Influence and Inspiration
Saturday, May 16, 2009 at 11:56 AM Happy Saturday! While we await Mrs. O's appearance at the University of California, Merced, we wanted to share two pieces that inspired us this week.
The first is from Janelle, a regular on Mrs-O.org. Some of you may have already caught this in the comments, but we thought it merited a post of its own (which Janelle has kindly agreed to).
Janelle writes:
"The day of the Sojourner Truth event, after getting designer info from Mrs. T as to who designed the marvelous shirt dress Mrs. O wore, I went to Sophie Theallet’s website and sent a quick email thanking her for using women of color for a lot of her designs on the website. I got an email from her office this evening (I really didn’t expect a reply back at all):"
Dear Janelle,
I am sorry for the late reply, as you can imagine we have been flooded with emails lately. Mrs. Theallet is so proud and grateful that Mrs. Obama wore her dress for this very special occasion. We appreciate you taking the time to write us, it means a lot. Sophie has received much support from her African-American friends since being in the USA -- it means so much to her. Equality and Freedom is something that is so dear to her heart.
Our very best,
Steven for Sophie Theallet
We asked Janelle if she would like to add anything, and she replied:
"I long to see more diversity on the runways and hope that designers remember that there are women of color out there that do not feel included in fashion design. Even in this economy, a lot of those women are of means and are willing to support an industry that embraces them. I hope that designers also remember that there are millions following the work and fashion of First Lady Michelle Obama, and her influence on what consumers consider purchasing is powerful."
We find this all quite remarkable on a number of levels. As Janelle points out, the fashion industry has long struggled with a lack of diversity, particularly on the runway. It is wonderful to see a designer celebrated for embracing women of color, and in turn, to read of her appreciation for the acknowledgment. Janelle, our deepest thanks for sharing this!
The second piece comes from the University of Minnesota fashion historian Kathleen Campbell of the Goldstein Museum of Design. She weighs in on several themes she sees within Mrs. O's wardrobe, and the influence they may have on culture. One such impact is the potential "dressing up" of our country's increasingly casual approach to dress. We found this interesting as similar observations have been voiced by Mrs.Oers in the past week. Have a peek:
Outfits
Reader Comments (32)
@Janelle,
I have been reading your posts for several months and am duly impressed with your knowledge and warm spirit surrounding the topics of Mrs Obama's fashions and style.
Hats off to you for your infuluence for all of us who follow this blog. One can enjoy and learn at the same time.
I had almost given up on coming back daily because of the trolls, and whiners. However, I am back for good now.
Mrs. T.,
Thank you also for giving the readers some of the best information and delightful subject matter on the internet.
Your commentary on the dress of Mrs. Obama was right on the money. Mrs. Obama is so well dressed that every woman can look the same way with a minimal budget. I remember dressing like Mrs. Obama in the 50's and I loved it then and love the look now! Thank you for a great commentary on our First Lady.
Mrs. T,
I loved the commentary from the historian on Mrs. Obama's influence. Please post more in the future when you find them. My interest is growing in learning more about fashion, and I love hearing an educated person talk about Mrs. O so well.
@BooMama--thanks for your kind words, but I feel that way about a lot of other posters here. This is a very intelligent blog, and a lot of times I'm just a spectator and have great days just reading all the great thoughts presented here.
Trolls that comes on his blog to insult our First Lady, are paid to do so. Don't feel them, just ignore them completely.
Thanks for filling out our knowledge and understanding of all the wonderful designers and some of the details of the history of fashion. Makes it very interesting in addition to the fun and appreciation of all things beautiful.
I'm so proud of the University of California as both a graduate and a long-time administrator in Northern Ca. Can't wait to hear the commencement address today. This is a very new and unique campus and I know she will tailor her remarks to this population. I love the T-shirt they did to mark the occasion. Exciting!
Who is the Puerto RIcan designer that lady in the video was referring to? Not Ms Toledo I hope!!
Mrs. T - Thank you for posting Janelle's exchange with Sophie Theallet's design house, which is very heartening. I also enjoyed the video from my Alma Mater at the U of M. I appreciate all the educational aspects of the blog. Although I love beautiful clothes and have a discerning eye, I know little of the fashion world per se. I appreciate everything I'm learning from you, from videos such as this, and from all our lovely posters.
This blog is inspiring me to make more of an effort to look good, and I'm finding that it has a great benefit for me emotionally and psychologically. It really makes me feel better, too.
Hello fellow Mrs.Oers,
More international travel coming soon:
President Obama, First Lady will visit Moscow July 6-8, attend the G-8 Summit in L'Aquila, Italy July 8-10, visit Accra, Ghana, from July 10 to 11.
Exciting!
I look forward to reading this blog everyday!! The comments are usually uplifting and written by Ms. Obama's admiration society. I am certainly a member. She seems so real and so pleasant to be around. I think this feeling when viewing her in different situations is what keeps people coming back here for more.
Mrs. Obama continues to give great ideas about how to change your look and how to always look current and fresh. I hope she continues to have fun
with fashion and I'm sure she will.
Is Mrs. O's commencement speech televised any where?
edwina, I believe it is on Cspan.
