Cuban-American designer based in New York.
Age 47
Worked for a short time as creative director of Anne Klein in 2006, but left the company in 2007.
Attended high school in New Jersey. Also attended the Fashion Institute of Technology and Parsons School of Design (where Project Runway's Tim Gunn served as dean before heading to Liz Claiborne) in New York.
Married to Ruben Toledo, with whom she collaborates and received the Cooper-Hewitt Award for their work in fashion in 2005.
Also designed the black tunic and palazzo pants that Michelle Obama wore to a Manhattan fund-raiser last June. The look wasn't designed specifically for Obama, who purchased the pieces at Ikram, a store in Chicago.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Ms Isabel Toledo Designed and Delivered Michelle Obama's French Silk, Swiss Wool Dress That Reminds of Spanish Influences
Bravo, Bravo, Bravo to Ms. Isabel Toledo for designing a great dress for Michelle for such a great occasion!
"Isabel Toledo, the Cuban-born designer of Mrs. Obama’s inaugural outfit, did not know positively until this morning if the new first lady would wear the lemongrass-yellow coat and matching dress she specially designed for her. “We’re all up here watching the T.V.,” said the designer in a telephone interview from her New York studio. “It’s great. We’re so happy.”
Ms. Toledo, who has been making clothes in New York for 25 years, said the coat and dress were made of Swiss wool lace, backed with netting for warmth and lined in French silk. “I wanted to pick a very optimistic color, that had sunshine,” she said. “I wanted her to feel charmed, and in that way would charm everybody.” Ms. Toledo sounded overwhelmed. “This is so wonderful,” she said.
About thirteen people in her studio worked on the outfit over the Christmas holidays. “Chinese ladies, Polish ladies, Spanish ladies—I have a picture of everyone working on her clothes,” Ms. Toledo, who is 48, said. She added, “We’re all grateful for this opportunity, and we don’t even have a PR person!”
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