Isabel as we all know by now designed the inaugural day dress for
Michelle Obama. January 20, 2009 was Isabel's day in the limelight
which is well deserved. Read more about this marvelous talented couple
in the 2003 Paper Magazine interview by Kim Hastreiter. You will fall in love with the Toledo's immediately.

Isabel Toledo is in the limelight today after years of designing and creating a collection for years in New York. I had the opportunity to hear her speak at a design conference sponsored by the Cooper Hewitt in 2005. Along with her husband Reuben, the Toledos are one of the chicest and most creative couples in New York. Isabel's collection is featured at a few select boutiques including Ikram, the Chicago boutique where Michelle Obama ordered both her  Isabel Toledo inauguration day dress and Jason Wu inauguration ball gown. Barneys New York will feature Isabel Toledo's spring collection in their Madison Avenue, Beverly Hills and (hurrah!) San Francisco stores. Simon Doonan, creative director extraordinaire of Barneys New York has spontaneously replaced the window displays with decor to commemerate Isabel Toldeo, stop by if you are uptown at the Madison Avenue store. Or add a comment and tell us what you think of the window displays.

Here is a video interview with the Toledos from the Otis Fashion Design Department's series "Inside the
Designers' Studio". Are they the most adorable couple or what!

Isabel has had a long and illustrious career which began and was inspired by her work at the Met alongside Diana Vreeland. Isabel spent time dressing mannequins for exhibitions and restoring clothing in the fashion department's archives. If you have a chance to visit the archives you'll have the chance of a lifetime to view ancient handmade slippers, gossamer gowns and exquisite brocade coats from the 16th century. I had the opportunity to do so and will never forget the beautiful and very small shoes so carefully wrapped up in tissue and luscious fabrics woven with gold thread.

Reuben Toledo is best known for his illustrations, one of which is a mosaic which graces the beauty department in Barneys' Madison Avenue flagship store.

Also, you'll love the piece on Apartment Therapy featuring images from the New York magazine piece highlighting the Isabel and Reuben Toledo's sunfilled loft apartment. Gorgeous and filled with Reuben's lovely illustrations/paintings. The perfect space for inspiration to design Michelle Obama's inauguration day dress.

illustration/image: Barneys New York

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