Mid Day Distraction

Bonus curling!

Michelle Obama's inaugural gown enshrined in museum

The dress was always kind of meh to me, but as a part of fashion history it will surely stand up to the previous entries. This is a real fashion museum.

WASHINGTON, March 9 (UPI) -- The gown first lady Michelle Obama wore to balls celebrating her husband Barack Obama's inauguration is on display at the National Museum of American History.

Obama officially began his tenure as president of the United States in January 2009.

"So, here we are. It's the dress," Michelle Obama said Tuesday about the frock she wore to the inaugural balls. "I am very honored and very humbled, but I have to say that I'm also a little embarrassed by all the fuss being made over my dress. Like many of you, I'm not used to people wanting to put things I've worn on display. So, all of this is a little odd, so forgive me. But, at the same time, I truly recognize the significance of this day. This gown -- and all of the items that we'll see in this wonderful exhibit -- help us connect with a moment in history in a very real way."

Forty years ago, this was considered shockingly indecent

The shock frock that rocked a nation. Amazing.

Michelle Obama named "best accessible glamour" in People's best dressed list

Yep, if you're 6ft tall and toned like a drum.

PEOPLE'S TOP 10 BEST DRESSED WOMEN:

• Kate Winslet - best red carpet
• Vanessa Hudgens - best hippie chic
• Reese Witherspoon - best short dresses
• Cameron Diaz - best jeans
• Michelle Obama - best accessible glamour
• Freida Pinto - best use of colour
• Taylor Swift - best sparkle
• Nicole Richie - best maternity
• Beyonce - best street chic
• Kim Kardashian - best bikinis

Interesting that 6 of the 10 are women of color.

Video- First Lady Michelle Obama Celebrates National Design Awards

Video- Fashion industry pays tribute to Michelle Obama with top style award

I just like a first lady who looks like she's not tranquilized.

It's official: Michelle Obama really is the First Lady of fashion - and now she has the award to prove it.

The 45-year-old received the honour gong last night over top industry favourites at The Council of Fashion Designers of America's annual awards.

Noting her 'meteoric rise as a fashion icon,' CFDA president Diane von Furstenberg said Obama had 'a unique look that balances the duality of her lives' in her roles as adviser to her husband, President Barack Obama, and mother to their two daughters.

(snip)

Obama accepted her award via a pre-taped video speech and said she honoured fashion as an American 'art form' with 'ingenuity and craftsmanship that contribute so much to our economy and culture.'

Michelle O v. Jackie O

I'm out to the store, so here's something frivolous to keep you occupied.

First lady Michelle Obama has had her wardrobe and fashion sense critiqued ever since she appeared on the public stage. And, for the most part, the reviews have all been favorable, with critics praising her style as "accessible," "engaging" and "refreshing."

But is it enough to best the last, truly glamorous first lady — Jackie Kennedy? Absolutely, says fashion critic and editor Mandi Norwood, who is out with a new book, "Michelle Style: Celebrating the First Lady of Fashion."

"Jackie O, despite the fact that she genuinely was a style icon and she broke many barriers in terms of being fashion forward, her clothing and her style was really very elite. There were very few people on a street level who could look at the outfit that Jackie Kennedy actually wore and rush out and by them. ... There are elements of [Michelle]'s style that make us feel close to her, that make her feel approachable and accessible."

Tim Gunn: Obamas saving D.C. fashion

I take it that this Gunn person should know? Not that I'm arguing about the Obama's style, but they've saved D.C. fashion in just over 100 days? If you care, the podcast is here.

"Project Runway"'s Tim Gunn knows a thing or two about fashion, but he traditionally doesn't expect to see much fashion sense out of D.C. ... until now.

When Gunn was last in D.C. two years ago, "I was woeful about how dowdy and frumpy and matronly and saggy everybody looked." But when he visited recently, "They looked polished. They looked sophisticated. Their clothes fit. It was really remarkable. And I thought, Michelle Obama, are you responsible for this? ... I can't help but think that the Obamas have had a huge impact on how people present themselves to the world. The message comes from the top and we haven't had an administration that embraces fashion for many decades."

Tell me I'm wrong?

But have we cycled back into "maxi-dresses"? Good lord.

The 29-year-old chose to wear her own designs for the prestigious event - an ivory maxi-dress and mannish jacket selected from her Holmes-Yang collection, which has received mixed reviews from fashion critics.

PS- Vicki, I got it.

Sarah Palin Gets Her Very Own All-White Alaska-Themed Assault Rifle from NRA

By GottaLaff

White rifles go with everything, and now that it's spring, it's perfectly acceptable to schlep one around with every outfit!

The National Rifle Association Foundation will present Sen. John McCain's ill-fated running mate with a military-style assault weapon next week.

The all-white "Alaskan Hunter"—fashionable until Labor Day—is the civilian version of a modified M-4 rifle carried by U.S. troops overseas.

I love a good practical gift. Now she's assault rifle-ready when she's attacked by the next breach of ethics complaint. Quite the chic little deterrent. I do hope it's personalized. Nothing says "fashion risk" like a generic weapon.

It's engraved with Palin's name and adorned with a map of the state on the collapsible stock—made legal after the expiration of the assault weapons ban in 2004. The Big Dipper from the state flag is etched on the magazine well behind a vented barrel guard.

I wonder if I could pick one up in a lovely mauve shade. Maybe Nordstrom will start carrying them. Maybe they'll even add sparkles! A girl can hope...

It's the same caliber used by heavy machine guns, which can take down big game, and in war zones "can disable both motor vehicles and assailants with body armor," according to ammo manufacturer Alexander Arms' Web site.

