Michelle Obama: 'Fashion Plays an Important Role in My Confidence'

    Clothes may not make the woman, but according to First Lady Michelle Obama, they don't hurt. Mrs. Obama hosted a "Fashion Workshop" for students and fashion industry representatives at the White House Wednesday, something she said had been a "dream" of hers:

But I want to thank everyone here for making this dream -- this was really a dream of mine in so many ways, to have this industry and all those who have supported me, who do so much for people to make us feel beautiful and ready to get out there.  

Then Mrs. Obama personalized it further:

Let me tell you, fashion plays an important role in my confidence.  My ability to do my job is really linked to how I feel about what I’m wearing. 

The first lady also encouraged the students to take advantage of the opportunity afforded to them by this White House visit:

If I were you, you all -- students sitting in here -- I would be either writing somebody in this room, I’d be getting a card.  I would get my personal notes together right now, because my letter would be addressed to whoever -- I was one of the students that was at the White House panel, I attended this workshop, we sat in the lunch, I mentioned something that they heard or a quote.  And I’d say I was -- you know, now is the time to get -- this is an opportunity.  This is a door... 

This is really special, so make the most of it.  It won’t be the last door that you have access to, but this door is real different. 

Mrs. Obama told the audience that she was taking her own advice on making the most of being in the White House:

And you have to think, when is the next time I’m going to be invited to the White House?  Because I think about that all the time.  (Laughter.)  I tell my kids, take a look around now, because you may never get invited back here again.

According to the White House transcript, her remarks were met with laughter and applause.


Note: A version of this post first appeared at The Weekly Standard.

U.S. Embassy in Macedonia Hosts Fashion Show

    Last week, the US Embassy in Macedonia hosted a fashion show "with a goal of supporting Macedonia’s economic development, the fashion and textile sectors, and youth entrepreneurship." While the continuing sequester had White House Press Secretary Jay Carney speculating that the "damage" done by the sequester might not be immediately known, that "damage" will apparently not include the Macedonian fashion scene.  According to the Washington Post, the sequester cut the State Department's diplomatic functions by $650 million.  However, the day after Carney's comment, the US Embassy put on the fashion show for the second year in a row.  Called “POP! Fashion”, the show was held on a runway constructed in the atrium of the embassy building:

Ambassador Wohlers opened the “Pop! Fashion” fashion show yesterday as part of Skopje Fashion Weekend. Government ministers, donors, and invited guests from the business, fashion, textile, and media communities attended the event that was hosted in the Embassy Atrium. Working with Fashion Weekend Skopje, the Embassy selected a mix of fifteen established and new designers from thirty two applications, with a goal of supporting Macedonia’s economic development, the fashion and textile sectors, and youth entrepreneurship.

The embassy's Facebook page included numerous photos of the event:

    The local Macedonian Information Agency reported on the event as well, providing some additional photos of the fashions on display.

    An email to the embassy inquiring about the cost of the event was not immediately returned.


Note: The article first appeared at The Weekly Standard.

What $40 Means to You (Woof!)

    Remember the White House's What $40 Means to You campaign from the Social Security tax holiday debate? (I wrote about it here, here, and here.)  Those who wrote in response provided such answers as:

$40 for me is about a week's grocery money!
S.Z, Cave Creek, AZ  

$40 a paycheck helps me pay for a week of lunch for my daughter at school.
E.D., Ranch Santa Margarita, CA  

$40 a paycheck covers the gas I use in only one week driving to and from work.
S.J., Haymarket, VA 

Thanks to their Runway to Win fashion designer-supported affort, the Obama campaign has provided a new answer for that question:

Pet owners will be especially glad to know it's 100% cotton.  The American people now have one more option for the extra $40 in their paychecks.