Must Read Mrs. O
Sunday, December 21, 2008 at 9:21 PM 
A peek inside the January 2009 issue of Vogue
On this frigid weekend in the Northeast, Mrs. O and family have returned to Hawaii for a final retreat before they make their way to Washington. And while the world eagerly awaits the Inauguration, the Mrs. O media frenzy continues.
A few of this week's highlights:
The Washington Post: Gown & Country Robin Givhan, The Washington Post's Fashion Editor, brings us more Inaugural designs from Rachel Roy, Kevan Hall, Doo-Ri Chung, Derek Lam, Tracy Reese, Marchesa, Lyn Devon and Peter Som. While there are a few repeats from the WWD sketches, several of these new additions seem to better embody Mrs. O's signature style. The Rachel Roy asymmetrical gown in ivory silk crepe is perhaps our favorite to date - a sophisticated, modern look for a modern First Lady. The Inaugural design craze doesn't stop here. The Washington Post is taking it a step further, inviting readers to submit their own designs. The grand prize? Robin Givhan's favorite design will appear in the Post's Style section. Layo G., we see you were one of the first to submit a design. Congrats and best of luck!
L.A. Times: A lesson in Thakoon economics From the moment Mrs. O wore Thakoon's floral frock for the final night of the DNC, we've been anticipating the arrival of the designer's lower-priced line for Target. This weekend, the L.A. Times Fashion Critic Booth Moore gave the upcoming Thakoon for Target collection a compelling review. Noting similarities to Thakoon's runway collection, even writing that "Thakoon ripped off Thakoon", fans will have good reason to visit Target on December 28. But the biggest question: Will Mrs. O wear pieces from the line as well? What a coup for high-low fashion that would be.
Vogue, January 2009 The arrival of this glossy paged gem always puts us in a good mood, and January's issue doesn't disappoint. A special feature section in tribute to our new president-elect includes a series of beautiful portraits by Annie Leibovitz. The caption for a striking photograph of Mrs. O reveals it was taken during the June 2007 shoot for Vogue. Mrs. O wears the same Narciso Rodriguez gown seen in the image used for Paris Match, though here it appears in an azure blue and is paired with a sapphire blue wrap. We also took note of the caption's title, "A Lady First", which rang familiar but took a minute to place. It's the title of the excellent memoir by Letitia Baldrige, an accomplished businesswoman who was also Jackie Kennedy's White House social secretary. There is one paragraph from the Vogue feature that we must share here. It offers a succinct, insightful perspective on the frequent comparison to the Kennedys:
"The obvious comparison here is to Camelot. But that would be a mistake. In the matter of iconicity and cultural authority, the Obamas have no need to look backward. On the contrary. Nevertheless, this tribute to the new president and his family echoes a tribute to President Kennedy published in Vogue on January 1, 1961. It's hard to believe that it's been almost 50 years since the country felt so inspired, so happy to look ahead."
Finally we'll end with a new CNN video that covers the Inaugural fashion buzz and takes us inside Maria Pinto's Chicago boutique. (The video also gives this site a brief and much appreciated mention. Thank you CNN!)
Maria Pinto, Narciso Rodriguez, Thakoon in Media, Shoes
Reader Comments (19)
Great post. Loving it. Keep up the good work.
Great video, but the best part is that the blog was mentioned ! How exciting.
I can only imagine the hundreds of new readers who will be joining us.
The Vogue photo is amazing - I can't stop repeating to myself in excitement : " That is our first lady ! That is our first lady ! "
She is a revelation and a sensation.
thanks Lady T for the good luck!!
someone please wake me up on inauguration day, I can't stand the wait, and I get to be there in person, braving the cold!!!!
I feel famous yet I only leave comments.
Thanks for the link to the Thakoon article. How curious that the writer feels "ripped off' because she paid $800 for an original Thakkoon similar to one that will be at Target for a fraction of that. BUT she had it a year earlier, and that's a big part of paying the price for designer fashion, having it long before the knock-offs come out. I think it's smart that Thakoon is knocking off his own designs, because if he doesn't someone else will anyway.
Love to see Mrs O in various shades of blue. The photo in Vogue is incredible.
Congrats! You've hit the big time! Being featured on CNN is awesome, and very well-deserved. I am a huge fan of this blog.
This is the most exciting time of our lives!!! Go Michelle!!
Mrs T: Congratulations on your site receiving air time on CNN - WELL deserved! Love the scope, completeness and insight of your (frequent - how do you do it?) articles. Regarding the Vogue portraits of Mrs. O - they're absolutely mesmerizing. How lucky we are to have an upcoming First Lady with such presence, dimension and beauty!
J'aime énormément votre blogue. I admire Mrs.O and i love your blog, I'm an huge fan
Congrats on the shout out on CNN. So wonderful. This is a special site.
In terms of the puffer coat - I agree, that is a great fit for her and I like how it's not childish-looking (if that makes sense).
I'm so excited about her inaugural looks. We have so much to look forward to. There's the outfit she'll wear on that train ride. Then there's the swearing in outfit. Then there is her gown. I'm sure there are many other events that will require her to wear special outfits. You will all be very busy!
Are you going to discuss the cute sweater set that she wore on her way to Hawaii? There's a great picture of her getting off the plane wearing sunglasses...her look is really fierce, and the colors are fab.
Gawgeous in blue Mrs. O, yes she is! And her toned arms and firm throat and neck are just beautiful! This woman can sure rock the low cut gowns. I also thought the coat she wore to the lunch date in Chicago (and there are also pics of her wearing it on the same day with Mr. O to a going away school party for the girls) was just right and not to girlish looking but obviously warm enough for those frigid Chicago outings. She just seems to have flawless fashion sense.
Congratulations on the Cnn mention.
What a gorgeous photo of Mrs. O in Vogue. This reminds me of a very critical inaugural issue, the hair issue. Can we have a posting about the possibilities? Seeing here here with her hair back looks so chic...though when I try something similar I look like I'm about to wash my face! I wonder if she could do an updo, a nice loose one...
She looks FABULOUS in that first shot from Vogue!!
Congrats!
Kristan
http://jbu.phuzzymath.net/
Ooh, that Vogue photograph of Mrs. O is simply magnificent!
The lady can wear any number of colours, but those glorious shades of blue, along with the pose and the hairdo combine to give her a regal hauteur, cool sophistication and a very grownup sexiness. Phew! The more I see of Mrs. O the more I understand why a certain man was so determined to win her to his side, and I'm extremely glad that he did.
All I have to say is more, more, more, please!
Gorgeous picture from Vogue.
Mrs. O is a beautiful woman but her photographer(s) need to do a better job of softening her chin- her chin is lovely when she smiles openly but when her face is neutral or she gives a toothless smile her chin can look very severe, way too masculine for her style. She also can look rather fierce when she furrows her brow. She has such a beautiful, interesting, edgy face!
la photo de VOGUE non, MRS O est magnifique, elle est extraordinairement belle,sublimissime telle une DEESSSE AFRICAINE. Quelle port de tête. Elle montre sa nature génereuse.
Mrs O was very beautiful with blue dress in vogue picture and with her hair " en chignon" ;i enjoy to see her in Washington 20th january