Like Mother, Like Daughter

Image used with kind permission from Essence

Mother’s Day came early to Essence magazine, and we couldn’t be more excited. Their May issue features a beautiful, warm photograph of Mrs. O and her mother, Marian Robinson, on the cover. Inside, their first joint interview is a delight, with lots of new tidbits—including the fact that the First Lady has yet to redecorate her office. Mother and daughter share insights into how they handled the transitional move, their beliefs about raising confident kids, and their love of strong marriages.

The fashion choices for the magazine’s photographs are as refreshing as springtime itself. Mrs. O indulges her love of floral prints again, this time wearing a silk rose print dress from Talbots. The print is a watercolor style, featuring large lagoon blue and turquoise roses plus green leaves, both detailed in black. Over the dress (which the Talbots web site tells us is a sleeveless fitted bodice design with a pleated skirt), Mrs. O is wearing a tissue cotton Kelly green sweater edged in blue by Hanii Y. Belted over the sweater is a wide silver-studded belt by Sacai.

Mrs. Robinson wears a Dear cashmere sweater, her own layered loden green and white tops and khaki pants, and a vintage three-strand pearl necklace mixed with a necklace by Martin Margiela. The Margiela piece consists of large white beads partly interwoven with a dark chain. By layering the pearls and the Margiela necklaces together, Mrs. R brings a contemporary bit of sass to a traditional pearl piece. The reach and mix of fashion here is fascinating.

Talbots is a traditional brand, started in Massachusetts in 1947, and long known for the preppy approach to style, including sheath dresses and twin sets. There are Talbots stores across the country, plus shoppers can buy from them via catalogues or online. Hanii Y is half of the design team of Y & Kei; she draws on her Korean heritage to bring a streamlined cut and bold colors to her work.

And Sacai is a Japanese design house based in the Marais section of Paris. Having established its own niche market over the past 10 years, Sacai feels no need for runway shows or fancy press presentations. It is a fashion insider’s designer, as is Margiela, a Belgium designer so mysterious that he has never had his photo taken.

How did such diverse designers, of varying availability, come together here? The answer is, once again, the master of the mix: Chicagoan Ikram Goldman. She carries Hanii Y, Sacai, and Martin Margiela at her cinnabar lacquered boutique. By combining traditional American clothes with edgy fashion insider accessories, the message truly says, We are one. It’s a sentiment that both Mrs. O and her mother express in the interview. When asked if she had a Mother’s Day message to pass on to readers, Mrs. Robinson said, “Things are going well for me. For other mothers, I hope they can enjoy their Mother’s Day as peacefully and as happily as I will.” What a great way to lead into spring. Image used with kind permission from Essence

Europe's Sweetheart

Mrs. McD brings us perspective on the week's events from London: Lest there was ever any doubt, as Mrs. O concludes her tour and heads back home, the European press are declaring it an unqualified success. Notoriously difficult to impress, the British press in particular fell head over heels in love, exhausting their supply of superlatives in praise of the First Lady. From the moment she exited Air Force One in that chartreuse yellow Jason Wu dress, the fashion press swooned as one. Elle UK described this stunningly confident look as:

 "An eye popping bright yellow shift by Jason Wu perfectly offset with a black belt and long line jacket that signalled to the world, we have arrived."

Mrs. O rang the fashion changes throughout the week, moving from accessibly soft and pretty J. Crew separates to high octane Alaia glamour, and fashion commentators lauded almost every move. That asymmetric Junya Watanabe cardigan was admittedly widely regarded as something of a miss, but by then the press were past caring. As Genevieve Fox put it in The Telegraph

:

 "Our very modern First Lady is a fallible fashionista. She makes mistakes, just like the rest of us. And that makes us love her all the more. Roll on Strasbourg, Prague and Ankara and the next leg of the Mrs. O fashion parade."

With the British press in raptures, the French -- perhaps even more fastidious in matters sartorial -- rapidly followed suit, shrugging off suggestions of a "First Lady Face-off" between Mrs Obama and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. As Agence France put it; "Classic Carla, daring Michelle: to each her style" while L'Express paid tribute to "The Ten Style Commandments of Michelle Obama". What was most extraordinary however was the sheer magnitude of the interest in and admiration for Mrs. Obama. As many observers have commented, Michelle was without question the most talked about figure of the entire summit, at times eclipsing even the mega-star quality of her own husband -- as The Sunday Times reported:

 "The star was clearly President Barack Obama, whose calm and authoritative performance was praised everywhere. However, even he may have been upstaged-by his wife Michelle, whose poise, grace and style probably provoked more interest and discussion than the final summit communique."  

The affection, even adoration that shines through in the press coverage is also remarkable -- gestures that in a less popular figure might have been frowned upon were regarded simply as further evidence of Michelle's exceptional warmth, confidence and accessibility. So what is it about the First Lady that has taken Europe so completely by storm? Yes, there's been a lot of comment around the clothes -- and we, more than anyone, are fascinated by each and every ensemble. But it seems that in commenting on fabric and fit, people have really been commenting on something more profound -- the spirit that radiates through the clothes.

