The Obamas Go to Washington:  What Will They Wear on the Runway to Change?

Nation Gets Ready to Roll Out the Red Carpet for the People’s Party

Barack and Michelle Obama are DC’s equivalent to Bradgelina.  And they’ve got the paparazzi attention to prove it; they’re right up there with the H’wood golden couple as A-list earners.  On Tuesday night, their popularity will increase even more as we crowd around our TVs to see what the political power couple will wear when Barack is sworn in as the nation’s 44^th president, followed by the 10 official inaugural balls they’re expected to attend.

Fashion personality Robert Verdi says, “These are America’s most esteemed people, and this is seismic, basically as big or bigger than the red carpet at the Oscars.” Shallow?  Sure, but all those weighty affairs of state (i.e. the important stuff) will still be there the day after.  Until then, the country is getting ready for the biggest red carpet in history.

ShoeMinx armchair quarterbacks what the First Family might wear and takes a look at some sketches of the shoes WWD asked designers to come up with for the next First Family as they walk into history.

Barack Obama will bring more than theoretical “change” to the White House.  He’ll also bring his dashing visage, trim figure, and sexy salt-’n-pepper hair. He’s athletic, he’s fit and fashion designers can’t wait to get their clothes on him.  But word has already leaked that the president-elect bought his first tux in 15 years from Hart Schaffner Marx to escort Michelle to all those grip-and-grin balls.  Sorry to ruin the surprise.  Beyonce probably spilled the beans. Still undecided is if Barack will wear an overcoat to the swearing-in ceremony.  We’ve seen the shirtless pics of him on vacay in Hawaii.  He’s so got nothing to prove.

Allen Edmonds design for president-elect Obama

You think picking Secretary of State is hard? Try picking a dress that will rise to the occasion on this historic inauguration yet also balances presidential pomp and economic circumstance.

The Washington Post held a contest for readers to submit sketches of an inaugural ballgown for Mrs. O. Reporter Robin Givhan picked a little green number from over 200 entries.  “What [Michelle] needs is a dress that speaks to her personality, that exemplifies the magnitude of the occasion and that in some magical way exudes optimism, democracy and elegance. And most of all, it should be pretty,” Givhan wrote.  Really?  Way to go out on a limb there, Robin.

WWD even got in on the prognosticating, soliciting sketches from more than 20 top designers.  Some, like Michael Kors’ were both lovely and appropriate.  Others, like Betsey Johnson’s look like something Paris Hilton would wear.  So that would be a big N-O.

Unlike many of her predecessors, who went public with the names of the designers and actual sketches a week or so before the big political party, Michelle’s keeping the fashion news under tight wraps.  So far evidence suggests Michelle will pick one of her favorite designers for the big dance, like Thakoon, Maria Pinto or Narciso Rodriguez (though after the fashion flack for her Election Night dress, we’d be surprised if she chose him again.) Then again, she might pull a Sharon Stone and pair something like a J. Crew top with a ball skirt.  Considering the kerfuffle over the $30,000 ring that Barack reportedly bought her as a gift, such an off-the-rack choice might not be so unlikely.

Now down to the toes.  While they debate the dress, stylists are quite certain that Michelle will save the stilettos for a time when she won’t be on her feet for more than eight hours in favor of a dressy flat or kitten heels.  We do know one thing that Michelle won’t be wearing though.  Panty hose. She reportedly hates them because they’re “too painful.”

Sam Edelman design for Michelle

Stuart Weitzman design for Michelle

Suri Cruise and the Bradgelina brood have competition for the title “cutest kids.” How lucky are Sasha and Malia Obama?  They get to live in the White House, have their own Secret Service detail and are getting their own puppy. And of yeah, have an open invite to star on an episode of Hannah Montana.  Yeah, it’s good to be the Obama girls.

In addition to a new address, the Obama girls are being hailed as the newest fashion “trendsetters in training” for the elementary school set. Like their mom, the dresses they wore on Election Night - Bricotti Inc. made Malia’s silk taffeta dress and Gerson & Gerson are the makers of Sasha’s black dress - flew off store shelves.  Yikes, as if the Mean Girls in school aren’t enough to deal with, now the girls will get the national Glamostrator treatment.

Not only do they have the Inaugural Ceremony and Ball, there’s also a kids’ ball afterward for all of the children who are now a part of the extended political family in DC.  According to People, while the girls may opt for tea-length dresses with fuller skirts and shiny fabrics for the grown-up parties, they’ll want shorter, brighter and less formal dresses for the kids’ party.

French label Bonpoint is in the running, and told Women’s Wear Daily they sent “cotton satin frocks for the evening - in cream for Malia and anthracite gray for Sasha - embroidered with semi-precious stones at the neckline.”

Still too young for high heels (that battle is still a few years away), Sasha and Malia will undoubtedly wear flats with their day and evening looks, though there might be a subtle heel for their first grown-up event.

Nina Kids design for Sasha

Chinese Laundry design for Malia

View all of the shoe sketches for the First Family here.

Yes we can!  Get your shoes on and join the celebration in DC.  President-elect Barack Obama will be sworn into office on Tuesday, January 20, 2009 on the west front terrace of the U.S. Capitol.

By ShoeMinx DC Reporter Paige Muller

The Celebrity Ads Keep On Coming . . .

Fashion houses might be cutting back on shows at Fashion Week but they’re still shilling out for famous faces to front their brands.

This time it’s Katie Holmes’ turn.  Released the same day as Victoria “Posh” Beckman’s surprisingly sexy underwear ads for Armani, Mrs. Tom Cruise tries to one-up her glamorous gal pal in new ads for Miuccia Prada’s Miu Miu spring campaign.

With their twin pixie haircuts (though to be fair, the former Dawson’s Creek star cropped hers first) and dueling fashion lines, comparisons between the two celebs are inevitable.  It almost isn’t a fair contest since Posh is nearly naked while Suri’s mom is prudish covered up, but while Vic looks sultry in her pictorials, Katie wears a vacant expression that is almost as robotic as Beyonce’s cyborg glove.  So pretty much the same as usual.

But there is a bright spot.  No repeat of the pegged jean fixation of 2008.  Or the MC Hammer pants of her own design.  So sartorially speaking at least, she’s never looked better.

Show off your haute attitude in Miu Miu geometric detail heel pumps like these, available from ShoeCompare.com.  We think shoe-minx-in-training Suri Cruise would approve.

By ShoeMinx Celebrity Ad Tracker Paige Muller