Mrs. O's Mystery Brooches
Saturday, February 28, 2009 at 2:32 PM 
Images used with kind permission from Moschino
Brooches are, of course, a signature of Mrs. O's style. And while we know the First Lady has an enviable collection of floral pins from Erickson Beamon, there are a number that have remained somewhat of a mystery. In recent weeks, Mrs. O has been seen wearing an oversized pearl cluster brooch, first at the Kennedy Center, and then at the Department of Transportation. Through the summer and fall of 2008, Mrs. O wore several combinations of a sequin floral brooch, notably pinning four such brooches at the neckline of her azure blue dress for the third night of the DNC in August (another of our all-time favorite, but less mentioned, Mrs. O looks).
After extensive research, we've discovered that these pins both hail from the Italian design house Moschino, designed by Rosella Jardini, creative director of Moschino since 1994. The pearl cluster pin, a combination of silk tulle and pearls, comes from the label's Spring 2009 collection (image on left), while the floral sequin pin, made of sequins, black tulle and crystal pistil, originates from the label's Fall 2008 collection (image on right). The answer is perhaps a bit unexpected, but for that reason, all the more exciting. These pins can be purchased at Moschino New York, 401 West 14th Street, New York, NY (212.243.8600) and Ikram, North Rush Street, Chicago, IL (312.587.1407). 
Images used with kind permission from Moschino
Reader Comments (67)
This article all most ruined the moment for me. Robin Givhan and Terri Agins are not the fashion authority’s of anything, I'd rather read what Cathy Horn says then those two women. Read it and let her know what you all think of it. Sure she has her right of free speech but some opinions are best left to ones self.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/12/AR2009021204221.html?wprss=rss_print/style
oh how i love the first brooch. i hope there is a knockoff cause i know i couldn't afford it, Moschino is pretty high end........its very beautiful.
our flotus is doing a great job mixing affordable with special, distinctive, expensive pieces. i do this all the time too.
Mrs. T...
You're quoted here! I'm terribly excited & thanks again for this site... I think you are a really warm, positive and good person - And may all your own dreams come true! (Rooting for you all the way!)
http://www.freep.com/article/20090302/FEATURES01/903020301
Yvonn C.: Don't let that article bother you...
Shortly before and after the inauguration, Ms. Givhan was all over the various television stations including CNN and MSNBC, opining and gushing about Mrs Obama.
In Washington as in many other places, the initial suck-up is typically intended to position the gusher for quick access to the first lady and her inner circle or at least gain some invites to White house events.
This clearly hasn't happened for Ms. Givhan as evidenced by this article which she uses bitingly to express her displeasure and hopefully get noticed and strongarm an invite to something, anything...
But its a plan that is sure to backfire because ultimately, for even the blindest bat, she clearly reveals herself as transparently as her motives: fickle and self-serving. Not exactly the right prescription for access to any white house or any house for that matter-
Apologies, quick correction on my earlier post, the olive green jacket Mrs O paired with black slacks during the Democratic National Convention, was also identified as a Moschino design not Maria Pinto.
@ susan, the Blushed tweed pencil skirt is from J.Crew's Fall 2009 Collection
LOVE the brooches, specially the pearl. OT item...Huffington post has a slide show on Mrs. O's flats http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/02/michelle-obamas-flats-com_n_170987.html
Kinda fun
Thanks, Christina for the "FLOTUS" answer. I love that turquoise brooch as well. My favorite EB brooches of hers are the ones she wore pinned to her pearl necklace.
C. - thanks for your kind words!
yvonn c. the ridiculousness of that article is evidenced by the fact that she defends the outrageous remarks made by fox news' juan williams, when he out of nowhere called michelle "stokely carmichael in a designer dress" as simply saying she's "too dour or aggressive in her speeches," rather than comparing her to a radical black nationalist. somebody ought to tell ms. givhan that her bitter is showing.
Mrs T said "I would love to know more about that enamel buckle. It reappeared during the Inauguration, paired with Mrs. O’s J.Crew outfit for the Kids Inaugural Concert. Any ideas?"
Mrs O in the past has adorned vintage accessories, I would like to take a wild guess on this blue enamel belt buckle Mrs O wore with the Moschino green suit, and I'll link it back to Carole Tanenbaum, who also sourced out the one off victorian brooch Mrs O wore, attached to the lemon-grass Isobel Toledo dress.
And in the case of the blue enamel belt buckle, Carole Tanenbaum features a very similar rare French Black and Red Enameled Belt Buckle.
http://store.truefaux.com/galleries/Misc/_thumbs/175x175-14763.jpg
WOW - the link Raisin posted up above http://images.magazinecity.com/product-zoom.html?3371-9.jpg
is awesome.
Anyone have a clue to who the designer is?
Looks like something out of the 1950s - I love it!
Okay, now this is almost getting funny. I think that jacket might be Moschino as well! I realize this is not an exact match, but notice the cut and bow with center rosette detail on this romper:
http://www.style.com/slideshows/fashionshows/S2008RTW/MOSCHINO/RUNWAY/00460m.jpg
I love that magazine cover btw. Someone linked to it once before several weeks ago. I will look into featuring it on the site.
Oh dear. FLOTUS is a very unfortunate acronym. It is much too similar to "flatus" and therefore causes me to snicker inwardly. Is it too late to drop it?
Andrea-
Yes, I would say that it is too late to change it now.
According to legend, Dolley Madison was first referred to as "first lady" in 1849 at her funeral in a eulogy delivered by President Zachary Taylor.
So, the wife of the president has been referred to as The First Lady Of The United States for a very long time, 150+ years.
POTUS - President Of The United States
FLOTUS - First Lady
VPOTUS - Vice President
FGOTUS - First Granny/Grandparent
SCOTUS - Supreme Court
aren't going away anytime soon.
Mrs T said "Okay, now this is almost getting funny. I think that jacket might be Moschino as well! I realize this is not an exact match, but notice the cut and bow with center rosette detail on this romper"
Mrs T, I agree that Mrs O's ensemble on the cover of TBW magazine might be from Moschino. http://images.magazinecity.com/product-zoom.html?3371-9.jpg .
I think the reason we havent seen the exact outfit before, might be because it was made to order specifically for Mrs O.
Infact Moschino's Cheap & Chic's,Fall 2009 Ready-to-Wear features this exact fabric:
http://www.style.com/slideshows/fashionshows/F2009RTW/CHEAPCHIC/RUNWAY/00170m.jpg
And a very similar design for their Fall 2008 Ready-to-Wear:
http://www.style.com/slideshows/fashionshows/F2008RTW/CHEAPCHIC/RUNWAY/00160m.jpg
That purple floral shirtdress she wore during the campaign was also Moschino.
Thanks for confirming that the pin was made of pearls, rather than metal or glass beads!
Somebody mentioned FDOTUS - First Dog of the United States in SecretServicelingo, and YES, FDOTUS is already a word in use inside the Washignton Beltway. You can also buy the domain www.FDOTUS.com at that address. Ain't the Web Grand?