Moments of Mourning

Images by Alex Wong / Getty Images

The President and First Lady traveled to Arizona this afternoon to attend a memorial event at the University of Arizona Tuscon. As Mrs. O left the White House, she wore a purple tie neck wool coat with black trousers.

Landing in Arizona, the First Lady had changed into a dark plum skirt, black top, L'Wren Scott lace cardigan, low heels and pearls. In the past two days, purple has become the First Lady's color of mourning. As reader "Mademoiselle H" so eloquently put it:

Michelle is so fervent ... full of pain, deeply wounded, deeply hoping. The colour ... conveys something both icy and soft like the bruise, the moral pain. 

While fashion may not seem important in moments such as these, we should be careful not to dismiss it too quickly. The First Lady shows it can be strikingly powerful and full of message.

A Moment of Silence

Images by Mark Wilson / Getty Images

The President and First Lady observed a moment of silence at 11:00am EST to honor those killed and wounded during the shooting in Tucson, Arizona this past weekend. For the somber occasion, Mrs. O turned to a lavender Narciso Rodriguez coat, first worn during the 2009 inauguration, paired here with purple leather gloves and black boots. 

Ladies Who Lunch

Image by Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

The first week of the new year has been quiet on the Mrs. O front, but that should change Monday. French President Nicolas Sarkozy and First Lady Carla Bruni Sarkozy will travel to Washington, D.C. for meetings at the White House. While the presidents meet to discuss the global economy, the first ladies will have lunch. The key question: what fashion will be on the menu? 

The Kate Effect?

 

Image by Maria Testino via Brides.com

Since Prince William and Kate Middleton announced their engagement in November 2010, the world has been captivated by the young couple, now more than ever before. In the past two months, Miss Middleton has become something of a style setter. Her royal blue Issa dress sold out almost instantaneously. WWD ran items on her engagement photo ensembles: a blouse from Whistles, a dress from Reiss. The intense media fascination and retail effect reminds one of the early days of Mrs. O's style influence, when Isabel Toledo and Jason Wu made the morning news cycle and sparkly cardigans sold out in seconds on J. Crew.com.

In an interview with Vogue.com UK last month, Michael Kors elaborated on the similarity:  

"When Barack Obama first became well known and everyone started looking at Mrs Obama I thought to myself 'This is a very different, modern-looking couple.' When I designed the outfit for the Michelle's first official portrait no one thought she would wear matte jersey but she did. Past women in the same position had always worn a tailored suit," Kors tells us. "When I look at Kate I see a changing of the guard in what is considered elegant. She is likes to look easy but chic. I would liken her to Obama and Carla Bruni in that way. All these women are in situations where they shaking off the formal suits of their predecessors."

But I'm curious, what do you think? Is there similarity? Will Kate Middleton have the same kind of style influence that Mrs. O has had? Thoughts please! 

The New Obama? [Vogue UK]

January Gems

Our friends at Carole Tanenbaum Vintage SeleCT have a great selection of gems for January, which are a fabulous way to add a little sparkle to your New Year. You can find this darling bow pin, as well as the full selection of vintage treats HERE. Check back on the first Friday of each month for a new selection from Carole Tanenbaum Vintage SeleCT. Enjoy!