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Twenty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, German designer Daniel Rodan has created a clothing collection of Mauerkleider inspired by the wall’s murals.
Photo credit: The Associated Press
Regardless of what your political leanings might be, the more fashion-obsessed amongst us are generally excited to have style back at the White House. Is the intense focus on Michelle Obama’s day-to-day wardrobe a little silly? Of course. But her high/low mixture of J. Crew with Narciso Rodriguez and promotion of emerging designers like Jason Wu does send out a positive message, even if it does err towards the more frivolous side of things.
So, in honor of Memorial Day (and, ahem, editors ready to kick-start the three day weekend), a few images from Vanity Fair’s pictorial on Michelle Obama and Jackie O.
All photos: Vanity Fair
From The New York Times:
Fashion houses are not yet in quite the same pickle as banks, though you might not know it for all the bailout plans in the works from American designers.
This week, signs went up in the windows of a vacant storefront in the Port Authority Bus Terminal on Eighth Avenue imploring passers-by to “Save Fashion.” It’s a teaser for a pop-up shop, supported by several city agencies and organized by Refinery29, the fashion Web site. It will open May 1 and, for one month, offer a rotating assortment of fashion at prices at least 50 percent off.
Philippe von Borries, the founder of Refinery29, said the idea was to create a stylish environment where struggling designers could sell overstock and be seen by a wider audience. (The store will include items from Catherine Holstein, Rachel Comey and Sue Stemp, among others.)
On Tuesday, a group of designers, including Philip Crangi, Justin Giunta and Malia Mills, met with the Council of Fashion Designers of America to propose a “declaration of designers.” Stung by steep markdowns imposed by retailers, they are creating a white paper of sorts for dealing with the economic climate and a strength in numbers response to the stores.
Then, on Wednesday, another group flew to Washington to reintroduce an anti-piracy bill to stop mass merchants from knocking off their ideas. That the group included Narciso Rodriguez, Maria Cornejo, Jason Wu and Thakoon Panichgul — all favorites of Michelle Obama — was no coincidence.
“These designers are celebrities in Washington,” said Steven Kolb, the council’s executive director. “People are going to be lining up with their digital cameras to photograph them.”
Cynthia Rowley beat them to town. Last month, she proposed to Desirée Rogers, the White House social secretary, the fashion equivalent of an organic garden on the lawn. Ms. Rowley, who recently moved some of her designs to domestic factories, wants to see apparel production return to the United States. Her idea is to teach the craft of fashion — how a T-shirt came to be from a cotton plant, for example — as part of home-economics courses.
This article ties into the WSJ piece on designers rethinking discounts. As far as the business end of the fashion industry goes, designers are at once on the top and bottom of the food chain: while their creative output drives the industry, in this kind of down economy they tend to be the ones who suffer the most financially. The most viable solution for their survival may be wresting control of the section(s) of their business that they formerly ceded to retailers.
I also wholeheartedly endorse Cynthia Rowley’s campaign to move apparel production to the U.S; in fact, I think a lot of industries that are outsourcing labor could follow suit. I’ll try to keep my foaming at the mouth to a minimum, as it’s a favorite rant of mine, but I’ve never understood the intense focus on illegal immigrants in the U.S. when nary a peep is heard about outsourcing labor to India, China, etc. For starters, the nature of most outsourced jobs (like tech support, production) are more along the lines of what 2nd generation and later American workers are willing to take versus the jobs that typically utilize illegal labor. Furthermore, domestic workers (be they legal or illegal) put money back into the U.S. economy, whereas an international worker will be spending money within their own local economy.
I’m not necessarily a huge advocate for government intervention in business matters, but I do think Washington could step in, if only in the case of offering monetary and tax incentives for U.S. businesses that keep labor and production domestic.
Is Hillary Clinton Channeling Michelle Obama?
From The Huffington Post:
Shortly after telling Turkish television that the fashion gene skipped a generation in her family, we’ve found reason to believe that Hillary Clinton does not give herself enough credit.
Now we’ve noticed something a little Michelle Obama about her outfit as she met with foreign ministers from Panama, Australia and Morocco. Perhaps it was the floral brooch, maybe the big, wide belt.
As I suspected, the spotlight on Michelle Obama’s fashion choices seems to be making everyone else put their best Choo forward. I’m a fan of tough broads in power regardless of what they wear, but Hillary’s gradual style evolution can only be a good thing.
Don’t forget: it was only last year when Clinton infuriated Anna Wintour by pulling out of a Vogue cover shoot at the last minute, for fear that the final result would make her appear “too feminine.” Wintour quite rightly pointed out that the “notion that a contemporary woman must look mannish in order to be taken seriously as a seeker of power is frankly dismaying.”
Now, I’m not suggesting that Hill stock up on fishnets and miniskirts, but why lose someone else’s game when you can beat them at your own?
Photo credit: The Huffington Post
Look of the Day: First Ladies at NATO Concert
First Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, and now Michelle Obama - suddenly first lady style is back in vogue.
If the recent NATO concert in Baden Baden is any indication, it looks like first ladies around the world are starting to step up their style game. Obama and Bruni-Sarkozy are clearly still the fashion forerunners, but Anne-Mette Rasmussen of Denmark also did well for herself in a fabulous yellow bow coat.
Get the Look!
Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama in a black Alaïa dress.
Haute Hippie’s Tutu Dress - $495
Max & Cleo’s Ruched Jersey Taffeta Party Dress - $168
Wet Seal’s Lace Bottom Tank Dress - $26.50
Mango’s Bolero Mini - $43.99 (orig. $89.90)
Tahari by Arthur S. Levine’s Satin Bolero - $58
Stuart Weitzman’s Muse Pumps - $298
Christin Michaels’ Lindsey Pumps - $144 (orig. $160)
Spiegel’s Pearl Cuff Bracelet - $29
Kenneth Jay Lane’s Silver Pavé Bangle - $285
Carla Bruni-Sarkozy
Carla Bruni-Sarkozy in Dior.
eDressMe’s Black Lace Mini Dress - $97
Forever 21’s Margaux Lace Dress - $24.80
Kimchi Blue’s Knit Lace Shoulder Dress - $39.99 (orig. $58)
SR SQUARED by Sondra Roberts’ Sueded ‘Swirl’ Kisslock Clutch - $41.25 (orig. $75)
New York & Company’s City Style Braided Clutch - $19.95
Anne-Mette Rasmussen
Anne-Mette Rasmussen in a Malene Birger coat.
Malene Birger’s Justinas Coat - $483
Anne Leman’s Estelle Coat - $222.80 (orig. $557)
All first lady photos: Huffington Post
