StyleSpy with Katrina Szish

There are some striking similarities between the First Family-elect and the legendary Kennedy family -- youth, energy, style, beauty, hope...but Michelle O is not merely Jackie O two-point-0.

Admittedly, when we first met Michelle on the campaign trail she did recycle myriad Jackie-isms -- the pearls, the flip, the sheath dress -- but she has since come into her own. 

Michelle has become a fashion risk-taker, clearly evidenced by her much-debated dress choice on Election Night.  She is also a modern mixer of high and low: she slips into head-to-toe J. Crew (left) as easily as she slips into a Thakoon runway frock (right). 

She is a study in subtlety, yet she is far from a fashion wallflower.  Her choices are bold but not loud, strong but still feminine.  She is becoming a style icon -- quickly -- and stands poised to inspire a new generation of women.

Is the Obama White House going to be the new Camelot?  Perhaps.
However the queen of the castle is undoubtedly going to rewrite her own fashion history.

Watch the video!

Images:  Ron Sachs/Rex, Imaxtree
 

Michelle Obama made fashion history last night.

Rather than make her First Lady-Elect debut swathed in a classic Oscar de la Renta creation favored by First Ladies of yore Nancy Reagan, Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush, she set the stage of style to come in a bold (albeit not beloved by all), slightly-modified frock from the Narciso Rodriguez Spring 2009 runway. 

This is not a First Lady who's going to play it safe when it comes to fashion, as we discovered when she finally hit her style stride on the campaign trail (see her style transformation here).

Throughout her husband's campaign she was heralded as the next Jackie O (aka Michelle O).  She was also described as someone who "will bring affordable American sportswear to the forefront" -- a comment inspired by the humble $149 White House Black Market Donna Ricco dress she famously wore for her appearance on "The View."

But let's be honest -- there is nothing humble about Michelle Obama's wardrobe (nor was there about Jackie Kennedy's).  Filled with custom Maria Pinto pieces, dresses from fashion-forward designers Thakoon and Narciso Rodriguez, and luxe accessories from Erickson Beamon and Azzedine Alaia, her wardrobe is nothing short of a fashionista's dream.

There is no doubt that change is coming to Washington D.C., and that is already evident in Michelle Obama's closet.  America, get ready to see what a true modern style icon is all about...we are in for a wildly stylish ride.

The always-fabulous designer wears his vote on his sleeve, and he wants to know what you wear when you cast yours. 

Posen has launched FashionTheVote.com where you can send him of picture of your election day ensemble, and he will post it on the site for all to see. 

Zac's motto?

"Make the future.  Look Good."

And, speaking of fashion and politics, I caught up with a few designers during New York Fashion Week to get their take on the topic...Check it out!

As far as I'm concerned Hello Kitty is always having a moment, but this month she has been busier than ever.

She released her debut album, "Hello World" which features 11 tracks of original pop tunes performed by up & coming young artists (HK Fun Fact: Hello Kitty doesn't have a mouth because she "speaks from the heart," so she can't talk...or sing).

She opened a posh boutique in New York City called Sanrio Luxe...The 1,200 square foot space is accented with black crystal chandeliers and refurbished Victorian furnishings upholstered in jet black, and it stocks rare products from Japan, handbags & shoes from Italian design house Camomilla, Columbian couture apparel from Mabel Palacio, and Kimora Lee Simmons' diamond jewelry collection (and that's just for starters).

...and in celebration of her November 1st birthday (her 34th!), Hello Kitty created a limited edition t-shirt to benefit her friends at the Humane Society.  It will be available starting this Saturday at Sanrio.com.

Don't worry, no post debate commentary here.  However, like everyone else, saving money is on my mind.

Yet, being the Style Spy, it's only fitting that I save with, well, style.

There are loads of partisan purchases to be made this election season, from TOMS political party shoes to Hidalgo's gold and diamond rings.  But, my favorite keepsake is also the most practical.

