Cuban designer Isabel Toledo is receiving a Couture Council Award from The Museum At The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. Which was invented in Cuba, obviously:

Isabel Toledo will receive The Couture Council of The Museum at FIT with its third annual Artistry of Fashion award at a benefit luncheon at New York City’s Rainbow Room on Wednesday, September 3, 2008. Presenting this
award will be André Leon Tally, American editor-at-large for Vogue, and
Simon Doonan, creative director for Barneys New York, will emcee the
event.

What’s that smell? Oh, yes, this positively reeks of prestige. But, oh. What’s this now?:

The award will precede a major retrospective of Toledo’s work at The Museum at FIT, entitled Holy Toledo! The Fashion of Isabel Toledo, opening
June 19, 2009 through September 26, 2009.

We’ll bet she’s never heard that one before! Sheesh, guys. Give the woman something a little more tasteful to savor, no?

“Pocket sleeve” dress, 1986. Perfect place to stash your keys, baggies and various fancy little sandwiches without crust.

When she’s not inspiring unfortunately-named retrospectives, Isabel is kicking all manner of ass in the fashion world. She attended FIT, as well as Parsons. Along with her husband, Ruben Toledo, she received The Cooper Hewitt National Design Award in 2005. In 2006, she worked with Anne Klein as the line’s Creative Director.

Toledo’s “couture haberdashery”-inspired ensemble for Anne Klein, Fall 2007. Ideal for headbutting British fox hunters.

So congrats on the award, Isabel! And we’re sorry about the whole “Holy Toledo!” thing. Beats “hot tamale” though, no?

Source: FIT Press Release (Not Online)