J. Crew Inspirations For The First Family

J. Crew. Above is a screen shot from the J. Crew website. They are very proud of designing the various looks for the First Family. So proud in fact they will be featuring the children's designs in their next fall campaign. Something tells me that the campaign will be very lucrative.
Malia and Sasha look absolutely adorable in their outfits -- the colors, the bows, everything expresses cuteness. Malia wore periwinkle blue and Sasha wore pink with orange accessories.

The outfit that J. Crew created for Michelle, she wore during the Kid's Inaugural concert. One thing is certain, the Obama family loves to dress up in color.

Michelle Obama's Inaugural Dress - Isabel Toledo

When Michelle Obama stepped out in her Isabel Toledo designed coat and sheath dress I smiled. The color was noteworthy and Mrs. Obama looked stunning, but most importantly confident. Whether intentional or not Mrs. Obama stood out amongst the crowd of neutrals. After all, it seems too coincidental to choose such a bright and hopeful color by chance. Either way she was on the mark. Naturally there are some skeptics of the Toledo design but it serves it's purpose. She looked sophisticated, as the First Lady should, and she was confident and capable of supporting her husband as he got sworn in as the United State's 44th President.

On closer look the coat has intricate detail that most lenses cannot capture. The fabric was a Swiss wool lace. Isabel Toledo named the yellow toned color, lemongrass, appropriately so, seeing as the confusion as to whether the dress was in fact yellow or green. Depending on the camera angles and the quality of photographs taken, the dress seemed yellow or a faint green.

Some bloggers felt that the First Lady appeared a bit matronly in this ensemble but I would beg to differ. I agree there is a fine line, especially when you wear such heavy fabrics and brocade, but Michelle knows how to look fresh. If the color had been a tan or another neutral she would have tipped the scales towards matronly, however she wisely chose a bright color and brighter accessories.
The First Lady wore Jimmy Choo 'Glacier' pumps in a deep green to accompany the lemongrass ensemble. She also wore a pair of green J. Crew Gloves.

Dr. Jill Biden has not been getting as much attention as the First Lady however she also looks great in her red coat.

Inauguration Weekend - "We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration At The Lincoln Memorial"

"We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration At The Lincoln Memorial"

Despite warnings of snow, as well as the bone-chilling temperatures, thousands of spectators crowded around Washington's monuments. By looking at Barack and Michelle Obama, always the sophisticated couple, you couldn't guess how low the temperatures had dropped, but pan to the bundled crowd and you can see just how cold it must have been these past couple of days during the inaugural ceremonies.

We often see Michelle Obama in dresses and skirts, however this weekend she decided to bring out the suits. For the We Are One Concert at the Lincoln Memorial, she chose another Narciso Rodriguez suit, this time in camel and black. She balanced nicely the role of First Lady with her chic independent style. There has been some buzz about the borrowed earrings that she wore, $17,000 Loree Rodkin. Some people question the extravagance of choosing such pieces, but we cannot forget that she is the First Lady and she must dress the part. Michele Obama has become popularly adept of mixing high price tags with lower priced finds. One thing for certain she keeps us, the spectators, on our toes. By choosing a designer such as Narciso Rodriguez, she shows her interest in the fashion world. Narciso Rodriguez is known for his sleek, feminine style and sharp clean silhouette.

The We Are One concert attracted many celebrities such as U2, Beyonce, Sheryl Crow, Tom Hanks, and Bruce Springsteen to name a few. The star-studded event adds to the message that the Obama campaign has been driving forth all along -- that despite the difficulties we have before us, we must be hopeful that we shall overcome. President elect Barack Obama words echoed just that:

"But never forget that the true character of our nation is revealed not during times of comfort and ease, but by the right we do when the moment is hard. I ask you to help reveal that character once more, and together, we can carry forward as one nation, and one people, the legacy of our forefathers that we celebrate today."

Mr. President and his First Lady

Biden and Obama families

Performers, Presenters, and Attendees at the We Are One Concert


Image Credit - hbo.com

Inauguration Weekend - Zero + Maria Cornejo - Historic Train Ride To Philadelphia

Michelle Obama once again chooses an ensemble designed by Maria Cornejo. It is reported that Cornejo custom made a variety of pieces for the First Lady, including the royal purple jacket she wore during the historic train ride she took with her husband Barack Obama. The Obama family made the journey that Abraham Lincoln took, traveling from Philadelphia to Washington, the ride itself is symbolic of how far our country has come.

The Maria Cornejo jacket was very flattering for Michelle, however when paired with the less brilliant, purple sweater, it loses it's effect. Cornejo, known to many fashion enthusiasts such as Tilda Swinton and Sofia Coppola, is relatively unknown to the general public. Obama's choice will certainly help to make Maria Cornejo a household name.

