While her husband was in Washington DC making his Martin Luther Kind Day speech on August 28 (which I covered here), Michelle Obama was making a speech of her own on August 27.
The First Lady:
...hosted a special student screening at the White House of The Powerbroker: Whitney Young’s Fight For Civil Rights, a documentary that chronicles the life and achievements of this little-known civil rights great.The Powerbroker: Whitney Young’s Fight For Civil Rights:
...follows [Whitney Young’s] journey from segregated Kentucky to head of the National Urban League. Unique among black leaders, he took the fight directly to the powerful white elite, gaining allies in business and government, including three presidents. Young had the difficult tasks of calming the fears of white allies, relieving the doubts of fellow civil rights leaders and responding to attacks from the militant Black Power movement.Here is some of what Mrs. Obama said in her speech:
(More information on the film, and on Whitney Young, here.)
- It is important to remember that history, and important to remember what went into making change. [There's that word "change"]I couldn't do a post without some Michelle fashion, so here it is:
- We are counting on you all [students] to be ready to take the helm and be agents of change, because there is a lot of work to do. [Change, again]
- ..this documentary shows us [...] that there are so many unsung heroes in our history whose impact we still feel today, just regular folks. They're not always going to be the Barack Obamas, the Dr. Kings, the Malcolm Xs.
- And we’re counting on you all to be ready to take the helm and be the next agents of change, because there is still a lot of work to do.
At the speech, Mrs. Obama wore the following:
A patchwork dress by Duro Olowu. (By the way, I came up with this description without reading Olowu's own use of "patchwork" to describe his style - see the quote below.)
About Olowu's "patchwork" style:
This Nigerian born and UK resident print aficionado first caught the fashion world’s attention in 2005 with what’s been coined as the ‘Duro dress’ : a silk kimono-like wide-sleeved, high-waisted patchwork dress accentuated at the waist, sleeves and hem with a wide contrasting print band. [Source: Essence, March 12, 2010]Michelle Obama has been "promoting" black designers in her choice of public wear. This time, it is the Nigeria-born, London designer Duro Oluwu.
Some of his clothes are well-tailored, but he seems to vacilate between the "messy" patchwork designs and the more formal tailored suits.
So it is a mystery why Mrs. Obama chose his loose, messy shapeless dress rather than a neatly crafted suit.
Perhaps it isn't such a mystery. This patchwork could refers to West African "patch" style long, loose dresses, although those dresses are much better tailored, and the patchwork often more cohesive. Or the tradition of patchwork quilts by black Americans. But, I don't think blacks ever wore those quilts.
Olowu says that his design method is:
"...eclectic, filled with inspirations that come from different worlds. Untidy..."Perhaps that is the way Olowu can make a name for himself. It is not that hard to make decent, tailored clothes from patterns. But competing with couture designers brings the competition to a whole different level. It requires that one make a show, presenting some edginess (or as I would call it, weirdness) in order to enter that realm.
I think Olowu hit the jackpot with his patchwork dresses (like the mediocre Diana Von Fursterberg hit the jackpot with her wrap dresses). And Olowu got the First Lady to notice him! He also has a full display of his Spring 2013 Ready To Wear collection in various online fashion sites. He was even featured in Vogue last February 2012.
Michelle also has a new hairdo to show us, with light brown/reddish highlights:
It looks tacky, and, well, patchy, as though her hairdresser (not hair stylist) gave her the latest trend in hair color.
Jane Fonda was also busy this week-end, promoting her new film The Butler, where she plays Nancy Reagan.
She is quite a bit older than Michelle Obama (seventy-five years to Michelle's forty-nine), and she clearly colors her hair, or is wearing a wig, but her recent photos show her looking like a well-groomed older woman. She's had plastic surgery, which she's admitted to, and I agree with her that:
“Good genes and a lot of money [are my beauty secrets]. Being able to have good skincare, facials when I need it [has been important]. I’ve had plastic surgery."Here is Jane Fonda, in Cannes promoting the make-up brand L'Oreal this past May:
Jane Fonda in Cannes as "brand ambassador" for L'Oreal,
in a Badgley Mischka dress.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted By: Kidist P. Asrat
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------