fashionologie

Isabel and Ruben Toledo Design Limited Edition Summer Essentials for Target

coutorture — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 06:33:18 PDT

To celebrate the opening of the Target location on 116th street in East Harlem, Isabel and Ruben Toledo have teamed up to create a limited-edition collection of summer essentials-t shirts, bikinis, sarongs, and beach towels-each featuring Ruben's signature illustrations, and Isabel's sharp attention to design. The colorful printed bikinis above are just one example of this perfectly matched pairing. The complete collection will be sold in the East Harlem store beginning July 25 and online starting August 1, where five percent of Toledo-designed purchases will go to support the couple's cause of choice-Harlem’s El Museo del Barrio. Click below to view the Toledo-designed lineup for Target.

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Andre Leon Talley Had Capes Made for His ANTM Appearances Because He "Wasn't As Thin As Some People Want Me to Be"

fashionologie — Fri, 07 May 2010 11:19:57 PDT

>> An audience of 300 ran the gauntlet of PETA protestors, Police officers, and a metal detector to hear Andre Leon Talley wax lyrical last night at FIT on everything from blogs and the Internet - "love it . . . the Internet is very important to fashion" - to his original career path - "I went to school to be a French teacher, but I always knew I wanted to be in fashion" - to a current project in the works - "I'm working on something that I hope maybe one day can become a one-man Broadway/Off Broadway show."

He rattled off his personal Costume Institute Gala best dressed list, "in this order": "of course Anna Wintour in exquisite Chanel," Lee Radziwell in "a beautiful Ralph Rucci sequin paillette caftan," Renee Zellweger in an "extraordinary" Carolina Herrera, Isabel Toledo, Ricky Lauren "dressed as Marlene Dietrich," and Cassie, of whom he added: "she was dressed by a new young designer called Laquan Smith [Editor's note: who Talley has recently taken under his wing]."

Talley says his own Met Gala ensemble came under fire, however »

fashionologie — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 12:09:10 PDT

>> Isabel Toledo to Collaborate With Payless -J.Crew's creative director Jenna Lyons may have railed on designer-mass-market collaborations in an interview published today, but Isabel Toledo doesn't feel the same. The designer has signed on to design a handbag and shoe collection for Payless, hitting stores and online in September. The line, featuring flats, square heels, and wellies in materials like patent leather, nylon, rubber, and mesh, will retail for under $40. “It’s really a collection for women from all walks of life, literally," Toledo said. "And it’s been interesting as I’ve had to have a different design hat on." [WWD]

Alexander Wang Takes Home 2009 Swiss Textile Award; Kate Mulleavy On Why Her Label Is Called "Rodarte," Not "Mulleavy"

fashionologie — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:37:42 PST

>> Alexander Wang is experiencing quite the winning streak - he was awarded the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund of $200,000 last November, the 2009 CFDA Swarovski Womenswear winner this past June, and now he's taking home the 2009 Swiss Textiles Award, a prize of about $150,000, to go towards international development. Wang becomes the second American designer in a row to win the Swiss Textiles Award, following after Rodarte, who were the first American winners ever last year.

The jury this year, chaired by Isabel Toledo, apparently had a tough time making a decision - Wang's fellow finalists this year were Peter Pilotto, Erdem, Thakoon, Alexis Mabille, and Ohne Titel, who will each receive a prize of approximately $6,000.

Former winners, Raf Simons, Kate Mulleavy sound off »

Narciso Rodriguez Loosens Up for Spring 2010, Signs Deal with eBay for Lower-Priced Line

fashionologie — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 23:02:54 PDT

>> Designers collectively seem to be over the ubiquitous body-con, hard-edged rock'n'roll look that has swept fashion for the past few seasons: Lorenzo Martone said Marc Jacobs is; Elise Overland told WWD: "I’m tired of that rock-star style - everyone else is doing it now, so I wanted to do something different"; and Joseph Altuzarra, who has focused on form-fitting silhouettes in the past, added some flounce this time around.

Narciso Rodriguez, who like Altuzarra typically goes with a lean look, also loosened up. A white linen and silk dress billowed around Monika "Jac" Jagaciak, even the nipped-in waists flared at the hips. But the three stunners, which showed Narciso's experiment with volume at its best, were the last three finale gowns - one in black, one in white, one in "mercury" gray - knee-length in the front and parachute-like in the back as the model walked.

Also of note: pre-show, Anna Wintour was escorted backstage - not something that happens at every show; Narciso's close friends Ruben and Isabel Toledo sat front row, as did Tory Burch, whose show is tomorrow morning. Narciso has also just signed a deal with eBay to create a line - for Spring 2010 - with nothing over $350 (his runway designs are typically $1,800-plus), to be called "Narciso Rodriguez for eBay." A preview of his ideas for the line can be seen here.

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Seen Around Town: Fashion's Night Out

coutorture — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 05:28:16 PDT

Fashion's Night Out brought crowds of shoppers to all five boroughs in Manhattan last evening, as retailers opened doors late night and celebrated fall fashion with designer appearances, live musical performances, trunk shows, street parties, book signings and do-it-yourself sewing circles.

