Inaugural Fashion Update: Jason Wu for Michelle Obama, More Malia & Sasha in J. Crew

Hello again… and aren’t we wacky this evening, with back-to-back posts on party frocks in our Nation’s Capital?!

Many readers will already know this, but for those with an interest, the gown selected by First Lady Michelle Obama for this evening’s Inaugural Balls is by Jason Wu.

PHOTO: Rick Wilking/Reuters

The 26-year-old designer created a lush one-shouldered gown that was a mastery of draping.

PHOTO: Brian Snyder/Reuters

A close-up provides a better look at the intricate detailing Mr. Wu is known for; the dress is covered in Swarovski crystals.

PHOTO: Jason Reed/Reuters

The Taiwanese-born designer is no stranger to celebrities; one fan is Gossip Girl star Leighton Meester, seen in September at Wu’s runway show.

PHOTO: Patrick McMullan

Earlier this year Mrs. Obama wore the designer for an interview with Barbara Walters:

PHOTO: George Burns/ABC News/AP

Below, the dress as seen on the runway for the Spring 2009 collection.  The raw silk print dress retails for approximately $3150, according to Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan at one of our favorite blogs, the WSJ’s Heard on the Runway.

PHOTO: Imaxtree

And we have a second look at Ms. Meester in a Jason Wu creation:

Courtesy Coolspotters.com

And that dress on the runway:

PHOTO: Don Ashby

Another celebrity fan of Mr. Wu is 30 Rock star Katrina Bowden, seen below in a photo with the designer in Teen Vogue.

PHOTO: Teen Vogue

Let us not forget the dashing figure cut by the President:

PHOTO: Gary Hershorn/Reuters

As we first reported in this post last year, the President donned a single-button notch-lapel tuxedo by Hart Schaffner Marx. The Gold Trumpeter Tuxedo retails for $950.

Hart Schaffner Marx

As described on the company’s website:

“Gold Trumpeter elevates the luxury of the Hart Schaffner Marx brand. World class piece goods are used exclusively in all Gold Trumpeter garments. Trim details such as wing facing in the coat and a gripper waistband are the hallmarks of the Gold Trumpeter garment. The Gold Trumpeter garment is available in both the Classic and Collection fit.”

At Nordstrom it is called the Capital Collection Gold Trumpeter Tuxedo, retailing at $895.

We are still seeking information to bring you on the gown worn by Vice-President Biden’s wife, Dr. Jill Biden.

PHOTO: Gary Hershorn/Reuters

And we have a little more on the J. Crew ensembles worn by Malia and Sasha Obama earlier today, courtesy of the media mavens at that preppy retailer. All of the details one are available in this snooze news release.

“The Obamas continued to show their support for J.Crew at this morning’s Swearing-In, where the girls wore full looks from crewcuts by J.Crew and the new First Lady accessorized her outfit with classic olive green leather gloves from J.Crew. Malia featured a deep periwinkle blue coat, while her equally chic sister wore a deep coral dress under her sweet guava coat, vivid orange scarf and glove set, each tied with a velvet ribbon belt around the waist.”

Click on the link above for the entire text of the release; it does include details on additional items from J. Crew and Crewcuts worn by the First Family over the celebratory weekend.  That includes the Herbie Coats Sasha and Malia wore to the We are One concert on Sunday. The subhead on the release?

“MALIA & SASHA OBAMA WEAR COMPLETE CREWCUTS BY J.CREW OUTFITS FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT DAY IN HISTORY”

PHOTO: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty

The release also advises us that:

“… the girls kept warm in crewcuts by J.Crew wool pique Herbie coats, detailed with grosgrain piping and charmeuse linings. Sasha wore an ivory style with hammered brass buttons, while Malia wore a dove grey double cloth style with horn buttons.”

Sunday’s concert was noted for A-level entertainers like Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder and U2.

One of the best-kept secrets of the entire gala was the presence of several A-list bloggers, including Nautical by Nature and the Landlocked Mermaid.  Sources tell us they both elected to maintain a low-key presence in efforts to discourage autograph seekers and hangers-on.  (Ssshhh – more on their perspectives in a later post.)

Back to the cute coats: we do not think you will locate the coats on the retailer’s website. And any references to them on shopping search engines have either been taken down, or carry addendum indicating the coat is “no longer available.” We did locate one image of the coat; it does not fully match the images seen in the photos:

This shot offers a better angle:

PHOTO: Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty

Lest anyone be concerned the marketing minds at Crew are not seizing the moment:

Courtesy J. Crew

BTW, the marketing minds over at Barney’s wasted no time in adapting their front page as well, maximizing their connection with a now-famous designer they have supported for years, Isabel Toledo.

