Michelle Obama is Honored by Glamour

December's issue of Glamour will honor 12 women as "Woman of the Year." Popular icons that have overcome serious challenges or given back to society are recognized by the fashion magazine. Among the winners are Maya Angelou, Rihanna, Serena Williams, Susan Rice and, of course, Michelle Obama.

The First Lady is interviewed by guest writer Katie Couric, and she gives this great advice to women still looking for love...

"Cute's good. But cute only lasts for so long. Then it's 'Who are you as a person?' Don't look at the bankbook or the title. Look at the heart. Look at the soul. When you're dating a man, you should always feel good."

You can see her full answer in the video snippet below, taken from the full interview.


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Valerie Jarrett, Desirée Rogers and Susan Rice Strike a Pose

As well as the article below, I also discovered this article in the current issue of Washington, D.C.'s Capitol File magazine. Valerie Jarrett is President Obama's senior advisor (I'm sure you saw photos of her all over the country during the campaign) and Desirée Rogers is of course the White House's Social Secretary. Click here for full interview and more pics.

Below is Susan Rice. The current, and third youngest ever, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Rice is featured in the June 2009 issue of Vogue. You can click here for the full interview and more pics, but below is just a snippet. I don't know about you but I love reading about all these successful women, including Michelle Obama!

At 44, Rice is, in fact, the second-youngest U.S. ambassador to the United Nations since its inception in 1945. (Donald McHenry, appointed in 1979 by Jimmy Carter, was a hair younger.) But Rice is used to being the youngest person at the table. As someone who went to high school with her puts it, "She was always highly respected by adults and seen as a future force to be reckoned with." A Rhodes scholar who earned a doctorate in international relations at Oxford University, Rice joined President Clinton's National Security Council staff in 1993, at the tender age of 28. Within a few years she catapulted over several more senior staffers to become, at 32, the youngest-ever assistant secretary of State. Her accelerated résumé notwithstanding, she seems to be at the beginning of the public phase of what may very well turn out to be one of the more substantial careers in politics.

Desirée Rogers Covers Wall Street Journal Magazine

Desirée Rogers, the White House Social Secretary, covers the latest issue of Wall Street Journal Magazine. For those who don't know, she organizes all the social events at the White House - what an amazing job! She's an old time friend of the Obamas and has had some pretty high profile jobs prior to this one including Chief Marketing Officer for Peoples Energy (now Integrys Energy Group); President of both Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas; and she serves on several Boards. Click here to read the full interview and see photos from her first 100 days at the White House.

Desirée Glapion Rogers is the descendant of a Creole voodoo priestess named Marie Laveau Glapion. The first time I meet her, she welcomes me into her East Wing lair—a rhythm and blues tune plays on a white iPod, a potted white orchid perches between two windows, fresh flowers sit on a heavy wooden desk. This is a woman who never sees a wilted bloom. The 49-year-old turns on just enough Southern charm to camouflage an aura of self-assuredness typically reserved for runway models or first ladies. Wearing a crisp white shirt, black patent flats and high-waisted navy slacks that would look terrible on almost anyone else, Rogers talks about her job as White House social secretary.

If there’s one thing Desirée Rogers and Desirée Rogers’ staff want you to know—and will keep reminding you until you get it—it’s that the president and Michelle Obama plan to open up the White House and once again make it the “people’s house.” They want to create an environment where average Americans might stop by and catch the first lady serving homemade huckleberry cobbler and caramel ice cream to students, tending to the vegetable garden on the South Lawn or watching the romantic comedy “He’s Just Not That Into You” with her girlfriends. The president is, of course, meeting with foreign dignitaries. In one of the most visible roles in the Obama administration, Rogers is out to solidify the first family as one of the most memorable in presidential history, and the Ivy League–educated first lady, in particular, as the most popular mom-in-chief. [Read more]

Above: Rogers works down the hall from Michelle Obama, her friend of nearly 20 years, in the East Wing.

First Lady Michelle Obama Covers VOGUE

It's finally here! Michelle Obama's VOGUE photos (some of them anyway) have been released for early review. The First Lady apparently wore all J. Crew items from their upcoming Fall line - but don't bother rushing to their site, these clothes are not even in stores yet. J. Crew's head stylist assisted on the shoot and Mrs. Obama was very involved in the final style choices. You can read the full article here, but the issue won't hit stands until Tuesday, February 17th. Some are saying the cover isn't all that fabulous but I think it is down-to-earth and appropiate for the times. We all know if she was decked out in couture, folks would have something to say about how "insensitive" it is of her to flaunt her wealth. What are your thoughts?

