Bennett, watch crime films, get tattoos, and drink Prosecco.
He was last seen alive around 4 a.m. on Feb. 13, leaving Paris Hilton's party at the Manhattan nightclub Marquee. He was reported missing on Saturday morning by his driver.
His body was discovered Sunday afternoon in the icy Hudson River near his house boat.
Born in Hoboken, N.J., Savoia originally wanted to become a cartoonist for Disney. An art teacher encouraged him to use his talent for fashion.
Savoia's Sicilian grandfather, who landed in Hoboken from Ellis Island in 1933 was a master tailor who also inspired him to become a fashion designer. His father taught him how to dress.
Savoia graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in the 1970s. He trained under designer Bill Kaiserman, then launched the House of Savoia in 1984. The firm was soon dressing Hollywood stars like Matt Dillon, Robert DeNiro, Chris Noth and Mickey Rourke.
Savoia created costumes for Broadway shows as well, including the revival of "Evita" and Nora Ephron's posthumous play, "Lucky Guy."
The self-proclaimed "bad boy of fashion" also designed nightclub interiors and owned two clubs -- Fat Black Pussycat and The Cheetah Club -- until the mid-1990s.
Outside of work, Savoia was an old-school New Yorker with a penchant for the art deco era. He liked to smoke, ride motorcycles, listen to Tony Bennett, watch crime films, get tattoos, and drink Prosecco.
He was last seen alive around 4 a.m. on Feb. 13, leaving Paris Hilton's party at the Manhattan nightclub Marquee. He was reported missing on Saturday morning by his driver.
His body was discovered Sunday afternoon in the icy Hudson River near his house boat.
Michele Savoia was a menswear designer who created clothing for celebrities to include Ricky Martin and Tom Hanks.
Born in Hoboken, N.J., Savoia originally wanted to become a cartoonist for Disney. An art teacher encouraged him to use his talent for fashion.
Savoia's Sicilian grandfather, who landed in Hoboken from Ellis Island in 1933 was a master tailor who also inspired him to become a fashion designer. His father taught him how to dress.
Savoia graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in the 1970s. He trained under designer Bill Kaiserman, then launched the House of Savoia in 1984. The firm was soon dressing Hollywood stars like Matt Dillon, Robert DeNiro, Chris Noth and Mickey Rourke.
Savoia created costumes for Broadway shows as well, including the revival of "Evita" and Nora Ephron's posthumous play, "Lucky Guy."
The self-proclaimed "bad boy of fashion" also designed nightclub interiors and owned two clubs -- Fat Black Pussycat and The Cheetah Club -- until the mid-1990s.
Outside of work, Savoia was an old-school New Yorker with a penchant for the art deco era. He liked to smoke, ride motorcycles, listen to Tony Bennett, watch crime films, get tattoos, and drink Prosecco.
He was last seen alive around 4 a.m. on Feb. 13, leaving Paris Hilton's party at the Manhattan nightclub Marquee. He was reported missing on Saturday morning by his driver.
His body was discovered Sunday afternoon in the icy Hudson River near his house boat.
Born in Hoboken, N.J., Savoia originally wanted to become a cartoonist for Disney. An art teacher encouraged him to use his talent for fashion.
Savoia's Sicilian grandfather, who landed in Hoboken from Ellis Island in 1933 was a master tailor who also inspired him to become a fashion designer. His father taught him how to dress.
Savoia graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in the 1970s. He trained under designer Bill Kaiserman, then launched the House of Savoia in 1984. The firm was soon dressing Hollywood stars like Matt Dillon, Robert DeNiro, Chris Noth and Mickey Rourke.
Savoia created costumes for Broadway shows as well, including the revival of "Evita" and Nora Ephron's posthumous play, "Lucky Guy."
The self-proclaimed "bad boy of fashion" also designed nightclub interiors and owned two clubs -- Fat Black Pussycat and The Cheetah Club -- until the mid-1990s.
Outside of work, Savoia was an old-school New Yorker with a penchant for the art deco era. He liked to smoke, ride motorcycles, listen to Tony Bennett, watch crime films, get tattoos, and drink Prosecco.
He was last seen alive around 4 a.m. on Feb. 13, leaving Paris Hilton's party at the Manhattan nightclub Marquee. He was reported missing on Saturday morning by his driver.
His body was discovered Sunday afternoon in the icy Hudson River near his house boat.
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