Like Mother, Like Daughter
Monday, April 6, 2009 at 4:30 PM 
Image used with kind permission from Essence
Mother’s Day came early to Essence magazine, and we couldn’t be more excited. Their May issue features a beautiful, warm photograph of Mrs. O and her mother, Marian Robinson, on the cover. Inside, their first joint interview is a delight, with lots of new tidbits—including the fact that the First Lady has yet to redecorate her office. Mother and daughter share insights into how they handled the transitional move, their beliefs about raising confident kids, and their love of strong marriages.
The fashion choices for the magazine’s photographs are as refreshing as springtime itself. Mrs. O indulges her love of floral prints again, this time wearing a silk rose print dress from Talbots. The print is a watercolor style, featuring large lagoon blue and turquoise roses plus green leaves, both detailed in black. Over the dress (which the Talbots web site tells us is a sleeveless fitted bodice design with a pleated skirt), Mrs. O is wearing a tissue cotton Kelly green sweater edged in blue by Hanii Y. Belted over the sweater is a wide silver-studded belt by Sacai.
Mrs. Robinson wears a Dear cashmere sweater, her own layered loden green and white tops and khaki pants, and a vintage three-strand pearl necklace mixed with a necklace by Martin Margiela. The Margiela piece consists of large white beads partly interwoven with a dark chain. By layering the pearls and the Margiela necklaces together, Mrs. R brings a contemporary bit of sass to a traditional pearl piece. The reach and mix of fashion here is fascinating.
Talbots is a traditional brand, started in Massachusetts in 1947, and long known for the preppy approach to style, including sheath dresses and twin sets. There are Talbots stores across the country, plus shoppers can buy from them via catalogues or online. Hanii Y is half of the design team of Y & Kei; she draws on her Korean heritage to bring a streamlined cut and bold colors to her work.
And Sacai is a Japanese design house based in the Marais section of Paris. Having established its own niche market over the past 10 years, Sacai feels no need for runway shows or fancy press presentations. It is a fashion insider’s designer, as is Margiela, a Belgium designer so mysterious that he has never had his photo taken.
How did such diverse designers, of varying availability, come together here? The answer is, once again, the master of the mix: Chicagoan Ikram Goldman. She carries Hanii Y, Sacai, and Martin Margiela at her cinnabar lacquered boutique. By combining traditional American clothes with edgy fashion insider accessories, the message truly says, We are one. It’s a sentiment that both Mrs. O and her mother express in the interview. When asked if she had a Mother’s Day message to pass on to readers, Mrs. Robinson said, “Things are going well for me. For other mothers, I hope they can enjoy their Mother’s Day as peacefully and as happily as I will.” What a great way to lead into spring. 
Image used with kind permission from Essence
Dear Cashmere, Hanii Y, Maison Martin Margiela, Sacai, Talbots in Designers, Jewelry, Misc, Outfits
Reader Comments (162)
I just remembered one more rule which Michelle Obama just broke: She had the audacity to touch the Queen! And the Brits loved her for it!
It is so wonderful to feel the fresh air of freedom blowing the old stuffiness away.
me: you are dead wrong. I am one of the under-bust, clunky belt "haters," but I also find plenty to love about Mrs. O's fashion sense. Note my comment above about her blue flats. How terribly boring it would be if we all liked the same things and were not "allowed" the occasional disagreement. Mrs. O. is human, like all of us...not a deity to be worshipped.
Dear people who think Oscar de la Renta is right to be frustrated.
Look, I understand that big name designers employ many people, that they're going through a difficult time, etc. I get it. BUT Michelle Obama is a woman who's got her own taste!
Hasn't it occurred to anybody that maybe, just maybe, she doesn't like their designs? Why are they feeling entitled to dress her? Seriously has there been this kind of debate before? Michelle Obama's role is not to be a free walking advert for anybody. Why making this such a big issue? I actually think she's not deliberately avoid them. She wears what she likes!
