Designing for Mrs. Obama

Mrs. Obama, the forceful, graceful partner to our 44th has been effortlessly in the news lately with her mainstream yet chic fashion sense. From practically saving J.Crew to sporting off the rack dresses at big appearances; Michelle Obama has brought the American every woman who works to the forefront of fashion and to the globe.

The only balks seemed to be at her appearance election night in a couture dress by Narciso Rodriguez--and that may have been just for the cost. Mrs. Obama is now an icon for women who are successful, a little bit mainstream and no-nonsense; yet the fashion/design industry are claiming her to be something new and fresh. For us, she represents what America is now. America is cost effective, still stylish, still hard hitting--but no longer stretching budgets to afford luxury goods.

I ran across this interesting article from The Big Money that discusses how marketable she now is because of her fashion. But I think they go too far in claiming her as a thing instead of a person. She makes fashion marketable--affordable fashion marketable; and that's what the fashion industry thinks it needs now.

The problem with seeing her as simply a symbol or as a icon is that Mrs. Obama, the first African American First Lady is so much more than a mannequin for fashion.

What do you see are the effects of Mrs. Obama's choice of fashion? Do you see a trickle down effect with new design?