Cornejo was born in Chile but spent most of her adolescence in England with her family. Currently she lives in NYC with her husband and children. Her designs are minimalistic, and she herself has said that she doesn't like embellishments. Although she is known for her minimalism it doesn't make her work any less exciting. She uses clean lines and expresses a great deal of sophistication in her clothes. I began to peruse her collections as soon as I heard the buzz about Cornejo and her work with Michelle Obama. Needless to say, I was definitely impressed. Her collection is full of clothes that a woman could wear right off the runway, without looking like she is overdoing it. Maria Cornejo has two stores in NYC: one in Nolita and the other in the West Village.







Zero Maria Cornejo Spring 2009 Collection

Golden Globes 2009 - Best Dressed

BEST DRESSED
My choice for best dressed of the evening goes to Eva Mendes, hands down. She looked sensational in her Christian Dior white dress. The dress was the perfect fit to show off her figure and was simple and elegant. Her choice of a teal necklace, Van Cleef & Arpels, really makes the whole ensemble. Since the dress was white, the teal necklace really made her stand out amongst the rest of the attendees.















Admittedly I am biased when it comes to Kate Winslet (because I love her so!) but there is no doubt that she looked absolutely flawless at the Golden Globes. She wore Yves Saint Laurent and Chopard jewels. The gown is simple and black yet it really makes her shine. She doesn't need any embellishments. Her acceptance speech was sweet and genuine. Not to mention how wonderful it was to hear Kate refer to Angelina Jolie as "who is the other one?" When referring to her fellow nominees, Kate who was full of emotion couldn't remember Angelina. The camera flashes to Angelina, who's scowl proves she didn't enjoy Kate's temporary memory lapse. Come on Angie, laugh a little. Not everyone takes you as seriously as you take yourself.









Freida Pinto, from Slumdog Millionaire, wore Christian Lacroix Haute Couture. I don't think anyone else on the red carpet could have pulled off this mustard yellow dress with as much class and beauty as Freida did. The mustard color set her apart from all the others wearing black, nudes, etc.

















Kate Beckinsale in J. Mendel with Fred Leighton jewels. Some might think that the oversized earrings may be from a previous season, but there is no denying how well they went with her dress. She is pure glamor in this white mermaid gown. It really accentuates her figure and I am in love with the ruching on the top of the dress.
















Ok I realize that this is overstated but how great does Demi Moore look? I won't belabor the fact of how beautiful she is at her age, but she did appear more confident than many of the other young starlets in attendance. She wore a Christian Dior gown with Cartier jewels. Kudos also for her natural hair. She usually wears her hair straight, but the waves goes well with the frills of her dress.















Olivia Wilde dared to wear some color on the red carpet, where most everyone else made the safe choice not to. Her lavender Reem Acra gown went beautifully with her skin tone. One suggestion however, loose the belt. The jeweled belt makes more for a prom queen rather than an esteemed television actress.















Image Credit - vogue.com

Golden Globes 2009 - Not A Fan

Worst Dressed
At the very least if someone wants to take the road untraveled on the red carpet, at least make it flattering. Renée Zellweger wore Carolina Herrera gown which made her look like she was wearing a transparent top and spanx underneath. Why is it that Renée insists on appearing older? The dress along with the sculpted curls on her head made her appear frumpy and much older than her years.















Megan Fox in Ralph Lauren Collection did not make an impression. Her face, makeup and Amrapali earrings were beautiful but the dress appeared cheap, not to mention the cheap comments she made to her interviewers. When told how beautiful she looked, Megan responded saying that she looked like a 'tranny.' "I'm so painfully insecure I'm on the verge of vomiting right now." Please learn to take a compliment Megan. Further digging herself into a whole, when asked about her husband Brian Austin Green she responded saying that he doesn't want to be her date because he has an ego. "I don't think he cares," she added. Her comments proved that she is just as tacky as the dress.











Rumor has it that J-Lo reserved so many dresses at Marchesa, other actresses weren't able to get their hands on them. Only Miley Cyrus was able to sneak a gown away from J-Lo. If J-Lo had her choice of all those gowns, one might ask why she chose this one? I do love the color of the gown however with the plunging neckline it is rather reminiscent of another infamous J-Lo gown of the past. Give us something new Jennifer. In this case less is more.














Yawn... Angelina we have seen this many times before. The loosely fitted gowns in a neutral color. Admittedly it is hard for the actress to actually look bad in anything. I mean she could look stunning in a wife beater and jeans, but that doesn't mean she should walk down the red carpet in them. It is the Golden Globes after all.

















I hate to do this because I really love Beyonce, but I wish she would stop choosing these gaudy dresses. Once again she chose an Elie Saab dress and while I do love Elie Saab, Beyonce seems to be stuck in the same old rut; flashy, tight, and ill-fitted. I realize that sparkle and shine is a part of her style, however I would love to see Beyonce in something new. Maybe a feminine dress that doesn't cling to her every curve and cut off at her bust line.














