Mizrahi, Isaac

Isaac Mizrahi (b. 1961) graduated from Parsons School of Design in 1982. At 27 years of age, Mizrahi launched his first line in 1989, which was met with much acclaim. He worked for Perry Ellis and Calvin Klein, then formed his own company in 1992. In 1994 he started a lower cost line Is**c, but was forced to close it due to financial problems in 1997. In 1998 his financial backers pulled their support and he closed his studio, which the New York Times thought important enough to put on the front page.

Mizrahi was influenced early on in life by the American designers his mother wore: Geoffrey Beene, Norell, Halston, and Claire McCardell. Throughout the 2000s Mizrahi designed a line for Target, but in 2008 he was hired by Liz Claiborne to be creative director. He also makes one-of-a-kind dresses for private clients and is doing a collection of semi-finished garments, which are fitted to the customer and finished.

“Actually, now I love that I’m selling $10 tees and $20,000 dresses. You’ve got to mix it all up. That’s how you bring fashion to life.” Isaac Mizrahi, February, 2005 Vogue

Written by catbooks1940s

from a 1980s crop jacket

Courtesy of claireshaeffer

from a 1980s metallic blouse

Courtesy of claireshaeffer

from a mid 1990s pair of pants

Courtesy of fuzzylizzie.com

from a 1996 denim skirt

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from a 2004 shirt

Courtesy of fuzzylizzie.com

from a 2008 dress

Courtesy of pinupdresses.com