Something Worth a Look for Spring
Fashion Reflects Change Coming to America — Again
The Circus Comes to Town 
Fashion Reflects Change Coming to America—Again
February 3, 2009
Marie Green is a fashion stylist and writer from San Diego California. She is the Fashion Editor of FINE Homes and Living Magazine and her column, “Fashion Focus” has appeared in FINE Magazine as well as LaJolla Light, The Del Mar Times, Del Mar Ink, The Carmel Valley Leader, Rancho Santa Fe Record, and The Solana Beach Sun. Marie is also the co-founder of SheWants.com.
February gives us both Presidents’ Day and Valentine’s Day. In the spirit of Thomas Jefferson, who called for changing things every seven years, this month’s column serves as a Valentine to America: Celebrating the greatest of American traditions: change within the long time sense of “It’s a great time to be an American.”
And after this historic election that has people from across the political spectrum feeling positive about the future, despite all of the changes going on in the economy as new systems and processes emerging from the old, what better fashion statement to make than good old red, white, and blue leading the charge for holiday-spring fashion, to express hope to people apprehensive about the financial changes, as we experience the adversity we go through to get an American tradition for over 200 years: spirited and exciting change.
Today’s styles take us down the various fashion runways, parading the promise of tomorrow with confidence and hope. Time magazine called Michele Obama "America's Next Top Model"; the Washington Post called her the "Leader of the Fashionable World", connecting the heart of black America with the heart of all of America. Of all of her outfits, the beige and black outfit that Michelle Obama wore the night before the Inaugeration, is my favorite.
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| Mark Wilson/Getty Images | Reuters/Mark Wilson | AP Photo/Alex Brandon |
As for the Obama daughters, the “tweens” of America also had fashion highlights. One of the most popular dresses is the Biscotti party dress with bubble hem. Mahlia wearing it made it is so popular that Biscotti, the Oakland, CA children’s label is rushing to make more to have them ready for the holidays.
The Inaugural Balls gave us great venues to see patriotic fashions and to preview the upcoming awards seasons in film and music, which will culminate on the Red Carpet of the 2009 Oscars, which we’ll cover in a later column.
The Inaugural Ball gown of Michelle Obama reminds us what fashion is all about, whether we are professionals working around the world or working at home or in the back yard: fashion is how we present ourselves to the world. Michelle Obama, Jill Biden, and all the other ball attendees used their inaugural gowns the way fashionistas always use fashion: to allow the triumph of our own personal styles to come through, especially in this season of looking modern and elegant and yet simple, in a word, American.
May every sweetheart express his or her confidence in their beloved even as they remember the common love we have for our country as it continues its march toward meeting its original ideals for all: fairness and justice with equal access and opportunity for all.
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