A few Mrs. Oers were in attendance at yesterday's "Sunday with The Magazine" event at the TimesCenter. The panel featured Cathy Horyn of the New York Times, leading discussion with designers Narciso Rodriguez, Maria Cornejo and Thakoon Panichgul.
Miss KaitlinC has shared her inspired perspective, which we're delighted to feature:
Today's New York Timesevent, "Sunday With The Magazine," was a lovely way to spend a rainy day in the city. As a young person trying to make it in the design world, it is both interesting and inspirational to discover designers' different perspectives on what is happening in today's world. Three designers that I look up to were discussing Michelle Obama, a very important figure in American society, and what impact she has on fashion and vice versa.
I think that I was most affected by the idea that Michelle is very much her own person, and her way of dressing embodies her individuality. She dresses in a very approachable manner, and very much like an everyday fashion conscious woman would -- she has her favorites, like most, but isn't afraid to try someone or something new.
I was very impressed with all of the designers' insightful responses to Cathy Horyn's questions. For the most part, they found the criticism toward Mrs. O a bit ridiculous, and defended her fashion decisions. Narciso's facial expressions were priceless. I also particularly enjoyed seeing the personalities of these three designers, who I very much admire. I fell in love with Maria Cornejo the first time I walked into her Nolita store, and I always enjoy when my admiration of a designer's work is equal to that of my admiration for their ideals and world views.
I think that although each designer has a very different manner of creative expression, they all have similar views on Mrs. O. She is a modern woman, personifying strength and confidence, who is working to make a difference in today's world. She has a playful femininity that she shows through her choice of designers, accessories, silhouettes, and color. She doesn't listen to the media's criticism, and continues to wear what she loves. More than anything, women today need a figure like Michelle to force us to take chances and go against the fashion norm.
Continue reading for LayoG's perspective and more:
And from the lovely LayoG (who amazingly is a full-time graduate student in both fashion design and law!):
Taking a step back from the fashion and style of Mrs. O, there seems to be a conclusive theme that many people, including the designers who participated in the panel, have woven around Mrs. O -- that is, the sense that she is a genuine, authentic, confident woman. If there was one thing I took away from the event, it is that all of the designers truly enjoy making clothes for the First Lady, because they enjoy the person she is, and recognize that she is more than just fashion, but is a woman of many talents.
They all expressed how much they love that Mrs. O is an everyday woman, who is intelligent, who works, who has a family to care for, and who repeats outfits (I mean really, who can afford to never wear the same outfit twice!) . It is comforting to know that the First Lady's designers put much thought into her garments, and get as much satisfaction making her clothes, as we do in seeing her wear them. It is also great the see the human side of these designers. There was no sense of entitlement, but rather a deep felt appreciation that the First Lady has taken to their designs.
I loved hearing the story of how Thakoon heard about Mrs. O wearing his design to meet Carla Bruni Sarkozy (an outfit he originally designed for Mrs. O to wear to the swearing-in ceremony at Inauguration, which in hindsight, he wished he had lined to be warmer). Visiting his grandmother in Thailand at the time, he patiently waited for the pictures to very slowly load from the Internet. These little anecdotes endeared me to the designers even more. I have been a fan of Narciso Rodriguez and Thakoon for some time, but I can't really say I would have stopped by a Maria Cornejo rack in the store. I have taken a genuine interest in her after this event, and will make sure to get to her section in the store, and buy her stuff (of course after I graduate from school and I'm making a pay check!).
I was most impressed by her worldly views and her genuine appreciation of Mrs. O as a woman, as a mother, and as our First Lady! Lastly, as cynical as some people seem to be of Ikram's role in Mrs. O's fashion, I think the designers have settled the issue. It would seem that it is the First Lady who chooses what she wants to wear, where she wants to wear it to, and how she wants to wear it -- and I love her even more for it. By the way, I think it's safe to say to the designers who feel Mrs. O should be wearing their big name labels, and actually seem to think they can tell the First Lady what to wear -- in the words of Narciso Rodriguez -- "that's so outrageous!"
KaitlinC and LayoG have so nicely summed up the event, I don't have too much more to add. My one quibble, perhaps, is that the moderator, Ms. Horyn, spent too much time rehashing themes of her
"Shadow Stylist" piece, which led to a slightly tense and guarded first half of the discussion. If anything was gained, it's that we heard the many upsides to the relationship between the First Lady, Ikram Goldman and the designers, points absent in the original article. Still, I believe it would have been interesting to explore the design ethos of each panelist in greater depth, and the common themes of craftsmanship and independent thinking that unite their otherwise quite different, individual aesthetics. To echo points made by both KaitlinC and LayoG, it was clear that all of the designers have profound respect for the First Lady.
