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"   Even though she&amp;#039;s been designing for 30 years\u2014and made Michelle Obama&amp;#039;s outfit for the 2009 Inauguration, no small feat\u2014Isabel Toledo&amp;#039;s not really a household name. She might be soon, though, thanks to the fashion designer&amp;#039;s new partnership with plus-size retailer Lane Bryant. With the high fashion and mass market collaboration space so crowded it&amp;#039;s really more like a mosh pit (Jason Wu for Target, Lanvin for H&amp;amp;amp;M, Mary Katrantzou for Topshop), Bryant and Toledo&amp;#039;s pairing is the first of its kind\u2014mass market and high fashion, yes, but also plus-size. It&amp;#039;s also full of choices, to boot: The first collection, which spans sizes 14 through 24 and costs between $60 and $178, contains over 50 pieces\u2014and is just the first of four collections that&amp;#039;ll roll out later this year. Not only are there great basics (pretty black dresses, sharp white coats), there are some wonderfully out-there offerings, too, which plus-size women don&amp;#039;t often get enough of, like a tangerine dress or a geometric print blouse. Here, we caught up with Toledo to hear about the design process, the reaction to the collaboration so far, and how she envisions plus-size women everywhere wearing the new pieces.  On the design process for the collection: I adore versatility in clothes. I wanted to design a complete wardrobe for women so that spring items will work later with summer and autumn pieces. It&amp;#039;s like designing a family tree: They all have to like each other and get along well in your closet!  On why she made so many items (50!): Diversity and having enough fashion choices is always the key to fashion satisfaction for me. I like to mix it up, and so do most women I know. Having enough fashion choices is what every woman craves so she can shape her own look with individuality.   On the reaction from plus-size women around her: Love at first sight! The plus women around me are some of the savviest, most fashionable women I know. They like their curves and know their clothes well. They know how to use fashion to their best advantage. I am getting high marks from them for all the clean and tailored fitted coats and dresses.  On her favorites from the collection: I love dresses. I am most in love with the floaty black chiffon dress, which looks great with heels, or simple summer black sandals, or worn over leggings, like a beatnik goth-y tunic.   I also love all the summer coats worn with soft, rolled up sleeves like a shirt. And I love the Cubist shirts worn as short summer dresses over leggings or jeans, very mod, and a new take on New Wave when worn with geometric jewelry.  On her hopes for the collection: I just want to give the plus-size woman great design elements, so she can create her own style. If a woman feels good in her clothes, she projects strength and happiness, and that&amp;#039;s always beautiful. Photos: Courtesy of Getty Related: Leah Kelley on Plus-Size Modeling Related: Plus-Size Model Robyn Lawley Covers Cosmopolitan Australia "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.elle.com/fashion/news/a25606/isabel-toledo-for-lane-bryant/>