Although I do not absolutely hate America Ferrera's Oscar de la Renta's dress I decided to put her on the list because she could do so much more. She is a beautiful young woman, however the shape of the dress does nothing for her. The structure of the bottom of the dress is unflattering for her body type and is inappropriate for her age. I would have loved to see America in a brightly colored cocktail dress for the Globes. Something more fresh and appealing.














Image Credit - vogue.com

Dolce & Gabbana Pajamas for Spring - What Was She Thinking??

Jessica Alba arrived to the premiere of My Bloody Valentine 3D in a pair of silk pajamas. Maybe there was a party at the playboy mansion after the premiere, but my gut says she didn't get this look from Mr. Hefner. Jessica looked beautiful as usual, but the look was disappointing. Dolce & Gabbana featured the new pajama ensembles in their Spring 2009 ready to wear collection. The willowy models whisked down the runway in many different pajama ensembles, however the look in real life fails to be impressive.

Lazy college students have been sporting the 'pajamas as day wear' for many years now. Endless studying and partying have helped make this look popular on many campuses. By showing up to a movie premiere in pajamas, Jessica is encouraging students everywhere that their apathy is in fact a fashion statement. Without realizing it, college students around the country may have inadvertently stumbled upon the trend while stumbling their way to class, tired and hungover.

It is often difficult to pull off a runway look off the runway, especially one such as this. The pajamas, in this case, should stay on the runway, and in the bedroom. Celebrities shouldn't be in such a rush to wear something merely because it has a designer price tag on it.

Fashion Accessory or Political Statement?

The other night I went to a party in the Lower East Side. I didn't feel like dressing up so I was happy to attend the chill house party. It was a little cold so I decided to wear my trusty bright pink keffiyeh scarf that you certainly have seen all over the city the past couple of years. It has definitely become over-exposed. I wear them and other scarfs not to make any fashion or political statement (more on the political statement of the keffiyeh later) but rather I wear them in order to bring some color to my pale olive complexion.

I walk into the party and I am one of four people wearing the same accessory. I shrug off the fashion faux pas and begin to mingle. Not surprisingly, since most of the guests attended a liberal arts university in New York City and consumed lots of alcoholic beverages throughout the evening, people began to discuss the crisis between Palestine and Israel. Honestly I wasn't in the mood to discuss politics as I sipped on my spiked apple cider.

I do not want to make light of a very serious topic however, the debate reminded me of the political discourse surrounding the keffiyeh. It is interesting to see how even fashion can carry a political stance. Traditionally the keffiyeh is a headdress for Arab men. It is used to protect the skin from the harsh heat, cold, and sand of arid climates. Because of the escalating conflict between Israel and Palestine, the keffiyeh became a symbol of Palestinian solidarity. Figures such as Yassar Arafat, who would have been hard to recognize without his trademark headscarf, contributed to such sentiments. People with the desire to make a political statement only had to wear the small piece of fabric around their neck. However what people forget is that the keffiyeh has been worn by lots of different cultures. The reason the scarf is so easily appropriated is because of it's practicality. Keffiyeh's have been sold in Jerusalem for many years. British, US, and Australian troops have used the keffiyeh during times of war. The use of keffiyehs (shemaghs) by the British military dates as far back as World War II. Therefore if this scarf has been worn by Palestinians, Israelis, Hipsters, celebrities, US troops, Europeans, and Canadians, then isn't it just an accessory after all?

The scarf is no stranger to fashion and is certainly not a 'new' trend. It first became popular in the US during the 80s, worn by bohemian women around their necks. The emergence of the scarf as 'trendy' came in mid 2000 in big cities of the US, Canada, and Australia. The trend exploded after NYC hipsters and celebrities sported the keffiyeh every chance they got.

To give an idea of how substantial the fashion and political statement became, there were a few controversies regarding the keffiyeh. Last year there was one regarding the scarf and the high-pitched TV host Rachel Ray. Yes that is correct, the daytime talk show host sparked the controversy in a Dunkin Donuts advertisement where she was wearing the scarf. The chain decided to pull the ads after some concerns brought about by right-wing bloggers. They complained that the campaign was insensitive. Even Urban Outfitters pulled the scarves from their shelves when the controversy ensued. Although that certainly didn't stop anyone from buying them. Most scarves can be bought for $5 with any NYC street vendor.

As for me, I do not associate the scarf with any political side, however I do realize that we need to take responsibility for the image we portray. After all I hate when people wear Che Guevara shirts when they do not understand the story and the symbol he represents. For now I may stop wearing the controversial scarf for the simple reason that everyone else is wearing them.