Michelle Obama

How to wear anything: Top 5 style maxims to tweak your chic

This week's 15th anniversary post looks at timeless ways to wear anything... including the lead photo of the late great fashion raconteur Anna Piaggi.  Discover your inner Carrie, if you must. How to wear anything with aplomb? Follow the Top 5 Style Maxims. Did you ever notice how some women can barely pull off wearing a pair of jeans and a T-shirt without looking like they are about to clean out the garage? While there are others who are the masters of the craziest, most way out combination that always seems to work on them? From Sarah Jessica Parker's the character Carrie in “Sex and the City,” pictured below,  to the late fashion impresario Anna Piaggi, pictured above, the Italian

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Michelle Obama Style: Today’s power dressing muse…

This week's 15th Anniversary of FocusOnStyle online, looks back at the First Lady's timeless and classic chic as an example of modern power dressing. -S.H. Michelle Obama Style: Today's power dressing muse. Everyday style for clean, corporate chic. Everyday style for clean, corporate chic Dear Sharon:As a corporate executive in a slightly conservative firm, I am always afraid to take fashion risks, yet I still want to look stylish. I usually dress in suits that are starting to bore me. I want to expand my business dress options but not appear as if I am more interested in my clothing than my client's portfolio. I am aware that it is a tough nut to crack, but I am ready to expand

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Oscars 2013 Red Carpet Arrivals… as it happens

Naomi Watts in Armani Prive
 As the stars start to arrive, let's look at Oscar Red Carpet Fashion 2013. It's not exactly a year of thrills and chills for fashion. More like a year of safe, pale, and boring, with a few stunning exceptions. SCULPTED SILHOUETTES- Naomi Watts pictured above and below, in Armani Prive looks like a movie star. An exceptional aspirational gown as described by Armani as  a "custom Giorgio Armani gown fully envelope in layered gunmetal grey sequins.  The other worldly gown features galactic cap sleeves and an abstract triangle cut out in the front.  The fitted bodice cascades into a slightly pooling train creating an architecturalsilhouette." Naomi Watts in Armani Prive >>MORE from the Oscars Zoe Saldana in Alexis Mabille Couture Zoe Saldana, always a red carpet favorite, wows

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The First Lady of Style: Michelle Obama WOWS in (Jason) Wu Again for Inaugural Gown, and then some

Truth be told, red is my favorite color for everything except party affiliation. The First Lady broke tide in a STUNNING Jason Wu red halter gown for the Inaugural gown first dance, and maybe, just maybe, that can be a sign of getting us all together. Far from the more girly white Jason Wu frock from 2009, this red draped chiffon and velvet number was sexy in the most powerful and in control nuance that a grown woman should master. Add The First Lady's new bangs, and Mrs. Obama stunned in a fresh and vibrant way that made you not only proud to be an American looking forward but proud that a woman of substance is in a place which she belongs.

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Michelle Obama’s Bangs, Oh Yes! The First Lady Keeps To Ageless Chic With A New Hairstyle

A quick little reminder about staying youthful and keeping your personal brand both modern and vital. Case in point: Michelle Obama turned 49 today with a few new things: @FLOTUS  (First Lady Of The United States), her Twitter handle where we got a first look at the First Lady's new hairstyle, BANGS! Yup, there is nothing like a new hairstyle to refresh your style, like Michelle Obama's bangs and layered do.  It sets your look ahead of the curve and creates the image of a mindfulness for an understanding of progress, rather than settled into the past. Think about that as you present YOUR brand to the world. Our First Lady understands that it's about the details when it comes to

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Trend Tuesday – Michelle Obama and Samantha Cameron in Top Spring Business ChicTrends

Why do we tip off what works about these two political ladies? Because both Michelle Obama and Samantha Cameron have mastered sophisticated business chic, and here's how you can add polish to your workwear wardrobe  too! Call it a double-impact dose of top Spring cool when Michelle Obama & Samantha Cameron are paired together... MORE: Michelle Obama Style and Samantha Cameron The duo looked easy- business chic last week meeting in D.C in a natty white skirt suit with a sculptural peplum flair and a daytime elegant color-blocked belted shift dress that leaves no debate on who wore it better as both style mavens made quite a beautiful set of polished statements. >>More: Latest Trends On Obama, Zac Posen's monochromatic skirt suit

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Michelle Obama Style Alert- First Lady Wears Vintage Style and Does NOT Look Like an Old Lady

  I’ll Have What She’s Having : A mellow hued watercolor floral print that although vintage inspired, looks fresh and age appropriate on First Lady Michelle Obama. A rich print on a classic 60's inspired princess coat could have gone all wrong on someone Michelle Obama's age, as it could have aged her beyond her years if it weren't for some modern updates and a slightly more relaxed silhouette that took away the Jackie Kennedy edge from her ensemble. Stylist Tip: Avoid channelling vintage style exactly the way it was worn the first time to avoid a costume effect-- tweak to modern chic. MORE: Michelle Obama Style Michelle Obama recently made an elegant statement in a regal blue abstract printed Peter

