Michelle Obama 2011 National Design Awards: First Lady To Host Stylish Luncheon During Fashion Week

We love that the first lady embraces good design (see nearly all of her outfit choices). But this year she has created a little scheduling conflict for some of her fashion friends.

WWD reports that Michelle Obama will host the 2011 National Design Awards at the White House, just as she always does. But this time the luncheon will take place on September 13th, smack dab in the middle of New York Fashion Week. The event has historically taken place in July.

According to Women's Wear Daily, the 2011 Fashion Design winner Gilles Mendel is going to have a busy week: he shuffled around the date of his showing in the tents so he could attend. FLOTUS favorites Prabal Gurung and Jason Wu, both finalists whose shows are September 10th and 9th respectively, both had to send their regrets. But there's undoubtedly no ill will.

At last year's event, the first lady found herself a little starstruck by Tim Gunn.

Bonus points go to Mrs. Obama because this year she's also hosting The Teen Design Fair, a meet-and-greet for honorees and design-minded teens. Think Tavi will attend?

Comments

[Slick and Slim]

12:13 PM on 09/14/2011

Oh My God....This is a disgrace to our country....She dresses horrible.....No 1st lady of the US has ever been seen looking this ugly....God have mercy.

[marcdostl]

01:22 AM on 08/25/2011

So this is where the 10 Million Dollars go?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2029615/Michelle-Obama-accused-spending-10m-public-money-vacations.html

[famer22104]

11:11 PM on 08/17/2011

I like Michelle Obama, but to compare her to Jackie O is too much. Michelle doesn't always hit the style mark. I wish people would tell the truth.
Love you Michelle!

[Michael Linus Pedersen]

08:58 PM on 08/15/2011

You go Michelle. Reminiscent of the style and Grace Of Jackie Kennedy!

[JFaye]

08:21 PM on 08/15/2011

Can't imagine why anyone would speak against this and it seems Mrs. Obama is a natural to host this wonderful event. Good for her and the fashion industry ...

[Caribbean Lady]

10:26 AM on 08/17/2011

Dear JFaye,
Agree with you. Some folks apparently don't have anything better to do than bash even the littlest gestures or stories about our First Lady.

[4more]

03:49 PM on 08/15/2011

Hahaha, I luvvvv how you haters get all worked up over our beautiful, stylish and intelligent FLOTUS! Go on......eat your hearts out haters!!! I LUV it!!

Best FLOTUS EVER, Mrs. Obama.

[corncat]

04:41 PM on 08/15/2011

What "haters"?

[REMEMBER2050]

06:57 PM on 08/15/2011

Trust me, 4more's right. They're out there. I would be amused to have seen what was in the now-deleted posts below ours.

[Caribbean Lady]

10:26 AM on 08/17/2011

Lots of them!!

[pipetoe]

02:12 PM on 08/15/2011

This event is promoting business that the government doesn't own..so I'm on board with this.

[Caribbean Lady]

03:02 PM on 08/16/2011

Such a broad statement by you. Everything is NOT owned by corporations. What about small business owners in our country - are they corporations? Please research before you comment.

[xlntcat]

06:59 PM on 08/15/2011

The first lady has sponsored multiple programs that promote businesses that the government doesn't own including an apprentice program for culinary students to train under WH chefs.

[Caribbean Lady]

03:02 PM on 08/16/2011

Good comment. Perhaps you will enlighten the ignorant ones on this blog. Thanks.

[EvaluatingItAll]

01:09 PM on 08/15/2011

The National Design Awards Luncheon is held annually at the White House, and Mrs. Obama is not the only First Lady to have hosted it. For those who find the annual luncheon objectionable in the current economic situation, which annual, established White House activities are still acceptable? Serious question, no snarkiness....

http://www.mediabistro.com/unbeige/on-the-ground-at-the-white-house-national-design-awards-luncheon_b5479

That picture shows Laura Bush hosting the luncheon.

[pipetoe]

02:10 PM on 08/15/2011

Well, it is about retail; and that is not government owned...so OK..

[Caribbean Lady]

12:51 PM on 08/16/2011

Dear Pipetoe:
You are so right here. Thanks for pointing out the real facts.

[Caribbean Lady]

01:23 PM on 08/15/2011

Dear MarloweJ:

She has plenty of common sense. Didn't Laura Bush host the same events while in the White House - even during two wars? Let's be fair in our comments and take the blinders off our eyes.

[no exit]

01:49 PM on 08/15/2011

You're an idiot, but it can be forgiven since you are obviously being paid for your inane and totally off the mark comments, I just hope it's enough.

Corporate America is enjoying the greatest tax breaks in history, while the rest of America is also paying the lowest taxes in forty years. President Obama hasn't "screamed" about raising taxes at all. He's mentioned that bringing the taxes for the wealthy back down to some kind of reasonable level would help the deficit more than anything. Which would be good since they basically caused it.

Ten years of huge tax cuts and American corporations have done nothing but move MILLIONS of jobs offshore and created nothing here.

Again I repeat. You are incredibly STOOOOOPID.

[Caribbean Lady]

12:53 PM on 08/16/2011

No - no pay involved here.

[Caribbean Lady]

01:28 PM on 08/15/2011

Dear Disytoo,
Please stop being so picky about the First Lady. Each person has individual gestures that are unique. Her thumbs up is a positive gesture - unlike others used by lots of folks today. I would rather see that one that a "thumbs down" gesture.

[hope61]

11:30 PM on 08/15/2011

F&F...

[dovelove]

10:35 AM on 08/15/2011

I watched 60 Minutes last night and I think we watched different shows. The show that I saw last night was about all the ways corporations avoid paying U.S. taxes by setting up phony headquarters overseas, while still keeping their operations here.

[amtheone]

12:02 PM on 08/15/2011

I watched the same show you did.