Style Icon: Michelle Obama

Before First Lady Michelle Obama joined her husband at his public inauguration, the most immediate question for many in the audience was, “Who is she wearing?”

Michelle Obama's choice of attire is among the few genuine unknowns surrounding President Barack Obama's second term inaugural. And while it may seem laughable to some, it’s an endorsement that could potentially mean millions of dollars in new business for a designer. Her decision to wear a flowing ivory gown by young designer Jason Wu to the inaugural balls four years ago made him a major force in the fashion industry. The ruby-colored chiffon and velvet dress was a follow-up to the white gown Wu made for her in 2009.

"I can't believe it. It's crazy," said Wu. "To have done it once was already the experience of my life. To have a second time is tremendous."She paired the dress with a handmade diamond embellished ring by jewelry designer Kimberly McDonald, and shoes designed by Jimmy Choo. At the end of the inaugural festivities, the first lady's outfit and accompanying accessories will go to the National Archives.

In an image-conscious society, Michelle Obama embodies the importance of honing a signature style and remaining true to it, said Mikki Taylor author of "Commander-in-Chic: Every Woman's Guide to Managing Her Style Like a First Lady."

Developing a personal style that fits our lives and our bodies frees us from worrying about what to wear and lets us focus on what really matters.

Her outfits emphasize fashion and function, reflecting her broader platform of healthy and active living, said decorative arts historian Carmela Spinelli, chair of the Savannah College of Art and Design's fashion department. When she bares her arms for a gym class with schoolchildren, she makes headlines on the politics page and the style section, inspiring Americans to hit the floor for push-ups and reconsider sheaths under cardigans.

Her support for emerging designers of diverse backgrounds and influences has bolstered the fashion industry's bottom line while reflecting the country's diverse cultural landscape, Spinelli said.

Designer Jason Wu and his sketch for Michelle's custom designed Inauguration Gown

Owning your personal style makes shopping easier because you can do so without feeling beholden to trends. Sticking to what flatters you also helps you dress with confidence each morning without feeling the need to seek approval from others.

Michelle Obama is tall and statuesque but she's not the typical model size. Yet she looks great in whatever she wears because she has figured out what works for her body and lifestyle and stays true to her personal style, said celebrity stylist Phillip Bloch.

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French Styled Wedding Theme

We love checking out all the customized wedding palettes available online!  Some bloggers will even take requests if you have an idea of your own color combinations.

This French styled wedding is so unique. Everything about it is just lovely and although I know nothing about the bride, her style is tasteful and everything is gorgeous.



1. B&W Macaroons. No other sweet captures French elegance better. Not to mention that macaroons are so tasty!

2. The bride is dressed in a lacy French countryside style gown, while her bridesmaids are wearing black and white striped J. Crew dresses. Oh-la-la! Although it would be way over the top, imagine her bridesmaids in cute little berets!?

3. The groom and groomsmen’s boutonnieres are of an assortment of greens.

4. Treat bags with floral details. These are so cheap and easy to do, check the DIY here!

5. Black and white poppies up the elegance of her wedding. Although they may not be French by origin, they are too elegant to ignore.

6. An apertif bar stocked with French dessert liquors, flavored wines, champagne, and juices. Yum!

7. Their minimalist invitations keep the B&W theme in check, and brings in the stripe pattern carried throughout the wedding by the bridesmaid dresses.

Hope their wedding was as insipring to you as it was for me. Au revoir cherie!

Wedding Week Immunity Boosts

Last week we mentioned some foods to avoid on your wedding day, so what should you be eating in preparation for the big day? If it's getting close, anxiety, lack of sleep, and other stressors that usually tag along with wedding planning can dramatically effect your body. These super foods give a major boost to your immune system so a nasty cold or flu bug doesn’t creep up when the day finally arrives. Before your wedding, load up on them to ensure you're looking and feeling radiant!

We hear the word antioxidants a lot but which foods exactly contain antioxidants? Vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene all contain high levels of antioxidants. Usually colorful fruits and vegetables contain the most antioxidants. Vitamin C is probably the easiest to satisfy. They are in most citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruits. Try a grapefruit or other citrus fruit with honey for breakfast. Citrus fruit not your thing? Brussels sprouts and tomatoes also pack a ton of vitamin C. (Brussels sprouts pack a whole bunch of other beneficial vitamins too; they really are a SUPER food!) Tomatoes are easy to prepare in everyday food and like all foods contain the most nutrients when eaten raw. When cooking most vitamin rich vegetables, boil slightly so that most of the nutrients remain in the food. If you prepare foods raw and under 108 degrees, more of the natural nutrients remain within the food rather than being rendered out by high heat.

