Thursday
Oct292009
A Question and a Mrs. O Book!
Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 7:42 PM We're giving away three signed copies of the Mrs. O book! Is there anything you'd like to know about the book, the designer interviews or the overall process? Please ask away!
We'll answer as many questions as we can and send a copy of the book to our 3 favorites. We'll take questions through Saturday at 12PM EST. Whee!
Update: Thanks for submitting your questions! We're going to make an effort to answer them all, though it may take a few days and a series of posts. At the conclusion, the winners will be announced. Whee!
Reader Comments (86)
Is there one outfit of Mrs. O. that both designers and ordinary citizens agree was not her best? What was it? And why?
Is the title "Mrs. O" a play on Jackie-O? Of course you may have heard or seen the comparison between the too iconic First Ladies.
I love your blog! Two-part question: What do you consider the First Lady's best look (shillouette, cut, color, trend) and why?
What inspired you to write a book chronicling Mrs. O's fashion choices? Is it because she's relatable? Her personality or seeing her transformation?
Can you elaborate more on how the First Lady has defined the new era of American fashion?
Throughout the process of putting together this book, were there thoughts or interviews that focused on how Mrs. Obama's fashion has impacted democracy and the view of the First Lady around the world? It seems to me, that like Jackie O., Mrs. Obama is using fashion as a way to break down barriers and through fashion, engage a global audience. Do you examine this in the book?
IIf you haven't met Mrs. O, what would you ask her about/talk to her about if you met her? (besides gushing of course!)
If you were her stylist, what looks would you keep? What might you add?
What was the best part about doing this project and how has it changed your life?
I really like the chapter titles. My questions are:
1 - How did you develop the chapter titles?
2- On the first page of each chapter, how did you decide on which outfit (and which photograph of the selected outfit) would illustrate the concept behind each chapter's title?
What is your favorite Mrs. O look in the book?
Can you walk us through the development process? I saw you said your company has been behind the book from the beginning - did they approach you or vice versa? How did you go about finding an agent/publisher? How long did the whole project take start to finish?
It appears as though on 1 of the pages of the book, our nation's First Lady describes who she is- woman, wife, mother, first lady -in an order, I assume, of importantance to her in her personal life - my question is does the Mrs. O book {I am tickled pink by the title :)} showcase her style in a balance of all 4 of the stellar roles she wonderfully exemplifies to the American people?
Which of the First Lady's style's or outfits most empowered and/or positively impacted the creativity and mindset of the author, Ms. Tomer?
Question 3 (if the information is available)...What is our First Lady's favorite color to wear and what color does our President and their children most enjoy seeing her wear?
How has your understanding of fashion evolved due to this project?
I'm wondering what feedback you've gotten from Mrs. O, regarding the site and/or the book either directly or indirectly?
Did you ever dream, you would be a published author by the age of 28? Did you ever dream of being a published author? How do you think your successful Mrs O blog aided you in garnering the interviews with such top designers as Issac Mizrahi? What's next, Mrs T?
Do you find Mrs. O influencing your daily style choices?
It's not even a year into Mr O's term - what do you anticipate doing with the blog/book moving forward in the 3+ years to come?
Being a published author is nice, and meeting famous designers, even your blog is hot, but given the opportunity to speak with Mrs.O one on one, no secret service, no photographers, Just you two what would be the one thing you'd ask her knowing she will answer you straight from her heart?
First, I have to say that your website is amazing! Very soon after the election, I had just gotten into the concept of blogs and how interesting and informing they can be. I knew there had to be one about Mrs. Obama. I googled "Michelle Obama" and found you. The transformation of the site in such a short time has been phenomenal. I was not at all surprised when you announced that you were working on a book. I could not imagine anyone but you writing the "go to" book about Mrs. Obama as a fashion icon.
It has been very clear to me since I started visiting the website that you have somehow known something for quite a while that most of us did not know about Mrs. Obama's sense of fashion and true appreciation of fashion/design. My question is: How did you know that there would be such an obsession over Michelle Obama's style and that she would have such an impact on fashion?
how has mrs o's fashion shaped America's definition of femininity and feminism?
Thanks for you blog, it is a pleasure to read. I have two questions:
Any reactions from Ms O (or her entourage) about the book?
How does Ms O manage her clothing choices? Does she has a staff member in charge of matching her choices to the events she attends, does she hold clothes meetings and has a clothes agenda ?
What is the one thing you want readers to get from this book?
How have the blog and book project complemented or conflicted with your "day jobs"?
Will there be a new edition every year following Michelle Obama's fashion picks and designer choices?
I would love that! Two terms (eight years) = EIGHT BOOKS!
