J. Crew Markets Obama Girls' Moscow Wardrobes

Politico:

J.Crew is using Sasha and Malia Obama to market some of its spring and summer styles, in a press release sent to reporters Monday afternoon titled "The Obama Girls Bring Some American Style to Moscow."

"Malia & Sasha wore J.Crew and crewcuts as they exited Air Fore One in Moscow -- stylish in their trenches, they also accessorized with ballet flat shoes," the release says.

Read the whole story: Politico

Comments

[NoSillyName]

Um, I've seen them looking much better.

Ditch the trenches!

[LoveGuv]

Refute This:

July, 1993 -- Clinton's First International Trip-- Japan and Korea (followed by a Hawaiian holiday), included his mother-in-law, Chelsea and three of her teenage friends.

January, 1994 -- Chelsea Clinton joined Bill & Hillary on President's FIRST State vist to MOSCOW!!

[LoveGuv]

Chelsea & Hillary in Vietnam November 2000 while traveling with Prez

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2008-02/36148106.jpg

Chelsea in Kosovo, Nov 1999 traveling with parents.

http://images2.sina.com/english/p/2008/1113/U100P200T1D198229F8DT20081113231003.jpg

Chelsea with Bill & Hillary in Hanoi, 11/2000

http://members.fortunecity.com/omegatimes/mdf132206.jpg

[LoveGuv]

To those like PoliticalAmazon who say Bill Clinton never took Chelsea with him on international trips. I only went back 2 years but you get the point.

August 2000 - Bill & Chelsea traveled to Nigeria, Burundi and on to Cairo to meet with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

November 14-18, Bill Clinton & Chelsea traveled to Russia, China, Vietnam with Chelsea.

March 19, 2000 - Bill Clinton & Chelsea & Dorothy Rodham (Mother In Law) traveled to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Switzerland.

November, 1999 -- Bill Clinton & Chelsea on a 10 day trip that included Kosovo Turkey, Greece and Italy.

June, 1999 -- Bill, Hillary and Chelsea in Macedonia.

June 1998 -- Bill, Hillary and Chelsea 9 days in China and Taiwan.

[SouthernWisdom]

I read that members of MO's family own a lot of J Crew stock. It's not illegal for her to promote J Crew for their gain but pretty sleazy anyway.

[alison22]

I read somewhere that you have a small brain!

[PoliticalAmazon]

Isn't it interesting that MO immediately put a stop to beanie-babies in the girls' images, but allows JCrew to exploit her children wearing JCrew wear?

[Haitiana4Obama]

How is it that the President and First Lady are now being accused of using their daugther? JCrew are the ones marketing the use of their clothes by the Obama's. Secondly they are on a trip with the two little girls, should the hide them away somewhere, or simply dress them up in sackcloth?! Seriously people!

Malia and Sasha are just darlings, no matter what they wear...it's nice to see a wholesome American family. Unlike Sanford this leader takes his family with him when he visits abroad...the President obviously has noting to hide while overseas.

[PoliticalAmazon]

Either the Obamas agreed to it, or J.Crew has made a huge breach of protocol in p i. m ping the Obamas for their marketing.

Look, our economy is in the toilet. If J.Crew is going to use the First Family as an endorsement from the highest office of the land, make them pay handsomely for it, and use that to help military families.

J.Crew using the First Family for free marketing is ridiculous.

[LoveGuv]

Read the article. The JCrew person said that the Obamas knew NOTHING about the press release. JCrew saw the pictures of the girls wearing their clothes and sent out a press release.

[truegreen]

Who cares about what the Obama kids are wearing. I'm more concerned Health care reform and EFCA.

[callmeslice23]

Amen

[LoveGuv]

Then maybe you should be reading the many articles on the subject posted here and elsewhere instead of this one.

[NoSillyName]

"STYLE" section here.

[RightWingMarine]

First the blackberry and now J. Crew, we have our first endorsement President.

"This years State of the Union address is brought to you by Charleston Chews!"

[roblabrousse]

I don't believe it was the President who advertised his use of the Blackberry. It's the Media not Michelle Obama spreading the news on where she shops. Any person in the spotlight always get's as much detailed information as possible dragged up by the media. Or don't you own a TV or a computer? Please don't tell me the brand it would go against our Democracy.!!!!

You really know how to pick your issues and obviously you can't even function rationally on this level.

Please tell us how the President actually endorsed his cell phone and how Michelle Obama endorsed some of the clothes she wears? This knowledge comes out of curiosity of journalists. Endorsements involve contracts and add campaigns.

This year's all time insipid post is brought to us by Bozo The Right Wing Marine. He's in the corner Twittering on his Blackberry wearing an out fit by Barnum and Bailey.