Courtesy Barneys

We’ll close with one last photo we thought was too cute…

PHOTO: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty

We’ll be back with more, including the Princess Consort’s take on Jason Wu’s preppy aesthetic, including some pretty in pink confections from the runway. No to mention the divine finds at the Market in Chicago.

A PREPPY INAUGURATION: Malia, Sasha & Michelle Obama in J. Crew (& Jimmy Choo!)

Hello-Hello…we just flew in the door 7:55pm EST… gasp… and logged in to check on today’s Inaugural

Please accept our apologies for being TARP (no, not that TARP, it means for The Absent Roaming Princess), our time at Market in Chicago stretched beyond our plans. But you will be ever-so-pleased that it did, for we spent oodles of time gazing at the loveliness that is the Lilly Pulitzer Spring accessory line, to name just one cause of our prolonged absence.

But let us move on to a topic that matters: today’s Inaugural fashions! We were on the phone with The Queen Mother when our first photos of the Obama girls came up on the computer screen; she was subjected to a shriek, “OMG, how darling are they????!!!!!!” Really, can we talk about the bows? Everywhere? It was definitely cute overload, and we just love every inch of what they had on.

In case you wanted another glance….

In this next photo one can see how Sasha Obama’s pink and orange contrast beautifully with Malia’s royal blue. (Above, Sen. Hillary Clinton, and Jenna Bush.)

This story in Newsday gives more specifics on the girls’ outfits:

“Malia went for a double-breasted, deep periwinkle coat, while younger sis Sasha shone in a guava pink coat, contrasting orange scarf and gloves, with just the hint of a coral dress peeking from the below her hem. Both coats were tied with velvet ribbons, echoing the tie on Mom’s sparkly coat.”

PHOTO: Rick Wilking/Reuters

The Obama girls were both in Crewcuts, from one of Michelle Obama’s favorite fashion outlets, J. Crew.  That same Newsday story sheds more light on how the selections were made:

“According to the company, Michelle and the girls had an opportunity to choose what they liked. “We wanted to offer a collection …that would let their own personalities show through,” said Jenna Lyons, creative director of J.Crew.”

One word of caution however: do NOT look for these pieces online or at your local J. Crew. The looks are from the Fall 2009 collection, and they are somewhat modified from what will be available to Jane and John Q. Public.  First Lady Michelle Obama did her part for J. Crew, wearing a pair of their leather gloves for the morning.

Next, the Isabel Toledo dress and matching coat:

PHOTO: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty

As described on The Caucus blog at the Times,

“…the coat and dress were made of Swiss wool lace, backed with netting for warmth and lined in French silk. “I wanted to pick a very optimistic color, that had sunshine,” she said. “I wanted her to feel charmed, and in that way would charm everybody.”

PHOTO: Pool

As detailed in WWD’s initial story on the ensemble with reaction from the designer’s spouse:

“The soon-to-be First Lady did not tip her hand in any way. “We had no idea. We hoped she would wear something because she has bought Isabel’s clothes before. We never know what’s going to happen,” he said.

“It’s just another shock, but a great shock.”‘

Our favorite quote from the Toledos?

“We’re all grateful for this opportunity, and we don’t even have a PR person!”

Keep in mind, Ms. Toledo lost her job with Anne Klein earlier this year

And on Mrs. Obama’s feet? The Jimmy Choo Glacier pump, as seen below at DSW.

Jimmy Choo 'Glacier' Pump

Readers thinking “Hhhmmm….hasn’t Mrs. Obama worn Isabel Toledo before?” get a pink and green star! As seen in this post in June of last year…

..the look was an elegant tunic and palazzo pants. The occasion was a fundraiser on behalf of her husband put on by fashion industry leaders like the Anna Wintour and Calvin Klein.  In TP’s ever-so-humble opinion, the Toledo sheath and coat were just gorgeous, simply stunning on Mrs. Obama.  To our uneducated eyes however, the look was better suited to a semi-formal evening function.

So load up those poison pens angry people; we adore the design, love the color, and think both combined for a radiant First Lady.  We merely think the look better suited to a different occasion.  We are surprised at the volume of negative comments on the shape (or lack thereof apparently) of the coat, it seemed entirely in keeping with the refined flow of the dress underneath.

BTW, today’s pieces are not the only J. Crew fashions worn by the First Family during the festivities of the last several days. More on that in our next post…we’re off to see tonight’s gown for the Inaugural Balls! (We’re hearing Jason Wu… stand by formore!)