Cascading Cashmere

Illustration by fabulous young designer Kaitlin Campitelli

In a recent interview with WWD, Maria Pinto clued us in on a future Mrs. O ensemble: "a lean black cashmere number with a cascade effect in back" purchased from the designer's Chicago boutique a few months ago. We so enjoyed Miss Kaitlin's last illustration for us, we asked if she would do another. With only a loose description to work from, we love the thoughtful and inspired interpretation above - sleek, classic and the perfect canvas for a signature Mrs. O brooch. The only question that remains: when and where will Mrs. O debut it?

Inauguration Day: All Wrapped Up?

Photo used with kind permission from The Chicago Tribune; All rights retained

There’s been heated debate in the last two weeks over what the lovely Mrs. O should wear to the Inaugural Ball in January and rightly so - we can’t wait to see what she chooses. But before she goes to the ball, there’s the Inauguration ceremony itself to consider.

Currently the hottest ticket in town, with demand for tickets vastly outstripping supply, it’s a moment that will live in the history books forever. It’s also a tough one to dress for. The average temperature in D.C. in January? Highs of just 42 degrees and lows of 27 - in other words, it’s going to be chilly out there.

As anyone who’s ever been to a winter wedding knows, dressing for formal events in the cold is tricky - as well as a great outfit, you need a killer coat to top it all off. So, with the eyes of the world upon her, where should Mrs. O turn for a winter warmer with style credentials? We know Mrs. O has often turned to Narciso Rodriguez at key moments - not least for her controversial Election Night dress.

We adore this beautifully cut coat in Mrs. O’s favorite purple color but we wonder, is the bustle detail a touch too fashion-forward for the occasion? Thakoon Panichgul could also be a contender with this classic tweed number from his Fall Winter collection. Mrs. O was spotted wearing a jacket in the same fabric on the campaign trail back in October so it should be well within her fashion comfort zone.

Looking beyond Mrs. O’s immediate favorites, other designers have some gems she might consider. Ralph Lauren’s Fall collection featured some great overcoats in the rich jewel colors that Mrs. O rocks so well, while Donna Karan showed classic cuts embellished with hints of sparkle or feathers. We particularly love Look 31, the “tinsel tweed” coat.

So what will Mrs. O choose to ward of the winter wind while building her ever-growing reputation as an international style leader? Whatever she chooses, we're sure it will be a lesson in how to stay bundled, warm and utmost fashionable.

Lanvin Lovelies

Photo used with kind permission from Stephanie Himel-Nelson of LightHearted Photography

We tend to focus on Mrs. O's sartorial pursuits, not because we don't love shoes, rather, it's just more difficult to find a good shoe shot. We were thrilled to come across this beauty and thought it deserved a feature. The photograph was taken August 6, 2008 at a roundtable event with military spouses in Norfolk, VA.

Paired with black leggings, Mrs. O wears a pair of black patent leather, square toe ballet flats from Lanvin. The tapered square toe seems to take inspiration from traditional ballet pointe shoes. And though difficult to gauge from this image, we believe this pair may also have a subtle wedge at the heel. Favored by celebrities like Kate Bosworth and Katie Holmes, Lanvin flats are coveted for their comfort and of-the-moment colors and textures. And at more than $500 per pair, they are a definite investment shoe.

Of note, this pair does not appear to be from the current season, which means Mrs. O has likely re-worn them from year to year. We were able to track down a similar pair at one of our old haunts, The Closet, a fantastic consignment shop on Newbury St. in Boston. If you're ever in Boston, it's absolutely worth a pop in: 175 Newbury Street between Dartmouth and Exeter Streets.

Photo from The Closet Boston

First Lady Face-Off?

Not since the days of Camelot has political power dressing so consumed the fashion press. Perhaps because for the first time in history the world has not one fashionista First Lady in place, but two. We all know that Mrs. O is well on her way to icon status, but in Madame Sarkozy of France, aka Carla Bruni, has she met her match?

The two first ladies have much in common in the style stakes - a penchant for purple, a taste for flats-so we asked ourselves: who wears it best? Both women favor regal shades of violet and indigo and both wear them beautifully. We love Ms. Bruni’s exquisite Hermes evening gown, but Mrs. O’s purple Maria Pinto shift was one of the defining fashion moments of recent times. This round surely then belongs to Mrs. O?

We’ve spotted both ladies out and about in remarkably similar pearl-grey coat dresses. A brave, fashion forward choice, but perhaps in this case Carla pulls it off with a little more ease. By keeping things minimal she lets the strong, clean lines of the dress cut through. Mrs. O added a fresh, relaxed feel to her campaign wardrobe with this floral Moschino shirt dress back in August. Carla kept her cool on a trip to Israel in a more tailored, golden brown option.

Both skillfully balance ease and elegance but on balance, we prefer Michelle’s softer look and simpler accessories. Finally, at 5’11” and 5’9” respectively both Mrs. O and Madame Sarkozy favor a flat. We’ve seen Carla in ballet flats, loafers and gladiators but the shoes of the political season are undoubtedly Mrs. O’s signature silver ballet flats, adding a touch of sparkle to the simplest look.

We couldn’t possibly allow them to go unrewarded. So by today’s reckoning, in our opinion Mrs. O wins by a nose, but who will be crowned the ultimate First Lady of Fashion? Only time will tell. In a recent interview however, Madame Sarkozy confessed that she “can’t wait” to meet Mrs. O - now that’s a fashion moment we’re longing to see.

Plans this evening?

In their first post-election interview, Steve Kroft of 60 Minutes sits down with president-elect Mr. and Mrs. O. 7:00PM ET tonight on CBS.

Update: Luxaholics raises a good question: does anyone recognize Mrs. O's deep purple tweed ensemble? We've done a bit of research and talked to our contacts, but haven't had much luck thus far. The group effort has been successful in the past; let's try to crack this one together.

The Chicago Tribune has come to rescue: "Purple and Pinto prove a winning pair yet again for Michelle Obama. On 60 Minutes Sunday, Obama wore the 'Eme' top and 'Rani' skirt in an iris color, designed by Chicago's Maria Pinto. The ensemble is from Pinto's spring collection, but rendered in tweed for Obama, a loyal Pinto client. The sleeveless element was retained from the original design."