At the Center of the Fashion Universe
Monday, March 9, 2009 at 8:21 PM 
Photo credit: The New Yorker
Mrs. O recently told People that in lieu of TV, "I read more magazines. The New Yorker is one of my big, sort of relaxing reads." This week's reading, then, will bring a familiar face (or three), as Mrs. O graces the cover of the magazine's biannual style issue. Inside, the arms debate rages on, with a piece by Robin Givhan (one can only hope Mrs. O is having a chuckle at this point) accompanied by a photograph of two of Mrs. O's young, talented designers, Thakoon Panichgul and Jason Wu, dressed in handsome suits and wrapped in an heirloom American flag. In her piece, "Baring Arms," Givhan writes:
"Because of Michelle Obama's affection for independent designers with their own eccentric vision, and her willingness to go sleeveless in the most tradition-bound environments, her legacy may well be to show women how to move gracefully from the insecurities of youth into a sophisticated and stylish maturity. She will have proven, once and for all, that a woman can grow older without looking old."
Further reflection on the cover: We're often partial to a good illustration, but have mixed feelings about this particular effort. Floc'h, the French illustrator credited, has captured the First Lady's likeness better than most have to date, but save for the turquoise sheath dress (a nod to the Maria Pinto design from the DNC?), these ensembles don't seem to reflect the style we know, love and faithfully follow. There's nary a brooch in sight for goodness' sake!
Style specifics aside, the cover's gesture does signal a larger truth. As Cameron Silver, owner of Decades, put it at a recent Friends of the Costume Institute lecture: “Michelle Obama is the current center of the fashion universe.” And if recent magazine covers are any indication - Vogue, People, O, and now The New Yorker - that's a statement hard to deny. Per IVA's suggestion, we also wanted to add this MSNBC interview with Gayle King that comments on the Robin Givhan piece:
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Reader Comments (25)
Notice, too, that none of the pictures on the cover features her wearing any sleeveless clothing. Bummer!
I see the French influence here--that green jacket looks like a classic Chanel one.
The first thing I noticed was the style of the clothing: NOTHING like what Mrs. O has been seen in, except for maybe the colors.
The sentiment behind the cover is nice...but it doesn't do her justice at all.
And Givhan's piece is ridiculous. I like what Gayle, Oprah's friend, said today in response to it on msnbc today.
http://thisweekwithbarackobama.blogspot.com/2009/03/michelle-and-oprah-on-o-magazine-video.html
I also hope David Brooks sent Mrs. O flowers or a note apologizing for his comments. Even though they weren't made for public consumption, they're out there and he had better have done the right thing and apologized to the First Lady.
Mrs. O will be in N. Carolina on Thursday...it's warming up down there, so I hope she's sleeveless. That should put the nail in this coffin.
The artist was definitely not going for a literal depiction of Michelle's clothes. Still, it's a fun cover.
OT- Michelle is travelling to North Carolina on Thursday to Fort Bragg. Her first solo trip to visit with military families.
Well, it's better than the last time the New Yorker decided to depict Michelle Obama, so I guess we should all be grateful that she's not carrying a rifle and wearing fatigues.
OH WOW
the NYKer style issue is one of my favorite reads of the season - and how extra exciting that the spring fashion issue features Mrs O on the cover.
I am spazzing w/ anticipation - it wont arrive until tomorrow !!
The center of the fashion universe indeed.
She looks like the second black member of "Josie and the Pussy Cats."...Uggggh....what a disservice to Michelle O...I mean really....what's up with the illustration? They couldn't use a pic?
Gee, I really LOVED that illustration, so I am surprised at the complaints. I find it so charming. I don't think the artist was trying to be photographically-accurate. Mrs. O wouldn't ever actually walk down a runway, so this is really just a bit of fantasy.
