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Designer Elie Tahari Unveils His "Michelle" Dress...

New York designer Elie Tahari invited retail buyers to his showroom this past week to unveil his latest sartorial confection: a $598 purple-floral sheath that he has named "the Michelle dress," after Michelle Obama.

The 44-year-old future first lady's immediate influence on fashion "has nothing to do with fashion trends," says Mr. Tahari, who plans to put the dress in ads this spring and in stores in June. "Her style is all about the woman being noticed, not just the dress."

After years of unsuccessful attempts to satisfy middle-aged women -- a high-spending but difficult-to-please demographic -- the U.S. apparel industry is rejoicing that it has finally found its muse. In design studios along Seventh Avenue and in retail strategy sessions at stores from Talbots to Saks Fifth Avenue, designers and executives are holding up Mrs. Obama as their Baby Boomer pinup girl.

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ConnectingTheDots said…
Actually, Michelle Obama is a muse of Generation Jones, born 1954 to 1965, in-between Baby Boomers and Generation X. Check it out via Google or Wikipedia and you’ll see that there is lots of big support from top national journalists for the concept and name Generation Jones, including from many major political figures who pointed out the big impact of Joneser voters in the recent U.S. election. Trend Agitator Debra Stevenson is a key fashion maven who has picked up on the interest in Generation Jones within the fashion industry: http://theskylinestudios.typepad.com/debra_stevenson/tracking_generation_jones/

Here’s another look at GenJones in fashion context:
http://blogs.news.com.au/fullychic/index.php/news/comments/the_mutton_conundrum_why_do_some_women_feel_theyre_past_their_fashion_use_b/
December 12, 2008 at 7:41 AM
Glam Gal said…
As image consutlants for women over 40 we love Eli Tahari clothes and often dress our clients in this designer.

Michelle is fab role model for women in midlife.

Deborah and JoJami
The Glam Gals
www.fabulousafter40.com
December 12, 2008 at 10:11 AM
Angelique said…
Tahari is one of my favorite suit designers.
December 12, 2008 at 3:10 PM
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