Intelligent, poised and considered, Mrs. O has used her clothing this week to send some powerful messages. Messages about hope, warmth and renewal. From that glowing yellow gown to the fresh, spring-like quality of her J. Crew ensemble, from the soft accessibility of her famous cardigans to the powerful lines of her little black dresses, her every look exuded confidence, strength and compassion. Hope was a watchword for the Obama campaign and it is perhaps because  Mrs. O radiated hope this week that Europe -- and the world -- fell in love. A one woman stimulus package? She just might be. To leave the last word to The Sunday Times:

 "She came, she hugged, she conquered."

The Week in Review

Photo by Stefan Rousseau / Getty Images

We honestly don't know how our President and First Lady survived this whirlwind of a week. Six days, four countries, and for Mrs. O , ten (10!) thoughtfully, often symbolically, selected ensembles. Let's recap:

Tuesday (Washington D.C., London) #1 Ivory tulle tweed coat with grosgrain trim by Thakoon worn over a black Michael Kors dress and paired with an oversize rose jewel brooch #2 Chartreuse Jason Wu cocktail dress, paired with a black Michael Kors duster and studded Alaia belt

Wednesday (London) #3 J.Crew Constellation sweater in ivory with beading and sequins paired with Dazzling dots mint green pencil skirt #4 Ivory and black silk crepe dress by Isabel Toledo, paired with a black Azzedine Alaia cardigan, and black satin opera coat by Jason Wu

Thursday (London) #5 Junya Watanabe argyle, asymmetric cardigan, paired with a full-skirted teal dress by Jason Wu and Jimmy Choo "Glacier" pumps

Friday (Strasbourg, Baden Baden) #6 Floral silk jacquard dress with black mesh trim and coordinating, reverse print coat, both by Thakoon #7 Black knit and ruched dress worn with black bolero jacket, both by Azzedine Alaia

Saturday (Strasbourg, Prague) #8 Cropped, double-breasted black jacket with leather detailing at the seams by Azzedine Alaia, paired with black trousers; floral Etro top and white blouse worn underneath #9 Fitted Narciso Rodriguez black knit dress paired with Azzedine Alaia black bolero jacket and black kitten heels

Sunday (Prague) #10 Oversize white bow blouse by Moschino, worn with a black pencil skirt by Michael Kors, black cardigan and studded belt, both by Azzedine Alaia

The genuine multiplicity that exists in Mrs. O's wardrobe was on full display this week. We saw her style oscillate between demure and daring, restrained and whimsical, vintage-inspired and avant garde.  Though already described as a style icon, which she undoubtedly is, we imagine Mrs. O's fashion sense will be known for many things, rather than one iconic image that perfectly encapsulates her style. 

She is a multi-dimensional woman, with a multi-dimensional wardrobe to suit. There was much speculation with regard to what the week would bring style wise. Would Mrs. O embrace a French designer as Jackie Kennedy had in 1961 when she famously wore Givenchy? Mrs. O would, wearing a dress and coat by Azzedine Alaia while in Strasbourg, France (as well as a cardigan and belt by the designer throughout the week).

Would she continue to champion her favorite American designers? Indeed, as ensembles from Jason Wu, Thakoon and Isabel Toledo were all sartorial stand-outs. Would there be any "high-low" mixing? While not exactly "low", more reasonable options from J.Crew again entered the mix, and more than held their own with chic sparkle. Might Mrs. O play it safe? We need not say more than Junya Wantanabe (though we are still practicing the pronunciation). The image at the top of this post, in which Mrs. O wears a black satin opera coat by Jason Wu as she walks into Buckingham Palance, represents our favorite look of the week - radiating a romantic, effortless chic from start to finish. We would love to hear your favorites please.

First Puppy O?

Photo by George Hawkins / Creative Commons

Politico reports that a dog was spotted at the White House this weekend. Could it be the long awaited First Puppy O? (We know this isn't Mrs. O fashion and style as usual, but we're partial to a cute pup.) P.S. This is not the actual pup. Just a very darling one.

A Statement Bow

Photo by Attila Kisbenedek/AFP/Getty Images

First Lady Mrs. O visited St. Vitus Cathedral at Hradcany Square in Prague today, wearing an oversize bow blouse by Moschino, a Michael Kors black pencil skirt and her signature Azzedine Alaia belt. The bow blouse, certainly the focal point of the ensemble, is from Moschino's Spring 2009 collection, seen here.

We've seen several sides to the First Lady's wardrobe this week - at times showing grown-up restraint, and at others, modern femininity. We love, then, that one of her final sartorial notes projects a delightfully fun and playful spirit. For the full graphic effect of the bow blouse with black overcoat, click here.