Obama Style in Waiting: The Obamas May See Themselves Coming and Going

It's true that these fashions aren't inspired by Michelle Obama, but instead honor her husband. But as the first family heads off for some much needed summertime R&R, we follow the Daily Beast in setting up the scene awaiting them in Oak Bluffs. In fact it's Edgartown before Lily Pulitzer regains control of the style situation awaiting the Os next week. A

Quoted via The Daily Beast:

Like many resort communities, Martha’s Vineyard has a look. From Oak Bluffs to Edgartown, this Massachusetts outpost typically yields a stylish contradiction of straw hats, boating basics and pared-down interpretations of runway resortwear. But things look different this year—at least in historically African-American Oak Bluffs—as local store owners take a note from the arbiters of fashion and outfit their well-heeled customers in Obamawear in advance of the first family’s arrival this month.

Obama-inspired fashions via The Daily BeastSince the late days of the campaign trail, notable names in high fashion have been weighing in on—and supporting—Michelle and Barack Obama. In 2008, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac sent a bright and optimistic yellow sweater dress down a runway in Paris—it was knee-length and had Barack Obama’sbedazzledsmiling face on the front. Sonia Rykiel debuted a collegiate-style sweater with OBAMA emblazoned across the chest. Stella McCartney wrote “P.S.: Vote Obama!” in her program notes during the same round of shows. And in 2009 Donatella Versace dedicated her summer collection to our 44th president, insisting that “men get rid of the tie and jazz up the shirt” in a honor of his relaxed and casual style.

Apparently all the publicity worked, because Oak Bluffs’ main street, Circuit Avenue, might as well be Rykiel’s runway in Paris. One of this summer’s hot items is a beaded change purse that spells out OBAMA in pink and blue stones. But the trend doesn’t stop there—much like Versace instructed the fashionable to do, men in OB are happily taking off the tie and jazzing up the T-shirt for day and evening alike, as the common coral dinner Polo has been replaced by the most compelling brand of all: Obama’s smiling face, which is now boldly incorporated into dinner looks, tucked under a blazer and finished off with a baseball cap. more