The Fashion Industry's Bout With "Miss Ann Syndrome"

By now, most of you have read Bridget Foley's article in WWD, where Oscar de la Renta channels his inner Christopher St. queen, and complains and chastizes First Lady Michelle Obama for not wearing American designers. Well, it seems that Mr. de la Renta just won't let it go:

...When informed that the First Lady had worked a few Europeans into her wardrobe of late — Alaïa, Moschino, Etro — Oscar de la Renta said at his bridal show Monday: “Our industry right now is having a very difficult time. I think it would be great if the First Lady dressed in American styles. There are a lot of talented people here too.” (Source: WWD)

Well, the last time I checked, Jason Wu, Tracy Reese, Isabel Toledo, Michael Kors, Thakoon, and Narcisco Rodriguez -- designers that Mrs. Obama wears -- ARE AMERICAN DESIGNERS.

So, let's put all the bs aside and be real: This has absolutely NOTHING to do with Mr. de la Renta's or the fashion writers like Ms. Fole's concern for the American fashion industry. This is a classic case of "Miss Ann Syndrome". Sistas, ya'll know what I'm talking about. I'm sure you've encountered sufferers of this ailment from time-to-time. These are the white folks, who suffer from delusions of grandeur and superiority, who think that Black women are mindless children who can't think for ourselves, and who need to be taught the "proper way" to behave. They're the ones who resent having to answer to Black people, feeling as though we should be subservient to them.

And that is exactly what is happening with the fashion industry's attempt to bully Michelle Obama into wearing the so-called "big guns of American fashion". It's about them not liking that a Black woman, from the Southside of Chicago, with a working class background, has the audacity to make her own sartorial decisions without first seeking the permission of the so-called "Ruling Class" AND being successful in her choices. They resent having to go to her in hopes that she'll choose them. They don't like that an unmistakeably Black woman has become the premiere fashion icon in the world. In their minds, fashion icons are supposed to be white, skinny and wealthy, and along comes Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama to break the beauty mold. The rants/comments by designers like Mr. de la Renta, Vera Wang, Donna Karan, and writers such as Ms. Foley in the WWD article and Cathy Horyn of the NY Times are Elitist-ese for "Who does she think she is?".

I'm not the only one who has noticed the elitist behavior of the fashion industry. Journalist and author, Gioia Dilberto wrote the following in an article for Huffington Post:

"The designers say that Michelle will help the struggling fashion industry if she spreads her sartorial self around. But it's hard not to read in their complaint a note of condescension. How can Michelle, who comes from a working class background and probably doesn't know the difference between silk ziberline and silk twill, dare to snub them?"

But this isn't the first time they have talked slick about FLOTUS. For several months now, I've noticed how articles have taken a certain tone towards Mrs. Obama, and her good friends Desirée Rogers and Valerie Jarrett. I wrote about such an article that appeared in Town & Country magazine. These articles come across as either "shock and awe" that Black women are fashionable and wear high-end designers, or they give "advice" on how these sistas should conduct themselves.

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. Afterall, society has a history of portraying Black women as maids, mammies and concubines, and they're not used to sistas as the go-to example of elegance and grace. Well, they better get used to it, because Mrs. Obama ain't going nowhere!

UPDATE: Check out this awesome blog post by former model dmitcha on DailyKos. She breaks down the racism that exists in the fashion industry like a fraction, and calls out designers, like Vera Wang, for not casting models of color in their shows.

UPDATE II: Here's a couple of pics of Mrs. Obama wearing --- wait for it --- an Oscar de la Renta dress at the California Women's Conference in 2007. It's a houndstooth sheath from his Fall 2007 collection.


According to InStyle.com, she also wore a "Global-inspired print suit" from de la Renta's collection.

And look what Oscar told WWD prior to his rant.....

"Mrs Obama is certainly stylish and very good looking," de la Renta has told WWD. "It will be great for any American designer to dress her." (Source: Instyle.com)

Like I said: "Miss Ann Syndrome".

Desirée Rogers Hits New York Fashion Week

White House Social Secretary and fashionista, Desirée Rogers took a break from her White House duties to attend her first New York Fashion Week.

Desirée Rogers with Anna Wintour at the Carolina Herrera Show
Diane Bondaref/Associated Press

Ms. Rogers with Donna Karan

Looking chic in a pink floral jacket and skirt by Nina Ricci, Ms. Rogers sat in the front row at the Carolina Herrera show next to Vogue editor, Anna Wintour. Ms. Rogers had nothing but praise for Ms. Herrera's show, telling WWD: “The fashions were amazing. I do like her work, but this collection was very different from what I have seen in the past. I particularly liked the dresses for daytime that were a classic silhouette, but had a bell sleeve and were a little shorter, just below the knee. Those are easier to wear than the long ballgowns.”

After a quick change into black flannel trousers, Ms. Rogers (along with Ms. Wintour) later attended the Donna Karan show, where she raved about the coats, and the fashion show of one of Michelle Obama's favorites, Thakoon.

Hmm.....Carolina Herrera? Donna Karan? These are two designers who Mrs. Obama has not worn. Could they be added to the First Lady's wardrobe repertoire? Time will tell.

Michelle Obama Is En Vogue!

(Photo: Annie Leibovitz/Vogue.com)

Vogue magazine has announced that First Lady Michelle Obama will grace the cover of their March issue!

Mrs. Obama (or FLOTUS as she is affectionately called in the blogosphere) looks elegant wearing a magenta silk sheath dress designed by none other than Jason Wu, who also created her beautiful Inaugural gown. The cover and photos for the eight-page spread were taken by famed photographer, Annie Leibovitz in the Hay Adams Hotel where the Obamas stayed before the Inauguration. The cover story is written by my friend-in-my-head, Andre Leon Talley, Vogue's Editor-at-Large.

