"Hope For A New Nation, A New Future...and A New Dress"

Yesterday the United States of of America was given a truly precious gift...hope.

Millions of people traveled to the nations capital to witness among many things, the dawn of a generation of Americans becoming wholeheartedly invested in their leader. At home we became glued to every second of the inaugurations festivities. It was like TMZ for politics. Where was the first couple, did they drink coffee or tea, did Barack rub one out before the day started, did Michelle use a relaxer or a flat iron, did the girls get to hug the Jonas Brothers longer than any other girl because they could? So many of these questions were answered through the day and there we were- glued to the television- filled with hope. 

This morning I rummaged through the usual wasteland of email with no expectations as usual. One by one I deleted them with agony- Williams Sonoma 30% off- delete, Work at home- delete, enlarge your penis- delete, monster- don't even open because really, that site has never brought me luck- delete. Barneys ...okay- ill bite. "Barneys loves Isabel Toldeo" ...as i looked over the more than obvious "excitement of the email" , I wasn't surprised to see Simon Doonan- gawking over the fact that Barneys has Isabel and that the dress was a big hit.  Barneys always has great taste, so that wasn't what took me. It was the fact that Michelle Obama has silently become, in her own ambivalent way, a message of hope for all who eat, live and breathe the fashion industry. 

What Simon Doonan and Barneys have done so eloquently, is create relevance. In one of the worse economic cluster fucks of our generation, It was only time before the cocktail parties were cancelled and the replaced with sale signs in luxury boutiques. The ounce frowned upon "box sales" were now becoming a common practice everywhere. One dollar here, five dollar there- extra 60 percent off everywhere, a slow agonizing death. People have families to feed and car payments to make. The thrill of a weekend at the mall has been replaced with anxiety, depression and self inflicted cheapness. In order to be relevant today- you have to speak to the same struggles of the American people, any there are many. If you can save them money, if you are a bargain- then you are relevant.

Then along came Michelle Obama.

Michelle with her effortless style, is classic Americana. She is without a doubt, the picture of an American mother, wife and individual. She loves J Crew, she dabbles in designer, and mixes it all together without too much help from an entourage of peeps. Yes- she has made some questionable choices- haven't we all? Aretha Franklin had a moment yesterday (put down the bedazzler Aretha!) I will never live down these amazing (so i thought) pants from D & G, that were printed with the subway system of New York- so I can relate.....do you see that....i just said it- I related. 

Michelle Obama has built a bridge between women today, her husband and America that she and her husband inherited. She is relevant because she doesn't speak fluent designer, she is relevant because she loves J Crew and White House/Black Market (insert disappointment here), she is relevant because she dresses her children the same way, and of course; she is relevant because she makes some bad outfit choices too. (I still have those D & G pants- get over it!) Michelle has communicated to many women of our nation and the world- that fashion is everywhere, and you too can (on any budget) put it all together. 

Simon Doonan and Barneys hit the jackpot yesterday. Even if women cannot afford to buy dresses by Isabel Toledo, they will ultimately go to Barneys to see touch and feel what the reluctant first lady of fashion wore. I'm sure they also bought up some Jason Wu, the twenty-somthing designer of Michelle Obama's Inaguration ball gown. All sorts of people, along with the women who can actually afford the dresses, will all be at Barneys soon with images of the First Couple still fresh in their heads. I feel a wave First Lady/Jackie O designs headed our way. 

How exciting this all is though. I'm my book the Obama's are true people of the cloth. They know their roots and they do not pretend to be anyone else than who they are. Its a value that has been missing for quite some time from the American People. Its my hope that we continue to explore our forgotten days of family time, bowling night and clothes based on your life- not  life based on your clothes.Most importantly to, of course, to never be afraid to wear your vans to a Gucci party!