Thursday
Jan222009
Mrs. O's Designers Speak
Thursday, January 22, 2009 at 10:44 AM Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Thursday, January 22, 2009 at 10:44 AM
A Today Show segment looks back at Mrs. O's inaugural wardrobe and interviews designers Isabel Toledo and Jason Wu. In a heartfelt message to Mrs. O, Toledo shared, "Thank you for being so optimistic and for giving us all so much inspiriation."
Reader Comments (27)
Not only are the clothes lovely (and the gown was 1000 times better in person than on TV where it looked sort of fuzzy rather than sparkly and flowing) but the fact that Mrs O has jump-started 2 new careers says so much about who she is. She doesn't need the validation of the most famous designers to know she is well dressed. She herself is the validation of their talent. What a welcome change!
Congratulations on the "hit," Mrs T!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090121/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_fashion_poll_1
What a lovely video. I am happy to see both of them! And the gorgeous Isabel Toledo dress really did inspire optimism.
The Jason Wu dress is just beautiful. It's inevitable that others will say otherwise, and I understand that, but I'm just going to shake my head! Maybe even as long as I live. No doubt Michelle opened the box that was brought to her from Ikram, and peeked inside to see all of that gorgeous exquisitely detailed material, and then put it on and imagined swaying in her husband's arms as First Lady--and immediately said "This is the one." I cannot imagine a more romantic dress. She looked like a young bride.
You have to understand that this is her life, not just another chance to impress someone else. And that she is making history and being part of such an incredible journey. If you're making history, you're gonna need a long train! Even if it's hard to dance in. So yeah, I think Michelle is a romantic about fashion, just like I am.
Finally, when you look at how the dress looks on the front page of a newspaper, (like this one) it's just WOW:
http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/hr_archive.asp?fpVname=NY_ADE&ref_pge=gal&b_pge=1
Ooh, Chicagoan, thanks for linking to that poll. The picture included is terrific. And I also like the results, and the shout-out to this blog!:
"Michelle Obama's inaugural ensembles were more of a hit than miss, a new Associated Press-Knowledge Networks poll found.
Of those who offered an opinion on her inaugural dresses, 88 percent approved, according to the poll released Wednesday."
OHMIGOSH! OHMIGOSH! OHMIGOSH! OHMIGOSH!!
The Associated Press quoted me!!! Does this mean I am famous? Ha ha. They quoted someone at this blog saying that Michelle's inaugural ball gown was "lovely and so unique". Well, I just used my Google toolbar to highlight that phrase over at the Jason Wu dress thread...and just as I remembered, it was me that used that phrase! How awesome.
That was a great interview with the designers. Ms. Toledo brought tears to my eyes. I am so thrilled that Michelle is choosing these up and coming American designers. It's a great day for American fashion.
On more then one level I think her choices of color, design & the designers was tres bien!
Brava Mrs. Obama!
The ones criticizing I am curous how much is envy since they were not selected. Mrs. Obama is walking the talk with show the "can do" entrepernurial flair giving a leg up to "new" designers that have put their time, work & determination in.
I think we will see more of this to come in other aspects and I hope others will follow that lead!
To think that these two designer are suddenly in the spotlight - instantly - is so amazing.
And for Toldeo it must be especially sweet as this is one of those 25 year 'overnight' success stories.
Thanks for the video Mrs T - it makes me very very happy.
Thank you Mrs O for your fearless fashion choices and the knowing PR boost you are giving the American fashion industry - especially to those who are just as talented ( if not more so) than the big guns, but may not have the resources to get their talent out there on a bigger stage.
re-tell fl-michelle obama that she can use our peruvian-baby-alpaka-wool or our peruvian-bare-skin-dog to malia to cure her asthma & I need 35 mllns-unemploy to dev our 3.5 trllns-euros in natural & complementary latin resources including your 12 mllns-usa-unemploy..as latin investment advisor,journalist & other I would like to join you...sincerely.
I can't wait for the day when Anna Wintour realizes that Mrs. O has more pull in the fashion world than she does. I am living for it! Brava to Mrs. O and to Mrs_o.org!
lol...I think Frank is trying to sell us something. But I am not too sure what exactly!
