Glenda Bailey, editor-in-chief of Harper's Bazaar, and Valerie
Steele, director and chief curator of The Museum at FIT,
hosted cocktails for Isabel Toledo’s Manhattan penthouse loft
on Tuesday, July 22, on behalf of the Couture Council of The
Museum at FIT.
Over two hundred guests braved the heat to celebrate Isabel
Toledo at the Garment District atelier she shares with her
husband, artist Ruben Toledo. Joining Couture Council
founders Liz Peek, Yaz Hernandez, Sarah Wolfe and FIT
President Dr. Joyce F. Brown were designers Vera Wang, Adi
Ange, and Gabi of Threeasfour, Yigal Azrouel; Jeffrey banks,
Maria Cornejo, Christian Cota, Stephen Dweck, Eric Javits,
Gemma Kahng, and Michael Vollbracht.
Additional guests included Matthew Modine, Simon Doonan,
Carmen, Eric Villency, Iris and Carl Apfel, Alexandra
Lebenthal, The Baroness, Joey Arias, Louise and terry
Doktor, Gary and Sharon Greengrass, Michael Gross and
Barbara Hodes, Pat Kerr, Patrick McDonald, Jana Pasquel
Shapiro, Helen Schifter, Samantha Thompson, and many
more.
Glenda Bailey and FIT President, Dr. Joyce F. Brown, toasted
the Toledos from the wrought iron balcony overlooking the
loft, which was lit through sky lights and features murals by
Ruben Toledo along with an eclectic blend of mobiles, sculpture,
and a giant cactus. Guests were served signature drinks
- mojitos with Oronoco Rum and Sterling wine, courtesy of
Diageo.
The Couture Council also announced Isabel Toledo as the
recipient of the 2008 Award for Artistry and Fashion. The
award will be given to Ms. Toledo at a benefit luncheon to be
held at the Rainbow Room on September 3rd. Andre 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. This exhibition will feature more than
75 looks dating from 1985 to the present, including fluid jersey
dresses, seductive lace, and architectural denim..
Illustrations by Ruben Toledo will also be featured, as will
films of Isabel’s fashion shows and other visuals that explore
her creative process. A lavishly illustrated catalogue, written
by co-curators Valerie Steele and Patricia Mears and published
by Yale University Press will accompany the exhibition.
The museum at FIT is the only museum in New York City
dedicated solely to the art of fashion. Best known for its innovative
and award-wining exhibitions, which have been
described by Roberta Smith in The New York Times as “ravishing,”
the museum has a collection of more than 50,000 garments
and accessories dating from the 18th century to the
present. Like other fashion museums, such as the Musee de
la Mode, The Mode Museum, and the Museo de la Moda,
The Museum at FIT collects, conserves, documents, exhibits,
and interprets fashion. The museum’s mission is to advance
knowledge of fashion through exhibitions, publications, and
public programs. Please visit: www.fitnyc.edu/museum.
The Couture Council is a membership group of fashion enthusiasts
that helps support the exhibitions and programs of The
Museum at FIT. For information on the Couture Council
please call 212 217 4532 or e-mail: couturecoucil@fitnyc.edu.
The museum is [art of the Fashion Institute of Technology
(FIT), a college of art and design, business and technology
that educates more than 10,000 students annually.
For more
information please visit:
 www.fitnyc.edu.

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