You can also google abc30 and it will take you to a livestream.
Way to go Janelle!!!!!!!
Hey can anyone tell me what time the commencement starts? I know its on the west coast so it will be late ET
New Pictureson Getty. FLOTUS is wearing a black dress, so pretty
I think it is the Michael Kors portrait dress?
She looks great. Yahoo have different pictures from Getty as well
@Nicole,
It's on now at:
abclocal(dot)go(dot)com/kfsn/livenow?id=6816376, as well as www(dot)ucmerced(dot)com. Procession just started.
CNN and C-span to cover her speech live as well.
This makes me remember my graduation, and inspires me to continue my education and go to med school.
I am swooning because I will be on a mission trip in Ghana when they are there. Somebody please pick me up off the floor. Oh-wee baby oh-wee. I am just over the rainbow right now.
O-Lover, OOOOOOOOOOOO u so lucky, enjoy it
Live stream on the grad!
http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/livenow?id=6816596
Thanks Janelle
I learned about Sophie Theallet from reading about Mrs. O and fashion... before she wore the Theallet dress. I read a former model's essay on the Oscar de la Renta flap, at a blog, avidly reading all the original comments. It's titled: 'Whites-Only' Designers Reap What They 'Sew' with Mrs. O?
You can read it here, (and do read it, it's fascinating!) at Huffington Post: http://tinyurl.com/d4pckv . (Have to mention, it was first posted at a political blog! -- where the discussion of racism does fit.) The article cites statistics on the absence of models of color.
From comments on Anderson's original essay, I was led to Sophie Theallet's web site and this picture: http://www.sophietheallet.com/ . If that doesn't take your breath away, what will? Clicking takes you through to a page of slide shows of Theallet collections. Spring/summer 2009 is the show with 100 percent black models. Clicking on the top left picture, starts a slide show, continued by clicking the picture at your pace. It's like watching a dream of equal access come true - the models have a wide pallette of skin tones, including the darkest skin tones.
With all the above said - the Sophie Theallet dress is one example that we cannot all imitate. At $1,925... most of us will find it beyond our reach. I still salute Mrs. O's willingness to frequently wear reasonably priced clothing, and her impeccable taste.
As Kathleen Campbel said the change in design is 10 years old! Women changed as I modeled womanhood of wearing dresses & being powerful I diverse not to be boxed into getting acceptance but using everything as Self Expression! Michelle Obama is the fruit of Rose Prophecy;a woman going on the cross of ignornae of man & changing the world from imbalance to Power Balance of man & woman; man & god!It is not the way we dress that affects us; it is who we are & how we feel about our Self Identity that affects the way we dress!Being Universal allows us to express univerality in all medium of the way we dress to the way we think and act creating a loved world that is safe for we feel a part of it not apart from it! Michelle is a whole person!
Alysa - thanks for the link to the Theallet site. Fabulous music!
i never thought that this day would be so sweet, a black president and first lady, to watch the change in attitude, in all phases of my life... the impact upon me with a 1st lady that represented the style and fashion sense and direction of the women that i grew up with, M.O. is not an anomaly; she represents the women of color that i modeled after, whom created fashion in a world that didn't even recognize that we existed, that is shocked at the originality in choice of color style and influence that we weld, i am just wallowing in the joy
@Rose,
Yes, someone even put a link up to the CD that had the music, but I've long lost it. Very interesting looking artist.
@Willow
Some very pale people are cheering along with you, (just call us light). Until we're all recognized for our worth and contributions, none of us truly has value. Hooray for diversity and originality!
To Mrs. T. and Janelle...thank you for your delightful commentary. It's people like you who keep the grace, poise, and influence of Mrs. O in both mind, body, and spirit alive. Happy Saturday! :)
http://cafefashionista.blogspot.com
Thank you, thank you, thank you:For the Sophie Theallet site. My soul is rejoicing and I feel joy and peace. I only wish that my mother, grandmother and dear aunts were alive to witness this experience with me. They were my role models when the cover of Vogue and other elite magazines could not and would not embrace our shades of beauty. Thank God for the stong, loving and confident women that encouraged little girls like myself that I am beautiful and helped to shape and mold the woman that I am today. Michelle's cover on Vogue makes my heart happy.
I could not make the Sophie Theallet site work so I could see the models. I got a full show of 33 models wearing truly wonderful creations at this site.
http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/S2009RTW-STHEALLET
And every single model was a shade darker than white. How gorgeous. What a victory!
Go for it Joane...Medicine could use all the great, compassionate minds it can attract - best wishes!
As I said when Janelle was kind enough to share her email from Sophie Theallet's office on a previous thread, I'm so grateful that she shared it with us! There's something very endearing about the excitement that comes through the email. Excitement I think we can all share. Every statement, however tiny, makes a difference, every day, and we all have to keep making that difference.
Loved the clip of Kathleen Campbell talking about Mrs Obama's wardrobe and ethos. I'm delighted, too, that she also thinks Mrs O is completely in charge of her fashion choices.
Isn't it lovely Willow?!
Mrs. Obama is a stunning woman no matter what she wears-whether she is out on the town or gardening at the White House, she makes a statement of class, elegance, and grace.