Isaac Mizrahi

Isaac Mizrahi (born October 14, 1961) is an American fashion designer, actor, singer, television presenter and costume designer whose career spans more than four decades of eclectic creativity. Raised in the Midwood neighborhood of Brooklyn as the youngest son of Sarah and Zeke Mizrahi—himself a children’s clothing manufacturer—Mizrahi discovered his love for sewing at age ten, buying his first machine with babysitting money, and launched his first label, IS New York, at fifteen with the help of a family friend. After studying at the Yeshivah of Flatbush, LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, and graduating with a BFA from The New School’s Parsons School of Design, he presented his inaugural runway collection in 1987 at a Bergdorf Goodman trunk show, instantly attracting critical praise and lucrative orders from top retailers. His designs have been described as “controlled and glamorous,” “elegant,” and inspired by the decadence and diversity of New York City, earning him the CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year award twice (1989, 1991) and a devoted celebrity clientele that includes Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Natalie Portman. In 1992 Chanel purchased a stake in his company, providing financial backing that ultimately proved unsustainable, leading to the brand’s closure in 1998 after a series of volatile sales and an undefined aesthetic that critics said prevented a signature “Mizrahi look.” Undeterred, he reinvented his commercial presence with the wildly successful Isaac Mizrahi for Target diffusion line in 2002, expanding the range to accessories, bedding, housewares and pet products and generating over $300 million in sales before the partnership ended in 2008. He later designed for Liz Claiborne, launched IsaacMizrahiLIVE! on QVC, and sold his brand to Xcel Brands in 2011, where he continues as creative director. Beyond fashion, Mizrahi has acted in films such as Small Time Crooks and Hollywood Ending, appeared on television series including Sex and the City, Ugly Betty and The Big C, judged Project Runway: All Stars, and co‑hosted Bravo’s The Fashion Show. His Broadway costume work earned a Drama Desk Award for The Women (2002), and he has authored books, narrated performances, and curated exhibitions, cementing his status as a multifaceted entertainer and cultural icon.