Image used with kind permission from Erickson Beamon / Showroom Seven New York
While fabricated stories about Mrs. O's jewelry run rampant - something just didn't seem right from the start - we thought we'd continue to highlight the true classics. The brooch that started it all. It was this starburst in turquoise and silver that first caught our eye and will be forever synonymous with the night Mrs. O took the stage of the 2008 Democratic National Convention. At the time, it reminded Elizabeth Snead of the L.A. Timesof the rising sun in the Obama campaign logo; we tend to agree. A perfect accent to Mrs. O's turquoise Maria Pinto sheath dress, this is a statement piece we hope to see again soon. Credit for this stunning brooch again goes to Erickson Beamon, whose line can be found at Beyond 7 in New York and Ikram in Chicago.
Mrs. O has introduced a new name into her sartorial repertoire: Jason Wu. For her interview with Barbara Walters last Wednesday, Mrs. O wore an ivory raw-silk dress with hand-embroidered rosettes from the designer's Spring/Summer 2009 collection. In review of the collection, Style.com said this of Mrs. O's selection: "For the money, a fits-like-a-glove black-on-white floral tapestry sheath was a standout." All The Rage informs us that Mrs. O first became acquainted with Wu's line thanks to the discerning eye of Vogue Editor at Large, Andre Leon Talley. Mrs. O subsequently purchased four dresses from the designer's Spring Summer 2009 collection.
Update: While this account may very well be true, Heard on the Runway informs us that this particular Jason Wu design was purchased through Chicago's Ikram boutique per a special and top-secret request from owner Ikram Goldman. Check out the blog's latest post, featuring an in-depth profile on the dress and exclusive quotes from the designer.
We first became aware of Wu earlier this year when one of our favorite guilty indulgences, Teen Vogue, featured the designer in a DIY profile. The project was inspired by the hand-painted black and white print dress from Wu's Spring 2008 collection. At only 26, the Taipei native (by way of Vancouver, Tokyo, Paris and New York) is a young designer on the rise, continually praised for his ladylike designs and outstanding craftsmanship well beyond his years.
Another Mrs. O link - after enrolling at the Parsons School of Design, Wu interned with designer Narciso Rodriguez. This summer he was named a finalist for the prestigious CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Prize. In his official bio, the designer's ethos is described as this: "Harking back to the days when women were always polished and styled to perfection, the Jason Wu collection aims to revitalize the art and perfection of dressing with a relaxed and youthful attitude." It's no wonder Mrs. O has taken such a liking to his designs.
Photo used with kind permission from photographer Bill Burke, Page One Photography We love what Mrs. O has done for the brooch. With her fresh spin, what could be a dated, old-fashioned piece of jewelry now feels quite new and of-the-moment. Mrs. O chooses brooches that truly complement her ensembles, picking up a floral pattern or hue in the fabric of her dress. And how she wears them - whether arranged in a series pinned at the neckline or a single statement piece showcased at the peak of a v-neck - is always distinctive. Erickson Beamon is the jewelry design duo behind many of Mrs. O's most dazzling accessories and at least seven of her brooches. The trio of floral brooches Mrs. O wore for the final night of the DNC was the custom creation of designer Karen Erickson, and made specially for Mrs. O. We're thrilled to highlight them and all of their magnificent detail, below. At first glance, these pins may not be the likeliest combination, but against Mrs. O's floral Thakoon frock, they worked seamlessly. Up close, we're privy to unexpected details such as the cluster of pearls on the brooch to the left and the lilac and plum starburst of beads on the brooch to the far right. Sensing a vintage influence, we'd love to know the designer's inspiration.
Images used with kind permission from Erickson Beamon / Showroom Seven New York
While these brooches are one of a kind, more of your favorite Erickson Beamon jewelry can be found at the newly opened Beyond 7 in New York and Ikram in Chicago. And at a lower price point, Erickson Beamon will launch a new jewelry line through Target's Go International in February. (Thanks for the tip, Roberta.) Early reviews leave us eagerly anticipating its arrival.
