VOA标准英语2009-First Lady's Fashion Gets Attention

A blog devoted¹ to Michelle Obama's fashion sense has inspired a book. The woman behind both says there hasn't been a first lady in more than 40 years who has attracted this much attention for what she wears.

Susan Logue | Washington 27 November 2009

 
Mary Tomer's blog inspired her book about the First Lady and her fashion sense

"I've never come across anyone who is only interested in Michelle Obama's style,” Tomer says. “We are interested in her accomplishments² as a mother, wife, and professional, and captivated that she can pull it off with such a fantastic sense of style."

From the campaign trail to the White House, Michelle Obama has attracted attention. She was on the cover of Vogue³ magazine in March, and she appears on the cover of Glamour⁴ magazine's December issue.  "Mrs. O," a blog devoted to Michelle Obama's fashion sense, has become so popular it has inspired a book. The woman behind both says there hasn't been a first lady in more than 40 years who has attracted this much attention for what she wears.

When the First Couple appeared in their formal wear for the inaugural⁵ balls last January, it was clear the President was pleased with the way the First Lady looked in her white chiffon, one shoulder gown, embroidered⁶ with flowers and crystals.

Although praise for the dress designed by Jason Wu wasn't unanimous, most critics have been enthusiastic about Mrs. Obama's flair⁷ for fashion.

Another First Lady recalled

"I think there is a way we feel about Michelle Obama that we haven't felt about a First Lady since Jackie Kennedy," says Mary Tomer. 

That's what inspired Tomer to launch her blog, “Mrs. O.” It led to the publication of her book, Mrs. O: the Face of Fashion Democracy. The blog features an update nearly every day with what the First Lady was last seen wearing.

It averages 10,000 hits a day, with visitors from more than 200 countries. "I think they are inspired to see a modern fashion-forward woman in this fantastic role and platform."

The First Lady's press secretary said she could not comment on Mrs. Obama's fashion. But however she gets the public's attention, the First Lady has used her platform to address a number of issues, from support for military families to women's health, and from music education to organic gardening.

"I've never come across anyone who is only interested in Michelle Obama's style,” Tomer says.  “We are interested in her accomplishments as a mother, wife, and professional, and captivated that she can pull it off with such a fantastic sense of style."

From designer wear to off-the-rack clothing

Mrs. Obama's sense of style was on display with creations like the lemongrass dress and coat by Cuban-American designer Isabel Toledo that the First Lady wore on Inauguration⁸ Day. But she also wears less expensive clothes. The outfit⁹ she wore to 10 Downing Street in April was from fashion retailer¹⁰ J Crew.

"When Michelle Obama wears a J Crew cardigan, sometimes you can see it sell out that day,” Tomer says.  “Everyday women, for the first time, have access to the same clothes that the First Lady is wearing and there is something very powerful and endearing about that."

Michelle Obama also chose a sleeveless dress for her official White House portrait

The First Lady hasn't been without her critics. Some said wearing a cardigan to meet Queen Elizabeth was inappropriate. And the sleeveless Narcisso Rodriguez dress she wore to the President’s first address to Congress was controversial.  Some thought she should not have shown her bare arms in winter, especially at that occasion.

But Tomer says, “A lot of women see her fabulously¹¹ toned arms as inspiration."

Her toned arms are once again being shown, this time on the cover of "Glamour Magazine." However, Michelle Obama is being recognized there not for her fashion sense, but for being a mentor¹² to young women, something she did before becoming First Lady, when she was a practicing attorney.

1 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。

2 accomplishments   

n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就

参考例句：

• It was one of the President's greatest accomplishments. 那是总统最伟大的成就之一。
• Among her accomplishments were sewing,cooking,playing the piano and dancing. 她的才能包括缝纫、烹调、弹钢琴和跳舞。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

3 Vogue   

n.时髦，时尚；adj.流行的

参考例句：

• Flowery carpets became the vogue.花卉地毯变成了时髦货。
• Short hair came back into vogue about ten years ago.大约十年前短发又开始流行起来了。

4 glamour   

n.魔力，魅力；vt.迷住

参考例句：

• Foreign travel has lost its glamour for her.到国外旅行对她已失去吸引力了。
• The moonlight cast a glamour over the scene.月光给景色增添了魅力。

5 inaugural   

adj.就职的；n.就职典礼

参考例句：

• We listened to the President's inaugural speech on the radio yesterday.昨天我们通过无线电听了总统的就职演说。
• Professor Pearson gave the inaugural lecture in the new lecture theatre.皮尔逊教授在新的阶梯讲堂发表了启用演说。

6 embroidered   

adj．绣花的

参考例句：

• She embroidered flowers on the cushion covers. 她在这些靠垫套上绣了花。
• She embroidered flowers on the front of the dress. 她在连衣裙的正面绣花。

7 flair   

n.天赋，本领，才华；洞察力

参考例句：

• His business skill complements her flair for design.他的经营技巧和她的设计才能相辅相成。
• He had a natural flair for business.他有做生意的天分。

8 inauguration   

n.开幕、就职典礼

参考例句：

• The inauguration of a President of the United States takes place on January 20.美国总统的就职典礼于一月二十日举行。
• Three celebrated tenors sang at the president's inauguration.3位著名的男高音歌手在总统就职仪式上演唱。

9 outfit   

n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装

参考例句：

• Jenney bought a new outfit for her daughter's wedding.珍妮为参加女儿的婚礼买了一套新装。
• His father bought a ski outfit for him on his birthday.他父亲在他生日那天给他买了一套滑雪用具。

10 retailer   

n.零售商(人)

参考例句：

• What are the retailer requirements?零售商会有哪些要求呢？
• The retailer has assembled a team in Shanghai to examine the question.这家零售商在上海组建了一支团队研究这个问题。

11 fabulously   

难以置信地，惊人地

参考例句：

• The couple are said to be fabulously wealthy. 据说这对夫妇家财万贯。
• I should say this shirt matches your trousers fabulously. 我得说这衬衫同你的裤子非常相配。

12 mentor   

n.指导者，良师益友；v.指导

参考例句：

• He fed on the great ideas of his mentor.他以他导师的伟大思想为支撑。
• He had mentored scores of younger doctors.他指导过许多更年轻的医生。