EXHIBITIONIST: Isabel Toledo

The Museum at FIT sent me the most fabulous email this week.

The bitty intern that sends out FIT newsletters has graciously told me: “This month's Harper's Bazaar includes a romantically moody Nordstrom ad campaign for MFIT's upcoming exhibition Isabel Toledo: Fashion from the Inside Out.”

Michelle Obama may have helped rocket the Cuban designer to stardom when she wore Ms. Toledo’s now infamous lemongrass yellow wool lace shift dress + matching overcoat to our young President’s inauguration, but Isabel’s not exactly new to the scene, and it’s time to pay a little respect.

Photographer Ruven Afanador channels the rising star (and FIT alum) in this series of black-and-white photos featuring Alex Wek, Carmen Dell'Orefice, Crystal Renn and Isabel herself, including accompanying typography designed by Isabel's husband, artist Ruben Toledo.

See the photos here…which do you like the best? I’m impartial to Carmen, but maybe that’s because I’ve just come from the Met exhibit, The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion, and I’m still reeling with delight.

Photo credit: Photographer Miguel Villalobos for IQONS, February 2008.