To Mrs. T
-Check this out designers are already trying to make a mass market copy of Michelle inaugural gown. Like I said in one of the other threads, I'm sure there will be a lot of ppl wearing similar styles for prom (and weddings). But again I'd never seen a dress like that b4 (and I've been to a lot of proms and weddings)
http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/fashion/2009/01/22/2009-01-22_fashions_copycats_are_having_a_ball_knoc.html
“A dress like that on the A.B.S. line would be about $300 retail,” Schwartz says. “It could be in department stores anytime in March or April.
From the link above
“I think Michelle Obama will do more for the fashion business than any other First Lady because she’s a modern woman and has a different style sensibility,” he adds. “And I think every salesperson, every manufacturer, every retailer will want to look and see that they have one-shoulder dresses because of the exposure her dress had last night.”
There are two companies planning on making a Wu inspired dress. One company is planning on also making a Toledo inspired outfit. ABS is also planning to make out fits inspired by some of the other gowns Michelle has worn.
I am so happy for these hard working American designers!!! Our new first lady has truly done us proud, by showing that we has Americans need to support our own at this time!
I noticed yesterday that the Spiegel online catalog is already choosing outfits from their current inventory and putting them in a "First Lady Looks" section of their website. In my mind, they weren't even close to the original, but it does indicate recognition of the power of Mrs O to drive sales.
I could almost cry reading the links you guys provided and watching that video of Wu and Toledo.
The Obamas walk the walk and talk the talk. They root for the little guy, no doubt. She could get custom looks from all of the big-name usual suspects, but she takes the risk and goes with the little guys. This is so much deeper than clothes and fashion. It's about doing what we can to help each other out.
I love fashion, but I've never been this inspired by one's choices in fashion.
Thanks for posting this... thanks for giving voice to these designers... and thanks Mrs. O for successfully keeping her Inauguration wardrobe a secret! I know she will continue to surprise and delight us.
She alleviated careers of two not well known designers to the world. Excellent first lady qualities, promoting country's hidden talents. From the first sight I knew that dress was a knockout, she looked like a princess. I'm so happy she didn't go with a big name like, Oscar de la Renta.
I am very glad to see that Mrs. Obama is using American designers, but save the sparkles for evening. I liked that she didn't go for the traditional red, white and blue. On TV the ball gown looked like a chenille bedspread draped over one shoulder and draging in the ground a-la Carol Burnnett and the "Gone with the Wind"drapes. AND FOR HEAVEN SAKE WOMAN, STAND UP STRAIGHT!
First Lady Michelle Obama looked stunning in her Inaugural Day ensemble and gown. I was saddened to read that the Black Artist's Association felt the need to criticize her for not selecting a Black designer. It was their time to shine. How sad. There are other opportunities and Mrs. O is not obligated to single handedly select all-Black for everything. She looked beautiful and wore what she wanted to wear. Thank you for being you. It gives me courage to be me.
Someone criticized Michelle for not wearing a black designer??? I had actually not heard of this and had to do some quick Googling.
I swear...some people are never happy! It's not enough that she made her husband the first black president? Ok...she didn't MAKE him the first black president. But he couldn't have done it without her. Surely, she's done her part then.
Having read their comments, I find them beyond obnoxious. They are actually "making a formal appeal" to her office. Um...what's Michelle going to do? Go back in time and wear someone else? And she wore the fashions of an Asian American and a Cuban-American, so talk about diversity.
Ick, is all I have to say.
@ RJT, I totally agree, sometimes it makes me wonder if fashion oriented people really are living in a bubble?
Im so excited that Jason Wu goes to the school I go now...let's hope I learn half as much!
i meant went*....he does not go there now
(yea he has definitely graduated long ago....lol)
i think the message michelle is trying to send is amazing.
the opportunity for those who are talented regardless their race and where they were from.
n the interview is so touching
I absolutely loved both dresses. All Michelle needed were a pair of angel's wings when she came out in that dress...awesome!!
VOTE FOR MICHELLE FOR BEST DRESSED OF THE WEEK
http://www.redcarpet-fashionawards.com/2009/01/who-was-your-best-dressed-this-week_23.html
she is losing to Victoria Beckham
Doesn't Mrs O look good? The white gown was dreamy but the yellow inauguration suit is hotter.
http://tisamericanlife.blogspot.com/