By Chanda Temple -- The Birmingham News
This new book is now in stores. It is $35. (The Birmingham News / Voncille Williams)
Fashion journalist Kate Betts talks about more than Michelle Obama's sense of style in her new book, "Everyday Icon: Michelle Obama and the Power of Style" (Clarkson Potter, $35)
She also looks at the fashion statements several former first ladies have made.
On page 66, Betts writes that Ann Cole Lowe , an African American woman from Grayton, Ala., dressed Jacqueline Kennedy before Oleg Cassini did. Futhermore, Lowe made Kennedy's ivory silk and taffeta wedding gown in 1953.
On page 54, Betts reports how Oscar de la Renta was responsible for getting Hillary Clinton not to wear a hat for President Bill Clinton's second inauguration. Hillary Clinton was the first first lady to break with the tradition of wearing a hat to a swearing-in ceremony. She did, however, wear a hat for her husband's first inauguration.
On page 181, readers learn that Dolly Madison was the first first lady to wear pearls in the White House.
And on page 38, Betts writes that Mamie Eisenhower wore pink so often that the Textile Color Institute issued a shade called First Lady Pink.
Such history lessons are sprinkled throughout the 242-page book, as are some fun facts about Obama's style. Some include:
*New York designer Peter Soronen has created some of Obama's most memorable evening gowns, including the charcoal gray chiffon sequined strapless gown she wore to the Governors' Dinner in 2009.
*That cardigan that Obama likes to wear so much is a sweater that was originally named for the seventh Earl of Cardigan, James Thomas Brudenell, in the 1830s.
*Her favorite belt is by Azzedine Alaia.
*Soronen sketched a gold brocade dress, which was inspired by a vintage Dior dress, for Obama to consider wearing as her inaugural gown. (The sketch is on page 78.) However, Obama went with an ivory silk chiffon gown design by Jason Wu.
Betts, of New York, is a contributing editor to Time magazine and a former editor-in-chief of Harper's Bazaar. Forbes recently named her one of the top 10 fashion editors.
These books also explore Michelle Obama's style. (The Birmingham News / Voncille Williams)
Other books, pictured on the left, also explore how Obama dresses. They are:
"Michelle Style: Celebrating the First Lady of Fashion" by Mandi Norwood (William Morrow, $19.99)
"Michelle: Her First Year as First Lady A Photographic Journal" with text by Robin Givhan (Triumph Books, $14.95)
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