Who is Isabel Toledo?

First Lady Michelle Obama chooses obscure designer for her inaugural outfit. By Danielle Radojcin

Cuban-born, New York-based fashion designer Isabel Toledo was chosen by Michelle Obama to create her inaugural outfit. Following weeks of speculation and secrecy about what she would wear, the new First Lady stepped out today in a daffodil yellow beaded dress with jewelled neckline and matching coat, with Glacier pumps by Jimmy Choo. "I wanted to pick a very optimistic color, that had sunshine," Toledo told New York Times critic Cathy Horyn. "I wanted her to feel charmed, and in that way would charm everybody." Obama also wore a Toledo black wool dress to a fundraising benefit last June. The designer, who doesn't even have a PR team, is not well known outside of the United States, however is highly respected within fashion and art circles in New York - her husband is artist Ruben Toledo. She was creative director at American label Anne Klein for one season, but despite the collection she showed in February 2007 being met with unanimous acclaim, she was dropped soon after. The inauguration gig is a PR coup made in heaven, and will undoubtably make Toledo into a household name, much in the way that Elie Saab became known after Halle Berry wore his gown to win her Oscar in 2001. One thing's for sure: after this, she'll definitely need to hire a PR.

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