By Charles S. Mombo.jpg)
Mrs. Obama looking beautiful as usual in an outfit designed by Isabel Toledo, a Cuban-born American fashion designer
For millions of American women, Jacqueline Kennedy was the fashion standard by which every woman including African Americans on the public stage was judged. She was the closest thing that Americans could compare to royalty. A fashion icon, Jackie Kennedy created a look that many would like to introduce into their own sense of style.
Her signature, the ladylike essence of Jackie's look is a quality that has returned to today's fashion world. It's a very feminine, confident, beautiful, mystique, and classy look. Jackie was so loved by the American people that her $35.00 pearls were auctioned, and is now the most expensive fake pearls owned by an anonymous person for an unbelievable price of $211,000.00.
If there is such a thing as a fashion torch, I am strongly convinced that it has landed in the hands of Mrs. Obama. No, I am not comparing her to Mrs. Kennedy. Mrs. Obama has her own unique style of femininity, confidence, exquisiteness, mystique, and classy looks. As a matter of fact, she looks good in anything she wears. I can imagine that she even looks good in some sweats, t-shirts and gym shoes.
At a recent first state dinner hosted by the first lady Michelle Obama and her husband, she appeared in a stunning gold and cream floor length strapless gown designed by an Indian born designer Naeem Khan. It was reported that it took forty Indian workers to work on the dress at the designer's parent shop in India. Earlier during the day, Mrs. Obama was seen wearing a J. Crew cardigan paired with a pencil skirt by another Indian-American designer Rachel Roy.
During the inauguration ceremony of President Obama, Mrs. Obama looked very beautiful in a pale yellow gown designed by Isabel Toledo, a Cuban-born American fashion designer based in New York. She also picked an emerging young designer, Jason Wu, for her inaugural ball gown. Wu, 26-year-old is a Taipei, Taiwan-born designer. Prior to the first lady wearing his design, he was an unknown designer who launched his line in 2006. Without a doubt; Mrs. Obama has opened the door to a lot of new comers in the fashion industry. However, I am not aware of any Blacks or African Americans that have benefited from her endorsement.
If I were to criticize the first lady for not wearing outfits made by African American designers, I would be a hypocrite. Especially, since I personally do not have a shirt or a pair of pants that were made by Blacks or African American designers. I do not make my purchasing decisions based upon race or ethnic affiliation. I purchase items that best fit my needs at a given time.
Soundoff:
Does it matter to you that the first lady is not sporting apparel designed by African Americans or Black designers such as Deola Sagoe, Korto Momolu, B Michael, Julian Patrick, Robinson, Duro Olowu, Bongi Gray, Calvin Southwell, Nathalie Konan (NK), Maurice Malone, Stephen Burrows, James Moore or others? If you were to recommend an African American designer to Mrs. Obama who would it be? Or does it matter?
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Mrs. O always looks fabulous and she always represents Black people and women with exceptional dignity and grace. It is not up to her to advertise for Black designers. This is hardly newsworthy. It’s just ignorance. By the way, who are those Black designers you mentioned. I have not heard about them before.
The First Lady Michelle Obama can wear whatever the h*ll she wants. People need to shut up, get over it and make designs she like or work on their marketing or promotion strategy.
If previous former first ladies had made it public that they wanted a dress from only “white” designers she would have been labeled a damn racist. As a matter of fact, has anyone ever research on her past designer dress picks? You might be surprised!!! Does all this mean that all blacks should wear SEAN JEAN or FUBU and, etc. and whites wear only RALPH LAUREN, AEROPASTALE or POLO? I wear wear what the hell I want. I'm not obligated to no one in the wearing of clothing just because of my skin color.
Very intelligent comments, people. I agree with all the above comments.
I'm going to have to agree with all of the above. The first lady does not owe black designers a free ad.
Of Course Bongi Gray is one of the best designers in Africa – Michelle should try some of her designs
Michelle Obama always makes outstanding Choices! She has gotten me to wear some of what is considered a NO NO. Her belts on a high waist are being condemned by some yet she gave me the courage to wear belts again NO MATTER what some one has to say,
Michelle does look fabulous and I love the selections, it definitely would be a statement to support the people who helped put you in office and to give them the chance to shine. Especially talented new designers
If the Black designers created something that Mrs O founded suitable/favourable for her taste in clothes I am sure she’d wear them… I don’t see/hear any Black designer running to offer any fashions.
Besides she is dressing up which a lot of people men included should do more often that 1990′s oversized and oh so casual look is tired… more Fred Astaire for the guys and more Grace Kelly for the gals
I think that’s her choice. Maybe she doesn’t think that she can rock that energy! Us Africans can be high strung at times no matter what we do………
Best
I know that this entry is a little old. However, I did want to say that now-a-days Mrs. Obama has been wearing Black designer clothes. Here she sports a FABULOUS Kevan Hall dress!! And she looks smokin’ in it!
your question was raised in a false 2008 article in WWD about former YSL and Givenchy fashion model Ms. Amnau Eele.
where lying WWD writer Rosemary Feitelberg stated that “Ms. Eele and her arts organization “Black Artists Association” were angry with Mrs. Obama for not wearing clothes designed by black designers.”
Ms. Eele never made those comments to WWD about Mrs. Obama, but it didn’t stop WWD from publishing those lies and no one in the media bothered to fact check the WWD story on Ms. Eele just as no one in the media bothered to fact check the story on Mrs. Shirley Sherrod.
Now… 2 years later we have the same old story being re-hashed here with the same old tired comments.
Memo to this site:
For over 232 years in America
in The White House
there have been only all white Presidents,
all white Frst Ladies
and all white Designers dressing those all white First Ladies.
Now……. ” what don’t you understand about these facts?”
Move on..
Because nobody cares about the survival of black designers or black people.
The comments on this site proves that fact.