It’s times like these that The Today Show really shines. [Ahhhh it is impossible, though, to write about The Today Show without repeating the words “today” and “show” too too many times. Watch this:] Today’s edition of the morning show [GAAH!] included interviews with two of the three designers responsible for Mobama’s epic day of fashion. (Thom Browne was presumably still at a sales meeting in Paris. Get it together Thom — due to something called “term limits” there will not be another inauguration!)
Jason Wu showed up to talk about the long red gown the First Lady wore to the Inaugural Ball last night. It’s not his fault that the wunderkind schtick has gotten old, but it’s gotten old, okay? We get it, Michelle Obama is so obsessed with Jason Wu, she’s now worn his gowns to two inaugurations in a row. Credit to Wu: He’s not even sort of a brat about it. Still, bored.
More interestingly, the creative director of J.Crew, Jenna Lyons — the subject of a big profile in this Sunday’s New York Times Style Section — came on to talk about her inauguration experience. The First Lady converted a bridal sash from the retail brand into belts (classic Mobama move if we’ve ever seen one) and wore one over her Thom Browne. Like mother, like daughter, Malia Obama wore a J.Crew coat.
Lyons took the opportunity to inform the American public that if any of us were hoping to actually wear these First Family-approved garments, that’s just not going to happen. The retailer has decided to retire both Mobama’s sash-belt accessory and Malia’s coat: “The lady day coat that Malia was wearing has been in our line for years, and we’ll continue that, but we’ll retire the color. We won’t do the color again, just out of respect for the first family.”
Both pieces were sure to be best-sellers, so it might come as a shock to hear that they’re being taken off the market. It’s a bold choice, but also a brilliant one. Michelle Obama has basically been living and sleeping in J.Crew since before Barack Obama was president, and she’s done so much for the retail brand that any single item sales record would inevitably be, in comparison, a pittance. “Respect for the first family,” no kidding.
Watch the full Today Show segment below:
Related:
- Michelle Obama’s Thom Browne Inauguration Dress Was a Surprise to Thom Browne, Too
- Look of the Day: Michelle Obama’s Custom Red Jason Wu Gown
Image via Getty
