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Michelle Obama's Euro Style

FabSugar — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 08:00:22 -0700

This week the Obamas began their European tour. All eyes were on Michelle to see what she packed and loaded onto Air Force One. First stop: London, where the presidential couple met with Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah, as well as the Queen. Favorites like Jason Wu and Isabel Toledo made appearances, while a couple surprises ensued. Let's see Michelle's Euro style! P.S. France is next on the agenda. Can you imagine the fabulousness of Michelle and Carla Bruni chatting over croissants?

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Should Michelle Obama Be Supporting African American Designers?

FabSugar — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 11:00:22 -0800

With just a couple days into her reign as the First Lady, Michelle Obama is already starting to feel the pressures of her position. Amnau Eele, former model and co-founder of the Black Artists Association, is filing a formal appeal to the First Lady’s office on behalf of the BAA. The charge? They're mad at her for not wearing anything by an African American designer at her inaugural appearances.

“It’s one thing to look at the world without color but she had seven slots to wear designer clothes. Why wasn’t she wearing the clothes of a black designer? That was our moment,” said Eele. There's no doubt the First Lady has a lot of responsibilities to uphold but should her fashion choices be one of them?

(L-R: Designs by Narciso Rodriguez, Jason Wu, and Isabel Toledo)

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First Lady Style: Michelle Obama in Isabel Toledo

FabSugar — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:00:22 -0800

Yellow. Lemongrass, to be exact. It's a known fact that yellow is an uplifting, optimistic color. What better choice, then, for the new first lady for the swearing-in ceremony this morning. While her tots wore colorful J.Crew Crewcuts (so cute), Michelle continued the delight in a custom Isabel Toledo coat and dress. The Cuban-born designer did not know this would be Michelle's choice today - imagine the designer's delight.The delicious design was quite luxurious, made of Swiss wool lace, backed with netting for warmth, and lined in pale pink French silk. About the cheery color, “I wanted to pick a very optimistic color, that had sunshine,” Toledo said. Michelle didn't stop the color there. Her olive green leather gloves and teal Jimmy Choo shoes were unexpected additions. I know everyone is comparing Michelle to Jackie O, but Jackie would definitely approve of this. What I adore most about Michelle's look is the texture, the slight overall sparkle, and fancy neckline. Not in a long while has a first lady experimented with color, texture, and embellishments.

To see more of Michelle in her yellow Isabel Toledo, read more.

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Fab Blab

FabSugar — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 13:00:22 -0700

During New York Fashion Week, a handful of attendees were asked a very important question: For whom do women dress? Here's what they had to say . . .

Carine Roitfeld (left): "I don't know for everyone else. For me, it's for myself. When you feel good about yourself, you feel good about everyone else."

Anne Hathaway: "Most women dress for their most fashionable friend."

Isabel Toledo: Women dress for men. I do dress for myself because it makes me feel empowered, but I'm definitely looking for [husband] Rubin's expression, not his approval. I do use clothes to speak - how I dress is a form of communication for me."

Sophia Bush: I dress for myself. There are days when I don't want to be dressed up so I'm not. And there are other days when I really want to be done from head to toe. You've got to dress for you."

So, for whom do you dress?

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Fab Read: Style Dictionary

FabSugar — Wed, 23 May 2007 05:50:33 -0700

Here is an oldie but goodie. I got this Style Dictionary illustrated by Ruben Toledo, $23, for Christmas years ago. If you have been enjoying our Style Glossary this is up your fashion education alley.

The illustrator, Ruben Toledo, is one of my favorite fashion illustrators. You may recognize his unique style from the Nordstrom ads and their clever whimsical illustrations. He is married to the designer Isabel Toledo who is the new designer at Anne Klein. Page-by-page Toledo illustrates fashion terms through colorful imagery; I received it as a gift and it is indeed a great gift to give!