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Here’s How Michelle Obama Makes Pastels Look Chic

I'll Have What She's Having : Sophisticated & pretty pastel shades oozing with daytime elegance. Pastels can be tricky to pull off if  you want to look more refined rather than youthful. Even with the best intentions, a grown-up woman can instantly look like a cast off from the sherbet scooper. Last week First Lady Michelle Obama made a case for daytime elegance in an easy to pull-off, well styled look that exudes a certain finesse at pairing subtly distinct separates. SHOP: Accessories Guides   MORE: Michelle Obama    B-Low The Belt Alpha Belt stretch snake coil belt with simple styling to update any outfit. At Shopbop While it vaguely brings to mind mid-90's Gianni Versace with its powdery hues, classic silhouette and references to haute bourgeois

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Michelle Obama’s Hanukkah Blue on Blue Streak in Metallic Rodarte

I'll Have What She's Having:  The First Lady goes chic Hannukah blue for an effortless festive look. Michelle Obama stylishly lit up the Festival of Lights looking thoroughly modern at a White House Hanukkah reception in a pleated Rodarte tea dress that had all the makings of a proper ladylike silhouette in an unexpected electric blue metallic fabrication. MORE: Michelle Obama Style Pairing it with a matching blue Erickson Beaman necklace gave the outfit some tonal ornamentation while not taking away from the looks main extravagance- its slick hue. Take a note from her and look for princess shapes that have a quintessentially modern vibe via non-traditional colors and finishes for your next night out on the town. -Naveed Hussain Take a cue from Michelle

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Michelle Obama wears a striped Tracy Reese sweater for a bit of French Chic style

First Lady Michelle Obama wearing a Tracey Reese sweater
I'll Have What She's Having: Michelle Obama Plays With A Twist On A Classic In Chicago For A Cause We've been a lull on our Michelle Obama style watch for a while, but this striped Tracey Reese sweater got our fashion engine going again for some can-do, every day style chic. While in Chicago yesterday to promote healthy eating initiatives in low-income areas, style maven Michelle Obama radiated a cool playfulness in a classic ivory and black striped sweater from Tracy Reese that featured an asymmetrical key-hole cut-out and an unexpected bow at the neckline. MORE: Michelle Obama style We love the fact that the classic elements of Reese's striped pullover keep Obama looking appropriate and put together while the

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Isabel Toledo Spring 2012 Runway Collection In Miami

Besides having Michelle Obama as one of her most ardent celebrity clients, Cuban-born designer Isabel Toledo has been wowing critics and fashion fans including yours truly since she began her eponymous line in the mid-80's with her artisinal-minded, avant-garde confections and her deliberately off-the-radar cult of personality. MORE: FASHION SHOWS AND RUNWAY REVIEWS Leave it to Toledo to debut her Spring 2012 collection just weeks after the fashion-show season has ended and all the way down in Miami...Miami? Well, it makes sense after reading that the event was in conjunction with Vanidades' 6th annual 'Magia de la Moda' fashion event followed by the Fashion Group International honoring Toledo and her husband Ruben with a lifetime achievement award. Here's a breakdown of the show

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Michelle Obama Style Alert- It’s Back to Clean Chic With Vibrant Skirt and Simple Tank

I'll Have What She's Having: Easy, breezy late summer style When I first saw this photo of the First Lady this week, I was loving the simple clean chic style that best flatters Michelle Obama's strong and statuesque frame. There have been a few missteps in outfits that were a bit too fussy or girly for her, but this Suno skirt and tank gets an A+! -- S.H. Michelle Obama wore Suno again for the fourth time in Martha's Vineyard this weekend & radiated beachside chic in the label's graphic pleated Spring Beach Geo skirt. >> MORE: Michelle Obama Style Like a smart dresser would, she plays up its bold color-blocking with refined basics and simple hair for a look

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Kate Middleton Trumps Michelle Obama With Her Reiss Dress

One for the Brits, but the First Lady makes up for it later! Sorry folks, but I have to give this one to the other team. I'm afraid to say that Mrs. Obama's dainty print, retro full skirt Barbara Tfank dress reminds me of another First Lady, Mamie Eisenhower, and, in my opinion, is not flattering to this First Lady's statuesque frame. But then there's the clean chic style that Michelle Obama hallmarked, this time worn by Kate Middleton. After the satorial success of her wearing a Reiss dress for when her engagement was announced, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge selected another Reiss dress to meet President and Mrs. Obama at Buckingham Palace on the first day of the President and

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