Mrs. O's Bangles and More
Saturday, January 29, 2011 at 1:09 PM 
Image by Jim Watson / Getty Images
After it was sorted that Rachel Roy designed Mrs. O's silver sheath dress for the State of the Union, the next question seemed to be: who was behind those fabulous bangles?
Women's Wear Daily provided the answer Friday, with a profile on New York-based jewelry designer Kara Ross. Not only was Mrs. O wearing Kara Ross jewelry, the designer has created an exclusive White House collection for visiting heads of state. More fantastic yet, the materials were sourced from White House grounds.
“The Chief of Protocols’ office saw we did wood jewelry, and they wanted to have some things made by an American artist for Michelle Obama to give to visiting heads of state. They sent us this big chunk of wood from the White House lawn,” recalled Ross. “We made some pieces with it and on each one we wrote, ‘Designed Exclusively for Michelle Obama by Kara Ross.’
"I thought, ‘How great, with a visiting head of state, giving them a gift by a) an American artist and b) it’s literally a piece that originated from the White House.’ I thought it was awesome that they even thought of me, to be honest with you.”
After the completion of the project, Kara Ross sent the White House several pieces from her Gemstone collection, which we've seen on the First Lady in recent weeks, notably the State of the Union.
A Kara Ross wood shirt cuff designed for the White House:
"Michelle Obama Puts Kara Ross on World Stage" [WWD]
Kara Ross NY
Reader Comments (12)
Beautiful idea! What a creative use of materials from right here in America. I know Kara is happy. Thanks Mrs T. for sharing this info.
Wonderful idea, and that shirtcuff is gorgeous!
I must say that I envy Michelle her ability to wear bangles. Every time I try, the rattling and moving around drive me right up the wall and I end up taking them off. I need bracelets that hug my wrist.
That's awesome.
Aha! the source also for the earrings I loved! Drool-worthy items on the website! I will be investing!
Thanks Mrs. T, this is so cool! First the garden, now wood. I wonder if the wood was from the tree that came down in a storm a couple of years ago. It was more than 150 years old if I remember right.
Hyde Parker, I used to be the same way about bangles. I have worn some recently, without too much irritation. Several narrow ones, such as Argento Vivo, don't bother me. But I can only stand one chunky one at a time.
These look wonderful but I cannot stand the clatter and clanking of things on my wrists. I'm an avowed stretch bracelet girl forever.
I have to differ here. Somehow, a bracelet made from wood of a fallen tree, even if it is from the
White House just doesn't sound like that great of a gift. I just can't imagine the wife of a head-of-state wearing a wooden bracelet. What would you wear with it? I hope they all like it but I know
I don't need one.
I think both topics; a dress from another country and a wooden bracelet fall under what our mother might have said, better to be safe than sorry.
Char
Again, she cannot win. Wearing McQueen means she hates America; asking an American craftsman to make a pretty souvenir gift of American materials is apparently too tacky -- even though it promotes this BUY AMERICAN kick that the whole country is apparently on right now. I guess she should never set foot outside again.
This is a souvenir gift, intended, I would imagine, to be suitable both for wearing and for displaying. But Char, when Michelle sends you yours, feel free to send it back with a "no thanks" letter because you don't need one.
Do you get that when you say "better safe than sorry," Michelle Obama can never be "safe?" As long as she exists, as long as she is visible out in the world doing something, there will be someone who will have something bad to say about something she does.
Wow! That is so cool and environmentally friendly.
Well said, Christina
Well said Christina. Wooden bangles are beautiful. Wooden bangles from somewhere extraordinary are even more beautiful because you have a connection with an actual tree on an actual site. I can't imagine how someone could find that less than awesome. It's recycling, it's American made, it's innovative. I'd adore one. So when you decide you're going to send your wooden bangle back with the note that Christina suggests, don't. Send it to me and I will add it to my collection of wooden bangles that I wear in the summer.
I love those bracelets. Very creative.