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  SAAC
MIZRAHI is back and better than ever before! But to be fair,
we all know he never really left in the first place.
Before a star-studded audience on Tuesday, June
15, at Cipriani 42nd Street, Mr Mizrahi showcased a collection consisting
of both the Isaac Mizrahi for Target and Isaac Mizrahi New York
collections. After a six-year absence from the forefront of New
York high fashion, Mr Mizrahi roared back with a collection that
offered luxury for every woman in every financial bracket and brought
back the keen sense of fun that has been sorely missing in fashion
in recent years. His A-list guests included Anna Wintour of Vogue,
Fairchild Publications’ Patrick McCarthy, Allure’s editor-in-chief
Linda Wells, The Wall Street Journal’s Teri Agins, The
Washington Post’s Robin Givhan, Iman, Candice Bergen, Diane
Sawyer and husband, director Mike Nichols, stylist supreme Patricia
Field, Tony Award-winning actress Bebe Neuwirth, a cast of the usual
socialites and a constellation of stylish fashionistas, not to mention
the hundreds of thousands of people who watched the show through
a cyber-peek link on target.com.
Launched in 1993, the Isaac Mizrahi for Target
collection is a head-to-toe wardrobe of affordable women’s sportswear
and accessories, with a majority of the pieces retailing from $17·99
to $24·99. The new Isaac Mizrahi New York collection consists of
quality, made-to-order designs focusing on luxury and exquisite
detailing. Available immediately, the line will be sold exclusively
through Bergdorf Goodman (754 Fifth Avenue, New York City, NY
10019). The opening price for the collection begins at $5,000 and,
believe me, it will be worth every penny you pay.
With the models vamping down the runway in everything
from body-hugging A-line dresses and gorgeous ’50s twin sets to
débutante-style poofy ballgowns and kicky fun furs, the 48-piece
collection was a mix of high–low fashion he himself introduced so
many years ago when he staged sell-out shows at the Bryant Park
tents. Accordingly, he is in agreement with John Remington, vice-president
of event marketing and communications at Target, who said that ‘modern
dressing is all about mixing both ends of the fashion spectrum to
create a look that reflects a woman’s unique style.’ This show,
he opines, ‘exemplifies the philosophy of both Target and Isaac
Mizrahi, offering wardrobe solutions for everyday life.’
The first look out of the gate sets the tone.
He sent out a model wearing a denim redingote coat over an indigo
lace petticoat—and he is such a skilled designer you don’t really
see a price difference between the two pieces. All his coats were
wearable works of art, from his forest and camel-field-painted coats
to his coffee bean coloured "inside-out" sable coat and
his big grizzly-fisher coat (and matching hat). He called to mind
the ’40s and ’50s, sending out Liya in a grey heather cashmere cardigan
paired with a grey flannel lace skirt and I couldn’t help thinking
of Sandra Dee and the young Annette Funnicello when Raquel came
out in a grey fair isle sweater (and white muscle T-shirt) paired
with a grey flannel lace culottes pant.
CONTINUED
Mr Mizrahi roared back with
a collection that offered luxury for every woman in every financial
bracket and brought back the keen sense of fun that has been sorely
missing in fashion in recent years
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Isaac Mizrahi returned with a classic collection at Ciprani’s last month that blends the high and low of fashion, reports Phillip D. Johnson
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