Toledos Honored by High School of Fashion Industries

NEW YORK  — Ruben and Isabel Toledo were honored at the High School of Fashion Industries’ annual fundraiser and fashion show Wednesday night.

The couple, on hand to receive this year’s High School of Fashion Industries Advisory Board honor — presented by CNN’s Alina Cho — credited Fashion Calendar founder Ruth Finley for introducing them to the school.   

“Ruth turned us on to the school.  I never knew about it. I wish I knew about [the school] when I was a kid, it’s such a gem to have this in New York City,” Ruben told WWD.

“Leave it to Ruth to introduce people to things, because she actually introduced us to what it was to be in the fashion industry,” Isabel, clad in an ivory lace coat of her own design, said. “She called us and said ‘You have to come to the school, I really want you to expose yourself to what this school does.’”

The entirely student-produced “Continental Couture” fashion show, where themed mini-shows ranged from “Caribbean Dance Hall Queen” to “Euro Military,” followed the Toledo’s acceptance speech. The 210 look runway spectacle culminated in an homage to Lady Gaga, where a Russian military look (complete with a black fur hat), a re-imagined lion tamer and a matching British tea-cup-inspired hat and skirt looked almost outrageous enough for the singer to wear.

The school, founded in 1926, counts on the advisory board to bridge the gap between the fashion industry and the school through a myriad of partnerships and initiatives — including the industry mentoring program, a speaker series with guest lecturers and opportunities such as dressing the windows at Saks Fifth Avenue in their designs.

To celebrate the student collection, Ruben created a series of prints inspired by the work he saw at the school. “They showed me all the kids’ work and what they were doing and I was just inspired to create my version of [it],” he said. The pieces will be auctioned off on charitybuzz.com through June 14, with all proceeds going to the High School of Fashion Industries.

New Sport Fashion: Cyndi Lauper Fashion 2009

The 80’s fashion may be coming back, but some things never left. The music of the 80’s has been a permanent fixture on the radio and in the stores, possessing some timeless quality that allows it to stay a constant flow of electric guitars and erratic drum solos. Maybe it’s because some of the bands from the time haven’t left yet, serving as a reminder of ‘the good old days’. That still doesn’t explain why the younger generation is still listening to the same songs their parents did when they have no nostalgic attachment to the music. Be it because their parents have subjected them to it as a child, or some freak alignment of the planets, the music looks like it has taken up residency in our lives.

Cyndi Lauper

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