Thursday, October 15, 2009

Book Review & Giveaway of Mrs. O: The Face of Fashion Democracy by Mary Tomer

Synopsis:
Building on the success of the Mrs. O website, Mary Tomer's recent book is a beautifully photographed and annotated description of Michelle Obama's fashion style as it progressed over the very public months of Barack Obama's presidential campaign and his first months in office.

Review:
Mrs. O: The Face of Fashion Democracy is more than a gorgeous collection of photographs. I found it an education in how Michelle Obama used her political savvy, visibility, and fashion sense to make political statements and to promote young designers from the US and around the world. I am not particularly well versed in the different designers and enjoyed the book's extensive interviews of different designers, stylists and publicists.

It is easy to imagine the excitement at the J.Crew headquarters when Michelle Obama appeared on Jay Leno's Tonight Show wearing her yellow outfit. And the "general joy" that all the Gap employees felt on seeing Michelle Obama in her off-the rack dress on the Fourth of July, 2008. It was touching to read Thakoon Panichgul's reaction to seeing Michelle Obama in his crossover V-back dress on the last night of the Democratic Convention: "I was so shocked and honored to have been part of that moment for her, for her family, for the country."

I recommend Mrs. O: The Face of Fashion Democracy - it goes beyond photographs to capture and analyze unique political moments from the lens of fashion.

Publisher: Center Street (October 28, 2009), 248 pages.
Review copy provided by the publisher.

About the Author, courtesy of the publisher:
Mary Tomer is the founder and contributing editor of Mrs-O.org. In the summer of 2008, captivated by Michelle Obama's arrival on the national stage, Mary realized the future first lady had the makings of a style icon - the genesis of Mrs-O.org. The site launched in September 2008, and has quickly grown to attract more than 2 million site visits, with traffic from 221 countries and territories. Mary has appeared on the Today Show, MSNBC, Access Hollywood and BBC Radio, speaking as an authority on the first lady's style.

CONTEST DETAILS

To enter, please tell us about your favorite public figure.

Rules:
Please include your email address, so that I can contact you if you win. No email address and answer, no entry. The contest is limited to US and Canada only. No P.O. boxes. The contest ends at noon on November 15, 2009.

Thanks so much, Anna and Hatchette Book Group for this opportunity and sponsoring the generous giveaway!

17 comments:

  1. Hilary Clinton is. She's wise and extremely political. She finally joined forces with Obama rather than run against him. She even stood by Bill in his time of indiscretion. Hilary rocks!

    bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Currently my favorite public person is Barak Obama.

    enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have to repeat the same answer, my fav is Barak Obama, with his wife sliding in as a close second!

    dancealert at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  4. My favorite public figure is Chelsea Handler. I like her upfront attitude along with her humor and honesty.
    dftrew(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  5. My favorite is Barak Obama.
    lelijah3163 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  6. My favorite public figure is or was Audrey Hepburn she did so much humanitarian work.

    heatheranne99 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  7. My favorite public figure is Maya Angelou.

    teakettle58atyahoodotcom

    ReplyDelete
  8. My favorite public figure is Hillary Clinton. No contest.

    umichalum08[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  9. President Obama is my favorite public figure.

    janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  10. My favorite politician so far was FDR. This book sounds interesting - thank you so much for the entry.

    rl
    redbike599 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  11. My favourite public figure is Hilary Clinton. walkerd@primus.ca

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hillary Clinton
    amanda
    catss99@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Billy Graham

    rhoneygtn at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  14. My favourite public figure is Obama. walkermisc@primus.ca

    ReplyDelete
  15. President Obama is my favorite

    anjamie4 (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I guess I'd have to say Andy Rooney.
    I love hearing what he has to say.

    readingatthebeach at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  17. President Barack Obama is my favorite public figure!
    (email address in profile)

    ReplyDelete