Take your financial future into your own hands with Jonathan Adler's ceramic banks ($78 each).  The only way they'll crash is if you drop them. 

I've been making little deposits in one of my own for the past few months.  Any guesses at which one I bought???

Marc Jacobs' iconic "mouse" shoe is officially celebrating it's 10th, although the designer has offered countless charming and increasingly figurative incarnations during the decade.

As a means of celebrating the shoe's icon status, Jacobs did what only Jacobs can do:  He masterminded a collaboration so brilliant that it ensures the (limited) anniversary edition will transcend mere icon status. 

This shoe isn't a shoe -- it's art. 

Jacobs enlisted the help of my most-revered urban artist, KAWS (aka Brian), to craft the latest mouse flat.  KAWS is known for his postmodern graffiti art, some of which resembles Mickey Mouse.  Thus, in addition to his automatic hip-factor, he is a man who knows mice.  Well played, Marc.

Only 200 pairs of the black flats exist worldwide, and they are available immediatement at Paris' drool-inducing Colette.

Whether or not you collect KAWS pieces (like I do), I don't know that I would recommend wearing these shoes.  Just display them on your vanity or bookshelf, and keep the packaging should you ever want to auction them "MIB" on Ebay...or at Sotheby's.

Until now, my all-time favorite Marc Jacobs collaboration was with Takashi Murakami for Louis Vuitton.  I bought myself an original cherry blossom monogram bag and managed to get Mr. Murakami to sign it at a gallery opening (a "vintage" snapshot from the 2003 event with my apparently very serious and very scruffy friend Michael Taylor). 

To my nearly uncontainable delight, he not only signed the bow-clad bag (pictured above!), but he DREW A PICTURE on the inside flap.  Needless to say, that bag doesn't get out much.  Who needs a retirement fund when you've got that baby stashed away?!

My weekend plans?  A visit to www.Colette.fr followed by a Vespa ride across the Williamsburg Bridge to track down the artist...and a signature. 

I caught up with the coolest DJs in town (and out of town) just before they played their set for the Tony Cohen show at New York Fashion Week...Fashion Week just wouldn't be Fashion Week without a little drama.

(Surely you recognize Leigh Lezark from Gap's fall ad campaign??)

The masterminds at InStyle.com have come up with the perfect pre-Election Day pasttime....fun with ELECTION HAIR!   That's right, you can amuse yourself for hours (or even five weeks!) by uploading your picture into our wildly popular Hollywood Hair Makeover tool to see how "red" or "blue" suits you.  Try on the Sarah, the Cindy, the Hillary and the Michelle.

CNN's Naamua Delaney and I tried a few on for size...and a chuckle.

Check out the clip (you'll also learn more about In Style's October cover girl, Meg Ryan!)

I loved Zac Posen's Spring 2009 collection.  Not everyone shares my opinion on the clothes Posen sent down the runway, however it seems the catchy song looped through the speakers as the models strutted their stuff made quite an impact.

Bloggers everywhere demanded to know who sang the "jungle drum" song.  My friends and I spent the remainder of the evening chanting "doonga-doonga-doonga-doonga-doong" (or something like that).

And last night, while watching the season premiere of "Grey's Anatomy," (LOVE) the very same song popped up during the scene in which Christina was impaled by a wayward icicle (odd choice of timing perhaps, but...).

The song?  "Jungle Drum" (from the Me and Armini album) by Emiliana Torrini,
up-and-coming Icelandic sensation (how cute is she?!). 

Download it and you won't be able to get it out of your head.

"Hey, I'm in love..."
 

Betsey Johnson is the pop-culture princess of New York Fashion Week...not to mention the fashion industry's fountain of youth.  I stopped by the celebration -- and spoke to some celebs -- just 10 minutes before Betsey's Spring 2009 runway show...

As always, Betsey ended her show with a running runway cartwheel...she admits she always practices the morning of the show.  Pretty impressive for a grandmother of two !

Style Spy sends a huge XOXO to Betsey Johnson!  SMOOCH!