How Mrs. O Moves Markets
Sunday, October 24, 2010 at 9:33 AM 
Image via Harvard Business Review
For those interested in the financial impact of the first lady's fashion choices, you must check out this Harvard Business Review story. Throughout 2009, David Yermack of NYU Stern tracked stock prices of the first lady's favorite designers and their retailers. He found that when Mrs. O wore an ensemble by a given designer, said designer and their retailers would experience abnormal gains in stock prices. The result was an average of $14 million of value generated by each of the first lady's public appearances, revealing a new dimension of Mrs. O's power and influence in fashion. Incredible!
Update: This story has gained considerable momentum in the mainstream media, sparking a few follow-up pieces you might want to check out. Check out a fantastic video segment from Good Morning America, here, and another good perspective from New York Magazine, here.
Reader Comments (26)
Very interesting and informative. Thanks for posting this information Mrs. T.
PATRIOT GAMES
And where are all those "nay Sayers" and critics who were so ready to verbally flog Mrs. O for not wearing "designer" clothing, when all the while she was indeed! Only this time it was American designers, all in an effort to boost the economy! Ha!
Cheers
Wow~ Mrs. O is the new Oprah or at least Princess Diana!
Take THAT anyone who criticizes her for being fashionable! It's GOOD for the economy!! She's good for business. I love it!
FLOTUS, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Dr. Biden were in NYC today for Dem fundraiser. FLO wore her hair pulled back.
http://www.daylife.com/photo/0gxt5Dh66BcVq?q=Michelle+Obama
http://www.daylife.com/photo/03QldsI0QPfhq?q=Michelle+Obama
Better pic. I love the fitted dress, make up, and hair hair like this. Jill, and SJP look great too.
http://www.daylife.com/photo/0bOY7UgdcY7R3?q=jill+biden
Awesome!
@ Mia, thanx for the links.
Great article! Proof positive of Mrs. O's most powerful status and fashion forward style. I am really enjoying the graphic attached to this story as well. As an accountant and an economist who loves fashion, I'm thinking this is too cool!
Mia, thanks for the links, WOW, that black dress is fabulous!
Great photo Mia! Thanks! She looks fantastic in this....and yes, Dr. Jill and SJP do too.
Love it! She looked great earlier in the pink dress.
Fantastic! The first lady is helping out the fashion world during this time of economic crisis.
I enjoy watching Mrs. O's fashionable choices.... Today I wore a look inspired by her! A grey pleated knitwear A line knee length skirt with a very stylish grey but patterned turtle neck and kitten heeled pumps. The fellas were all over this look, I was so shocked! wow
Michelle Obama ROCKS!!! I also just saw pictures of the science whizz kids at the White House and one of the girls did the whole belted cardigan look just like Mrs O does. I was so tickled, but it was a wonderful tribute to our first lady.
FABULOUS ARTICLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Finally it's all written down in black and white what we knew already - well, those of us with some perspicacity.
And I notice that all the haters are conspicuously absent from this set of comments. Don't like the truth huh?
You go, Fatima ! Work it, girl. I too, have been wearing belts of late, previously they were a item that I never gave a second look. And brooches ?? I always thought they were for older women. Not anymore, I'm wearing one on my work jacket today and it looks great. Michelle Obama inspires me so I have no doubt that she inspires others.
Someone like Michelle Obama is overdue. A high profile woman that regular folk can relate to. Not even Princess Diana wore high street fashion !!
I am one of Mrs Obama's biggest fans, to the point of obsession. She is without a doubt my shero. She is a true inspiration in terms of how she has lived her life, education, family values, role as a mother, daughter and sister, her healthy lifestyle, her clothes even the music she listens to.
America is so lucky to have her. I can't lie, being a Brit, I'm jealous.
Hey Jestina (England), you stay right here and enjoy her like we (Americans on this site) do! And some say the First Lady does not do much? Appearently she's got power to move money!
Great article. Thanks Mrs. T! No surprises though. Wasn't just voted most power woman by Forbes?
This article cements facts plain and simple.
This is a great article. If this evidence does not prove that Mrs. O is a fashion icon, nothing does.
Thanks for posting this, Mrs. T!
There was a major uproar when Mitchell was voted the most powerful woman in the world. Ctritics were citting that marriage was not a ticket to that powerful position comparing her to policy makers like Nancy Pelosi and game changers like Hillary Clinton.
In their way they are right but based on the above statics this woman moves the stock market ($14m)based on a choice of outfit. If that does not make her powerful I do not know what will.
Keep on being yourself Michell and everyone will realise that you changed the world one outfit at time.Hahahahahaha
There was a major uproar when Mitchell was voted the most powerful woman in the world. Ctritics were citting that marriage was not a ticket to that powerful position comparing her to policy makers like Nancy Pelosi and game changers like Hillary Clinton.
In their way they are right but based on the above statics this woman moves the stock market ($14m)based on a choice of outfit. If that does not make her powerful I do not know what will.
Keep on being yourself Michell and everyone will realise that you changed the world one outfit at time.Hahahahahaha
Fascinating research findings.
Hard proof that Mrs. O is a fashion icon of the world! $2,700,000,000.00 is not chump change.
Wonderful as usual. All the women look great. So proud of our FLOTUS.
Fantastic article! Not the Most Poweful Woman In The World my eye! Yeah, right. They'd better get out of here with that nonsense. I am so proud of our Michelle......SO PROUD!
I cannot wait to tell my Republican husband this news!
LOL!!! Take that you uproar choir!!
Oh Debra - how do you do it? You are a very brave woman!!!
Congratulations' to First Lady of the U.S Mrs. Michelle Obama for making an increase in fashion revenues to a total of about 3 billion dollars...that is awesome. It also means that fashion houses had to employ more workers in all categories, so that means a boost not only to the economy, but to increasing the workforce. Isn't that wonderful'
My personal comments regarding Mrs. Obama fashion sense, it is individualistic, classy from evening gowns to simple elegant or casual styles to compliment her regal bearing. As a woman of the African Ark, you have done us proud. God bless you and your family and God bless America my adopted country.