Monday, May 4, 2009 at 12:29 PM
Reader Comments (20)
Hi Mrs. T,
Any pic of the Kennedy Center Gala last night surfaced yet? Thanks
Here is a link to a video of the event. She seems to be wearing the St Patrick Day green dress
http://vimeo(dot)com/4468279
Here is a link to a video of the event. She seems to be wearing the St Patrick Day green dress
http(colon)//vimeo(dot)com/4468279
That is a duaghter of god;a daughter of mine; being herself and daring to be herself is the gift she gives to all the young women and children growning up to be someone who matters to the world knowing that all they have to do is to be who they are and god lifts them up & the people do!
Here are some very sweet photos from today's event:
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Michelle-Obama/ss/events/pl/050108michelleobama#photoViewer=/090504/480/4013ecc7187048ae8e95e1fa91162249
She's hugging all the children again!!
Thanks for your impressions, KaitlinC. At least we can expect the unexpected from Mrs. O. What a great event for you to be able to attend.
I also like your own blog.
Mrs O at Cinco de Mayo at a neighborhood school
http://www(dot)gettyimages.com/Search/Search.aspx?contractUrl=2&language=en-US&family=editorial&p=michelle%20obama&assetType=image&src=quick#1
Mrs O at Cinco de Mayo at a neighborhood school
LOL she is in argyle again. She has every color that sweater came in. I love it!!!
www(dot)gettyimages.com/Search/Search.aspx?contractUrl=2&language=en-US&family=editorial&p=michelle%20obama&assetType=image&src=quick#1
Wonderful insight KaitlinC. I'm so glad we had the opportunity to see this piece! :)
http://cafefashionista.blogspot.com
I think that may be the same J.Crew argyle sweater that she wore during the visit to the soup kitchen, but in an alternate colorway.
KaitlinC, LayoG and Mrs. T (hey, that rhymes!) thanks so much for sharing your impressions with us. It sounds like it was a great event. Was it very crowded?
Too cute. The kids look really happy and she looks radiant. She should have worn that cardigan with her Lanvin sneakers from the food drive, and she could have even gotten away with wearing the olive version from the food drive today with that dark olive pleated skirt. She still looks fabulous as usual though.
That Sunday with The Magazine event sounds like it was great. I wish i could have been there. I came across some info about the event on Daily Intel also. Here's the link
http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2009/05/narciso_rodriguez_and_maria_co.html
at Christina,
it sure was a packed house, and clearly not acting like someone who has finals to study for, I got there an hour early, was second in line and managed to save three seats in the very first row for all of us (i know, borderline pathetic...lol)
ps: at Mrs. T, I totally agree, I felt the moderator was trying to create this thing whole thing about Ikram that is just not there (or maybe she is just frustrated at the lack of availability of Ikram, who is known to be very discreet). Either way, the designers seem to set the record straight that the interaction there has been great, and it seems like the first lady is the one who picks what she wants to wear!) Like Kaitlin said, Narcisco Rodriguez's facial expression were classic in these moments!
It's intriguing to me to know that the ensemble Mrs. O wore to France was a possible inauguration day contender. I wonder how that might have looked, and what impressions we might have been left with had the selection been different.
I can see why she might have chosen something warmer though! Inauguration Day was one of the coldest days of the year. Just bitterly cold.
I wonder why Jason Wu wasn't at the event.
Christina, an interesting tidbit of the same nature... The black satin Jason Wu coat that Mrs. O wore into Buckingham Palace was also designed for the Inauguration, to be worn with her Inaugural Ball gown. He made a second coat in ivory satin (of a different design), that she wore for the Balls instead.
The black satin "opera" coat? That *is* interesting...it's hard for me to imagine that black coat going well with the ivory gown. I think the ivory coat was a better choice...funny, though, that the only coat I really remember was the president's coat, draped over her shoulders, in that picture in the elevator that is now becoming iconic.
Thanks so much Ladies for your impressions. It's so great to read the work of fellow posters and Mrs. T.
Were there TV cameras at this event?
Yes, someone was on stage filming but I feel like it was probably for the Times. Not sure though
Here's a link to a piece in Women's Wear Daily about the discussion.
http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news/designers-weigh-in-michelle-obama-s-style-2122159?src=nl/mornReport/20090505
Interesting pieces - thank you Mrs T.
Love Narsico Rodriguez reaction to the high end whingers - that's so funny!