FASHION BY THE RULES: FLOTUS

Jason Wu, Thakoon, Alaia, Naeem Khan, Isabel Toledo, Narciso Rodriguez, Issac, Donna Ricco, Moschino, and J.Crew have been linked to the First Lady of the United States. Michelle Obama has single-handedly restored glamour and fashion to the White House, to Washington D.C. and with it some of the home grown fashion talent from New York and her hometown of Chicago.

With her statuesque carriage and with extreme grace and charm, she has certainly made the fashion community take notice. I applaud her daring and varied choices and shake my head at others. Mrs. Obama is far from a model type body but makes up for it with her height, bravado and her unconventional tastes. As we have seen, she is a fierce supporter of sleeveless tops and dresses as well as fitted waists, but we can’t forget her love for accessories!

Another thing we have noticed is that she certainly is not shy when it comes to designer names, and by no means does she confine her choices to designer names that are well known or even on the lips of the most seasoned fashion addicts. She has certainly let it be known that she will wear what she pleases and will buck no interference from her critics or any fashion types. I believe that her sartorial choices are greatly influenced only by Ikram Goldman and from her eponymous store in Chicago. Ms. Goldman has obviously been extremely helpful in shaping the image of Mrs. Obama and to very favorable opinion.

I would only suggest a couple of things that might enhance her overall look and the biggest would be to lose the belt. Her love of “the belt” does her a great disservice as she is very short waisted and constantly makes her waist appear to right under her chest. One of the other ideas I have so that when she wears a fitted sheath dress, the color should not be too bright since she, like most women who have had children, is a bit broad in the beam and she does have a butt, all of which is fine except she must leave a room or a stage as well as enter.

Even with these minor flaws, I find her to be refreshingly non self conscious and with a great flair for her presentation as First Lady. Give me one Michelle every 4 years and then we might be known as a country with good taste.

Headlines This Week 1/8

The Coolest Inauguration Tees

After days of transitioning, months of campaigning, and years of oppression, the time has come. Today, Tuesday, January 20, 2009 marks the inauguration of the first ever African American president, Barack Obama. Whoever you voted for and whatever you stand for, Tuesday is a time for every American to unite and recognize the historic and momentous occasion. If you managed to wrangle a ticket to DC and an invite to one of the dozen inaugural balls, then glam it out for the rest of us. However, if you’re planning to watch Obama take oath on the sofa in sweatpants with a Corona and some guacamole (like me), your still entitled to don a dash of Obama spirit. I know I will.

Obama Rushmore Tee

“Yep, that looks about right,” says Urban Outfitters. “Damn straight!” says me.

NY Times Obama Tee-Designed by Altru Apparel

Get in the spirit with a splash of good news across your chest. This tee boasts an official re-printing of the actual New York Times front-page from November 5, 2008—the day Senator Obama became President-Elect Obama.

Barack N’ Roll V Neck Tee

Barack N’ Roll at your own inauguration party all day and all night long in this adorable, and spirited tee. Liberal or conservative, black or white, citizen or immigrant, there’s no denying it—change has come!