From the Wall Street Journal today:

The First Lady’s office announced plans for the White House Dance Series: A Tribute to Judith Jamison. The September 7 event will honor Jamison, the former dancer and outgoing artistic director (after 20 years) of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

It will also feature a program directed by Damian Woetzel, formerly of New York City ballet and currently on the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities.

Slated to attend are dancers from major New York companies — Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Paul Taylor Dance Company and New York City Ballet – plus Broadway’s “Billy Elliot The Musical.” Hailing from the D.C. area is the Washington Ballet, and representing the West Coast is the hip-hop group Super Cr3w. Prior to the East Room ceremony, members of these companies will host workshops for students from dance programs around the country.

Image by Jewel Samad / Getty Images

The Os are headed to New Orleans, Louisiana before returning home to Washington, D.C. after 10 days of vacation on Martha's Vineyard. To board Marine One this morning, Mrs. O paired a white scoop neck tank with a full black skirt and flats. Often when the first lady turns to a black and white palette, she relies on an accessory to deliver a bright pop of color. It appears said accessory, a lime green tote we've seen Mrs. O carry in the past, was borrowed by her daughter Malia for this occasion. Hopefully the Os enjoyed plenty of rest and relaxation while they were away! 

Update: Just a few hours later, the first family has already arrived at Louis Armstrong Airport in New Orleans, Louisiana. Mrs. O is wearing a floral dress we first saw almost a year ago in Miami, here.

Image by Jewel Samad / Getty Images

The president and first lady stopped by Nancy's Restaurant of Oak Bluffs yesterday for a bite of seafood. For the outing, Mrs. O paired cropped white pants with a striped top and pink cardigan. Her purple ToyWatch, first seen last year, here and here, added another dash of pastel color. All in all, a great, laid back summer look!

The president and first lady were out for the second evening in a row on Martha's Vineyard. For tonight's dinner date, Mrs. O chose a loose-flowing, multi-print tunic dress, paired with black leggings and flats. Gold bracelets, earrings and a slim clutch completed the bold, easy-going look. It's fun to see Mrs. O play with a different silhouette and style while on vacation. What do you think?

Update: Mrs. O is wearing the “collage dress” by the London-based Nigerian designer Duro Olowu, known for his luxurious fabrics and vibrant prints.

Image by Jewel Samad / Getty Images

The president and first lady were out on Martha's Vineyard last evening, dining at Sweet Life Cafe in Oak Bluffs. For the outing, Mrs. O wore a black and white Narciso Rodriguez dress, paired with a cropped black cardigan, black clutch and statement earrings. The dress is the same that the first lady wore for a Fourth of July celebration in 2009, seen here. Fabulous!

Image by Carolyn Kaster / AP Photo

As I believe most of you know, the first family is vacationing on Martha's Vineyard this week. While there have been no signs of Mrs. O thus far, the president has been out and about on the island, including a trip with his daughters to Bunch of Grapes book store in Vineyard Haven, pictured above. Love the pops of fun, summer color embraced by the O girls!

Image used with kind permission from Brand X Projects, Inc.

With no signs of Mrs. O on Martha's Vineyard just yet (hopefully she's enjoying a bit of peace and quiet!), I wanted to share an early blog post that dates from November 2008. The subject of the post was a screenprint by Mickalene Thomas. Shortly after the post ran, the screenprint was acquired by National Portrait Gallery in Washington. Two years later, it will be on display for the first time at the gallery, as part of the "Americans Now" exhibit running through July 2011. Will any of you Washingtonians be attending?

From November 2008:

Brand X Projects, Inc., a fine art publishing company located in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, has unveiled a limited edition screenprint titled Michelle O by artist Mickalene Thomas. This small edition of 40 screenprints is signed and numbered in pencil, and the portrait is the first completed of Mrs. O by the artist.

New Jersey born, with degrees from the Pratt Institute and Yale University School of Art, Mickalene Thomas has established herself as an important American contemporary artist. Known for her images of iconic African American women, her work is part of the permanent collections of the Brooklyn Museum, The Studio Museum in Harlem and The Art Institute of Chicago, among others. This latest work is a timely celebration of our soon to be First Lady, Mrs. O.

It's exciting to watch the broad-reaching cultural influence Mrs. O is poised to have as First Lady. Alongside the recently unveiled portrait by Elizabeth Peyton, this latest work by Mickalene Thomas is a sign of great things to come. And while not fashion focused, one can see direct ties to Mrs. O’s personal style in these portraits -- as they capture her strength, femininity and self-possession.

Image courtesy of Payless

Admirers of Isabel Toledo will have a unique opportunity to purchase her inventive, feminine designs through an upcoming collaboration with the affordable shoe retailer Payless. Isabel Toledo for Payless launches September 7, with a range of shoes and bags priced from $35 to $60. The collection will be available in stores and on Payless.com, with a limited selection of shoes already available here. What sparked the collaboration?

"The main inspiration for my first Payless collection was to create a line of shoes that I could wear on a daily basis and that would make a bold fashion statement, but also be very functional too," Ms. Toledo said in a press release. "I am a New Yorker and I walk all over the city .... These shoes have a strong graphical tone, are fresh new essentials for every woman's fall closet, and are an affordable way to make a strong statement from the ground up."

Might we see Isabel Toledo for Payless in Mrs. O's fall line-up?

Image courtesy of Carole Tanenbaum Vintage Collection

The Os leave for their extended vacation on Martha's Vineyard this Thursday, and with no scheduled appearances this week, why not treat ourselves to a bit of eye candy in the meantime?

The wonderful Carole Tanenbaum is once again offering a selection of her carefully curated vintage brooches to Mrs. O readers, available HERE. Prices are $45 or $75 for a single pin, and $175 for a grouping of three. There are some gorgeous gems in the mix, such as the 'Cosmopolitan' trio above. Enjoy!

A note from Carole Tanenbaum:

"We have discovered a whole new way to 'cluster' brooches! We pile them close together to resemble fascinating larger brooches. The look is both creative and sophisticated. We also have some single beauties at special prices for Mrs. O readership. Welcome in the Fall season with a vintage treasure!"

Images by Mandel Ngan / Getty Images

The Os are away at the Gulf Coast, vacationing in Panama City Beach, Florida overnight. It's been quite the busy weekend thus far, from sightseeing to ensembles!

The first lady arrived in a teal blue, tie front Jason Wu dress. To play miniature golf, she changed into a chrome blue Banana Republic tank (available here), cropped black pants and Maison Martin Margiela toe loop sandals. To watch porpoises, Mrs. O chose a black tank and loose fitting floral shorts. And for an ice cream stop, the first lady donned a blue Narciso Rodriguez shirt dress with open toe flats.