[RightWingMarine]

new to saracasm, huh?

[PoliticalAmazon]

It's not the media that has an ad on this very web page featuring a "style" MO wore in Paris. It's J.Crew.

If they want to use the First Family for their marketing, make them pay for it, and apply it to the national debt, or give it to military families.

[bonzette]

J.Crew may be an American company, but I have no doubt those clothes were made somewhere else under uncertain conditions. Why not support American manufacturing? And SMALL businesses, designers who put love into what they make and are the entrepreneurs who will drive the recovery?

And why not support designers who use organic fibers? J. Crew most definitely does not.

And why do the girls have to look so matchy and cartoon-girly? I love them, and I love Michelle, but all the pretty flowers and ribbons are a bit much. I can tell it's not really Malia's thing.

[roblabrousse]

Why do you have to think you know it all.

These kids are citizens of a democracy just like you . They can buy and where what they want, Their parents can afford to buy them name labels. So you problem is they aren't doing what you think they should be doing? Just because they're the President's children we own them????

Sorry...if the President wants to use a Blackberry that's his choice. If the kids want to wear and can afford certain names in clothes like every other affluent kid then don't be surprised we know the names.

They're not your children. Get some of your own and torture them with your personal agenda.

[LoveGuv]

"Get some of your own and torture them with your personal agenda."

Now, that's hilarious . . . and true!

[Haitiana4Obama]

Daaaaaaaaa­aaaaaaaaaa­aaaaaaaamn­! You just served that like a pro...any plans for Wimbledon ?!

[PoliticalAmazon]

I disagree. The First Family enjoys many perqs, and the least they can do is think about the clothes they wear. I'm not a friend of "matchy-matchy," but it's better than what the women in the family wore when they boarded AF1. Individually, it was just the usual hit and misses, but put all together, they looked gaudy.

If it's too much to ask for them to consider their wardrobe while on state visits, then leave them at home. They need to learn that with perqs come responsibilities.

[PoliticalAmazon]

Wait a minute here. JCrew using the girls images and the fact that they wore clothing on a very important state visit of the POTUS to Russia--that's exploitation.

The issue isn't what clothes the kids wore. THe issue is this: Are they being exploited? and, If they are being exploited, who is responsible for it?

JCrew has had an ad on HuffPost's style section, featuring a style similar to what our FLOTUS wore in Paris on our POTUS' first state visit to Europe, for weeks and weeks. JCrew's marketing message is this: The FLOTUS wore this so it must be good.

This implies endorsement by POTUS because, if Obama did not want his wife or kids used as marketing tools, the ad on this page would have been taken down almost immediately after it first appeared.

Since the POTUS has allowed the exploitation of his wife by JCrew for weeks and weeks, it would be logical to consider the fact that he may have allowed JCrew to exploit his girls, as well.

Why would any father/husband (especially a POTUS) allow his family to be exploited by a clothes firm? The question has to be asked: What did the Obamas get in return for this exploitation?

[PoliticalAmazon]

Obama is all for sending American jobs overseas. It wouldn't bother him a bit if some sweat shop/prison in Myanammar produced the clothing his kids are wearing.

[alison22]

I hope he send ur job overseas!

[ElsaIndy]

The Obamas can afford to dress their daughters in expensive clothing that they will outgrow quickly. The Obama kids' parents are wealthy professionals who indulge their children. They are not ordinary Americans struggling to pay for healthcare , education and without pensions, and wondering how their kids will get a start in life without jobs.
Despite the attention MO pays to the poor of DC and despite Obama's rhetoric which I think is sincere, the Obamas are at risk of appearing lavishly self-indulgent with their expensive clothing, "date" nights in Paris and NYC, and family vacations tacked onto official business abroad. It may not be fair but it is appearances that matter very much to the public because we only know the Obamas through the press, their words and actions.

Finally this appalling situation with JCrew using the Obama kids as an advertising gimmick for their clothing is a result of the continual exploitation of the Obama kids by their parents and the PR team. Shame on them. While the children are beautiful and we enjoyed seeing them initially, this is the logical consequence of gross misjudgement on the part of the Obamas. Dragging the kids out to every function, constantly referring to them has given the ad folks the go ahead to use them. Truely appallling.

[LoveGuv]

"Dragging the kids out to every function"

Grossly exaggerate much?

Obama should take a page from the republican book: leave the kids at home and sneak off to see your girlfriend.

[PoliticalAmazon]

Elsa, I agree with everything in your post, except I no longer think our POTUS's rhetoric is sincere.