Michelle's Inauguration Ball Dress Options

Oscar de la Renta sketch for Michelle Obama and daughters

Christian Lacroix sketch for Michelle Obama

Diane Von Furstenberg sketch for Michelle Obama

Badgley Mischka sketch for Michelle Obama

Elie Tahari sketch for Michelle Obama

Tuleh sketch for Michelle Obama

What should I wear? - The question uttered by women across the world countless times. If you think you have it bad, try being Michlle Obama deciding what to wear for the most historical evening in American history and the proudest moment of your life. As daunting as it sounds, at least she has a handful of accomplished designers clamouring to design her something to wear. WWD.com has 42 sketches posted online from some of the world's most renonwed designers. View the article and sketches at WWD.com or watch the slide show below. Above are my top picks. What are yours?

Vogue Tradition: First Lady to be on the Cover?

I know many of you are still on cloud nine following Tuesday night's election results. It still seems so surreal. Now that we have a new and greatly improved president and first family waiting in the wings, the talks must be underway for Michelle Obama to cover Vogue magazine. Traditionally, the December issue features the new first lady (and in some cases the first kids). According to a spokesperson from the fashion magazine:

"Starting with Eleanor Roosevelt, it's been a long-standing tradition to photograph the new first lady. So needless to say, we are very interested in working with Mrs. Obama. Precisely how is still being discussed."

If Michelle accepts the offer she'll become only the fourth black non-model woman to become a Vogue covergirl. Former first lady and Democratic senator Hillary Rodham Clinton also appeared on the front page of the December 1998 edition. Can't wait to see Michelle strike a pose!

Style Spotlight: Michelle Obama

There is no denying that this post is long overdue. Vanity Fair has already named Michelle one of their favorites on their "International Best-dressed List" and Vogue featured her as one of their "It Girls" in April. She's an obvious choice not just for her sense of style but the ease with which she wears her clothes. You never get the feeling she's trying to please anyone but herself. Some have questioned whether or not Michelle has a stylist but her people deny it...

“To the best of my knowledge, she does not use a stylist,” said Mrs. Obama’s spokeswoman, Katie McCormick Lelyveld, although she is known to have relationship's with a few designers and Chicago boutiques [Source].

Obvious comparisons have been made to Jackie Kennedy and even Barbara Bush (must be the pearls) but I'm just excited to see another type of black woman on my television screen and on magazine stands. My only frustration when composing this post was trying to find full-length photos of Michelle's outfits (as a personal plea to campaign photographers, we want to see the shoes!). I guess I'll have to wait until they make it into the White House. Then we'll be spoiled for choice with images of a classy, fashionable woman. After a few weeks of online digging I found some great examples of Michelle's style choices. You can view them below in the slideshow. I can't wait to see what she wears when their victory is announced!

My Picks!

Top: Obama, $20, www.ragamuffinclothing.com; Barack Obama Picture, $16.50, www.democraticstuff.com; Barack Obama Signature Ladies Natural T-shirt, m, $20.08, www.shopbarackobama.com; Obama 08 Ladies Black T-shirt, $20.08, www.shopbarackobama.com

Bottom: NV Me Boy Beater, $20, www.barackthevote.com; Obey Obama Progress Tee, $28, www.urbanoutfitters.com; Team Barack T Shirt, $38, www.siralistairrai.com; Obama Hope Tee, $32, www.shopintuition.com or www.hopeshirt.com

I acknowledge that Obama mania is at fever pitch but it's not just hype, my love for him is REAL! To prove it I'm ordering my graphic tee ahead of time and I'll wear it proudly during his inauguration. Paired with denim capris, silver hoops and designer shades, there's no mistaking where my support lies. If you want to put your hard earned money to good use, order tees from official sites like http://store.barackobama.com. Any purchase is considered a federal contribution to the Obama Victory Fund.

Michelle Obama Covers Ebony...

My excitement for this issue is immeasurable. Michelle Obama WILL be the next and First Lady and a very stylish and classy one at that! Get an early preview of her fabulous life in the upcoming issue of Ebony:

"Going beyond the surface view of poise, elegance, style and the utmost class, Ebony magazine unveils the real Michelle Obama: mother, wife, potential first lady and style icon. Take a rare look behind-the-scenes of Michelle’s life on the road to the White House and how she finds the necessary balance between managing the household with Sen. Barack Obama and joining her husband in pursuit of the most ambitious American dream. Plus, in an EXCLUSIVE interview, Michelle’s mother, Marian Robinson, reflects on her daughter’s childhood and transition to being one step away from changing her address from Chicago to Washington, D.C."

Be sure to pick up your copies ASAP!