isabel toledo

To celebrate the opening of the Target location on 116th street in East Harlem, Isabel and Ruben Toledo have teamed up to create a limited-edition collection of summer essentials—t shirts, bikinis, sarongs, and beach towels—each featuring Ruben's signature illustrations, and Isabel's sharp attention to design. The colorful printed bikinis above are just one example of this perfectly matched pairing. The complete collection will be sold in the East Harlem store beginning July 25 and online starting August 1, where five percent of Toledo-designed purchases will go to support the couple's cause of choice—Harlem’s El Museo del Barrio. Click below to view the Toledo-designed lineup for Target.

>> Designers collectively seem to be over the ubiquitous body-con, hard-edged rock'n'roll look that has swept fashion for the past few seasons: Lorenzo Martone said Marc Jacobs is; Elise Overland told WWD: "I’m tired of that rock-star style — everyone else is doing it now, so I wanted to do something different"; and Joseph Altuzarra, who has focused on form-fitting silhouettes in the past, added some flounce this time around.

Narciso Rodriguez, who like Altuzarra typically goes with a lean look, also loosened up. A white linen and silk dress billowed around Monika "Jac" Jagaciak, even the nipped-in waists flared at the hips.  But the three stunners, which showed Narciso's experiment with volume at its best, were the last three finale gowns — one in black, one in white, one in "mercury" gray — knee-length in the front and parachute-like in the back as the model walked.

Also of note: pre-show, Anna Wintour was escorted backstage — not something that happens at every show; Narciso's close friends Ruben and Isabel Toledo sat front row, as did Tory Burch, whose show is tomorrow morning. Narciso has also just signed a deal with eBay to create a line — for Spring 2010 — with nothing over $350 (his runway designs are typically $1,800-plus), to be called "Narciso Rodriguez for eBay." A preview of his ideas for the line can be seen here.

Fashion's Night Out brought crowds of shoppers to all five boroughs in Manhattan last evening, as retailers opened doors late night and celebrated fall fashion with designer appearances, live musical performances, trunk shows, street parties, book signings and do-it-yourself sewing circles.

Our first stop was Barney's were we visited Isabel and Ruben Toledo (the former signing copies of her new book and the later illustrating shoppers on the inside cover), chatted with Alabama Chanin's Natalie Chanin as she watched over her 5th floor sewing circle, said hello to Behnaz Sarafpour (busy sketching her fall 2009 collection for a line of shoppers) and breezed by Rogan Gregory (hand-painting Loomstate tee shirts) and Organic's John Patrick (spreading the good word on sustainable wool farming) on the Co-Op floor.

Walking out of a packed Barney's and on to Madison Avenue proved to be even more interesting, as we spotted Sam Shipley and Jeff Halmos riding bikes decorated especially for Fashion's Night Out (and stocked with cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon beers) on their way to visit Vena Cava's Brooklyn block party and take a turn in the dunk tank.

Only two feet in front of Shipley and Halmos on the corner of 60th street we ran into Francisco Costa standing outside of his Calvin Klein store, signing tee shirts while Jamie Burke performed inside. All this before even heading downtown...

Also of note, Rachel Roy and Estelle celebrating the opening of the Rachel Rachel Roy pop-up shop in Soho; Opening Ceremony's trunk show where Voguette were seen scooping up Alexander Wang's fall collection by the armfuls; Rag and Bone's David Neville and Marcus Wainwright toasting friends with Guinness; and the mayhem that was caused by Victoria Beckham, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen all under the same roof at Bergdorf Goodman.

The rain sprits clearly bow to Anna Wintour as the weather held off until just before 11pm when most revelers stashed away their wallets and focused on the parties at hand. Judging by the number of people out on the streets and walking into the stores, Fashion's Night Out was a great success. The city that never sleeps has rarely looked more alive (or more beautiful).

This week the Obamas began their European tour. All eyes were on Michelle to see what she packed and loaded onto Air Force One. First stop: London, where the presidential couple met with Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah, as well as the Queen. Favorites like Jason Wu and Isabel Toledo made appearances, while a couple surprises ensued. Let's see Michelle's Euro style! P.S. France is next on the agenda. Can you imagine the fabulousness of Michelle and Carla Bruni chatting over croissants?