Spotlight Saturday - Betty Ford

The wife of former United States President Gerald Ford, Betty Ford, passed away this week, she was 93.  Mrs. Ford reigned as 'First Lady' from 1974 to 1977.  Known for her outspoken candor, she was a strong advocate for women's rights, equal rights and the pro-choice movement, in spite of being a member of the Republican Party.  She was a front runner of the evolution of fashions amongst first ladies making ranks by following in the footsteps of Jackie O'.  After Gerald Ford's term in office was over, she returned to her hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she became fashion coordinator for Herpolsheimer's which was a popular department store.  Since there weren't any Inaugural Ball's at the time when Gerald Ford was President, the 1st Lady gown hanging in the Smithsonian Museum to represent Betty Ford was the one she wore to the State Dinner with the Shah of Iran in 1975.  She chose her favorite color, pale green & it was a sequined chiffon gown with an embroidered floral pattern.  I personally love the mandarin collar design accentuated with the deep v neckline.  In the spotlight today because she was definitely a modern day fashion conscious first lady...

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Michelle Obama...First Lady of Fashion

First Lady Michelle Obama has definitely made her mark as a fashionista in the same ranks as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis did when JFK was President of The United States back in the 60's. Although she wears a variety of designer pieces she has a soft spot for Jason Wu the Manhattan based Taiwaneese American fashion designer who created the one-shouldered silk chiffon gown she chose to wear at the Presidential Inaugural Ball on January 20th 2009.

It's been said that out of all the presidential wives, Michelle most resembles the late Mrs. Kennedy in her overall demeanor of grace and poise alongside her fashion choices which mimmick the vintage styles of that era.  For many reasons other than their choice of fashion, the Obama's have been cited as being 'the contemporary version of camelot'...

Fashion journalist Kate Betts, contributing editor to Time magazine and a former editor-in-chief at Harper's Bazaar recently wrote a book titled 'Everyday Icon, Michelle Obama and the Power of Style' which explores not only Mrs. Obama's, but the style history of previous first wives from decades ago. 

Her passion has been consistent throughout this presidential term as she was seen wearing a 1950's Norman Norell vintage black lace cocktail dress on the TNT 'Christmas in Washington' special that aired December 17th 2010.  

I just recently found out that Obama was slammed by a public figure in the media for wearing too much yellow but since it wasn't Joan Rivers fashion police, does anyone really care? ha!  It's a given that everyone is going to have their own opinions good or bad, but I absolutely admire her for her exquisite vintage fashion taste.


As Ricky Nelson's song goes..."You can't please everyone, so you've got to please yourself" 


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