Michelle Obama's Style

From the New York Times- June 8, 2008- Fashion Style

"It is possible, of course, at a time when campaign images are scrutinized by media sibyls as ardently as the entrails of birds were read by the ancients, to read too much into Michelle Obama's grooming and wardrobe. Yet people who track these things see in her simple sheaths and Donna Reed flip, her streamlined silhouette and fondness for pearls, parallels with former occupants of the White House, women like the first Mrs. Bush and Jacqueline Kennedy."

The article goes on to say that when someone is operating at a national/global level, people all take something from your look. So, every time she steps outside of her house, people will take notice. "It's all information." says Mikki Taylor of Essence magazine.

What did people say about the purple Maria Pinto dress Michelle wore to the Democratic Nomination? " Ms. Taylor said that all of the women she spoke to said Michelle had confidence that was empowered. Even the fact that she appeared bare legged on the stage leads to the response that she was there to "do business".

The belt Michelle Obama wore was another signature accessory, something Vanity Fair noted when adding her last year to its International Best-Dressed List. "That Azzedine Alaïa belt that she wore 15-plus months ago signified to me that this woman had an independent and strong and distinct fashion sense," said Amy Fine Collins, a special correspondent at Vanity Fair and a guardian of the 68-year-old list.

Hamish Bowles, the Vogue editor who assembled the clothes for the Jacqueline Kennedy show at the Met in 2001, the power of clothes "that look dramatic in newspapers and photographs" can boost a politician's image, as Mrs. Kennedy demonstrated throughout her husband's campaign and presidency.

"As Jackie did, the way Mrs. Obama presents herself sends out messages that are subliminal and sometimes overt," Mr. Bowles said.

WHILE Mrs. Kennedy relied on a carefully assembled coterie of wealthy women - Jayne Wrightsman, Bunny Mellon, Nicole Alphand- to advise her on matters of style, Michelle Obama apparently pulls off the feat of getting dressed on her own.

"To the best of my knowledge, she does not use a stylist," said Mrs. Obama's spokeswoman, Katie McCormick Lelyveld, although the candidate's wife is known to have ties to the designer Ms. Pinto and to Ikram Goldman, the owner of Ikram, a Chicago specialty store. (Both declined to speak about the relationship.)

"What's important here is that we're not starting from zero with Michelle Obama," said Ms. Collins of Vanity Fair. "I'm sure she's being advised. But there's nothing imposed on her that isn't generated by who she is. She has a very definite sense of herself."

CBS) Michelle Obama's big speech at the Democratic convention.....was anticipated not just for what she'd say -- but for what she'd wear.

The would-be first lady's fashion flair is already grabbing attention -- she's being closely watched as a possible budding fashion icon -- and most observers the outfit she selected for the big event clicked.

Among those whose keen eyes were trained on Michelle is Laura Schwartz, a former adviser to the wife of former Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, Teresa Heinz Kerry. Schwartz also worked in the Clinton White House.

In the convention hall Tuesday, Schwartz told Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith Michelle "succeeded. (She did) exactly what she was going for, because today, we're talking about the message more than just the overall bling."

Schwartz was guessing Michelle would wear a dress, despite talk she'd wear a suit. "She looks fabulous in dresses," Schwartz explained, "and you know she's going to wear something she looks great in, that she feels confident in. And that's what we saw. And she pulled it off very, very well."

The dress, Schwartz says, expressed confidence and a sense of humility: "She didn't want to look too blinged-up. She didn't want to be too bright. I thought she was very simple, very understated, which might be a good idea because, in this era of attack ads, the McCain people are saying, 'Hey, the Obamas are elitist. They're caught up in celebrity.' If she came out in a real fancy dress, that would just be more fodder for them."

The dress was striking, Schwartz observed, but very calming in color -- a shade of blue-green, which evokes calm and trust.

The large pendant on the dress, Schwartz adds, came straight from Michelle's jewelry box, and was reminiscent of Barack's rising sun campagn logo. The pendant was placed over Michelle's heart, so it might have symbolized that her speech was coming straight from her heart.

The pendant could start a trend, Schwartz speculated, saying, "It was inspired. ... It's a neat look. Women all across the country can do it. It's a simple, V-neck, three-quarter-length sleeve, wool dress, it can be a Jersey knit -- add a pendant, you've got something different."

Once again, Michelle reminded onlookers of Jackie O, Schwartz says. She was wearing long, clean lines again, the length of the dress and even the sleeves looked like something Jackie O would have worn.

Women such as Michelle carefully plan what they wear to events like this one, Schwartz points out. They look at the background first and the stage they'll be speaking on to make sure their outfit compliments the surroundings.

It's likely that Michelle won't change her style if she makes it to the White House, Schwartz says. She already looks like a first lady; her style is so clean and elegant, she won't need to change anything.

"The whole wide world is officially a red carpet. The dress worn by Michelle Obama at last night's convention is no secret because publicists are alerting press to the designer: Thakoon. The aspiring first lady smartly opted to wear a sophisticated and fierce print -- red signifies strength and confidence -- with a retro lady-like cut. (The look on the right is from Thakoon's fall 2008 collection. Obama wore the Radzimir Kimono dress from the pre-spring 2009 collection.)

The Obama dress, as it will probably be forever known, also showed off her muscular build. I like that Obama picked a designer like Thakoon Panichgul -- pronounced Tie-koon -- who's an up and comer with a textured past. He moved from northern Thailand to Omaha with his family when he was 11. Also, he has been tapped to design for Target

http://tinyurl.com/5f5ne5