Jet Black Brilliant

Image via the Carole Tanenbaum Vintage Collection

A few weeks ago, Mrs. O gave a speech to the Joint Armed Forces Officers Wives Club in Washington, D.C., wearing a sleeveless green dress, accessorized with a stunning black floral brooch. It's a finishing touch we've seen the first lady turn to before -- a quieter take on the statement brooch, and a perfect complement to the wintery hues of the season. Our friends at the Carole Tanenbaum Vintage Collection have been kind enough to point us to a similarly inspired vintage '60s piece, measuring 4" in diameter, seen above and available here.

I'm also delighted to announce that the Carole Tanenbaum Vintage Collection will offer a second collection of Mrs. O-inspired pins to readers of this blog on the first day of spring. For those who missed the first collection, have a peek here. We are beyond excited to see what gems Carole Tanenbaum has in store for us come March 20.

Images by Tim Sloan / Getty Images

Dressed for a Super Chef Battle

Image via Food Network

We're excited to see First Lady Mrs. O this evening, as she makes a cameo appearance on Super Chef Battle (an Iron Chef America event). The episode airs tonight, Sunday, January 3 at 8PM EST on the Food Network. For a video preview, click here.

Per the Washington Post, Mrs. O will reveal the secret ingredient in the competition, which can be anything from the White House kitchen garden. White House executive chef, Chris Comerford, is participating in the challenge.

For the appearance, taped earlier this fall, Mrs. O dressed in a bold mix of colors, wearing an orange Liz Claiborne dress, topped by a aquamarine Moschino cropped cardigan, and a Hattie Carnegie flower pin from the Carole Tanenbaum Vintage Collection. Coordinating aquamarine pumps completed the look.

A Delightful Pin or Two or Three

 

Image courtesy of the Carole Tanenbaum Vintage Collection

Carole Tanenbaum, the curator behind the magnificent Carole Tanenbaum Vintage Collection, is one of the most lovely people I met in 2009. She is as genuinely enthusiastic about the first lady's style as we are, and the source for many of Mrs. O's stunning vintage brooches (including the Victorian sash pin that Mrs. O wore for the inauguration).

To end the year, Carole Tanenbaum has done something exclusively for the Mrs-O.org community, which just excites me to no end. She recently acquired a collection of 60s metal flower pins - of the John Lennon "make love, not war" flower power era - with Mrs. O readers specifically in mind. Beginning today, she's offering them on CaroleTanenbaum.com, in the "Mrs. O Lovers" spotlight section.

Each flower pin is made of metal and enameled, and offered in a range of bright hues and metallics. True to Mrs. O's propensity to wear flower brooches in clusters of three, Carole Tanenbaum is also offering these pins in trios. You can purchase one pin for $35, or a very Mrs. O-inspired group of three pins for $90. You can mix and match or make your own signature selection. In any combination, these pieces are sure to make a 'wow' statement.

Click here to peruse the "Mrs. O Lovers" Spotlight on CaroleTanenbaum.com, and have fun!

Update #1: Wow! There seems to have been a buying frenzy. There were 18 pins and trios when we first posted, down to only 7 left!

Update #2: We've just heard from our friends at the Carole Tanenbaum Vintage Collection, who are working to accomodate the overwhelming response for these pins! There are a few more pins that have just been put up this afternoon for a final go-around. All orders will be processed on Monday due to the New Year holiday tomorrow.

Also to note, the Carole Tanenbaum site does not automatically mark things as sold when someone puts an order through (orders are taken and then the site is updated manually). In the case of duplicate orders, they are operating on a first come, first serve basis. In the event that you placed an order for an item that was already sold, your credit card will of course not be charged. Apologies to those that this affects. The response has simply been overwhelming!

Mrs. O's Secret Ingredient

We can't wait to find out what it is! Read more about Mrs. O's upcoming cameo on the Iron Chef, here.

Sadly we can't use the photo, but it's a lovely one! Mrs. O wears a Liz Claiborne dress, paired with a Hattie Carnegie brooch from the Carole Tanenbaum Vintage Collection.

Better image via New York Magazine, here.

We Heart Carole Tanenbaum

We are overwhelmed by all of the support we have received today, marking the launch of Mrs. O: The Face of Fashion Democracy.

One such source of encouragement is Carole Tanenbaum, a preeminent vintage jewlery collector, who we interviewed for the book. "It always seems to me that Michelle Obama has fun with what she wears. And I think that's how she makes her selections - things that charm her, colors that inspire her," Carole said. 

Carole Tanenbaum's insights accompany a look that Michelle Obama wore for a campaign stop in Pittsburgh, PA during October 2008 (pg. 96-97), when the future first lady paired a J.Crew dress with a 1960s era pin by Hattie Carnegie, acquired through the Carole Tanenbaum Vintage Collection. The image above captures the page in reference. 

The Victorian rhinestone sash pin that Mrs. O wore for the inauguration, seen here, was also acquired through the Carole Tanenbaum Vintage Collection. Please check out Carole's support of the Mrs. O book here. And do peruse her simply beautiful and vast collection of vintage jewelry, here.