Fab Read: Mrs. O, The Face of Fashion Democracy

FabSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:00:22 -0700

Michelle Obama is such an icon, there's a second book dedicated to her first-class style. Mrs. O: The Face of Fashion Democracy ($18) follows the first lady's wardrobe choices, from her wedding dress to her White House getups. You'll also find interviews with designers like Maria Pinto, Isabel Toledo, and Jason Wu, who have all dressed Michelle. The author is Mary Tomer, the same person who started the Mrs. O blog, which reports about Michelle's daily outfits.

Michelle Obama in Isabel Toledo

FabSugar — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:28:55 -0800

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Fab Read: Ruben Toledo Illustrates Three Classics

FabSugar — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 05:50:22 -0700

While his wife Isabel is busy dressing Michelle Obama, Ruben Toledo is dressing books. The famous artist, who once illustrated Nina Garcia's The Little Black Book of Style, has now done it again for the deluxe editions of three classic novels: Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen ($11), Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte ($11), and The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne ($11). You can pre-order now, but they will be available Aug. 25. I adore Ruben's quirky art and I haven't read the classics in a while, so . . .

Friday Fab News Roundup!

FabSugar — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:00:22 -0700

Karen Walker's Resort collection makes mom pants look good - Nylon
Coach said to be developing new brand - FWD
Fashion shows around the world - Guardian UK
Michelle Obama's inauguration outfit to be featured in Isabel Toledo exhibit - NY Daily
Why we all love leggings - Times UK
Reality check - or last Resort? - New York Times
Lily, Kate, and Sienna's night of singing and style - Marie Claire UK
Italy looks beyond its borders for fashion talent - New York Times
Breaking news: Roksanda Ilincic for Whistles - FabSugar UK
Proenza Schouler's art school - WWD

Biggest Headline of 2008: All Fashion Eyes on First Lady Michelle Obama

FabSugar — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:00:22 -0800

2008 will be remembered for lots of intriguing events, people, headlines, movies - you know, the usual as the world turns kind of stuff. But, one woman captured the spotlight, ever so subtly, and we're only going to see more of her for at least the next four years. This Chicagoian is a lawyer, wife, and mother, but she is also a style maker. Throughout the year, I started noticing her more in publications like WWD and the New York Times, and when she made Vanity Fair's Annual International Best Dressed List in July, I was all eyes.
And the fashion flock took a quick liking to her, too. Also in July, several designers held a dinner in her honor in New York. She wore a black Isabel Toledo ensemble and adorned her neck with a Tom Binns piece. There, designer Peter Som said, "Michelle and Barack are hopefully the light at the end of a very dark tunnel. And she's fabulously styled. She seems that she has an amazing sense of self. She has impeccable taste, so she is not going to need any help from anybody else."

To read the rest about Michelle's rise to fashion fame, read more.

In August, the Democratic National Convention went down, and Michelle stepped it up in a couple notable looks. She stuck with her local favorite Maria Pinto in a turquoise sheath and you all agreed it was totally Fab. Then we saw her red and purple Thakoon floral shift. We loved it so much - it was so fun and unexpected - and Michelle was the Fab favorite of that week. To our surprise, Julianne Moore wore the same red and purple Thakoon dress in October, cementing the dress as a keeper.

Nov. 4 rolled around and one of the most highly anticipated elections in decades had everyone biting their nails. While Michelle's fiery Narciso Rodriguez dress wasn't my favorite, she made a statement. Nonetheless, the whole family was wearing the bold combination of black and red, and we were proud to have them represent our country. And, the idea of Michelle being a Vogue cover lady was very exciting.

Soon after, we caught up with stylist Robert Verdi and he talked about Michelle's controversial Narcisco dress and what he expects from the future first lady. Interesting stuff.

Most recently, WWD revealed numerous designer sketches that were drawn for Inauguration. From Oscar de la Renta to Christian Lacroix, our imaginations ran wild. Will she choose her local favorite Maria Pinto? An emerging American great like Peter Som or Jason Wu? Or maybe a creation out of left field by Moschino or J.Crew? Michelle has dabbled in all these designers. My guess is she'll wow us with something unexpected. Something modern, colorful, and hopeful.

Source, Source and Photo courtesy of NBC