Mizrahi creates a buzz & sales at Target

Mizrahi's fashions are rarely dull. Like their creator, they've always had personality plus. He's never been afraid to use color or add a bit of whimsy.

When other New York designers sent drab uniforms or fashion enigmas (is that a Halloween costume or a dress?) down runways, Mizrahi could always be counted on for something fun but also wearable.

Mizrahi had a 10-year career in the New York garment arena, but never made it to the major leagues inhabited by Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein or Donna Karan.

He was featured in a 1995 fashion industry documentary, "Unzipped," a realistic and amusing look at how a fashion collection comes together. But after 10 years in the business, his major financial backer (the company that owns the Chanel label) dropped him in 1998 and his studio closed.

In the past five years, he's worked as a Broadway costume designer and show host on the Oxygen network.

Now comes his fashion reincarnation: A collection for Target that landed in 1,189 stores in 47 states last month.

Would Mizrahi's whimsy translate to mass market? The question simmered until this fashion maven could get to the Northgate Target store to check it out, finger the fabrics, check the seams, tryon.

His clothes were easy to find. Cubes proclaiming "Isaac Mizrahi" in pink, orange and yellow hung from the ceiling in the sportswear department.

A blue denim jeans jacket with padded pink satin lining popped out. Wow! The red baby-wale corduroy dress practically screamed "I Love Lucy," but its velvety texture, swirly skirt and brass snaps brought a grin.

Mizrahi, it seems, is irrepressible.

Both jacket and dress went into a try-on pile. So did a pale beige suede skirt. Only one multicolored sweater remained -- a sweater with one arm that was half purple, half gold. Husky fans probably snapped it up the second it hit the store. The size was wrong, but it wouldn't hurt to try. A checkered shirt and a pair of plain beige grosgrain pants joined the pile.

Leisure gear -- double-faced cotton knits that were navy outside, red inside -- was tempting. So was the black cardigan in a silky rayon/nylon blend ($19.99) with matching shell ($14.99.)

Mizrahi's prices won't warp plastic. Two sweaters for $34.98, a dress for $24.99, suede skirt for $39.99 and a lined denim jacket at $29.99 total a capsule wardrobe for $129.95. And every item had the kind of workmanship and fabric usually found in more expensive goods. A cotton/spandex blouse in tan, white and black had perfectly matched patterns, for example, a detail usually reserved for pricey shirts.

The suede skirt, like most leathers, was assembled with four squares of hide in front, four in back. The horizontal seam, however, was dropped low so it wouldn't emphasize the hipline. Mizrahi understands details.

In the dressing room, the fully lined suede skirt is perfect. There's no bulge where the zipper ends in back, hem falls just below knees. The pink-lined denim jacket is sleek, well cut. A pair of grosgrain pants with very wide legs were, shall we say, unflattering? The red corduroy dress was too small, but its skirt was fun to swirl in front of the mirror.

Items are available in sizes 6 to 16, or S to XL, and cut so that some tweenies might wear a size smaller.

When asked about Mizrahi's debut, Brie Heath, Target spokeswoman, said: "It's been insanely popular. It's exceeded our expectations by far. It's created both sales and buzz. A pink corduroy blazer has been a sellout. So has the suede jacket. It's above and beyond what we expected."

Heath said new things are being added to the collection each month throughout the year. But once something is gone, it's gone. But you can always check the Target Web site and see if it's still available online -- www.target.com gets you to the home page, then look for "Isaac Mizrahi" under "New at Target" on the left side of the screen.

P-I reporter Susan Phinney can be reached at 206-448-8397 or susanphinney@seattlepi.com.

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