Recently in Fashion Category
Taylor Swift in Rodarte. Photographed by Mario Testino for Vogue.
Taylor Swift talks to Vogue about musicians, fashion designers, and of course, guys. But who really makes her see stars? Political and charitable advocates Caroline and Ethel Kennedy (JFK's daughter and RFK's widow).
"The only time in my life I have been starstruck was meeting Caroline and Ethel Kennedy," the singer songwriter tells Vogue. "I got to spend the afternoon with Ethel a couple of weeks ago. She is one of my favorites because you look back at the pictures of her and Bobby and they always look like they are having the most fun out of everybody. You know, eleven kids, all these exotic animals on their property. I've read a lot about them."
She keeps the compliments coming. "Sometimes you see these people who are just so - God - so affected by all of [their success], where ambition has taken precedence over happiness. But when I meet people who really embody this serenity of knowing that they have had an amazing life - James Taylor, Kris Kristofferson and Ethel Kennedy...." She smiles her twinkly-eyed smile. "They just seem to be so effervescent."
Check Taylor out on the cover of Vogue's January 2012 issue, which is on news stands now. And yep, that's her pictured above - sporting a new look with straight hair and all - in a Rodarte blue chiffon dress paired with jeans.
Promoting his new, affordable Macy's collection in USA Today, Karl Lagerfeld, the fashion icon best known as the man behind modern-day Chanel and Fendi, dished a bit on Michelle Obama and Kate Middleton.
American designer Isaac Mizrahi is over the moon about Michelle Obama's dress choice for the State of the Union address. Why? Because she wore his dress!
Mizrahi said in his video blog that he thinks Mrs. Obama looked "exquisitely beautiful" in the dress, and that he was "thrilled" to learn that she'd worn it.
"It was the right dress at the right time, which is what fashion is all about," Mizrahi gushes about the First Lady's choice. It was "not left, not right; it was kind of a bipartisan dress," because it was purple, a combo of red and blue.
In the video, Mizrahi is all giddy Mrs. Obama's whole look, noting that her new bob hairstyle is "divine" and "really gorgeous."
Oh, and lookie here below. Mizrahi isn't the only one who thinks Michelle looks hot in purple.
Designer Isabel Toledo showed her spring collection at the home of the Swiss Ambassador in Washington D.C. Wednesday.
Toldeo is best known for designing the lemongrass dress and overcoat that Mrs. Obama wore to her husband's inauguration.
The clothes in Toledo's collection are, of course, totally gorge. (Check them out in the video above). We also love the backdrop of her fashion show, which is a feminine floral pattern done in black and white.
Politico reporter Kiki Ryan gives full scoop on the show over here.
Mary Tomer is the founder of Mrs. O, a blog following Michelle Obama's fashion choices.
Below she talks to Better TV about her new book, Mrs. O: The Face of Fashion Democracy. The book chronicles Mrs. Obama's style with photographs of her most iconic looks and commentary from fashion notables.
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Jimmy Choo is a bad mf.
First Lady Michelle Obama is the epitome of holiday sparkle on the cover of Glamour's Women of the Year issue (December issue, on stands November 10th).
Mrs. Obama is pictured wearing a sleeveless, Santa red cocktail dress and a chunky, beaded necklace decorated with two large bows. Of course, we had to know what stylist and/or designer is responsible for Mrs. Obama's fab look. Glamour filled us in: "She styled herself and wore her own clothes!"
Mrs. Obama appears on Glamour's cover, because the magazine is honoring her for her commitment to mentoring young women. Mentoring is very important to the First Lady, as she told Katie Couric, Glamour's new monthly columnist:
"I think that mentoring is such a critical part of the role I can play in this position. I see how little bits of exposure and big bits of exposure really change my girls significantly, and I want that for more girls around the country and the world."
