Shopping Mrs. O's Style

 

We were window shopping at theoutnet.com, and couldn't help but notice several pieces from Mrs. O's wardrobe featured at a considerable discount (though sadly, not quite considerable enough...). Still, we had to share.

The first is a dress that makes our heart flutter -  the rose print dress from Thakoon's Spring 2009 collection. The cheeky, fantasy-filled print, which features roses that have sprouted legs, was the result of a collaboration between designer Thakoon Panichgul and artist Laurie Simmons. Perhaps deemed a bit much for the first lady, Mrs. O wore a pixelated floral version of the same dress, sans legs, when visiting Strasbourg, France in April 2009. (In the New York Times panel this spring, Thakoon also revealed that Mrs. O's version of the dress had been a contender for the Inauguration.)

Next is another dress from a more recent international trip, worn by Mrs. O as she arrived in Moscow this summer. At the time, the linen blend coral dress by Narciso Rodriguez was paired with a coordinating coat by Michael Kors, concealing hidden details such as the cocoon skirt and exposed zip at the back. We are delighted to take them in now!

Finally, we also stumbled upon a dress that goes a bit further back into Mrs. O's wardrobe. Not yet first lady, Mrs. O was a guest on The Ellen Degeneres Show in September 2008. For the appearance, she wore a printed skirt, paired with a purple wrap top and trio of floral brooches. The skirt, we believe, is Hanii Y, shown as a dress here. 

Just a bit of fun to start off the week! P.S. Fans of the White House kitchen garden will be delighted to learn that the Office of the First Lady nonprofit group Fresh Farm Markets has applied for a farmers market permit near the White House, with support from White House chef Sam Kass. Read details here.

Update: We just spotted the same Thakoon dress, in size 8, on ebay, here.

Fresh O

Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton

Taken in late May, the photo above shows the first lady meeting the granddaughter of White House florist Nancy Clark.

Mrs. O is dressed in an orange skirt and cardigan by the label Hanii Y. The double layer cardigan is a different version of the cardigan Mrs. O wore on her recent cover of Essence. We love the bright, burst of citrus hues here.

Like Mother, Like Daughter

Image used with kind permission from Essence

Mother’s Day came early to Essence magazine, and we couldn’t be more excited. Their May issue features a beautiful, warm photograph of Mrs. O and her mother, Marian Robinson, on the cover. Inside, their first joint interview is a delight, with lots of new tidbits—including the fact that the First Lady has yet to redecorate her office. Mother and daughter share insights into how they handled the transitional move, their beliefs about raising confident kids, and their love of strong marriages.

The fashion choices for the magazine’s photographs are as refreshing as springtime itself. Mrs. O indulges her love of floral prints again, this time wearing a silk rose print dress from Talbots. The print is a watercolor style, featuring large lagoon blue and turquoise roses plus green leaves, both detailed in black. Over the dress (which the Talbots web site tells us is a sleeveless fitted bodice design with a pleated skirt), Mrs. O is wearing a tissue cotton Kelly green sweater edged in blue by Hanii Y. Belted over the sweater is a wide silver-studded belt by Sacai.

Mrs. Robinson wears a Dear cashmere sweater, her own layered loden green and white tops and khaki pants, and a vintage three-strand pearl necklace mixed with a necklace by Martin Margiela. The Margiela piece consists of large white beads partly interwoven with a dark chain. By layering the pearls and the Margiela necklaces together, Mrs. R brings a contemporary bit of sass to a traditional pearl piece. The reach and mix of fashion here is fascinating.

Talbots is a traditional brand, started in Massachusetts in 1947, and long known for the preppy approach to style, including sheath dresses and twin sets. There are Talbots stores across the country, plus shoppers can buy from them via catalogues or online. Hanii Y is half of the design team of Y & Kei; she draws on her Korean heritage to bring a streamlined cut and bold colors to her work.

And Sacai is a Japanese design house based in the Marais section of Paris. Having established its own niche market over the past 10 years, Sacai feels no need for runway shows or fancy press presentations. It is a fashion insider’s designer, as is Margiela, a Belgium designer so mysterious that he has never had his photo taken.

How did such diverse designers, of varying availability, come together here? The answer is, once again, the master of the mix: Chicagoan Ikram Goldman. She carries Hanii Y, Sacai, and Martin Margiela at her cinnabar lacquered boutique. By combining traditional American clothes with edgy fashion insider accessories, the message truly says, We are one. It’s a sentiment that both Mrs. O and her mother express in the interview. When asked if she had a Mother’s Day message to pass on to readers, Mrs. Robinson said, “Things are going well for me. For other mothers, I hope they can enjoy their Mother’s Day as peacefully and as happily as I will.” What a great way to lead into spring. Image used with kind permission from Essence