aleXsandro Palombo is an Italian illustrator, whom the cult knows via his blog Humor Chic. Palombo studied design at the Marangoni Institute in Milan and later launch is own line before becoming the scathing blogger his is today. The designer has a no-hold’s barred social point of view and he uses personalities from the worlds of fashion and politics as his cartoon character templates.

One of my favorites is his reworking of Michelle Obama’s March 2010 Newsweek cover (seen below). It’s irreverent & relevant without hitting you over the head with it’s satire. I love that the skeleton is cheetah print! Mrs O, is almost as trendy, after all.

Images: humorchic.blogspot.com, michelle-style.com

Whether she’s tilling a garden, giving a speech, or receiving foreign dignitaries, much ado is made about what Michelle Obama wears. So when the First Lady wore British label Alexander McQueen to this week’s state dinner for Chinese President Hu Jintao the choice let loose a storm of praise and criticism. Most assumed that Mrs. Obama would have worn a gown by a Chinese or Chinese American designer – like Vera Wang, who was in attendance that evening. In some minds it was a lost opportunity and even a snub.

“My understanding is that the visit was to promote American-Chinese trade — American products in China and Chinese products in America,” Oscar de la Renta told WWD. “Why do you wear European clothes?” The Italian born designer, whose collections show in New York City went on to say that Mrs. Obama could have chosen a young American designer who needed the publicity (a la Jason Wu). The assertion, however, signals lack a depth of understanding of the moment.

Others (with less commercial stake in the matter) praised the choice for it’s opulence and nod to exsquisite artisanship and creativity in fashion. Pullitzer Prize winning critic Robin Givhan went farther, theorizing that the gown symbolized commentary on the production chain of the fashion industry.

And in wearing the gown to honor China, a country that many view with disdain for its abundance of cheap labor, counterfeit products, and poor labor practices, Mrs. Obama seemed to be recognizing the country’s inevitable place in the fashion cycle and giving it its due. Indeed, Chinese consumers represent a vast new marketplace for designer companies, and the production quality of its factories continues to improve. In short, Mrs. Obama’s choice was an optimistic celebration of all that fashion can be and it seemed to suggest that China was welcome to be a part of that vision.

Read the rest at The Daily Best.

But what the Givhans and Horyns have yet to mention is that that the rest of the Alexander McQueen Resort 2011 collection, from which the dress was taken and perfectly modified, contained a heavy Asian influence in its prints and shapes. The gown Mrs. Obama chose wasn’t obvious, but when you consider it’s vibrant red color and it’s floral pattern it does seem very Chinese.

photos: fashionising.com

Last evening the President and Mrs. Obama received Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the first State Dinner of the Obama administration. The First Lady was dazzling in a beautiful silver gown made by Indian designer Naeem Khan.

We just watched Mr. Naeem Khan on Larry King Live. Of interest, both the designer’s father and grandfather designed for Indian royalty in their careers. Mr. Khan relayed that he designed 3 or 4 gowns for the event, which were coordinated through Ikram Goldman in Chicago. The brief had been “Indian, chic, simple, but very glamorous.” With that, Mr. Khan chose the color, embroidery, cut and all other aspects of the gowns. He called the moment of seeing the first lady in his design, “So joyous,” continuing, “For me to be part of this historic occasion, being Indian, it is beyond amazing. It is an incredible moment for me.” Source: Mrs-O.org

India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur to the State Dinner at the North Portico of the White House

But while Mrs. Obama was stunning, style-wise Social Secretary Desiree Rogers was the best of the evening. Sec. Rogers chose a cutting edge gown from Comme Des Garcons, featuring layers of pearls under sheer chiffon.

Here she is at the State Dinner preview, looking like she’s had a trying day but holding it together nonetheless.

