The First Lady In Azzedine Alaia

I don't quite think Michelle Obama has gotten enough credit for her sense of First Lady style.  Last night she wore, not for the first time, Azzedine Alaia and she looked amazing.

The last First Lady to have such a personal and sure sense of style was Jacqueline Kennedy and A LOT of attention was focused on her wardrobe so it is curious that other then Oscar de la Renta getting his briefs in a bunch (now there is an image : )) Mrs. Obama does not really get much credit for thinking so much outside the usual First Lady box...

love, kisses and vintage, Juliana

Vote! And What to Wear to an Inauguration Past

Vote!  You can do it!  Your vote counts!  

When all of the campaigning ends, when a President is elected, it all comes down to what is really important: What to wear for the inauguration : )  A look back as we look forward...

Jacqueline Kennedy and President John Kennedy.  1961.

Michelle Obama and President Barack Obama.  2009

Lady Bird Johnson.  1965

Nancy and President Ronald Reagan.  1981

Secretary of State Hilary Clinton (is it just me, or does Hilary look like Kate Winslet in this photo??) and President Bill Clinton.  1993

Pat Nixon.  1969.  (Sorry the photo is small but very fun)

and not inaugural but dresses of First ladies in the wonderful collection on the First Ladies at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC...

Mary Lincoln's silk dress (with a modified bodice). 1886.

Dolley Madison's Pride and Prejudice - oops I mean, Dolley Madison's gown embroidered with dragon flies, butterflies and flocks of flowers.  Circa 1810s.  (But isn't it so Elizabeth Bennet??!)

Florence Hardings silk tulle beaded gown.  Circa 1920s.

Eleanor Roosevelt's pink crepe and beaded gown.  1945.

Grace Coolridges Boardwalk Empire flapper dress.  Circa 1920s.  Hello Nucky!

Mamie Eisenhower's 1957 silk taffeta dress

and what will the first woman President of the United States wear to her inauguration?  Stay tuned!  Keep tuned in and vote!  Your vote counts! 

He's Not from Indiana for Nothing: Norman Norell

So declared Amercian Vogue in 1972 of Norman Norell.  Really, I am not sure what that means but anyway that is what Vogue said and I guess they know their Indianans (which comes as a total surprise to me but Diana Vreeland was gone and Grace Mirabella was in as Editor in 1972 and she probably had more of a feel for a boy from Indiana then Mrs. Vreeland would have had.)

Minimalism rules right now.  American designers, I am sad to say, have been perhaps too deeply influenced by Phoebe Philo for Celine for their 2011 prefall collections.  I think we want to see not a watered down version of what she does for the House of Celine but something unique and personal to each designer.  But that is the great talent of Phoebe Philo and why I think she will be considered a visionary designer because she not only changed the way we want to dress, she made so many others follow her lead.

Norman Norell was an early minimalist.  Clean lines and perfect tailoring is the hallmark of Norell.   He is considered one of the best  Amercian designers.  It is perhaps not surprising that Michelle Obama chose Norman Norell to wear for a First Lady's first in wearing vintage.  His designs are timeless, classic and still modern.  

This navy jersey dress is classic Norell.  It can take you from the office to an office party to a cocktail party to an elegant dinner out.  Just a usual night out for us Manhattan girls this time of year.  So have fun, look amazing, wear to collect and collect to wear!

Navy jersey Norman Norell dress.  Size 4.  Fitted at the waist.  Zips up the back.  

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Do as the First Lady and Wear Vintage Norman Norell

Now, that is a title for a post that I never would have imagined writing before today, but there it is and there she was, Michelle Obama, in vintage Norman Norell in front of the Christmas tree looking beautiful,  young, alluring and indeed like a style icon.   

Norman Norell is as American as apple pie and just as delicious but only infinitely more glamorous.  So why don't you do as the First Lady of the United States this holiday and wear vintage Norman Norell?

This is an iconic crepe Norell cocktail dress.  I like to think of it as the fashion equivalent to the slow dressing movement.  The dress, in two parts, is a top with jeweled buttons which attach the skirt to the dress. There is a zipper so you don't really need to button and unbutton the dress each time but this dress is all about langour.  Take your time, have a cocktail, listen to some great music and sit at a dressing table to put your lipstick on for some fabulous party you are going to.  It may even be at the White House!

     1960s Norman Norell black crepe cocktail dress with jeweled buttons.  Size 4.

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