Anne Klein
The Label
Anne Klein pioneered the modern concept of American sportswear with her collection of mix-and-match separates, which launched in 1968. Though Klein died unexpectedly in 1974, her company has remained a sportswear mainstay and served as a design launching pad for many—Donna Karan, Richard Tyler, Patrick Robinson, and Charles Nolan among them. Over the years, the house has struggled to maintain the legacy of its founder, and the past few seasons have been marked by a lack of solid brand identity. For fall 2007, the house made a big push to go upscale and reclaim its designer status with Isabel Toledo at the helm.
The Look
American classic with a new twist: twinsets, coats, trousers and pantsuits with a few quirky details like bold, oversize prints.
The Designer
Cuban-born Isabel Toledo made her name as a distinctly downtown designer whose artsy, avant-garde signature collection has a captured a cult audience since its inception in 1985. Execs are hoping Toledo’s cache will translate to American classic for Anne Klein, where she’s been charged with the not-so-easy task of reviving the storied brand.
