Why is it one must always suffer for fashion? Yet, somehow it didn’t matter it was a humid, hot as blazes and hazy day Tuesday, July 22 the hot event was the Couture Council of the Museum at FIT cocktail party honoring Isabel Toledo. Hosted by Harper’s Bazaar editor-in-chief, Glenda Bailey, and director and chief curator of The Museum at FIT, Valerie Steele, over two hundred guests braved the heat and cramped elevator to celebrate Isabel Toledo at the Garment District atelier loft she shares with her husband, artist Ruben Toledo. Luckily we were provided fans and fabulous Oronoco Rum mojitos donated by party sponsor Diageo with which cool down once we arrived.
Joining Couture Council founders Liz Peek, Yaz Hernández, and Sarah Wolfe and FIT President Dr. Joyce F. Brown were designers Liz Peek, Yaz Hernández, were designers Vera Wang; Narciso Rodriguez; Adi, Ange, and Gabi of Threeasfour; Yigal Azrouël; Jeffrey Banks; Maria Cornejo; Christian Cota; Stephen Dweck; Eric Javits; Gemma Kahng; Victor Costa and Michael Vollbracht.
Also in attendance were Matthew Modine, Simon Doonan, Carmen, Eric Villency, Iris and Carl Apfel, Alexandra Lebenthal, The Baroness, Joey Arias, Louise & Terry Doktor, Gary & Sharon Greengrass, Michael Gross & Barbara Hodes, Pat Kerr, Patrick McDonald, Jana Pasquel Shapiro, Helen Schifter, Samantha Thompson, and many more.
YES! I LOOK FORWARD TO #GROWINGYOUNGER
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Glenda Bailey, Isabel & Ruben Toledo
Gabi and Adi of ThreeasFour
Eric Javits & Vera Wang
Carmen Dell’Orefice, Iris Apfel, Ruben & Isabel Toledo, Maggie Norris
Simon Doonan & Wendy Goodman
Narciso Rodriguez & Lauren Dimet Waters
The Baroness
Isabel & Ruben Toledo
Valerie Steele & Louise Doktor
Rosemary Ponzo & Joey Arias
Yigal Azrouël
The always dapper Patrick McDonald
Matthew Modine
Linda Fargo
The Couture Council also announced Isabel Toledo as the recipient of the 2008 Award for Artistry of Fashion to be awarded at a benefit luncheon at the Rainbow Room on Wednesday, September 3. André Leon Tally, American editor-at-large for Vogue, will present the award, and Simon Doonan, creative director for Barneys New York, will emcee the event.
Previous recipients of the Couture Council Artistry of Fashion Award are Alber Elbaz of Lanvin, who received the award in 2007, and Ralph Rucci, the recipient in 2006.
The award will precede a major retrospective of Toledo’s work at The Museum at FIT, entitled ‘Holy Toledo!‘ Isabel Toledo and the Art of Fashion, opening June 19, 2009 through September 26, 2009. The exhibition of more than 75 looks dating from 1985 will also feature illustrations by Ruben Toledo and films of Isabel’s fashion shows and creative process.
By the way, Isabel Toledo’s fashions can be found at Ikram in Chicago.
Photos: Patrick McMullen
