Roots of Style: Weaving Together Life, Love, and Fashion [Hardcover]

Isabel Toledo (Author), Ruben Toledo (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: March 6, 2012 | ISBN-10: 0451230175 | ISBN-13: 978-0451230171 | Edition: 1

Roots of Style is a rare look into the mind, life, and journey of one of our generation’s most coveted fashion designers, Isabel Toledo. From the nostalgic and permanent in­fluence of her upbringing in Cuba and the serendipitous love that materialized her vision and fueled her conviction, to the timeless mark she continues to make on the fashion industry, Isabel weaves together all of her impressions to express her true inspiration and authenticity.

Isabel’s words—interpreted by artwork from her husband, one of fashion’s most prolific illustrators, Ruben Toledo—tell an eloquent and visually stunning story about how fashion gave a form of communication to a curious girl who was fascinated by design, craftsmanship, and sewing. Through Isabel’s personal and engaging accounts, Roots of Style inspires readers to follow their instincts, trust their individuality, and discover their own personal style signature.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

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 A Look Inside Roots of Style
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About the Author

Isabel Toledo was born in Cuba and came to the United States with her family as a political refugee. Hailed as a “designer’s designer,” she developed her own distinct design alphabet that explores such concepts as Liquid Architecture, Organic Geometry, and Origami, among many others. She received the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award for Fashion Design in 2005.

Ruben Toledo is a world-renowned fashion illustrator, as well as a painter, sculptor, reporter, and fashion chronicler. His illustrations can be found in top journals and fashion magazines such as The New Yorker, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, The New York Times, and more and his work sought after for exclusive projects by Nordstrom and Louis Vuitton. He is also the author of Style Dictionary.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Celebra Hardcover; 1 edition (March 6, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451230175
• ISBN-13: 978-0451230171
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #412,032 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Book! March 14, 2012

By Marli

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is an amazing book by one of the most talented designers in the Fashion industry today. Isabel discusses her design process and her life in fashion. It is a very inspiring story and her husband Ruben's illustrations make this book come alive. I highly recommend this book and if you love fashion it is a must read!
Thank you Isabel & Ruben for all the inspiration this book has given me.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Read for Fashion Enthusiasts! April 19, 2012

By M. Cartagena

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I recommend "Roots of Style" because it is an amazing book by Isabel Toledo. Here is why...Isabel brilliantly talks to us about how her sewing and design craft and how it began at an early age. She describes the people that inspired her throughout her early years as well as the influence of her Latin Cuban culture. It's quite a journey she takes the reader on that includes her work at the MET Costume Institute to her grand moment of designing historic dress for Michelle Obama. In this book, you not only learn about her strong passion for sewing but it's also partly a love story. She describes how her husband Ruben and her developed a friendship, creative partnership and later a marriage. This book will inspire anyone who has a creative passion on any level, especially in Fashion.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for all the fashion lovers April 2, 2012

By Serge

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Back in summer 2001 I had the amazing opportunity to be an intern at Isabel and Ruben Toledo studio in New-York and Washington Dc. I will never forget what I have learned, seen from both Isabel and Ruben and how they are genuinely good people and down to earth. This book perfectly describes it and brings you along in the true journey and visions to the fashion world of a gifted Isabel and how she made her name in the fashion History.
Her visions, techniques, stories are described so well that you have the feeling to be sitting next to her.
I just love this book and I highly recommend it as well as this other book about her which is one of my all time favourite. As a fashion Technician I get enough of it!! Isabel Toledo: Fashion from the Inside Out

P.S Isabel if you read this i would love to get in touch with you two again.. I live in Hong Kong now . ([e-mail])