Mustard greens, mangoes, and spinach all pack high amounts of vitamin E. In any season, mangoes mixed with apples and a few types of leafy greens tossed with a sweet vinaigrette make a refreshing salad. Spinach is also a very versatile vegetable. It can be tossed in any type of salad or slightly steamed and served with pasta, meat, or poultry.

Purple and blue colored foods are also nutritious favorites. A handful of blueberries in a smoothie or red cabbage (which is actually colored purple) tossed in a salad with blue cheese and apples will easily satisfy your antioxidant intake for the day. Boosting your immune system will help keep nasty cold and flu viruses at bay. After all, you don’t need another thing to worry about with all the excitement that is already going on in your life!

Check out these free ebooks on Amazon for some kitchen motivation!

Foods to Avoid on Your Wedding Day

We often stress-eat or over-snack when we experience anxiety. Fatty foods trigger the production of serotonin, which is partially responsible for your body’s natural anxiety reduction mechanism. Carbohydrates and high fat foods also stabilize sugar levels in the blood, which soothes irritability. Snacking is your body’s natural way to cope with stress, but you might want to rethink what you put in your mouth. Certain foods you eat on the big day will greatly effect how you feel. Below are a few items you should avoid to ensure that you feel at your best because let’s face it, who wants to deal with an upset or bloated tummy or indigestion?

Artificial Sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners (like sorbitol) are found in foods labeled as “diet” or “sugar-free.” Many brides-to-be who are dieting might not be stranger to these foods, however on your big day, it’s better to stay away. These ingredients are not easily processed by the body. A frequent side effect of artificial sweeteners is diarrhea. They can have a laxative effect, sometimes even in small quantities simply because your body might not tolerate it as well as the next person.

(Too much) Caffeine
Yes you need the energy to keep going, and a cup of coffee will help get you there. However, don’t have a coffee, an espresso, and a Redbull! Not only will this make you jittery, restless, and irritable, it can also make you sweat profusely. Another culprit in causing overactive sweat glands is capsaicin. This is the ingredient responsible for giving spices and chilies its spicy or “hot” component. Consider staying away from spicy foods and caffeine to avoid over-perspiration.

Salt
Avoiding salt in foods should really be something that you consider doing weeks before your wedding. Not only are overly salted foods bad for your health, but it will also make you retain a lot of water. Ever wonder why some girls can never shake those last 5 lbs? You can probably attribute the bloating to water retention. By avoiding salt and increasing your water consumption you can lose those extra pounds in just a few days!

Soda/Carbonated Water
Carbonation in drinks can give off gas in your stomach and that will end up coming out one of two ways or get trapped in your intestines and cause bloating. Moreover, if you’re opting for a diet Coke, well, remember what we said in #1?

Heavy Cheeses
Heavy or fatty cheeses are not very easy digest thanks to something called casein. Casein becomes a rubbery curd in your stomach and is tough to break down. While a cheese plates are an easy option as a quick snack, make sure it’s a light cheese. Alternatively, fruit plates are just as easy.

Conflicting Choices

Recently, while browsing in a jewelry store I began making small talk with a diamond salesperson.  It turns out she is one of the few people who has ever been allowed to visit the Canadian diamond mines in the northern most part of the country. As you can imagine, they don't want just anyone wandering around there! These diamonds are very successful in the Canadian market, to some extent because consumers want to buy nationally produced products.  But there is a darker force influencing diamond shoppers today.

It’s become well-known among consumers that many diamonds have histories tied to violence and human suffering. But most people looking for a diamond never receive any more information than these basic words of advice: avoid buying a “blood” or “conflict” diamond. That advice is surely, well-intentioned, but it’s hardly enough information to make an educated and ethical choice. The truth is, many so-called “conflict free” diamonds are not actually free from bloodshed and other serious injustices including child labor, worker exploitation, and sexual violence. How is it that reputable jewelers could be misleading customers about such serious issues? Why isn’t the diamond industry being held accountable to a higher standard? The simple answer is that the industry has done a masterful job of setting the terms of the debate – and of encouraging any discussion about blood diamonds to end before it even starts. But if you want a more complete answer, it’s helpful to take a deeper look at what happens in jewelry stores, at the history of the blood diamond issue, and at how the diamond industry developed a marketing strategy that misleads consumers and makes real change a serious challenge.

Ethical Origins

Where do ethically-sourced diamonds come from?

Look for diamonds originating from Canada.

Canadian diamonds are some of the most ethically-mined diamonds available. Diamonds from Canada are mined in the Northwest Territories in accordance with Canada's strict labor and environmental laws. Canadian diamond mines work cooperatively with local indigenous communities and are carefully protecting the Arctic environment.

Look for diamonds originating from Namibia or Botswana.

