New York Fashion Designer Byron Lars is "More About the Clothes, Less About the 'Hype'"

(Photo Credit: Courtesy of www.agendamag.com)

If you missed my latest news article in Agenda Magazine, noooooo biggie. When you get a few minutes, please check out "Byron Lars Beauty Mark: More About the Clothes, Less About the 'Hype'" in the July/August issue.

Byron Lars, the New York fashion designer who has dressed First Lady Michelle Obama more than once, believes you can look like a million buck without having to spend that. Yes, that is MY kind of designer!

Thanks for reading. Comments are always welcome!

Michelle Obama Reclaims Her Style With a Jason Wu Ball Gown for Inaugural Bash

Remember my confusion and discontent with Michelle Obama's Narciso Rodriguez red and black dress on Election Day? Well, thank you Jason Wu; this 26 year-old, New York designer's white, one-strap dress made it to the stage on Inauguration Day, reclaiming Michelle Obama's style and proving that everyone has (distracting!) fashion flops now and then -- even our new First Lady. (Wu, a designer who is known for his soft palletes and chiffon, truly scored with this opportunity.)

And Barack Obama, our gracious new president, also donned a classic ensemble with a black suit, a white shirt, and smart white tie. Just another reason for us all to cheer and say "Yes We Can" -- true style in the White House!

Photo Credit: http://www.newsday.com/

Michelle Obama Models a Narciso Rodriguez Dress on Election Night

Barack Obama is the new president elect. My family, friends, and I were text messaging each other throughout his acceptance speech, because we are beyond elated. I believe we are all pleasantly shocked and excited to have hope again.

Then his family joined him on stage, and my mouth dropped to the floor.

Yes she did (create a distraction).

Sitting on the couch together proudly watching a moment of history, I turned to Steve and we both gave each other a look that said, "What is she wearing?" (OK, well I might have shouted that out myself...)

Wearing a Narciso Rodriguez Spring 2009 design, Michelle Obama and her daughters joined her husband on stage as the multi-ethnic crowd continued to cheer. But with such an eccentric and bold contrast of black and red; the dress stole my attention away from the gravity and words of Barack Obama. So much to the effect that thoughts were racing through my mind, such as:

- OMG, did a stylist actually choose this for her on election night?

- Did the designer himself give the dress to her as a gift and ASK that she wear it on election night?

- This must be her celebration dress or her "It's going to be OK" dress if Obama lost

- Is she inadvertantly telling America that there's a new fashionable First Lady in 'da house'?

- I just know the media, bloggers everywhere, and E! News is going to be all over this dress!

- I would have worn something more subdued because I don't want to take away attention from my husband's win...

- Who am I kidding, she does look pretty fabulous!

- There's a time and place for every style, and election night wasn't the time to focus on fashion...OMG, what I really saying?

- She and her famly all blend nicely -- the red and black theme.

But overall, I summed it up in my mind as this: Michelle Obama's style that evening told me that just as politics is risky, so is fashion. While many people enjoy blandness, sameness, and lack of substance; shaking the boat once in awhile creates change. And whether people boo or cheer for a certain style or a belief -- change is necessary to make a difference.

...But just maybe, if I were her stylist that evening, I would have asked her to "change" that look and save it for a concert!

Do YOU think the Narciso Rodriguez dress was the right choice for election night?

Photo Credits: http://www.nydailynews.com/