Templar gun designer Bob Reynolds told the NRA's magazine that Palin had stood up for Second Amendment gun rights and "I just wanted to do something to give back."

There she goes again, flaunting that pro-life image like there's no tomorrow.

Michelle Obama's Latest Fashion Statement: Shiny Sneakers

I had a pair of shiny silver sneakers I wore for years back in the 80's. Who knew I was so fashion forward? I love the response from Michelle's press people.

Spotted: Michelle Obama ditching her trademark flats for a pair of metallic sneakers at yesterday's event at the Capital Area Food Bank. Whispers caught up with the first lady, who wore a casual outfit to help bag food for area children, and got some shots of her new plum-and-silver shoes. MIA: the belt she typically sports.

(snip)

When reporters asked for details about them, Michelle Obama's press people simply replied: "They're shoes."

You decide

Fancy $1000 boots or building infrastructure?

The Michelle Obama Look Book

Holy crap, they're keeping track of every single outfit she wears in public.

Michelle Obama's evolving style has the entire world hooked. So far, her patterns are clear: She has an affinity for sleeveless dresses and pointed flats, and she likes her cardigans on the fancier side. During her first trip to Europe as First Lady, she broke out everything from J.Crew to Junya Watanabe, with appearances by her regular favorites like Thakoon, Jason Wu, and Isabel Toledo. Starting today, we're going to keep close track of what she's wearing.

Oscar de la Renta has tough words for Michelle Obama

I've met Mr de la, and can honestly say he's a serious dick. He's also missing the fact that up until recently, Mrs Obama was a financially middle class lady. No big wardrobe budgets financed by oil ties for Michelle.

(CNN) – Michelle Obama's fashion choices at the G20 summit have drawn widespread praise, but at least one famous designer thinks the fist lady made a major faux pas in her wardrobe choice for a private audience with Queen Elizabeth II.

"You don't…go to Buckingham Palace in a sweater," Oscar de la Renta told Woman's Wear Daily regarding Mrs. Obama's decision to wear a cardigan over an Isabel Toledo-designed dress for the private meeting.

De la Renta also said the first lady — who often sports relatively affordable American brands — should broaden her wardrobe and seize an opportunity to spur the flailing fashion industry.

“American fashion right now is struggling,” he said. “I think I understand what [Obama and her advisers] are doing, but I don’t think that is the right message at this particular point."

Michelle Obama honored by fashion organization

A lovely honor for a lovely woman. Now let's get a law scholarship in her name set up too, since she's smarter than she is beautiful.

(CNN) – The Council of Fashion Designers of America will honor Michelle Obama with a special style award, the group announced Monday.

The CFDA said it is giving Obama a special tribute for her “inspiration and commitment to American fashion,” and will establish a grant in her name that will be given to a new fashion company.

Obama isn’t the only first lady to be honored by the organization: the late Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis received the same award in 1994.

You knew it was coming...

Here you go-

How to get Michelle Obama's toned arms

... Rylan Duggan, a personal trainer who runs Go Sleeveless, a blog that instructs women how to tone up flabby arms and "eliminate bat wings," said that in addition to asking how to get "Madonna arms" or "Kelly Ripa arms," clients are now asking about getting "Obama arms."

"The Obama effect has been that women of all ages have been inspired to take responsibility for their health and their body," said Duggan. "As the first lady of the United States, at 44 years old, and with two young children, Mrs. Obama has shown the world that you are never too busy to take care of yourself and look good doing it too," he said.

Exercise advocates are also fans. "She's a great role model," said Jessica Matthews, a continuing education coordinator for the American Council on Exercise. "Women shy away from strength training, because they're afraid of big muscles. She shows nice toned arms and that it's not going to lead to this myth of a bodybuilder type."

First Lady Fashionista

Obligatory fashion bit.

Video- Designers try hand at Michelle Obama's party dress

NBC vid of what I posted about here. They bring up the question of "extravagant balls" in the middle of a recession. What do you think?

Who Will Design Michelle Obama's Inauguration Dress?

Burning question of the morning. I like the colors, but the thing on her head is a bit much

Designers including Isaac Mizrahi, Carolina Herrera, and Betsey Johnson have submitted to Women's Wear Daily sketches of the dresses they'd like to design for Michelle Obama for the Inauguration Ball on January 20. [WWD]

Barack Obama becomes celebrity sportswear endorser

I'm guessing most brand names would pay Bush not to wear their stuff...

The media fascination with Barack Obama's sporting antics is a boon for makers of leading athletic brands, which the president-elect has been pictured wearing on frequent trips to the gym and basketball court. The current presidential favourite appears to be Nike, the famous tick spotted on Mr Obama's attire so regularly that one would be forgiven for suspecting a product placement deal.

Not so, says Nike, but nevertheless the company is pleased that so stylish a figure favours its products.

"We don't make a point of giving the president-elect any products for free, but we're glad that he has such good taste in sportswear, whether he's working it out or taking it easy," Nike spokesman Charlie Brooks unashamedly told The Times.

(snip)

However the President-Elect has been careful not to show too much favour to the Portland-based brand. Perhaps a little controversially, the Japanese brand ASICS seems to have recently replaced Nike as Mr Obama's footwear of choice. Pictures of post-election gym trips have shown him wearing the ASICSGel Nimbus 10, a new model which retails for around $120 (£80).

ASICS, less well known in the States than its domestic rivals, described itself as "thrilled" with the endorsement.

Eóin Treacy of ASICS UK said: "Barack Obama is said to pick only the best and brightest for his team and he's certainly done that with his footwear."