With wit, charm and a sprinkling of his catchphrase “darlings,” fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi charmed the audience at the ninth annual Fashion Meets Art fundraiser at the Vero Beach Museum of Art.
Welcoming the fashionable crowd, Brady Roberts, VBMA CEO/executive director, thanked the event’s sponsors, before noting that proceeds would benefit the museum’s many outreach and educational programs.
Event chair Gregory Ness-Vasko, owner of Coastal Interiors, said the programs serve students, teachers, families, veterans, and individuals with cognitive and mobility challenges.
“These programs are completely free of cost, all due to your support,” said Ness-Vasko.
A discussion with Tiffany Corr began with her listing Mizrahi’s extensive accomplishments, including his being a four-time CFDA winner, reality TV judge, actor, Broadway star and singer.
“Isaac, you are 17 creatives wrapped into one glorious talent,” said Corr.
“I define myself as a creative person and as a polymath. I like doing a lot of things,” he said, crediting the late Stephen Sondheim for the polymath moniker.
Raised in Brooklyn, Mizrahi aspired to become a performer, but attended Parsons School of Design instead, feeling that his chances of making it in show business were slim.
“In my memoir, I talk about how painful it was for me to do that. And now, it’s funny. I’ve been working on stage, primarily since 2000,” said Mizrahi.
Mizrahi worked early on for designers Perry Ellis and Calvin Klein and, when his father passed away and left him $50,000, he started his own company.
At age 26, he launched his fashion line to immediate acclaim, but in the ensuing years had good years and bad. As his love of performing never waned, he remained involved by creating costumes, playing himself in movies and performing on Broadway, concert stages and clubs such as the Café Carlyle.
“I feel like I’m still making headway in the show business. It’s just so interesting. Now people stop me on the street more to tell me how much they like my show than how much they like my clothes,” said Mizrahi.
Changes in the retail business prompted him to form an alliance with Target and create beautiful yet affordable designs, commenting that a designer sweater can now cost $10,000 or more.
“You explain it to me, darling. Who is buying it in order to make those prices, darling? I don’t think anybody is buying it.”
Asked how his definition of beauty changed over the years, he replied that it really hasn’t.
“I love when things look different, and I think that was my big drawback,” said Mizrahi, referencing his penchant for creating something new each season.
He recalled being chastised for designing “fabulous parkas” for one season but not the next, because people still wanted them.
“I said, darling, I am so finished with parkas. And that was a dumb thing.”
Speaking of his multi-decade friendship with Anna Wintour, who he described as “really smart,” he recalled that when Meryl Streep asked him for tips on how to play her in “The Devil Wears Prada,” Mizrahi took Wintour to lunch to get her approval first.
“She was so into it. You know, like, she had no reservations,” said Mizrahi.
In a quick question and answer with Corr, he revealed that he is never without some kind of black garment; said all women should own a dressy flat; called lip liners a trend that needs to disappear; and said his favorite beauty secret is to be as natural as possible.
“I think women look so much younger with less makeup.”
For more information, visit VBMuseum.org.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
