The Most Wonderful Icon
Saturday, March 7, 2009 at 3:37 PM Well, it may be a few weeks past, but this NPR segment is worth a listen. Vogue's Fashion News and Features Editor, Sally Singer, weighs in on the Fall 2009 New York shows, recession fashion, and of course, Mrs. O. Speaking of the latter she shares:
"She's the most wonderful icon for us to have, in a way, because she's not someone who ever sought it out," Singer says. "This is not a woman who's put herself forward as a fashion icon — she's a woman who's an icon for all the right reasons."
Obama wears clothes well partly because she's beautiful, tall and poised, Singer says, but also because she doesn't let clothes overwhelm her. "She wears clothes that she looks good in, that fit her life, and in doing so inspires us all to think about ways that we can do that with clothes for our lives," Singer says.
Ms. Singer's words gained all the more credibility with us when we stumbled upon this April 2008 photo of the Vogue editor (far right) wearing a Tracy Feith dress of the exact same print as that worn by Mrs. O to the National Prayer Service in January. Kindred style spirits, they clearly are.
Sally Singer, Tracy Feith, Vogue in Media
Reader Comments (17)
Here's the pic of Michelle on the swings with her daughters:
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/oo126/theybf/March%2009/bda201c3.jpg
Are the jeans 3/4 length?
Here's a link to a photo of POTUS and FLOTUS walking to Marine One this morning on their way to Camp David:
http://www.daylife.com/photo/02IEfEk2nw2Kq/michelle_obama
Thanks Mrs T - that was totally worth a listen.
Thanks for sharing this Mrs T - it was really well-put!
Thanks for the pics dlev and Leah. Loved the one on the swing.
Here is more about the fabric in the prayer breakfast dress. It is a quilting fabric from Kona Bay.
http://winnowings.blogspot.com/2009/02/quilting-fabric-not-just-for-quilts.html
What a find Christine!
Great job Christine!
Ooooo, I really love that fabric. Thanks, Christine!
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/08/opinion/08dowd.html?_r=1&emc=tnt&tntemail1=y
Maureen Dowd on Michelle Obama's bare arms...
Wow, Allegra, thanks for that. It's really, really nice to see someone trying to get people to focus less on Mrs. O's body and more on all the great things she's doing.
Leave it to Maureen Dowd... no wonder I love her writing!
I have not always agreed with Maureen Dowd's opinion, but in this case, I am in her camp all the way. Michelle is putting herself out there every day in a meaningful way. She has thrown all her efforts into being an active and empathetic FLOTUS.
Fascinating find on the fabric -- I wish the picture could get us in a little closer! Mrs. O wears clothing with great details.
I don't think those are 3/4-length jeans, though I wouldn't know for sure. My guess is that they're hiked up because she's on a swing. (Such a cute picture)
Here's a closer graphic of the fabric:
http://konabay.com/mm5/graphics/00000001/EMPE-23-BLACKL.jpg
I had thought those were bunches of grapes, but in fact they're flowers.
Hats off to Christine Thresh. Great style, poise and style innovation!
Mrs. T, I initally thought they were grapes when I saw the dress, too, but realized it was a wisteria print. I'm still not much of a fan of it, but I can see where it fits Mrs. O's style aesthetic!
I thought it was bunches of grapes at first, too!
I like the print very much, but I'm not sure I'd be brave enough to wear that dress. It reminded me of a style that was popular in the 80s when I was in high school (now I'm giving away my age!), and frankly, I was happy to see those cotton dresses go away.
But if that print were in a skirt? I'd be right there. In fact, hmmm...I wonder if it's worth breaking out the ol' sewing machine and trying to track some of those Kona Bay patterns down myself!