Target-ed Style

Images courtesy of Target

Fashion blogs have been abuzz with coverage of the new 136,000 square foot Target store that opened in East Harlem last week, with an opening party held Tuesday, July 20.

To celebrate the new store, exclusive designer collections for Target were revealed -- beach gear by Isabel and Ruben Toledo and colorblock knit dresses by Stephen Burrows (see above).

What's the tie to Mrs. O? Yesterday, we learned the designer of the "sunrise yellow" pantsuit the first lady wore last week -- Stephen Burrows. Now, how interesting that Mrs. O wore said pantsuit by Stephen Burrows on June 19, followed by an Isabel Toledo ensemble for the National Design Awards luncheon on June 21.

A coincidence? Or was Mrs. O, a self-proclaimed Target fan, showing support for the designers and their new collections? If the latter, what a fabulously clever use of fashion on the first lady's part. What do you think?

Blue Bouquet

Image by Mandel Ngan / Getty Images

The first lady returned home to the White House after attending a recital yesterday, wearing a blue floral Moschino dress and pewter flats.

We first spotted the dress in May 2009, here, but it's lovely to see it again in full view. Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Style on the High Seas

Image by Rogelio V. Solis / AP Photos

The first lady was back in the gulf coast today to thank the Coast Guard for their efforts to clean up the oil spill, and to help christen a new Coast Guard cutter boat. Mrs. O will be back in the region soon -- late this summer the entire O family will vacation on the Florida coast. For today's event, the first lady wore a sleeveless dress, featuring a space dye-effect skirt and striped blouse top. Any first thoughts on the designer?

Update: Mrs. O is wearing a dress by Peter Som, from the designer's Spring 2010 collection, seen here. The bodice is a tonal striped mousseline and the bottom is a layered shimmer organza boucle. Almost two year's after the start of this blog, it's still exciting to follow the first lady's ever expanding roster of designers.

For a better look at the dress:

Image by Lyle Ratliff / Reuters

Splendid in Isabel Toledo

The first lady wore a splendid pink Isabel Toledo ensemble, embellished with a stunning Erickson Beamon pin at the shoulder, to host a White House luncheon for recipients of the National Design Awards. Among those to be honored by the Smithsonian's Cooper Hewitt, National Design Museum, are sister-design duo (and Mrs. O favorite) Rodarte. Per the AP, the first lady called the winners "some of our country's most talented, most visionary, most public-minded designers."

In her own subtle way, it seemed perhaps Mrs. O was honoring design talents Isabel Toledo and Erickson Beamon too! On hand to see the ensemble, the AP describes it as, "a V-neck top, drapes of fabric at the waist and loose flowing pants."

One tidbit to share, pointed out by "Meredith P":  Upon learning that she would be seated next to Tim Gunn, the first lady said, "How cool!" And it seems the feeling are mutual. Tim Gunn later took to Facebook, writing:

"Hi everyone! I just had to get on Facebook and share the incredible day I had with you. I had the absolute honor and privilege of being seated next to Michelle Obama today at a lunch held to honor National Design Award winners at the White House. She is so stunning! I literally could spend each afternoon with her - it was such a pleasure!"

To see PHOTOS of Mrs. O's Isabel Toledo pantsuit, click here and here. There is a good deal of similarity between this pink ensemble and the black Isabel Toledo tunic and pants that Mrs. O wore to a Vogue/Calvin Klein fundraiser in 2008, seen here. Also to mention, NY Mag reports that the Mulleavy sisters of Rodarte were unfortuantely unable to attend the White House luncheon.

Play Ball

Image by Greg Fiume / Getty Images

First Lady Mrs. O was at Camden Yards in Baltimore today to promote her 'Let's Move' initiative, joined by the local Boys and Girls Club of America and the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities program. For the sporting event, Mrs. O wore white pants - one of the first lady's summer staples it seems -  with a blue printed top and sneakers.

We first saw this top last fall when Mrs. O shopped at a local Washington, D.C. farmer's market, here. Does anyone know the designer?

Update: Mrs. O was back at Camden Yards in Baltimore last night - and wearing an Orioles jersey - as the Baltimore Orioles took on the Tampa Bay Rays.

Image by Nicholas Kamm / Getty Images