Anyway, I really love The New Yorker and was more than a little upset by their infamous "Fist Bump" cover from last summer (although I have no doubt their intentions were not at all to insult the Obamas)--but this makes up for it!! I am sure Michelle would agree and be very flattered.
TYOH the New Yorker does not use photographs for its covers.
The magazine uses a stable well known and respected illustrators for each and every cover - Art Speiglman, Maira Kalman, Michael Roberts just to name a few.
Many of the past covers have gained iconic status.
One of the delights of this publication is the surprise of the cover image each week.
@ Cass G: the turquoise dress is similar on THE NEW YORKER cover is similar to the dress that she wore for her DNC speech. Otherwise, you're right: the other two outfits aren't stuff that she would wear. And no sleeveless dress featured on the cover?
Overall, the cover's illustration is fine.
Love the New Yorker and Mrs. Obama! I think the artist has captured the spirit of her persona via the facial expressions and bright colors of the costumes. I do wish he would have shown at least one example of a sheath and those beautiful toned arms. But one can't have everything!
she has such a nice, trim waist...why didn't she wear something for the inaugural balls that emphasized it, rather than make it seem (erroneously, i now see), like
she was covering up some extra flab around the middle ?
The inauguration dress had to accomodate the bullet proof vest she was wearing. Remember the walk in front of the limo? We love the O's but not everyone does.
Gayle King quoted Michelle as saying that her happiness is tied to how she thinks about herself, and passing that sense of self to her children. That is a powerful statement and fundamental to a woman's well-being. Good for Michelle for kicking it out there and promoting self-reflection in women.
More guidance on FLOTUS: In addition to her visit with military families in NC on Thursday, Mrs. Obama will visit the State Department on Wednesday.
Really, did she have to wear a bullet proof vest under her inauguration gown???
The "bullet-proof vest" stuff is merely internet rumor. Try to find ONE definitive, authoritative statement that she was wearing one. You can't. It's all speculation, "could have been", "I suspect", "might have been", "possible".
Honest to pete.
This cover is so fun. I'm glad it wasn't accurate to Mrs.O's real wardrobe--that would have felt more like a personal attack than just a comment about how others think of her. The New Yorker does way more non-topical covers than topical ones, and doesn't usually illustrate know people, so it's a rare tribute!
could there be a REALLY subtle joke there about ALL arms being COMPLETELY covered? 8-)
And really, somebody said the Chanel jacket and the wrap outfit are things she "wouldn't" wear -- I think they're both nice enough ideas that I'd call them "things we haven't seen her wear YET". And even the wrap-and-dress has a Michelle focus belt!
Mrs. Obama was great as usual. But please - spare me for that hideous Oprah! I'm sooooooo sick and tired of that woman, I can't stand watching her anymore. I quickly find my off button when her sho is on. I hope she retire soon. It has nothing to do with race, just to make it clear. I'm just sick and tired of Oprah.
thanks, o-lover ... didn't occur to me that she would be wearing a bullet-proof vest under that white ball gown, if she was ... or did you mean, for the morning, for the oath and the parade ?
I saw a photo of her inside the White House on Inauguration Day, before the Inauguration. Having coffee with President and Mrs. Bush? The cost and sweater were off, revealing the sleeveless dress underneath. There was no sign of a bullet proof vest under that dress. She'd have had to excuse herself, take off everything, put on a vest, and well, you get the picture. These rumors are started by - who knows? The original question had to do with her ball gown and how it fit in the bodice/waist. No bullet-proof vest there. Jason Wu could have done better for her.
FABULOUS COVER (and there is no distortioning of Mrs. O...you know I have a peeve w/that!). Yet it is true, as other posters made me aware, that the fashions (with the exception of the blue dress) are not representative of her style...especially that predictable Chanel-ish jacket.
Funny, I got The New Yorker in the mail yesterday and my first thought was that this was a take on "Jackie O(nassis)" and "Michelle O" - melding the two of them because of their fashion status...I thought it was meant to be witty.