Thakoon, A Favorite Designer of Michelle Obama, Now Available at Target..

Thakoon Panichgul, a favorite designer of First Lady Elect Michelle Obama is now available at Target through January 31st. The Thakoon for Target line has a bunch of fun prints available to mix and match, and cool greens and blues just in time for spring.

Michelle Obama in Thakoon during the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
Check out Thakoon's entire line for Target here.

Barack: "Michelle Grounds Me..."

Interest in Michelle Obama Show No Signs of Slowing Down..

Photo courtesy of Whitney M. Young Magnet High School

A Whitney M. Young Magnet High School Dolphin is going to the White House.  Since Barack Obama’s election as president in November, the city has been buzzing with possibilities.

Will Obama truly be the president of change? Will he help education? Will he boost the chances of Chicago getting the Summer Olympics in 2016?  However, at Whitney Young Magnet High School, the buzz is about one of its alums, Michelle Obama, who is about to become the First Lady. “We are so unbelievably proud to have Michelle as First Lady of the United States,“ says Rufus Williams, Chicago Board of Education president. “I don’t think we should minimize the moment.”

Read the rest of this article over at the ChiTown Daily News.

What Kind of First Lady Will Michelle Obama Be?

via USA Today
You could call it "Obamalot."  That makes some sense. The incoming presidential couple, Barack and Michelle Obama, bear superficial similarities to John and Jacqueline Kennedy of the 1960s "Camelot" White House — charisma, vigor, her fondness for sheath dresses, for instance.

But maybe the most obvious similarity is that many Americans are as excited and curious about her as they are about him.  "People will be riveted," predicts Donna Brazile, Democratic strategist and CNN analyst. "She is going to set a record in the amount of attention she will receive."

Read the rest of this article here.

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.

Click here to read the rest of this article.

Michelle Obama Wears Jason Wu on Barbara Walters...

Jason Wu Spring 2009
I first heard of designer Jason Wu early last year when I covered a major trade show for a designer faucet company for Hip Candy.  I knew right off that this kid was gonna be a major talent and do big things. Then poof! First Lady Elect Michelle Obama is wearing his dress on Barbara Walters! See? Big things. Jason Wu is just another young designer to watch (he's only 26..) as it relates to the First Lady Elect, so stay tuned!

More Jason Wu from his Spring 2009 collection below:




Also see a few new Pre-Fall (2009) looks from another one of Michelle's fave designers, Narciso Rodriguez.

Stevie Wonder's Wife to Design For Michelle Obama?

Stevie Wonder's designer wife, Kai Milla met Michelle Obama during the campaign and has expressed interest in designing for the First Lady Elect...

An Inaugural Kai Milla design for Michelle Obama (below):

See some of Kai Milla's previous work here.

Michelle Obama: A Dress Designers Dream...

Out of the 3 gowns above, Michael Kors wins it for me. He and Tracy Reese are two of my favorite designers, and I like the Tuleh design, I'm just not sure Michelle would go strapless even though she could with those fabulous arms and shoulders. Michael's dress has just the right amount of form-fittedness that Michelle seems to gravitate towards in her dresses. It's simple and stylish with not too much flash.



I honestly love everything Christian Lacroix did here.  It's pure theater though! Everything he did is full on drama and flash, it's a classic "Yes, I've entered the room" type style. I just don't know that Michelle would go for it. She's extremely stylish, but in a laid back kinda way. I think she could totally pull off any of these dramatic looks, I just don't know that she would.




Diane von Furstenberg. I love her laid back take on the white ball gown. It's refreshing and different. The suit is nice too, I think the color would pop on Michelle.

I love this white Peter Som dress. I think it would look great on me, but it would also look good on Michelle.  Keep in mind, the Obama's have much more than just the inaugural balls to attend, there's the swearing in ceremony, a parade among many other celebratory events.

Personally, I think Michelle would look great in Isaac Mizrahi. His silhouettes just seem like they would be nicely suited for her.  But my honest opinion? I hope Michelle chooses to go with someone fresh, new and unknown.
Click here to see the entire slideshow of inaugural designs for Michelle Obama.

Essence Magazine to Cover the Obama's in January...

Essence’s January issue is dedicated to President-elect Barack Obama, with essays and commentary from Maya Angelou, Bill Cosby, Chris Rock, Gwen Ifill and other notable African-Americans. The issue has two covers: one of Barack by photographer Ben Baker from a shoot for Fortune earlier this year, the other of an inaugural-looking Michelle shot during the summer of 2007 by photographer Jim Wright. Essence and Ebony are both planning special January coverage of Obama’s journey to the White House. Meanwhile, Vogue said it was interested in featuring the soon-to-be first lady in the magazine, but no plans have been finalized.
— Stephanie D. Smith, WWD

Monday Michelle O. Links...

Pearls have come full circle thanks to Michelle Obama.Can Michelle be a traditional First Lady?Michelle Obama quoted on her humble beginnings...
Did you miss the Barbara Walters interview with the Obamas? No problem, catch it here.