She's worn Michael Kors, Moschino and Lanvin. Big name designers. Why? she likes their esthetic. It's a simple as that.
Besides the presidency isn't over, there will be more opportunities for her to explore different styles and different designers. Also I want to point out that young/starting designers are usually quite flexible with their clients. Plus it's possible to maintain a very close relationship with them (as we've seen between MO and Maria Pinto). They'll make you feel like a star even if you're not a millionaire. I hope this is showing people that couture fashion can be accessible.
Fashion should be democratized. I truly think Michelle Obama's message is that feeding your kids with healthy food, making your own veggie garden, buying affordable clothes, being successful is not reserved for a select few. You can do it too, and it will empower you.
I find Mr De La Renta's comments disgraceful... The First Lady is not a doll for designers to play with nor is it expected for the First Lady to revive the fashion industry....
I understand that we have a younger, fresher,hipper first lady than we've had in years who loves clothes and people are excited about that.
I also understand right now people do not have the same discretionary income to spend on clothing as they once did and with celebs becoming bores, Mrs O is the best advertisement a designer and/or fashion in general has right now.
But to demand she wear this or that is demeaning.
I never saw designers speakly about dressing MRs Bush or chatising her so publicly.
There should be a level of respect here. She is not Beyonce or Madonna, If Mr De La Renta really wanted to speak to Mrs O about her fashion choices, a private conversation would be best. You don't play a media game with the FL.
Also if I were Jason Wu, Thakoon, or Michael Kors I'd be upset, these are american designers so what is he saying..
Anyway.. love the cover, both women look great and what a beautiful mother/daughter bond they seem to share.
and I agree with the other poster, some people just love to criticize everthing no matter what.
Mrs O likes belts, brooches, flats or kitten heels, I can't be mad at someone for having personality.
OUT FRIST LADY LOOKED LIKE HER MOM AND HER GRADKIDS LOOKED LIKE HER TO. I GOT THIS MAG AND ITS NICE TO READ SOMETHING GOOD ABOUT A MOTHER AND CHILD. I GOT A MOM AND I LOVE HER VERY MURCH EVEAN IF WE DONT GET ALONG ALL THE TIME. HAPPY MOTHER DAY I KNOW ITS EARLY BUT I WILL BE VISTING MY MOM APRIL AND MAY.I MISS HER VERYMURCH CANT WEIT TO SEE HER.
Something about that outfit doesn't look right to me. I guess it is the belt, which looks kind of Steve Urkel-ish. I notice she likes to wear belts like that with the cardigsns, it doesn't look right, and I think the outfit would be much better without it.
Beautiful!
Agreed.....she should lose the belts. I am short waisted and have to take almost all belts off coats and resew the loops them lower than where they would naturally sit. I rarely wear belts with blouses because like Mrs. O my shape is more pear than an hourglass. It's always good to wear your clothes and not let your clothes wear you. A little change here and there can do wonders. A tailor can be your best friend.
Now, having said that, this magazine cover is a vast improvement over the Oprah disaster. Oprah's peeps should take notes on how a real cover conveys real personality. We can see right here where our FLOTUS gets her strength from!
As for the comments here about aging, I do think the races age differently. It also has a lot to do with culture. In most hot climates/island cultures native women can be seen trying to avoid the noonday sun, not bake in it. I stopped sun worshipping in my early 20's and as a result I am now approaching 50 and can pass for 10-12 years younger. I also have three dear friends from the Philippines who are in their 40's and have the most velvety smooth amazing skin I have ever seen. What is their secret??? Does anyone know??
Those are such sweet pictures of Mrs O and Mrs R. Love Mrs R's layering (I am fairly hopeless at it) and I like the energy in the photo's. That looks like a brilliant mother daughter relationship to me. Nice of them to share it with us!
Would anybody have been upset if Barack had married a white woman, as was the color of his mother?
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