Toledo’s work, which is certainly infused with personal experience and emotion, can be described as traditionally elegant, cutting-edge but timeless, and structural. While well-aware of the construction behind her garments, she seeks to create pieces that are wearable, practical, comfortable and familiar. Her poetic combinations of color, shape, texture, pattern and fabric blend past experiences with a vision of the future. In a sense, they embody the experiences of an immigrant in a new country while exploring freedom of thought, creation and individuality.
Her garments are certainly not meant for the “office type” but instead the bold, free artistic woman – one much like herself. That said, it’s not surprising that our very own First Lady, Michelle Obama, wore Toledo’s lemongrass wool lace shift dress and overcoat to the inauguration of her husband in January 2009.
Over the past few years, Toledo, who worked briefly as creative director at Anne Klein (2006-2007) has been honored with numerous awards, including: the Cooper-Hewitt Design Award (along with her husband, Ruben Toledo) the Coty American Fashion Critics “Winnie” award; Women’s Wear Designer of the Year, Hispanic Designers Inc.; and the Otis Critics’ award for her at the Los Angeles-based Otis School of Fashion Design, has continued to leave her mark on the face of modern American fashion design. Our hats off to you, Isabel Toledo, one of our favorite, most inspiring seamstresses around!
Images Via Susty and Watson/Getty
