SCAD FASH Lacoste is honored to present an exhibition of the beloved Cuban-born, American fashion designer Isabel Toledo. Curated in close collaboration with her husband, the artist and fashion illustrator Ruben Toledo, A Love Letter is the first posthumous exhibition of the designer’s work and an homage to the emotional power inherent in her garments.  

For more than three decades, the Toledos’ creative process was intrinsically intertwined, with the pair acting as each other’s muse, advocate, confidant, and collaborator. The friction between Isabel’s impassioned functionalism and Ruben’s fantasy-prone humor was inspirational, pushing both to greater heights. A Love Letter features a selection of Isabel’s garments, displaying her expertise in technique, textiles, form, and color, complemented by an installation of works by Ruben.

An innovative spirit, Isabel engineered shapes and patterns to cocoon the body, providing comfort, structure, and ease of movement. Her design process was guided by emotions, rather than concepts, which she translated into elegant, impeccably crafted garments that are radical in their construction yet supremely wearable. First Lady Michelle Obama selected a lemongrass-colored Isabel Toledo ensemble to wear to President Obama’s inauguration, launching Mrs. Obama’s reign as a style icon and establishing Isabel as a globally recognized designer. Beyond serving as a record of Isabel’s exemplary body of work, this exhibition is a heartfelt tribute to the lasting influence of her passion and ingenuity.

Opening reception: Saturday, April 9, 5–7 p.m.

About the artist

Isabel Toledo (née Izquierdo) was born in Cuba in 1960 and emigrated to the U.S. with her parents as a political refugee. Settling in West New York, Isabel met Ruben Toledo, also a Cuban refugee, in high school. Their artistic collaboration began immediately and continued as the relationship deepened. They married in 1984. The Toledos were embraced by the vibrant downtown New York art scene, befriending and collaborating with Andy Warhol, Klaus Nomi, Kim Hastreiter, and Antonio Lopez while drawing the international attention of Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Lacroix, Karl Lagerfeld, and Manolo Blahnik. Isabel, who had begun making all her own clothes as a teenager, appeared frequently on international “Best Dressed” lists.

Isabel’s approach to fashion was honed during her time at The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, where she worked under famed fashion editor Diana Vreeland. There, she had hands-on access to works designed by icons Madeleine Vionnet, Coco Chanel, Cristóbal Balenciaga, and Christian Dior, among others. In 1985, Isabel presented her first runway show, which was lauded by the New York fashion press. Her designs were sold at Barney’s New York, Bergdorf Goodman, and Colette in Paris. Isabel was committed to making her designs available to women of all sizes and economic backgrounds, which inspired her to pursue numerous collaborations including with Target, Payless Shoe Source, and Lane Bryant. In 2005, Isabel and Ruben were jointly awarded a National Design Award by the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. A year later Isabel was named creative director of Anne Klein, where she presented two well-received collections before returning to her own work as an independent designer. In 2009, SCAD presented Isabel and Ruben Toledo with the André Leon Talley Lifetime Achievement Award, which honors exceptional accomplishments in art and design.

Isabel’s garments and Ruben’s artwork have been featured in numerous museum exhibitions at venues including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Victoria & Albert Museum, and the Smithsonian. In 2019 Isabel passed away after a brief illness. Ruben continues to archive her work and preserve her legacy. A Love Letter is the first exhibition dedicated to her work presented in France.