Actions speak louder than words, and he's broken many campaign promises already. So I have to look at his rhetoric is only used to get what he wants, and then he quickly flushes any promises made in the rhetoric.

I especially agree with the J.Crew comments. I have been disgusted every time I sign on this page and see the ubiquitous J.Crew ad that features a "style" MO wore in Russia. How could the Obamas allow their image used for marketing purposes? Don't they realize that J.Crew is basically saying with their ads, "Endorsed by the President of the United States," because J.Crew would not use that image, and especially references to the children's coats, if our POTUS told them not to.

This is so tacky, and it diminishes and cheapens the concept of the POTUS, the FLOTUS and the First Family.

Finally, I really agree with the comments about the perception that the Obamas are using the taxpayers' resources for their lavish jetsetting lifestyle, at a time when the taxpayers are really hurting financially. It screams "Let them eat cake," and that is not a good thing. More than one leader was brought down by living an opulent lifestyle when the country was suffering.

[alison22]

You cheapen and diminish the the concept of 'human being'.

[lesleypalmer]

J Crew should be ashamed of themselves. Leave the Obama girls alone.

[Yaa]

That dumb move by J. Crew probably means the end of the Obamas' wearing J. Crew.

[PoliticalAmazon]

Highly doubtful. I've looked at this disgusting J.Crew ad since MO wore a similar "style" in Paris. They would not be doing it if President Obama and put his foot down.

Because the ad has continued to be used, it is, in fact, implying not only MO's endorsment but the endorsement of President Obama.

[LuckyLT2]

LOL!!! It's funny how J. Crew likes B.lack people all of a sudden. Hmmm, I wonder why? "All about the Benjamins baby."

[Deruist]

I'd like to see Michelle and the girls use small self employed seamstresses, original unknown designers and lose the corporate atmosphere of fashion for themselves. There are new college graduates capable of designing an outfit and would love the exposure. There's high school talent that should be tapped. Why J Crew every time?

[LoveGuv]

Now the First Lady should have their clothes made by high school students? What next? She should pick and weave the cotton herself? Good grief.

[Deruist]

Not at all. Why promote corporations making clothes in China over the abundant talent and small entrepreneurs we have here, instead?

[PoliticalAmazon]

My family was not well off and I had a monthly budget for clothing. I would have been walking around naked if I didn't sew every piece of my clothing except for underwear and shoes.

I wore very fashionable clothing (thank gawd for Vogue patterns), and no one knew I made my own clothes except for my friends.

I started making my own clothing in the 7th grade. I made my wedding gown.

So don't diminish personally made clothing, especially that made by high-schoolers.

[NewDem08]

"She should pick and weave the cotton herself?"

Hilarious!

[alison22]

I am glad that the FLOTUS doesnt seem to care one iota about what u'd like. I for one wud like to see you use ur brain.

[Muzikal203]

J. Crew can and SHOULD be sued for this. You cannot use famous people's images for commercial purposes without their consent, and I'm guess Obama and MICHELLE didn't give it. They were WRONG to do this, and I think they should DEFINITELY be hit with a lawsuit.

[LoveGuv]

Don't go all Palin on us with threats of lawsuits. J Crew issued a press release. They didn't use their image. A little reading can do wonders.

[Muzikal203]

Did you read the article? They DID use their image, and they put the little J. Crew symbol on it.

Unlike the case with Palin, THIS case would have merit.

[NewDem08]

"Don't go all Palin" - Hilarious!

[NewDem08]

It's a press release, not an ad.

[PoliticalAmazon]

You have to be kidding. No one is that naive.

A press release is a form of advertising. It's used all the time in marketing campaigns.

[PoliticalAmazon]

Look, J.Crew has had that disgusting ad on this section's pages since MO wore a similar style in Paris. Obviously, it is approved by our POTUS because if he objected they would take it down.

If our POTUS thinks it's okay for his wife's attire to be used as marketing for J.Crew, I doubt he will have much of a problem with J.Crew using his daughters.

Yes, J.Crew was wrong to do this, and they know it is wrong, so they must have gotten the idea from somewhere that they could use the Obama family's endorsement for their product.

Hmmmm...I've not seen any other clothing company use Obama's wearing of their product as advertisement, and certainly have not seen any of the girls as endorsement of their product. Perhaps the Obamas are getting freebies from J.Crew (which is illegal)?

I can't see a big company like J.Crew blatantly using the First Family for advertising unless they received permission, and if they received permission, there probably was some kind of payoff to the Obamas.

[alison22]

None so blind as those who dont want to see. there was no pay off. The Obamas are millionaires. I kno it bothers you that a black family like the Obama's can afford J crew for their kids ... but DEAL WITH IT!