Our first stop was Barney's were we visited Isabel and Ruben Toledo (the former signing copies of her new book and the later illustrating shoppers on the inside cover), chatted with Alabama Chanin's Natalie Chanin as she watched over her 5th floor sewing circle, said hello to Behnaz Sarafpour (busy sketching her fall 2009 collection for a line of shoppers) and breezed by Rogan Gregory (hand-painting Loomstate tee shirts) and Organic's John Patrick (spreading the good word on sustainable wool farming) on the Co-Op floor.

Walking out of a packed Barney's and on to Madison Avenue proved to be even more interesting, as we spotted Sam Shipley and Jeff Halmos riding bikes decorated especially for Fashion's Night Out (and stocked with cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon beers) on their way to visit Vena Cava's Brooklyn block party and take a turn in the dunk tank.

Only two feet in front of Shipley and Halmos on the corner of 60th street we ran into Francisco Costa standing outside of his Calvin Klein store, signing tee shirts while Jamie Burke performed inside. All this before even heading downtown...

Also of note, Rachel Roy and Estelle celebrating the opening of the Rachel Rachel Roy pop-up shop in Soho; Opening Ceremony's trunk show where Voguette were seen scooping up Alexander Wang's fall collection by the armfuls; Rag and Bone's David Neville and Marcus Wainwright toasting friends with Guinness; and the mayhem that was caused by Victoria Beckham, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen all under the same roof at Bergdorf Goodman.

The rain sprits clearly bow to Anna Wintour as the weather held off until just before 11pm when most revelers stashed away their wallets and focused on the parties at hand. Judging by the number of people out on the streets and walking into the stores, Fashion's Night Out was a great success. The city that never sleeps has rarely looked more alive (or more beautiful).

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Isabel Toledo Retrospective Poised To Open This June

coutorture — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:30:38 PDT

It was announced this week that a fashion retrospective celebrating designer Isabel Toledo is slated to open at FIT's museum this June. The retrospective, entitled "Isabel Toledo: Fashion From The Inside Out", will display approximately seventy looks from the mid-1980's to present, including pieces from Toledo's time as creative director of Anne Klein. The retrospective will be open to the public from June 17th through September 26th. We'll be reporting on the retrospective when it opens but, for now, check out a first look at some of the designs included in the exhibition.

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Michelle Obama's Style: Unfairly Biased by Ikram Goldman?

fashionologie — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 21:25:10 PST

>> The meteoric rise of Jason Wu - he has tripled his sales appointments for his sold out, yet-to-be-unveiled Fall 2009 collection - shows what an influence Michelle Obama can have on a designer. But Wu doesn't just have Obama to thank - he never actually interacted with the First Lady, but rather with Ikram Goldman, owner of Chicago boutique Ikram, and Obama's gatekeeper to the fashion industry.

In fact, none of the designers who have made clothes for the First Lady have had any direct contact with their White House client - all commissions, measurements, bills, and other directions have been mediated by Ikram, causing something of a controversy; the clothes that Obama has worn recently are predominantly from designers that Cathy Horyn points out, "Ikram sells and ultimately stands to benefit from" - Jason Wu, Isabel Toledo, Narciso Rodriguez, Proenza Schouler, Thakoon, and Mario Cornejo.

Is Obama limiting herself? »

Jason Wu, Hottest Ticket in Town?

fashionologie — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 13:06:18 PST

>> Isabel Toledo may have shelled out for that lemongrass fabric she used to make Michelle Obama's inaugural day dress - it rings in at $500 a yard - but it's Jason Wu who will be reaping the Fashion Week benefits of an Obama nod.

In fact, Wu's show "might be the hottest ticket in town" - right after Marc Jacobs - according to The New York Observer. Elle is sending seven more staffers than it did to Wu's Spring 2009 show - including editor-in-chief Robbie Myers, creative director Joe Zee, and style director Kate Lanphear. Bergdorf Goodman is bringing its entire buying team, in addition to fashion director Linda Fargo and senior women's fashion director Roopal Patel, who attended last season. Anna Wintour is sure to attend again, especially since she was already front row for the Spring 2009 show.

"I feel extreme pressure . . . »

Jason Wu, Isabel Toledo Relish in the Mrs. O Aftershock

fashionologie — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 10:26:10 PST

>> First Lady Michelle Obama - soon to be Vogue cover girl, most likely shot by Annie Leibovitz - has been in position for a day and already made a couple of careers: those of Isabel Toledo and Jason Wu, who are now household names.

Both designers' looks were special-ordered through Chicago boutique owner Ikram Goldman, who is expected the advise the First Lady over the next four years - she also helped with Obama's choice of Jimmy Choo shoes and Loree Rodkin jewelry - and neither Wu nor Toledo were told their designs were for the inauguration. The two designers were on The Today Show this morning, talking color choice, fabric choice, and how they were "awestruck," in the words of Jason. And that's not even to mention how all of this will impact their sales - a Spring version of Toledo's dress will hit Barneys in March, retailing for $1,500.

Video: Jason Wu and Isabel Toledo on Mrs. O »