Ikram Goldman, Michelle Obama's Connection To The Fashion Industry

New York Times:

MICHELLE OBAMA has become the mistress to American fashion. "The first lady the world's been waiting for," blazes the March cover of Vogue, where Mrs. Obama appears in a fuchsia dress by Jason Wu, the young talent she helped turn into an overnight star. No first lady since Jacqueline Kennedy has had a more instantaneous impact on fashion. Whatever Mrs. Obama wears, people notice and very often buy.

Despite the close study that people have made of Mrs. Obama's style, it is not known that her wardrobe is being managed largely by a boutique owner in Chicago. Ikram Goldman, whose store is called Ikram, has played an unprecedented role since the election, serving as gatekeeper between the fashion industry and the first lady.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[BurgessPenguin]

First thought when I saw that picture: "I am Dieter and now is the time on Sprockets when we dance."

[SonjaKaye]

HA! I barely glimpsed at the photo, and had to do a double-take because I thought the same thing!

[thaneb]

From the main page tag line I thought it was going to be some expose on a dastardly violation of the new ethics/lobbying rules. Whew;-)

[eden4barack08]

Somebody in Chicago, please go to Ikram's and tell her to add this fabulous designer's pieces to her boutique's collection, a lot of these would look fantastic on the First Lady.

http://www.kevanhalldesigns.com/

[JaneQCitizen]

That's tricky. Hall's color pallet has become very subdued almost blah IMHO. Michelle clearly likes color - jewel tones look awesome on her.

[eden4barack08]

Yeah, but look how gorgeous she looks with earth tones too.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/08/27/article-1049535-026C952C00000578-646_468x641.jpg

[aznurse]

Oh Lord! At first glance I thought that photo was one of Hillary!

[breathestolive]

Really? You might want to get your eyes checked. Seriously.

[naschkatze]

Really? I thought it was Isabella Rosellini.

[pgurlatl]

I thought it was Isabella Rosellini as well.

[minimalist syntax]

Ikram kind of reminds me of Frieda Kahlo.

[HollyP]

I thought she looked like the Octomom, without the duck bill lips.

[dee1984]

Sounds like a bunch of sour grapes, from the standard First Lady designers who all of a sudden find themselves not to be the automatic go to.

[naschkatze]

I was going to make a comment that the standard designers sound a bit like the MSM on the blogs.

[luvangelHussein330]

well do it then First Lady!!

[CeeCee]

So, Arnold Scaasi is miffed because Mrs. Obama ignored him and the BIG names. Scaasi designed for Barbara Bush, for heaven's sake.

Michelle Obama is fresh, and hip, and has great style. She knows what suits her, and I admire her taste. (Besides, I'm a JCrew shopper. )

[breathestolive]

Scaasi is fine for the well-upholstered matron, but Mrs. Obama is fit and athletic, and she can pull off more body-conscious styles than Barbara Bush ever could.

If Scaasi (Isaacs, spelled backwards) is truly miffed then he doesn't understand his own talents, and I honestly can't believe that of him.

[jazabelz]

Bet Scaasi voted for McCain! Probably thought he could get in good with Cindy McCain because she wears the type of styles he designs! It's all about change -- and he missed the boat! I'm glad Michelle is going with younger and newer designers.