The Style Insider is in the mood to do some Thakoon Panichgul shopping, because we saw Michelle Obama in France today wearing his gorgeous black and fuchsia A-line jacquard silk coat and short-sleeved fuchsia dress. And she just rocked the house, OK? In France.

We were so proud. (more…)

You’ve probably seen all the news footage and photos from the Obamas’ trip to London, but we wanted to offer a quick run-down of the clothes she’s worn on this high-profile trip:

The first couple left for the G20 Summit in London earlier this week, and Mrs. O wore a Chanel-like knee-length white coat with black trim by Thakoon, one of her favorite designers. The silk tulle coat was made to look like tweed, according to Style.com. Underneath the coat, no one could get much of a view of her black Michael Kors dress.

Michelle did a quick change on Air Force 1 and emerged in London in a brilliant chartreuse sheath dress by Jason Wu (one of the young (more…)

Perhaps you were already a bit of a gym rat, and if so, we applaud. But maybe you’ve only recently been inspired by the ruckus over Michelle Obama’s totally toned arms. You wouldn’t be alone — a New York Times story Friday allowed as how the First Lady’s buffness is stimulating economy for personal trainers right now. That inaugural gown, those Vogue and People covers, those Narciso Rodriguez sheath dresses are having their effect.

“I want Michelle Obama arms,” Julie Eich told her trainer on the Upper East Side of Manhattan two weeks ago, said the Times story.

Michelle Obama official White House portrait, above, by Joyce N. Boghosian

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Oh, goodness. We have gotten so distracted by runway shows and red carpet gowns that we haven’t been paying attention to Michelle Obama’s week of wardrobe choices. She donned all manner of pretty designer dresses — worn everywhere from her husband’s first address to Congress to the cover of People magazine.

First, let’s make peace over this right to bare arms argument.

Fashion observers and some grumpy old-school others have tut-tutted Mrs. O’s choice of several sleeveless dresses in a row (four times in a week, according to the Huffington Post), including one for her official White House portrait (an elegant black simple crepe jersey dress from Michael Kors’ spring collection, above). Excuse us, but have you seen the woman’s arms? They are cut, so hush!

And, by the way, here’s another fabulous First Lady who opted for bare arms in her official portrait. So there.

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The Style Insider is over the top, and it’s only Tuesday. Fashion Week makes us a little breathless, you know, what with all the photographers, the harried designers, the backstage frenzies, the browser refreshing. Once again, the day did not disappoint. Sit next to us as we run down our favorite people/places/designs of the day:           

Serious glam at Badgley Mischka: With less than a week to go before the Oscars (gasp), we’re asking ourselves, WWBMD? Answer: Exactly what we expect them to. A collection of gorgeous gowns both long and short, gliding down the runway like so many Best Actress nominees.    

Crystals, lace and chiffon flow over a shimmery strapless gown that fits so beautifully it looks like it was painted on. A boned corset-like detail frames a bodice in teal that catches the eye with extra sparkle around the waist. And cascading tiers of black organza float over their golden underpinnings in a dress that we can almost hear rustling from here. (P.S. Favorite tweet of the day: “Badgley model so tiny that she had to walk w hands at her waist to keep her strapless dress from sliding off. Last-min replacement?”  See what you think.      (more…)