Stylish Michelle Obama shows off elegant new bob

Headline via The Daily Mail, and yes, I'm just that desperate for stuff to post this morning. Bite me.

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."

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."