On a fun note, the First Lady also showed that she has the chops to be a dating mentor. (Move over, Millionaire Matchmaker! ) Mrs. O's advice on men? Don't fall for dreamy eyes and a pretty smile, 'cuz cute ain't all that:
"Cute's good. But cute only lasts for so long, and then it's, Who are you as a person? Don't look at the bankbook or the title. Look at the heart. Look at the soul...When you're dating a man, you should always feel good...You shouldn't be in a relationship with somebody who doesn't make you completely happy and make you feel whole."
For more, read excerpts of Mrs. Obama's interview over here and then get thee to a magazine stand to pick up Glamour on November 10th.
Though Senator John McCain failed to clench the presidency, his run for commander-in-chief thrust his daughter, Meghan, into the national spotlight. Meghan is best known for writing the McCain Blogette, a blog recounting her experiences on the campaign trail with her father.
We couldn't help but notice that in addition to writing chops, Meghan's got some seriously awesome fashion ensembles too. As Meghan has pursued post-campaign endeavors, such as writing for the Daily Beast and talking politics on national television shows, she's brought her rockin' threads with her.
(A more surprising match? Meghan's rumored new BFF, reality TV star Tila Tequila, pictured left with Meghan, paired a floating white pearl necklace with a fitted black mini-dress and high-heeled bondage sandals to create a sexier version of Meghan's classic get-up.)
Meghan's got quite a voluptuous shape, and she likes to dress it in solids, especially black. Pictured left (blonde on the right) at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood, she paired a conservative black dress with an oversized Louis Vuitton black leather handbag -- not too exciting, but certainly very classy.
As Meghan continues to blog her way through life, we hope she adds a little more color to her wardrobe. At a recent meeting with the Log Cabin Repbulicans, she stuck with her all-black look in a fabulous brocaded suit. Chic, yes, but c'mon, Meghan. Aren't you trying to re-energize the party? You totally could have gotten away with this crazy patriot-on-crack concoction.
Quin Woodward Pu is an up-and-coming
Michelle Obama is often revered for her wardrobe of non-elitist, relatively inexpensive clothing items from stores like Talbots, Gap and J.Crew, but recently she has decided to add civic appeal to a new aspect of her aesthetic: her hair. The first lady debuted her new short and sassy new 'do Tuesday night at a White House event featuring country music star Brad Paisley, and paired a chic white dress with pink-infused makeup and ladylike pearl earrings for a sophisticated and polished evening look.
While this bob is definitely not in the vanguard of hairstyles for the year (see: shaved heads a la Rihianna and Solange), it's definitely an improvement from Mrs. O's previous style. This look is also a little delayed given that WAG Posh and Hollywood BFF Katie Holmes both lopped off all their locks like this a few years ago. Perhaps this is what gives her hair plenty of appeal, however: while previously only stick-thin, superfit movie stars with huge bank accounts and celebrity stylists could afford this risky cut, Mrs. Obama, who has aimed many of her sartorial ensembles to the general public with their lower price tags (especially with the, ahem, recession) and fuller-framed cuts, looks like a graceful "everyday" woman. Maybe this will inspire more housewives to chop off their longer manes, even without the upper-end three digit-charging celeb haircutters.
Although her hairstyle here may be some updo-hairpin-slickback trickery, she definitely looks more president's wife than soccer mom with this elegant appearance. Mrs. Obama's hair would have more personality if she made the decision to go long or short, instead of her mid-length, shoulder-skimming shag she has been sporting previously. We hope to see more of Mrs. Obama carrying off this top-to-toe prim and proper look!
Quin Woodward Pu is an up-and-coming
Sarah Brown, left, wearing a fabulous (and presumably rented) Graeme Black jacket with her husband and the Obamas. Photo credit: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images
What does British First Lady Sarah Brown have in common with Carrie Bradshaw's assistant Louise? She rents her fashion, girlfriend!
When Mrs. Brown wore a $13,000 blouse to an event during the G-20 summit, tongues wagged about how she could afford such a piece. Well, she couldn't. Mrs. Brown has no income and is not allowed to accept gifts or loans of clothing as First Lady, so she simply rented a few fabulous outfits.
So now the secret is out of the closet - just not hers. And we're not mad at her either. She's just doing what any fashionista in a bind (and a bad economy) would do.