See more from Commes Des Garcons Fall 2009 Below (click photo for larger views):

Photos: Mrs-O.org, Getty, The Cut

First Lady Michelle Obama was bright and elegant Monday, wearing a purple Isaac Mizrahi dress and coat from the designer’s prefall 2009 collection. Mrs. Obama cut the ribbon to officially re-open the Charles Engelhard Court, centerpiece of the newly renovated American Wing, at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Conservatives, “news” rags, and others with more time than sense are making a big fuss over First Lady Michelle Obama wearing a pair of Lanvin sneakers to an event last week. Okay, the event was some feed the poor shindig… and okay the kicks retail for $540, but it really does seem like much ado about nothing.

The attempts to make a mountain out of a sartorial molehill are clear indications of Mrs. Obama’s star being on a meteoric rise. When you seem to have everything going for you, haters will find the smallest bit of nonsense to try and tear you down – just ask Beyonce.

The First Lady, whose approval rating is higher than the President’s, solidified her status as a style icon and all-around well-liked public figure on a recent trip to Europe. During that trip, the topic of what Mrs. Obama wore to meet the Queen of England was discussed nearly as much as the outcome of the G20 summit her husband attended.

Wouldn’t it be more detestable if the wife to the leader of the free world disingenuously downgraded her wears for the sake of a photo-op?

Face it haters, Michelle Obama is “well-to-do.” Accordingly, she’s fly. Period. I don’t recall any of this squawking when Cindy McCain touches down for one of her third-world ventures with her Western righteousness AND 3-carat diamonds in tow. C’mon!

The fact is that politicians and their families on all sides of the ideological spectrum are wearing Armani and Chanel on a daily – downturn or no.

Perhaps the real problem here is that the First Lady’s detractors still consider her that dirty little world, which I won’t say here, but it starts with a U and ends with an uppity.

The people at J. Crew must be (should be) thanking their lucky stars for all the amazing – not to mention FREE – publicity First Lady Michelle Obama has given them. In the midst of the much lamented “downturn” they have items flying off their e-shelves the second Mrs. Obama is photo’d wearing them.

The marketing team was quick to capitalize and now you’ll see that fab green skirt Michelle O. wore in London in ads blanketing the net. They’ve gone into production overdrive, no doubt. With the closer look the skirt really is remarkable. Dig the texture and the subtleties in color. This Lady has an eye for detail!

Snipped from Huffingtonpost.com

Is it wrong that I’m a little bit disappointed? I mean, she looks nice; and certainly there was no need for a ball gown or anything extravagant… but it’s just not nearly her most elegant. Oh well.

The details:

Accompanying President Barack Obama, Michelle wore a Jason Wu black coat over a black and white Isabel Toledo ensemble, which she teamed with a black Azzedine Alaïa cardigan to Buckingham Palace. She accessorized the look with a simple white pearl necklace. Source

Great coat! And her hair does look fabulous.

And, of course, she had to get some are action in This is the President and First Lady before dinner with the Browns at 10 Downing Street.

photos: huffingtonpost.com

The watch continues and Michelle Obama goes on her European tour alongside her husband, President Barack Obama. Early this morning she had tea with the British PM’s wife Sarah Brown wearing an embellished cardigan, spring green skirt and pearls. Though the Brown’s navy dress was really quite sharp, she paled in comparison to the First Lady’s rising star… literally

But the real question now is, What will she wear to meet the queen?

UPDATE: Click here to see what she wore!

While many around the world are in a tizzy over what the new U.S. president will do about the dire condition global economy, nearly as many are frenzied over just what the First Lady will wear on her trip to Europe.

Before take off Michelle wore a simple white and black coat – well tailored, but not spectacular. But upon arrival, Mrs. Obama stepped off Air Force One wearing a chic yellow dress and black coat perfectly belted (with her signature and well-used belt) to show off her tiny waist. The world is watching, and this woman knows it.

photos: huffingtonpost.com

That is, better if you have no sense of satire and even less sense of style. Frankly, I’m MORE offended by this cover. How on earth is this the style issue cover and the drawings are so utterly devoid of STYLE?!

Of course, folks are complaining about this cover too. Calling it offensive because the First Lady is more than a style icon. They need to mad that Michelle looks like she’s been dressed by Newport News. Ewwww