Michelle Obama in Thom Browne on Monday (NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)
Michelle Obama is known for launching women's fashion trends worldwide, but it was a menswear that served as inspiration for the first lady during Monday's daytime Inaugural events.
The first lady's custom navy jacquard Thom Browne coat and dress chosen to kick of the festivities in Washington took its cue from the fabric of a silk men's tie, reports the Associated Press. Neckties, of course, are a trademark of her husband's first term.
"It's one of those moments when I just can't believe that happened," Browne told the New York Times' Eric Wilson. Known primarily for his suits, Browne was named GQ's Designer of the Year in the fall 2008, the same year as Obama's historical election to the presidency.
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The first lady has been a fan of Browne's dress collections in recent months. She wore a custom gray dress with a black lace overlay in October, during the Democratic National Convention.
The decision to wear Browne was win for Michelle on Monday, according fashion critics.
@FLOTUS SO CHIC in her #ThomBrowne navy coat," Elle's Joe Zee tweeted.
"The overwhelming response within the fashion community is that she looks fantastic," Fashionista's Leah Chernikoff tells Yahoo! Shine. "Everyone is thrilled she chose such a high fashion designer for today."
Browne can't take all the credit. Mrs. O also called on her own famously high-low fashion sensibilities, pairing her navy coat with an embellished waist belt and port-colored leather gloves from J. Crew.
The first lady has been a fan of Browne's dress collections in recent months. She wore a custom gray dress with a black lace overlay in October, during the Democratic National Convention.
The decision to wear Browne was win for Michelle on Monday, according fashion critics.
@FLOTUS SO CHIC in her #ThomBrowne navy coat," Elle's Joe Zee tweeted.
"The overwhelming response within the fashion community is that she looks fantastic," Fashionista's Leah Chernikoff tells Yahoo! Shine. "Everyone is thrilled she chose such a high fashion designer for today."
Browne can't take all the credit. Mrs. O also called on her own famously high-low fashion sensibilities, pairing her navy coat with an embellished waist belt and port-colored leather gloves from J. Crew.
The First Lady has made the mass market brand an unofficial designer for the first family over the past four years. Colorful J.Crew coats and gloves kept Sasha and Malia Obama warm during their dad's swearing-in ceremony in 2009.On Monday, Malia kept the tradition going, dressed in a purple J.Crew wool coat. Her sister Sasha broke the trend with a lavender Kate Spade coat and dress.
But in the days leading up to the inaugural events, all eyes have been on the first lady, a fashion icon who launched the career of young American designer Jason
The first family is Inaugural-chic. (NICHOLAS
KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)
Wu four years ago at the Inaugural Ball. Speculation on her choice of designer this evening remains. But already another sartorial choice is making headlines. At Sunday's private swearing-in ceremony, Mrs. O chose a royal blue cardigan and dress by designer Reed Krakoff. Krakoff also took credit for the winter-weather black suede boots Michelle changed into for Monday's outdoor Inauguration ceremony. (Those silver J. Crew heels she was wearing earlier Monday morning must not have been warm enough!)
Michelle Obama in Reed Krakoff at Sunday's private swearing-in
Fashionista's Chernikoff called the decision to wear Krakoff on Sunday "an interesting choice given that Ann Romney was criticized during the campaign for wearing Krakoff's $990 silk bird-print t-shirt."
Of course, her dresses are trumped by an even bigger style decision in recent days: those bangs.
On Sunday, President Obama called the first lady's new haircut "the most significant event of this weekend." And if there was any question, he offered his presidential seal of approval: "I love her bangs."
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