Oscar de la Renta said all this bitchy stuff about Michelle Obama's style, like, "You don't...go to Buckingham Palace in a sweater." Not nice, Oscar the Grouch!
Some famous designers are ticked that Mrs. Obama chooses girl-next-door brands like J.Crew and lesser known designers like Jason Wu, rather than allowing the big wig fashion designers to dress her.
Martha Washington's "after" portrait. Forensic anthropologists used a1796 portrait of Martha to generate an image of what she would have looked like in her 20s. Inspired by that image, artist Michael Deas painted this portrait of her.
"This just in: Martha Washington was hot. Or at least hotter than we thought," says Brigid Schulte, staffwriter at The Washington Post.
For over 200 years, America's first first lady Martha Washington has been portrayed in history books as a dumpy, frumpy and plump old bore. Turns out, though, that Martha was actually more bombshell than bore, more First Fashionista than First Frump, and more Carrie Bradshaw than Edith Bunker. Simply put, she was hot to trot.
Here's a thing or two that most folks don't know about Martha:
- When it came to dating, George wasn't Martha's only game. She had another suiter, who wrote of her beauty and his hope to "arouse a flame in her breast." (Steamy!)
- Martha was a successful businesswoman. She managed the five plantations that she inherited from her first husband and negotiated to get the highest prices for her tobacco.
- Martha read chick lit (known as gothic romance novels in her day).
- Martha wore shoes that were considered highly fashionable in her day. Her purple sequined heels (below) would bring Jimmy Choo to his knees.
For more on Martha and her hotness, check out Shulte's Post article here and her online discussion with readers over here.
How does Miss America rate Obama's suits, Daschle's glasses and Blago's hair? Politico's Patrick Gavin checked in with her (Katie Stamm) at The Washington Press Foundation's Annual Dinner to find out.
Barack Obama looks as good in a tie as Jennifer Anniston. Almost.
Tall and slender with an athletic build, Obama has the frame that fashion designers love to dress. So naturally, the top designers have thought about - fantasized about - dressing the debonaire democrat for his inauguration.
Women's Wear Daily asked said designers to share these fantasies with the rest of us. And so they did.
See the designers' sketches of inaugural attire for Barack Obama here.
Vote for your favorite sketch here.
Read the full story in WWD here.
BTW, Obama had already selected his inaugural threads prior to the publication of these sketches. He will wear a Hart Schaffner single button, notch lapel tuxedo.
Dress we can! Michelle Obama becoming admired fashionista; Vanity Fair says she's among best dressed
Michelle Obama
Will Michelle officially become America's First Fashionista? We'll find out on Novermber 4th.
Photo: Michelle Obama in Donna Riccio with co-hosts of The View.
John McCain is a shoe slut, and he'll pay big money to get some. The Senator has been spotted big pimpin' Ferragamo Pregiato Moccasins, which retail at Neiman Marcus for $520.
Some other media outlets have poked fun at McCain for his high fashion expenditure, but we won't go there. We understand that like food, water, air and sex (uh... not the premarital kind, of course), fabulous shoes are a basic human need. As Carrie Bradshaw, esteemed lobbyist for the right to Choos, once said, "Sometimes you need really special shoes!"
So to John McCain, we say, "Go 'head, sole brother!"
Shoe ho in Ferragamo. Photo credit: The Huffington Post.
When it comes to telling you about cool stuff we got to do, well, let's just say that sometimes we're fashionably late. A couple weeks ago, polichick and handbag designer Margo Schlossberg of Kura Design invited us to preview her new line at a fashion show in Washington, D.C. She promised a good show, and said that her bags would stop traffick.
Indeed they did.
Margo was participating in the Stop Traffick with Fashion show to help raise money for Charity Network, Inc., a humanitarian initiative that works to stop child trafficking. Child trafficking forces children into sexual, domestic, sweatshop and field labor. Margo wants to help stop this horrible crime.
You should check out Margo's Kura Design handbags over here. Why? Because handbags that fight dirt bags are alway in.
