by Mary Tomer
Additional thanks to Steven Brinlee, fashion writer, for his copywriting input.
On a personal note, I owe heartfelt thanks to the many wonderful people in my life, who have always been supportive, but remarkably so over the past several months. Most especially: Martha Wiles, my lovely mother, favorite person on earth, and the best writer I know. Mr. Doug-o-las Wiles, for embracing a fashion blog! Jimmy Byun, my dear and great love. And to my wonderful, cherished friends—Alli K., Christa B., Erin G., Erin R. Jen S., Julie B., Kate L., Kim B., Lili D., Lindsay G., Marta L., Maura N., and Meg H.
The community on Mrs-O.org is an absolute inspiration in itself. It was important to capture the articulate, insightful, and varied perspectives of those that visit the site. They make Mrs-O.org the thriving, buzzing online community it has become.
Finally, I owe great thanks to Michelle Obama, first lady of the United States—the woman who unites and inspires us all.
PHOTO CREDITS
Adjacent imagery separated by;
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ii: White House Photo/Flickr/Public Domain. vi: White House Photo/Flickr/Public Domain. ix: Mike Baird via Flickr. 1: Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, Chicago. 3: Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, Chicago. 4: (From Top) Nassau Herald, 1985 – Joe Wrinn/Harvard University/Handout/Corbis. 7: Handout from Obama for America via AP. 8: (From Top) Getty Images/Scott J. Ferrell – Getty Images/Scott Olson. 9: Photo by Katrina Wittkamp. 10: (From Top) AP Photo – Getty Images/Simon Maina. 11: Portrait by Timothy Greenfield Sanders/Stockland Martel. 12-13: Getty Images/Charles Ommanney. 15: Jason Reed/Reuters. 16-17: Getty Images/Charles Ommanney. 18-19: Getty Images/Charles Ommanney. 20: Chris Pizzello/Reuters. 21: Getty Images/Cindy Gold. 22-23: Getty Images/Chris Hondros. 25: Getty Images/Chip Somodevilla. 27: Photos by Frank Mullin. 28: AP Photo – Maria Pinto Rachel ruffle blouse, photo by Rodrigo Corral Design/Tracy Morford. 29: AP Photo. 30: John Gress/Reuters. 31: Moschino olive green jacket and skirt, image courtesy of Moschino. 32-33: Getty Images/Charles Ommanney. 34: Getty Images/Emmanuel Dunand. 35: Getty Images/Emmanuel Dunand. 36: Illustration by Rodrigo Corral Design/Ben Wiseman. 37: Photos by Erika Dufour. 39: Getty Images/Marcel Thomas. 40: American Broadcasting Companies Inc. 41: American Broadcasting Companies Inc. 42: Illustration by Rodrigo Corral Design/Ben Wiseman. 43: Donna Ricco black and white print dress, photo by Rodrigo Corral Design/Tracy Morford. 44: Carolyn Rosenberg feather brooch, photo by Rodrigo Corral Design/Michael Schmelling. 45: Getty Images/Chip Somodevilla. 46-47: AP Photo. 48: AP Photo. 49: Moschino floral shirtdress, image courtesy of Moschino. 50-51: Getty Images/Spencer Platt. 53: Getty Images/Robyn Beck. 54: Erickson Beamon, Ltd. Victory Garden brooch in turquoise, photo by Rodrigo Corral Design/Tracy Morford. 55: Maria Pinto, teal V-neck sheath dress, photo by Rodrigo Corral Design/Tracy Morford. 57: AP Photo. 58-59: Erickson Beamon, Ltd. Peace at Last glass pearl necklace, photo by Rodrigo Corral Design/Tracy Morford. 60: (From top) Ivory and lime brocade fabric used by Peter Soronen, photo by Rodrigo Corral Design/Michael Schmelling – Peter Soronen dress, photo provided by Peter Soronen. 61: Getty Images/Justin Sullivan. 62-63: Eric Thayer/Reuters. 64-65: AP Photo. 66-67: (From top) Vernon Bryant/Dallas Morning News/Corbis – Moschino floral sequin brooches, photo by Rodrigo Corral Design/Tracy Morford. 68-69: AP Photo. 71: Getty Images/Joe Raedle. 72-73: AP Photo. 74-75: Thakoon reverse kimono dress, photos by Rodrigo Corral Design/Tracy Morford. 76: Illustration by Rodrigo Corral Design/Ben Wiseman. 77: Erickson Beamon, Ltd. Victory Garden brooches, photo by Rodrigo Corral Design/Tracy Morford. 78: Illustration by Rodrigo Corral Design/Ben Wiseman. 