Tea with the Queen

Photo by John Stillwell /Getty Images Photo by Stefan Rousseau / Getty Images

For her historic meeting with the Queen, we were delighted to see First Lady Mrs. O choose an ivory and black silk crepe dress by Isabel Toledo, paired with a black satin opera coat by Jason Wu. As many will recall, Mrs. O wore ensembles from the same winning combination of designers for the Inauguration. We cannot help but think back to the morning of January 21, when both Ms. Toledo and Mr. Wu were guests on the Today Show, exuding pure joy, excitement and gratitude.

It is wonderful to see both of these American design talents, heralded for their craftsmanship and artistry, brought to the world stage once more. Mrs. O's Isabel Toledo dress features an origami-inspired bow detail at the waistline. She paired the dress with a black cashmere cardigan by Alaia and a double strand of pearls.

In Basic Black at Ft. Bragg

Photo credit: Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images First Lady Mrs. O treated a group of preschoolers at Ft. Bragg  in Fayetteville, NC, to an animated rendition of Dr. Seuss's "A Cat in the Hat" this afternoon. The visit to Ft. Bragg was part of Mrs. O's first official trip out of Washington as First Lady. Earlier in the day she entered a Ft. Bragg dining facility where she had a private lunch with 20 military family members and Ft. Bragg volunteers. The First Lady was also scheduled to speak in downtown Fayetteville, NC, later in the day. (Stay tuned for more on that front.) Style wise, Mrs. O chose an understated ensemble for today's events: a french cuff white shirt underneath a black cardigan, belted at the waist and paired with black trousers. The most notable part of the look was the return of Mrs. O's black studded Azzedine Alaia belt - a gem of an accessory that was ubiquitous on the campaign trail, and one we're delighted to see back in the mix (also possibly worn by Glenn Close on last night's episode of Damages). Additional images, and a clear view of the belt can be seen here and here. P.S. We heart the lifesize Kermit hanging out behind Mrs. O.

Mrs. O: 2008 in Review

Mrs. O sits atop many a "Year in Review" list, including ours of course. To close out the year, we thought we'd highlight our top 5 Mrs. O style moments of 2008. And in the spirit of fashion democracy, please be sure to add in your picks too.  

#1: A Thakoon Finale When asked what made us decide to start this site, we always point to the DNC. Mrs. O's wardrobe through the course of the DNC week was a true inspiration. And no moment was greater than on the final night, when Mrs. O dazzled in Thakoon's floral Radzimir silk dress, worn with a trio of Erickson Beamon brooches pinned at the neckline. Thakoon and Erickson Beamon were just two of the new designer names Mrs. O introduced to the American public this fall. Photo used with kind permission from photographer Bill Burke, Page One Photography

#2: The Belted Sheath Wearing her favorite hometown designer and the color of the year, Mrs. O made a signature style statement in her purple Maria Pinto sheath dress as Mr. O clinched the Democratic Primary in June. While the stylish sheath dress deserved praise in its own right, fashion heads really turned when it was revealed that Mrs. O's waist cinching black belt, a regular accessory in her campaign trail wardrobe, was an Alaia.  If ever it had been doubted, it was now clear that Mrs. O was a woman with an astute appreciation for fashion and style. Photo used with kind permission from photographer kayakbiker2000

#3: Making History in Narciso Rodriguez Mrs. O's election night dress was quite the polarizing force. Fashion critics revered it, while much of the public expressed a strong distaste. No matter what your opinion, it's a dress and a moment we're bound to remember for the rest of our lives, one which will leave a permanent stamp on our social history. The designer of this red and black frock was Narciso Rodriguez. Mrs. O turned to Rodriguez for several high profile appearances throughout the campaign, and we expect him to a be a regular in her White House wardrobe as well. Photo credit: Flickr user Barack Obama via Jeffrey Katz for Obama for America / Creative Commons

#4: The Bow Debate The More magazine cover earns a spot on our list in part because of its backstory. While Mrs. O looks lovely in a punchy pink Maria Pinto dress, adorned with a purple satin bow, and complemented by her enviably toned arms, it's what happened behind the scenes that made the greatest style statement. Understandably, More was after a knockout cover shot for their October issue. In the midst of the mounting economic crisis, Mrs. had a slightly less glamorous, but more fiscally responsible H&M dress in mind. Ultimately, the two sides compromised, agreeing that Mrs. O would wear a dress she already owned, direct from her personal closet. On the day of the shoot, however, a new style issue arose: the bow. More wanted to drop it, Mrs. O wanted it to stay. A woman with a strong sense of her own style, Mrs. O prevailed. The bow was kept, adding a distinctly personal and feminine touch to Mrs. O's cover look. 

Photograph by Matthew Rolston

#5: The Face of Fashion Democracy We debated whether Mrs. O's J. Crew ensemble from her Tonight Show appearance or this H&M dress worn on the campaign trail in late September should garner our final pick. One way or another, Mrs. O's championing of high-low fashion certainly deserved a nod in our top 5. At just $34.90, this H&M striped dress, accessorized with a black patent leather belt, won out. If ever there was a moment that Mrs. O proved true style has very little to do with a price tag, it was here.

Photo credit: Flickr User Barack Obama / Creative Commons

And there you have our top 5 Mrs. O style moments for 2008. Though hard to choose, each one says something distinct about Mrs. O's style. We will wait with bated breath to see what sartorial delights Mrs. O will deliver in 2009, perhaps the most exciting to come in January. Here's to a fantastic year and our modern style icon in the making, our future first lady, Mrs.O.