Here's Meghan McCain, dressed to impress at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner back in April. Will she wear a similar style to the Inaugural Balls in January or will the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner be the closest she ever comes to Inaugural Ball like festivities? Stay tuned to find out on November 4th.
Hoping to make a fashion statement, a 25 year old Manhattan student decided to sport an "Obama is My Slave" T-shirt. Onlookers were offended, and some teenage girls shoved and spat on her. She was surprised by this response. (What kind of dumbass is she?)
She is now suing Apollo Braun, who designed the shirt and sold it to her for $69. Braun says the First Amendment shields him against the student's lawsuit.
Braun has designed and sold other shirts with anti-Obama slogans. The most popular is his "Who killed Obama?" shirt.
Braun says that he "can't stand" Obama "because he is Muslim." Obama is Christian, not Muslim.
Diane von Furstenberg walks the runway at her Fall 2007 show. Photos credit: Style.com.
Four reasons designer Diane von Furstenberg heart Hillary Clinton:
- She believes Hillary will do the best job in the White House.
- She thinks Hillary is intelligent.
- She thinks Hillary has both a "micro and macro" management style.
- She thinks Hillary "truly cares."
Four reasons we heart Diane von Furstenberg:
Photo credit, all four photos: Bergdorf Goodman.
Top left: Bow Shoulder Dress in macaroon (green)/cream stripes with pink/taupe/yellow abstract floral print.
$575. Top right: Printed Chiffon Top in macaroon with cream stripes. Sabrina neckline; red/yellow/purple smocked top. Sleeveless. Pleated front. 100% silk. $198. Bottom left: Printed Cover- Up in fuchsia/orange/white abstract coral print.V neckline; keyhole front with bow. Three-quarter sleeves. $195. Bottom right: Stone Print Wrap Cover-Up in black/white/tan abstract stone print. V neckline; cap sleeves. Surplice bodice with tie. $210. All by Diane von Furstenberg and available at Bergdorf Goodman.
Mikhail Gorbachev and his pet Louie.
Former leader of the former Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, knows the power of a hot handbag. He appeared in a recent advertisement for Louis Vuitton, seated next to a Louis Vuitton bag in a limo.
The ad has caused drama, because of a Russian magazine poking out of the open bag. The headline of the magazine (when tranlated from Russian to English) says, "The Murder of Litvinenko: They Wanted to Give Up the Suspect for $7,000."
Litvinenko is Alexander V. Litvinenko, the former KGB spy who died last Novermber after being poisoned with a radioactive material. On his deathbed, Litvinenko said that President Vladimir V. Putin was behind his poisoning. British officials later charged Andrei K. Lugovoi, an associate of Putin, with the crime.
So the drama is all about whether the magazine was placed in the ad on purpose, and if so, what does it mean? Louis Vuitton, its ad agency Ogilvy & Mather, and a representative for Gorbachev all deny that the magazine placement was intentional or designed to send a message.
Not everyone is buying their story though. As one observer told the New York Times, "In an industry where sesame seeds are hand-placed on a hamburger bun by food technicians before a shot, one would reasonably assume that this was not something that happened by chance. Ads like these get art-directed to the very millimeter and airbrushed so that the advertiser gets exactly what they want.”
Come on, Louis Vuitton. We may be polichicks, but we're not dumb broads.
Hearing about all of the festivities celebrating the U.S. Navy's 232nd birthday led us to do a little navy inspired shopping. Why not? We like blue.
And oh! Look what we found! The Uptown Patent Bag by Yves Saint Laurent. And by patent, we mean gorgeous navy patent! How cool is that?
We love the polished look of the navy patent against the gold tone frame and hardware. Do we love the $1,895.00 price tag? Not so much... but we could be convinced.
The Navy may be tough, but this bag is fierce!!
On a more serious note, we want to send a shoutout to all the polichicks in the Navy and other branches of our military. They bust their humps, risk their lives and miss their families every single day for our national security. And we can't thank them enough.