79: Medley or roses by Miho Kosuda, Ltd., photo by Rodrigo Corral Design/Tracy Morford. 80-81: AP Photo. 82-83: AP Photo. 84: Illustration by Rodrigo Corral Design/Ben Wiseman. 85: Zero + Maria Cornejo jacket in evening raffia, photo by Rodrigo Corral Design/Michael Schmelling. 87: Getty Images/Win McNamee. 88: AP Photo. 89: H&M dress, photo by Rodrigo Corral Design/Tracy Morford. 91: Getty Images/Pool. 92: Getty Images/Pool. 93: Getty Images/Emmanuel Dunand. 94-95: Jimmy Choo Glacier pumps, photo by Rodrigo Corral Design/Michael Schmelling. 96: Brett Marty; AP Photo. 97: Hattie Carnegie silk flower pin from the Carole Tanenbaum Vintage Collection, photo by Rodrigo Corral Design/Tracy Morford. 98: AP Photo. 99: AP Photo. 100: Illustration by Rodrigo Corral Design/Ben Wiseman. 101: J. Crew Italian deco tank shirt, photo provided by J. Crew. 102: (From top) Lena Wald peace sign necklace, photo by Rodrigo Corral Design/Tracy Morford – Blue Moon Beads “Hope” charm, photo by Rodrigo Corral Design/Tracy Morford. 103: AP Photo. 105: AP Photo. 106: (Left to Right) Jimmy Choo Jade pump, photo by Rodrigo Corral Design/Michael Schmelling; Loree Rodkin Triple Constellation earrings, photo supplied by Loree Rodkin. 107: AP Photo. 108-109: AP Photo. 110: John Gress/Reuters. 111: Sonia Rykiel black wool swing coat, photo by Rodrigo Corral Design/Michael Schmelling. 112: Ho New/Reuters. 113: Maria Pinto wool crepe dress, photo by Rodrigo Corral Design/Tracy Morford. 115: American Broadcasting Companies Inc. 116-117: AP Photo. 118: David Burnett/Contact Press Images. 119: Jim Young/Reuters. 120-121: Getty Images/Mandel Ngan. 123: Getty Images/Mark Rolston. 124: Getty Images/Brendan Smialowski. 125: Mike Segar/Reuters/Corbis. 126: Getty Images/Timothy A. Clary. 127: AP Photo. 128: Getty Images/Pool. 129: Getty Images/Robyn Beck. 130-131: Getty Images/Charles Ommanney. 133: Troy House. 134-135: Designs by Isabel Toledo; Illustration by Ruben Toledo. 136: White House Photo/Flickr/Public Domain. 137: Getty Images/Mark Wilson. 138: Illustration by Rodrigo Corral Design/Ben Wiseman. 139: Photo by David B. King. 140-141: White House Photo/Pete Souza. 143: Photo by Christopher Sturman. 144: Kona Bay Fabrics, photo by Rodrigo Corral Design/Michael Schmelling. 145: Getty Images/Jim Watson. 146-147: White House Photo/Flickr/Public Domain. 148: Cartier Tank Francaise steel watch, photo by Rodrigo Corral Design/Michael Schmelling. 149: Getty Images/The White House. 150: Illustration by Rodrigo Corral Design/Ben Wiseman. 151: Getty Images/Kevin Mazur. 153: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters/Corbis. 155: Getty Images/Yuri Gripas. 157: AP Photo. 158: (From Left) Moschino metallic bead brooch, photo by Rodrigo Corral Design/Tracy Morford; Peter Soronen houndstooth jacket, photo by Rodrigo Corral Design/Tracy Morford. 159: Getty Images/Brendan Smialowski. 161: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters/Corbis. 162: Jason Wu cocktail dress, photo by Rodrigo Corral Design/Tracy Morford. 163: Jason Wu french knot embroidery detail, photo by Rodrigo Corral Design/Tracy Morford. 164: Sequins on chiffon fabric used by Peter Soronen, photo by Rodrigo Corral Design/Michael Schmelling. 165: Getty Images/Mandel Ngan. 166: Illustration by Rodrigo Corral Design/Ben Wiseman. 167: White House Photo/Flickr/Public Domain. 168: Getty Images/Alex Wong. 169: AP Photo. 170: Emerald green silk chiffon fabric used by Kai Milla, photo by Rodrigo Corral Design/Tracy Morford. 171: Getty Images/Pool. 172: Illustration by Rodrigo Corral Design/Ben Wiseman. 173: Illustration by Renaldo A. Barnette. 174-175: (From left) Sonia Rykiel clear vinyl belt, photo by Rodrigo Corral Design/Tracy Morford; Rodney Choice. 176: Illustration by Rodrigo Corral Design/Ben Wiseman. 177: Getty Images/Stan Honda. 178: Getty Images/Mandel Ngan. 179: Getty Images/Win McNamee. 180: (From left) Getty Images/AFP; Jonathan Ernst/Reuters. 181: Brooks Kraft/Corbis. 182-183: Getty Images/Mandel Ngan. 184: Getty Images/Mark Wilson. 