In 1996, jewelry designer Carolee Friedlander purchased faux pearl clip earrings and a necklace at a Sotheby's auction. But these weren't just any pearls - they had belonged to former First Lady and style icon, Jacqueline Kennedy. At the time, the designer said she planned to produce a special line of jewelry inspired by the pieces. "Jackie loved pearls and we can all relate to that," Friedlander said. It was surely of great delight then, when Carolee staffers realized our future First Lady Mrs. O was a fan of Carolee pearls herself. They first noticed she was wearing the 16mm single strand of Carolee pearls when they saw her profile shot in the February 25th issue of Newsweek. How could they be sure? They could see the signature Carolee heart clasp at the nape of Mrs. O's neck. Mrs. O has since been seen wearing the same strand of Carolee pearls on multiple occasions, notably paired with the chic purple Maria Pinto dress she wore when it was announced that Mr. O had won the Presidential nomination for the Democratic Party in June.
Photo used with kind permission from Flickr photographer kayakbiker2000
From Jackie to Carolee and now to Mrs. O - we love when life comes full circle. Carolee has now begun to call the 16mm strand the "Michelle Pearls". The necklace retails for $50, and can purchased at Carolee.com.
Mrs. O joined president-elect Mr. O in an interview with Barbara Walters last night, discussing a broad range of topics from the president-elect's cabinet selections to family plans for Thanksgiving. The Inaugural Ball came up briefly, and on the subject of her dress, Mrs. O indicated she hadn't yet picked one. Despite all of the speculation, we're almost certain Mrs. O's entire Inauguration Day wardrobe will remain shrouded in secrecy right up until its debut.
Speaking of dresses though, we were quite fond of Mrs. O's selection for her sit-down with Barbara. In a white sheath dress with patterned black and grey floral embroidery and black piping at the neckline and armholes, Mrs. O looked modern, youthful and polished. Mrs. O accessorized the look with a black and platinum bow pin worn at the collar in her signature style. Click here for a closer look.
The black and white palette is reminiscent of another Mrs. O hit dress: the Donna Ricco shift purchased at Black House White Market and worn to co-host The View in June. We've also noted the return of the bow worn diagonally at the collar. Previously paired with a punchy pink Maria Pinto sheathworn for Mrs. O's More magazine cover in October, and again with the Thakoon Inside-Out Floral Dress worn for the first Presidential debate, the bow offers a feminine touch we're happy to see back in the mix.
Given the holiday - and that black and white was so prominent in many of the SS '09 collections - identifying the designer for this dress has proven tricky. However, we're going to make an educated guess or two. The black embroidery on white fabric was seen repeatedly throughout Narciso Rodriguez Spring '09 collection. He is clearly a favorite designer of Mrs. O's and may very well be responsible for this chic look. We also want to mention Isabel Toledo, who designed Mrs. O's ensemble for a Vogue-sponsored fundraiser back in June. The dress above is similar to Isabel Toledo designs we spotted while visiting Ikram in Chicago, and New York Magazinepreviously reported that the designer was working on future ensembles for Mrs. O. Might this be one of them?
Finally, we'd like to close by saying our heart goes out to all those affected by the tragic situation in Mumbai. Our thoughts are with you on this Thanksgiving.
UPDATE: We have a new designer name in the Mrs. O designer line-up: Jason Wu. Mrs. O wore an ivory raw-silk dress with hand-embroidered rosettes from the designer's Spring/Summer 2009 collection for her Barbara Walters interview. Jason Wu, only 26, was named one of the 2008 finalists for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. Another exciting and unexpected choice from the ever fashion-forward Mrs. O. An All The Rage article from earlier this month gives us further background. Mrs. O was introduced to Wu's line through Vogue's Andre Leon Talley; she subsequently purchased four dresses from the designer's Spring/Summer collection.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008 at 11:01 AM 
Image used with kind permission from Erickson Beamon / Showroom Seven New York
