An Isabel Affair

(NEW YORK) "We went from Cuba to this uncommonly un-Communist lunch," cracked fashion's favorite go-to event host, Simon Doonan, at the FIT Couture Council celebration of Isabel Toledo at the Rainbow Room. And egalitarian it was. Cabaret legend Joey Arias sang and mango sauce sea bass and berry and vanilla meringue cake were served to the guests - who were encouraged to keep their placemats! Ruben Toledo tirelessly worked all night to produce nearly 400 hand painted creations, and he had a good reason (besides devotion to his wife) to say motivated: "My dream is for one day for every person in the world to own a Toledo original," he smiled. "One by one we're getting there."

The instant Toledo collectors included Helmut Lang, Stephen Gan, Sally Singer, Hamish Bowles, Jeffrey Kalinsky, Jonathan Newhouse, Howard Socol, Ingrid Sischy, Kim Hastreiter, Valerie Steele, Gillian Miniter, Fabiola Beracasa, a couple of doctors in Joyce Brown and Lisa Airan, and Narciso Rodriguez. One guest was served a different sort of surprise: an impromptu public speaking opportunity. Glenda Bailey's name was listed on the program but her turn at microphone was news to her. "This certainly is a surprise," the Bazaar editor told the crowd. "I'm sure you don't want me singing or dancing!"

Instead the show went on with what Ruben Toledo described as a "family show and tell," a revealing and touching slide show of Isabel's greatest at home and design hits. "It felt so personal," said Linda Fargo in between courses. "We felt like we're inside their photo album. You just can't help but love them." André Leon Talley gave an eloquent award speech than moved the honoree so much that she forgot to collect an actual trophy until thirty five minutes later! Vanessa Carlton had a front row view of all the tears and hysteria. "I felt so excited to be invited to such decadent and emotional lunch," offered the singer before revealing her very exotic next destination. "I'm going to the Arctic at the end of September as part of an environmental foundation expedition. My role will be to bring a lot of vodka to keep everyone warm!"

But back at Rockefeller Center, it was the lady of the lunch who kept everyone warm for couple of hours. "I'm stunned. I'm frozen. I'm hungry, because I didn't get to eat amidst all the warmth," reacted Isabel Toledo after bidding farewell to the last guests. "I was so excited that all the corporate tables were sold out. Me and corporate tables?! I felt like I made it." But even in her acceptance speech, she consciously omitted a certain husband of hers. "I still couldn't thank Ruben in public," she said. "There are just not enough words to fill my mouth. He's just part of me. It's just such a beautiful collaboration that I wish half of people in the world get to experience. In fashion, if you don't have that light and a spark, you'll just start making ugly clothes."
VALENTINE UHOVSKI