Dress like Mrs. O (circa 2007)

Mrs. O pictured with Angela Vallot and Judy Byrd Blaylock in 2007; Image via New York Historical Society

It was during the Democratic National Convention in August 2008 that many (including us) first associated Thakoon with Mrs. O's repertoire of favorite designers. A look back at campaign events in 2007 and early 2008, however, would show that Mrs. O had worn several pieces from Thakoon before the abstract floral, reverse-kimono frock debuted.

One such piece is an embroidered ivory jacket, hailing from Thakoon's Spring 2007 collection. Mrs. O wore the jacket for a "Women in Public Lives" speaking engagement at the New York Historial Society's annual Strawberry Festival in June 2007. Supporting women's issues, Michelle Obama echoed a now familiar platform, saying: "Society, community, and family are only as strong as the health of their women."

In 2006, Thakoon Panichgul had been named the runner-up for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Prize (won this year by another Mrs. O favorite, Sophie Theallet). The flowers the designer received for his nomination served as the inspiration for his Spring 2007 collection, which used "weighty fabrics like taffeta and organza to create form, and employed ruffles and pleats to make delicate petal sleeves and layered rosebud miniskirts," wrote Style.com.

We were excited to discover a similar Thakoon dress, cut in ivory silk, with the same floral embroidery, pop up on eBay recently, and wanted to share. If nothing else, it jogged our memory about the jacket above. But perhaps one lucky Mrs-O.org reader will snag the dress? Details on the eBay auction: Size 4, "Excellent pre-owned condition", starting bid at $270, auction ending 8 days from now. Click here for more.

P.S. There is a great little exhibit on at the New York Historical Society at the moment, "Lincoln and New York". It's worth a quick visit, capped by a snack at the Shake Shack around the corner.

Image via ebay user ClosetCompass

Classical Music, Classic Style

Image by Mandel Ngan / Getty Images

Furthering her work in support of arts education, First Lady Mrs. O hosted a workshop for classical music students at the White House this afternoon.

For the event, Mrs. O chose a gray tweed suit. We particularly love the folded detail at the back of the jacket and a french twist for an extra dash of polish. We will investigate the designer and report back.

Update: Mrs. O wears a jacket and skirt by Thakoon.

A Fashion Forward Fan

Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton 

desertwind, thanks for pointing us to this new photo of Mrs. O, taken at the first World Series game this past week. It appears that under Mrs. O's World Series sweatshirt, the first lady was wearing a black and white jacket and blouse combo from Thakoon. We first spotted this look during the fall of 2008 at the first vice presidential debate in early October, seen here.

We love that this look was given an encore - one of our favorites of last year - not to mention the enthusiasm on Mrs. O and Jill B's faces, reacting to a big play during the game. Is that a brooch we see, pinned at the center of Mrs. O's blouse?

Ten at Ten in Thakoon

First Lady Mrs. O dazzled on The Jay Leno Show this evening, wearing Thakoon's inside-out lattice rose print dress, seen more than a year ago for the first presidential debate. Notice that Mrs. O again accessorized with a bow at the collar, though the 2009 version features added sparkle.

What fun facts did we learn about our first lady this evening? She can name all six Brady Bunch children in under 10 seconds, plus Oliver (we don't know who Oliver is!). She felt nervous to meet the Pope, the Queen and "her musical hero" Stevie Wonder. And on the first lady's iPod? Robin Thicke, Mary J. Blige, Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock and ... hmm, we know we're missing one ...

P.S. Thanks everyone. Oliver is the dog cousin, and Sara Bareilles and Sting are the other artists on Mrs. O's iPod.

 

Photo via Flickr users Barack Obama / David Katz for Obama for America / Creative Commons

Shades of Blue

Pool Image / Reuters

First Lady Mrs. O met with IOC President Jacques Rogge in Copenhagen this morning. For the official meeting, Mrs. O wore a skirt and jacket, both patterned in swirls of ink blue and cinched at the waist with a navy blue velvet belt.

Update: Thanks to a tip, we've learned that Mrs. O's ensemble is Thakoon, a Watercolor Gazar jacket and dress from the designer's Resort 2010 collection. Click here to see pieces in the same print.