Of the countries in Africa that produce diamonds, Botswana and Namibia have done an especially good job of managing their diamond resources. In both countries, the diamond industry supports investments in education and infrastructure and raises the standards of living for all citizens. Mining operations in Namibia and Botswana are violence-free and meet strict labor and environmental standards.

Potential Pitfall: Avoid diamonds from Zimbabwe, Angola, and Côte d’Ivoire.

Diamonds from Zimbabwe and Angola are tainted by killings, torture, beatings, sexual violence, corruption, and the use of forced labor. In Côte d’Ivoire, diamonds are also fueling a lengthy civil conflict. Any retailer who admits to providing diamonds from these countries should be strictly avoided.

Potential Pitfall: Avoid retailers who cannot identify a mine or country of origin.

Retailers should know exactly where each of their diamonds was mined. They should also have detailed information about the labor and environmental conditions in place at those mines. Retailers with incomplete information on the source of their diamonds are not providing a reliably ethical product.

Defining "Beyond Conflict Free"

What does it mean for a diamond to be ethical or go "beyond conflict free"?
Look for diamonds free from all violence, not just civil wars. For a diamond to be ethically sourced, at the very least, it should not have financed a civil war. But diamond-fueled violence often happens in countries that are not officially at war. An ethically-sourced diamond should be mined in conditions wholly free from bloodshed, genocide, and any human rights conflicts, regardless of the cause.

Look for diamonds mined in accordance with strict labor and environmental standards.

To be ethically sourced, a diamond must be mined in keeping with strict labor regulations and environmental standards. Child labor should not be used. Workers should earn fair wages and enjoy safe, decent working conditions. Miners or mining companies must take care to avoid serious environmental harm and treat local ecosystems with respect.

Quality & Affordability

Are ethical diamonds the same quality?

Buying an ethically-sourced diamond does not mean compromising on quality.

Diamonds from Canada, Namibia, and Botswana meet the highest labor and environmental standards. They are also known for their exceptional quality. But it should be emphasized that the quality of an individual diamond depends on objective characteristics such as cut, clarity, color, and carat weight. When considering diamonds greater than 0.30 carats, make sure the diamond has an independent lab grading report from a leading gem lab. 

Are ethically-sourced diamonds easy to find?

YES! Ethical choices are available from select retailers.

A broad selection of ethically-sourced diamonds are available today through verified suppliers, such as Brilliant Earth. Canadian diamonds remained undiscovered well into the last century. When they were eventually discovered, special priority was placed on negotiating mutually beneficial agreements with local indigenous populations and respecting the Arctic environment. A broad inventory of high quality Canadian diamonds is currently available in popular shapes and sizes. Additional sources of ethically-sourced diamonds are available from Namibia and Botswana, where diamonds are fully verified to be mined, cut, and polished using responsible and labor and environmental practices.

You don't have to compromise on price.

Choosing an ethically-sourced diamond does not mean higher prices. Many companies offer excellent value by providing socially conscious jewelry at the lowest possible price, generally lower than many traditional jewelry retailers offer for standard jewelry.

Retailer checklist

Use this handy checklist when checking out diamond jewelry retailers.

		Look for	Avoid
1	Do you acknowledge that there are serious ethical problems in the diamond industry?	Retailers acknowledges ethical problems.	Retailer says not to worry about ethical issues.
2	Where can I find your diamond sourcing policies?	Available on website or in printed form.	No official statement in written form.
3	Do you incorporate ethical considerations when deciding on diamond suppliers?	Retailer selects suppliers based on ethical considerations.	Buys whatever diamonds are available, without regard to ethical origin.
4	What are your standards for ethical sourcing?	Retailer avoids all diamonds tied to violence, child labor, and environmental harm.	Retailer avoids only conflict diamonds. Relies solely on compliance with Kimberley Process.
5	Where are your diamonds mined?	Mines or countries of origin are directly named. Diamonds come from Canada, Namibia, and/or Botswana.	No information available on mines of origin. Diamonds come from countries such as Zimbabwe, Angola, or Côte d’Ivoire.
6	Can you provide specific information on the labor and environmental standards in place at the mines you source from?	Information is aviailable on labor and environmental conditions at mines.	No information available on labor and enviornmental standards.
7	Are your diamonds tracked from the mine, to cutting and polishing, to your store?	Retailer has investigated supply chain and knows exact path diamonds take from mine to market.	No knowledge of supply chain and no tracking ability.
8	Do you stand by your diamonds by providing a written guarantee of their ethical status?	Yes.	No guarantee or just an oral "take our word."

Want to learn more about this important ethical issue?

Check out this months Foreign Policy article: Rough Cut

Happy New Year!

2013 is a year to look forward too! Whether you're getting married, celebrating an anniversary, or attending some exciting events Farrah Furtado Couture will help you create your fashion fantasy!