First, thank you for putting this blog together. I find myself looking forward to seeing her style choices everyday.
My question: If you had to pick the next 'new' designer that Mrs.O will add to her fashion repertoire, who would it be and why?
Mrs. O. has had only a short time to wow us with her fabulous personal style. Will there be a follow-up to this book as her fashion evolves during her time in the White House?
After guiding this great website for more than a year and following the "what and who" of Mrs. O's fashion choices on a near daily basis with your sense of fun and all your background research, it would seem likely that you had certain expectations for the book's content just based on your own observations and extensive information base. In putting the book together including your interviews, did you learn any new, fun, or surprising info or feel you had more insight into Mrs O than you had prior to doing the book? What was your most satisfying experience in doing the book?
Did you start your project with the title, "The Face of Fashion Democracy" and intend to explore this theme from the beginning? Or did this title/theme emerge more organically during the process? If the latter, was there a particular moment during the process when you came to realize the democratic nature of Mrs. O's fashion choices?
How do you go about determining the designer of a particular outfit? Does Mrs. O's office ever release official information about her wardrobe?
(Joking question: What percentage of American women do you think will put this book on their Christmas wish list?!)
I love learning about Mrs. O's style, but I'd really like to hear more about her world view. She is a very intelligent woman. Does the focus on fashion diminish her contribution as an intelligent individual?
I love these questions! You guys are going to keep me busy!!!
1) Did you have a vision for the book in terms of design before you began the process of putting it together? Did this vision change as the actual work began, and does the final result resemble your first ideas about what the book would look like?
2) What aspect of working on the book left the strongest impression on you? Was it speaking to the First Lady's designers, or seeing the fabrics used for her clothes in person, etc?
3) Now that you are a published author, do you plan to write another book?
Why did you decide on a sketch of the First Lady for the cover of the book, and not a photograph? It's a beautiful portrait, but I wondered what guided you towards that choice, which seems unusual these days.
If you were given the opportunity to personally keep one outfit or accessory in the book...which one would you choose?
All things worth doing and doing them this well take a great amount of sacrifice. What did you sacrifice most during this labour of love producing this book? Food, friendships, work, sleep, family, housework . . . what slid the most to make this dream a reality?
Congrats on the blog and the book!
If you were told your next assignment was to cover (blog and book) the fashion highs, influences and inspiration of one other living person, who would you follow? Why him or her?
How many sequels to the Mrs. O book are likely?
do you think mrs. o is concerned about the hype over her fashion choices vs her career accomplishments and future political legacy as the first lady?
i discovered my previous question was already asked.
random question: does mrs o read your blog???
Are Mrs.O's daughters interested in fashion? Has her fashion sense rubbed off on them yet?
Although many of us are vigorously trying to change the culture, in any discussion about Michelle Obama, the thorny issue of race eventually enters the conversation in its most negative connotations. It is arguable that the emergence of Mrs. O as fashion icon has only emboldened her detractors. How does the book approach the topic of race? And, more importantly, is there a role for fashion in reconstructing the the discussion of race?
My question is what was the first outfit that made you fall in love with Mrs. O's style?
What's next?
Who are the lovely people at the White House who manage or take care of the maintaining, cleaning/pressing, and repairing of the First Lady's wardrobe and shoes?
Mrs. O refuses to link her choices of clothing to her agenda as FLOTUS. She says things like-- "Fashion is fun. Don't read anything into what I wear." BUT you have subtitled your book "the face of fashion democracy" which to say the least is a very political choice of words. Does this mean you are exposing her real agenda which she refuses to acknowledge?
Have you sent a copy to Mrs O/received any feedback from her about it?
I don't have a question, just wanted to share the thought that crosses my mind each time I open the closet:
Remember the old bracelets that said WWJD? or, What would Jesus Do?
I ask each morning,
WWMW? "What would Michelle wear?"
What would you entitle Mrs. O's style, classic, tres chic, traditional, trendy or what combination? Do you believe that she's a trendsetter and that her styles will be revisted for years to come as fashion repeats itself?
1. How do you see our First Lady influencing the girls and young women who saw her husband take office?
2. Jackie O had the dark glasses. Grace Kelly had the Kelly bag. If you had to choose (or predict), which accessory or item of clothing do think sums up Michelle's style and will be her signature "item"?
3. Do you see Michelle starting any trends or styles that will influence major designers? Has she already done this, and with whom?
My question: The First Lady is doing a great deal to counter the general trend towards sloppy dressing and bad food choices (all you have to do is go to any mall and see what most young people wear and eat) - and she is doing it in a way that can be emulated even by those on a modest budget - How would you suggest she expand her efforts?