Fashion from the Inside Out
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at 8:20 PM 
The highly anticipated mid-career retrospective of Isabel Toledo's work opens tomorrow at The Museum at FIT in New York. Included in the exhibit is the famed lemongrass ensemble, on loan from Mrs. O for the next few months. Of the dress and coat, Mrs. O said, "I absolutely adored my Inauguration Day ensemble designed by Isabel Toledo, and I am happy it will be part of the exhibit so that others can appreciate the creativity and craftsmanship of one of America's great female designers."
We went for a sneak peek of the exhibit this morning, and must tell you, it was magical. The garments are organized by theme: Origami, Suspension, Liquid Architecture, Shadow, Shape, Organic Geometry and Manipulated Surfaces. Many of the pieces are accompanied by their pattern, which makes one pause to contemplate the remarkable transformation from 2-D to 3-D.
The lemongrass dress and coat are in their own room, accompanied by a series of photos taken inside Isabel Toledo's studio. We learned more about the garment as well. Though the fabric often appears yellow in photographs, it is truly a sage green in person. The coat also appeared to feature two, small front pocket flaps when first created.
The exhibit, Isabel Toledo: Fashion from the Inside Out, opens tomorrow and runs through mid September. We would love to get a group from Mrs-O.org together to attend the exhibit, which is free to the public. Tentatively we propose the early afternoon of Saturday, July 11 if anyone is interested!
Check out this fabulous video from NYMag:
FIT, Isabel Toledo
Reader Comments (22)
Thanks Mrs T., wish I could go...
Isabel Toledo simply put, is a brilliant artist!
I wonder if they've got a catalogue for the exhibit. I'd love to buy it.
She and her husband, Ruben Toledo, are simply marvelous people. Inspirational.
That is a visually stunning piece of artwork! Oh so creative! I will definitely be visiting the exhibit when I go to NYC next month.
"First Lady of Fashion" - an article on the Daily Mail:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1193343/First-Lady-fashion-Michelle-Obama-receives-honour-glamour-award-night.html
So, so, so amazing. Such an amazing artist!
A brief but inadequate peek into the exhibit-
http://firstladyofstyle.blogspot.com/2009/06/toledos-and-me.html
More on Toledos
http://firstladyofstyle.blogspot.com/2009/06/toledos-and-me.html
http://blogs.wsj.com/runway/2009/01/20/fits-early-look-at-michelle-obamas-isabel-toledo-ensemble/
Museum of FIT New York
Facebook connection
http://www.facebook.com/TheMuseumAtFIT?ref=mf
Press release
http://www.fitnyc.edu/aspx/Content.aspx?menu=FutureGlobal:FITNews:PressReleaseArchive&content=2009_04_14_firstlady
I would LOVE to go to the exhibit with fellow Mrs. O readers. That would be great Mrs. T. Count me in.
This is a must see! That imagine alone is breathtaking.
laviejaime.blogspot.com
I love love love the Toledo's.I've been folowing their careers for the past few years, and they're just one of my favourite couples in the industry, so intune with one another, it's amazing.
The exhibit looks amazing, I really wich I could go and see it.
This exibition picture reminds me of Frida Kahlo.
that looks like an amazing show, i wish i lived close enough to nyc to go see it. watching that video clip, the toledos seem like really sweet people.
I'm there. So much fun!
I LIVE IN THE WRONG CITY! Gah!
I LIVE IN THE WRONG COUNTRY !
A year and a half ago, the New Yorker had a great profile of Isabel and Ruben. It's a great read. "Two for One".
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/03/10/080310fa_fact_thurman
Yes, I remember that profile, desertwind - it was a great read.
I would LOVE to attend on the 11th (yay NYC!!) so consider me there---the woman's work is amazing and she is just getting started!
Isabel Toledo rules!
For those interested in seeing more of the Toledos' work, check out the Kent State University School of Fashion Museum website. Their fashions have been exhibited there!
http://dept.kent.edu/museum/exhibit/toledo/Toledo1.htm
PT
I just saw on Amazon that there will be a BOOK out in August!
Goody!!!
Is the group photo still on for July 11th? What is the time? I am not a regular contributor to the site but I do visit every day. I plan to be in NYC on that day and would like to participate!! Thanks.