New Year New Resolve! Rodarte for MEN?!

Is it true?  Can it be?  Have my beloved Sisters Mulleavy finally started designing for men?

The answer is yes and no.

The Rodarte for women's beautiful foray into broken down slightly gothic (synonym for Rodarte at this point) knitwear has found it's way over to the men.

What I really appreciate in this is that Rodarte did not make a full hearted toned down foray into menswear.  It's as if they said this is our aesthetic and we're not toning it down and making it wide market for men.  They took an inspiration they had for women and said, why can't the same woman's boyfriend put on a similar sweater?

Yet, alas with a price tag of $2760 these sweaters are far out of my price range.  They must remain a wish for 2010.  If unlike me you can afford any of these 4 offerings go immediately to Opening Ceremony and snatch one up.  We're sure they'll be gone as fast as you can say Mulleavy.

Ode: Michelle Obama, Beyond the Expected

First of all I apologize for the lack of a post.  I have been so busy preparing myself for my big move in 2 weeks to New York!  I am excited to say I have found my perfect little place in the West Village!

Now on to my post.

There have obviously been a million articles, posts on blog sites, and pictures of Michelle Obama and her fashion choices.

I choose to focus not on the fact that she is obviously stunning, has amazing fashion sense, or that she is the greatest first lady fashion icon since a little gal named Jackie.  Instead I applaud the first lady on her decision to not only focus on established, very American, designers such as Oscar De La Renta as the previous first lady did.

Mrs. Obama obviously chooses a very classic style.  She loves shift dresses in beautiful florals and chooses to add edge in her shoe and especially belt choices.

Yet one of her most commendable fashion choices is brining recognition to young designers.  She famously draped herself in a beautiful white confection by Jason Wu at the various parties on inauguration night.

The choice continued her trend of not only relying on staples like J. Crew or first lady go to De La Renta but instead giving young designers such as Wu an amazing opportunity to show their talent.  At the same time the First Lady made a statement in a dress that showed amazing texture and shape.

For another event the First Lady chose a stunning gold number by the dynamic Mulleavy sisters at Rodarte.  The sisters are known for pushing the boundaries with their beautiful knits and dresses that have ranged from fairy tale fantasy to dark and gothic.

Finally it would not be a true discussion of the First Lady's support for young designers without brining up her love for Thakoon.  A favorite of Anna Wintour, Thakoon has quickly become one of New York and CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund's greatest success stories.  The First Lady brought great recognition to Thakoon by wearing it constantly on the campaign trail and to various events.

We can thank the fashion gods that we were given a First Lady with a sense of style and one who supports young designers.  I'm sure we will be seeing many more designers gracing the First Lady's closet in the next 3, or perhaps 7 years.