185: Getty Images/Saul Loeb. 186: (From top) J. Crew Constellation cardigan, image supplied by J. Crew – Jimmy Choo Jade pump in snakeskin, photo by Rodrigo Corral Design/Michael Schmelling. 187: (From left) Getty Images/WPA Pool; AP Photo. 188-189: Getty Images/Mandel Ngan. 190: Getty Images/John Stillwell. 191: Getty Images/Saun Curry. 192: Getty Images/WPA Pool. 193: Getty Images/Mandel Ngan. 194: (From top) Illustration by Rodrigo Corral Design/Ben Wiseman – Kevin Lamarque/Reuters/Corbis. 195: Junya Watanabe argyle cardigan, photo by Rodrigo Corral Design/Michael Schmelling. 196: Getty Images/Saul Loeb. 197: Getty Images/Saul Loeb. 198: AP Photo. 199: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters. 200: Getty Images/Sean Gallup. 201: Getty Images/Nigel Treblin. 202: Moschino oversize bow blouse, image courtesy of Moschino. 203: Getty Images/Joe Klamar. 204-205: Getty Images/Alex Wong. 206: Getty Images/Pool. 207: Pieter Erasmus. 209: Getty Images/Ji
m Watson. 210: Getty Images/AFP. 211: Peter Soronen one-shoulder painted lace dress, photo by Rodrigo Corral Design/Michael Schmelling. 213: Getty Images/Win McNamee. 215: Elisabeth Moch. 216: Jean-Philippe Delhomme. 219: François Berthoud. 220: Minni Havas. 223: Mia Overgaard. 224: Virginia Johnson. 225: Carter Kustera. 226: Stephen Campbell. 228: Sirichai. 231: David Downton. 236: Getty Images/Emmanuel Dunand.
Celebrated for her style and substance, Michelle Obama has transformed the role of first lady and become a 21st century icon, attracting attention from all over the world. The qualities so admired in her—intelligence, strength, and charisma—radiate through her personal style, which has united accessibility with high-wattage glamour. The clothes, like the woman, feel both familiar and inspirational. Readily mixing high-end labels with more affordable brands, with a focus on craftsmanship and artistry, Mrs. O has elevated the notion of real value and ushered in a new era of “fashion democracy.”
Building on the success of Mrs-O.org—the Web site that chronicles Michelle Obama’s style—Mrs. O: The Face of Fashion Democracy takes a closer look at America’s modern style icon, featuring more than 125 magnificent photographs of the first lady and delving into the backstory of the clothes and accessories. It also goes behind-the-scenes with interviews from her favorite designers, including Isabel Toledo, Jason Wu, Michael Kors, Maria Pinto, and Isaac Mizrahi.
Opening with a brief overview of Michelle Obama’s early years, the book goes on to provide rarely seen photos from the presidential primary trail through the 2008 Democratic National Convention, the monumental events of election night, the inauguration and early chapters of life in the White House. The final chapter hears the opinions of Mrs. O’s adoring fans from all over the world—giving the last word to the people.
Original photography of her most iconic looks, along with commentary from fashion experts top off this tactile visual feast. Woven together with sketches and illustrations inspired by the first lady, the book reveals the story of a new era of American fashion.
MARY TOMER is the founder and contributing editor of Mrs-O.org. In the summer of 2008, captivated by Michelle Obama’s arrival on the national stage, Mary realized the future first lady had the makings of a style icon—the genesis of Mrs-O.org. The site launched in September 2008, and has quickly grown to attract more than 2 million site visits, with traffic from 221 countries and territories. Mary has appeared on the Today Show, MSNBC, Access Hollywood and BBC Radio, speaking as an authority on the first lady’s style. While not blogging, Mary works in advertising for Bartle Bogle Hegarty in New York.
“What is compelling about Mrs. Obama’s style is how she wears both high fashion and low fashion—it’s modern, democratic, and above all, American.”
ANDREW BOLTON,
CURATOR, THE COSTUME INSTITUTE,
THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