Beginning with Lou Hoover, it's been a Vogue tradition to photograph first ladies, however Mrs. Obama will be the second first lady to appear on the cover. The first was Hillary Rodham Clinton who appeared on the cover of the December 1998 issue.

Mrs. Obama looks absolutely STUNNING and ELEGANT! I loved that she didn't use a stylist, opting to choose the outfits (which include ensembles from J. Crew, Narcisco Rodriguez and Jason Wu) herself for the photo shoot.

"She doesn't need any help. She loves fashion and knows what works for her," Talley said. "She's never had a conversation with me about, `What do you think?' or `How did this look? And I'm glad for that."(Source)

Looking at this cover of the First Lady makes me a little emotional. For so long, Black women as a whole were never looked upon as the standard of beauty, but brown-skin and ebony complexioned sistas in particular have been marginalized to playing in the background, and sadly, ridiculed for their looks. I'm sure we all have stories of being rejected for our features. Now, we have an undeniable, identifiable Black woman with curves who is now looked upon as an icon of fashion and beauty.

The issue will hit the newsstands in New York and Los Angeles on Feb. 17th and nationwide on Feb. 24th, so be sure to get yourself a copy and make this the biggest selling issue ever!

UPDATE: More Pics From Michelle Obama's Vogue Photo Shoot!

(Photo: Annie Leibovitz/Vogue.com)

Mrs. Obama wears a Narcisco Rodriguez black dress and black kitten heels at the Hay Adams Hotel in Washington, DC.

(Photo: Annie Leibovitz/Vogue.com)

The First Lady dons an ensemble from J.Crew consisting of a salmon wool cardigan, ruffled blouse and tweed skirt. These pieces are from J.Crew's Fall 2009 collection and are not yet available for purchase.

Hair is by Johnny Wright and makeup by Ingrid Grimes-Myles.

At Last, First Fashion

The "What Will Michelle Wear?" guessing game is over and the winners are....... Isabel Toledo and Jason Wu!


For the daytime activities of the Inaugural Celebration, First Lady Michelle Obama wore an elegant ensemble by designer Isabel Toledo, accessorized with olive green leather gloves from J. Crew and matching Jimmy Choo pumps.

NY Times fashion columnist, Cathy Horyn interviewed the Cuban-American designer who described the outfit as a lemongrass-yellow coat and matching dress, 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.” Ms. Toledo sounded overwhelmed. “This is so wonderful,” she said.

Ms. Toledo didn't know until this morning that the First Lady chose her design. Her husband and business partner, Ruben Toledo told WWD.com:

"We're levitating - we really are," Ruben Toledo said minutes after watching Michelle Obama on CNN in an ensemble by his wife Isabel.

"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."

However, the biggest anticipation of the day was the Inaugural Gown selection, and First Lady Michelle didn't disappoint, choosing a beautiful ivory chiffon gown adorned with organza flowers, silver thread embroidery and Swarovski crystals. The design was created especially for her by 26 yr old up and coming designer, Jason Wu. The New York based designer, who WSOIC! predicted would be the lucky winner in the Inaugural designer lottery, didn't know that Mrs. Obama would wear his design until she and her husband, President Barack Obama, stepped on stage for their first dance at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball. In fact, Mr. Wu never met the first lady, working on the dress based on measurements that were sent to him by Chicago boutique owner, Ikram Goldman. NY Magazine reports:

"I wanted to design a gown that would highlight her best features. I wanted to say something about who she is," Wu said. "I see her as a powerful, energetic, incredible woman. I wanted the gown to have a dreamlike quality because it's pretty surreal."

Although most of the fashion focus was on Mrs. Obama, the First Daughters, Malia and Sasha Obama (affectionately known as the "weeMichelles" in the blogosphere) made fashion statements of their own. Both girls were decked out in beautiful, brightly colored outfits from Crewcuts For Kids, J.Crew's children's line. Malia wore a double-breasted deep periwinkle blue coat, accented with a black scarf and blue velvet ribbon belt. Little Miss Sasha donned a deep coral dress under her sweet guava coat, vivid orange scarf and glove set. The look was finished off with a velvet orange belt. Both outfits were especially made for the Obama girls and are presently not available for purchase.

As we can see, bright colors and unknown designers were a theme for the Obamas' fashion choices. I think that fits in well with the Obamas and the journey they, and our country, are about to embark upon. They are a symbol of optimism and renewal, as we face unknowns and challenges in the next four years.

Congratulations President Barack H. Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. May God Bless you, your family and our country.

Welcome!

Hello and Welcome to We Shall Overcome......In Couture!

The name of this blog comes from a quote by the late actress, singer and diva, Josephine Premice. At a time when racism led to a one-dimensional image of black women, Ms. Premice (along with fellow divas such as Diahann Carroll, Naomi Sims, Carmen De Lavallade, and Diana Sands to name a few) redefined the image of Black women. They showed that Black women are not the racist caricatures of mammies and maids that society tries to pigeonhole us in. That we are just as fashionable, sophisticated and glamorous as our white counterparts that are deified in society. These sistas used their style and elegance as weapons against racism. They overcame.....In Couture!

We Shall Overcome.....In Couture! is dedicated to celebrating sistas who continue the tradition of Grace and Stylish Sophistication Under Fire. We will take a look at divas of the past, divas of the present and divas-in training, as well as share tips and tricks for living and looking our most fabulous!

So sit back, relax and enjoy! :-)

Sepia Fashionista
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