NO MO' MO

The new Louis Vuitton ads will feature Madonna. Yes, Madonna of the thin voice, cookie cutter electronic dance grooves and fake Brit accent. YAWWNN.........I think this is absolutely in keeping with LV's choosing celebs having a moment, but it is a little predictable and old hat in my humble opinion. Marc Jacobs, LV's creative directress, stated to WWD that he had seen her in a concert and loved her energy and some things that she said. I am glad that she inspires him because we each get our 'hit' from different places, but she does NADA for me (I am glad that she was an Obama supporter, though).

Her performances and appearances seem to be so robotic and over rehearsed - devoid of passion and spontaneity (Check out Beyonce for the art of passionate performing). Granted, she can't make it up as she goes, but you can't come across as devoid of emotion and heart, either. Nothing about her interests me - not her divorce, her alleged affair with A-Rod, her questionable adoption, her ultra lean physique or her music (and definitely not her acting). For over 2 decades, this woman has represented the dreams and desires of 99.99% of gay men all over the world. Since I am part of the .01% minority and I don't buy Louis Vuitton bags, I guess my opinion is a moot point. And on top of it all, I don't think she has been a true style icon since EROTICA (The MUSIC period was a bunch of hateful ugliness). I am not being a hater. I give her props for her success and brilliant business sense, but that is where my affection for Mo ends.

DESIGNER DREAMS

My friends and I just had a very important conversation...one that is of the utmost importance. That question is which designer Michelle Obama should align herself with going forward. Yes, we are facing a meltdown of the American auto industry, a deep world recession and unprecedented unemployment. But, we do need a little levity and there is always a place for creativity and self expression. When one looks and feels confident and in charge, other's perception of them could shift in their favor.

It was always assumed that Michelle will have to focus on American designers to show her patriotism. My friends and I had tossed about Oscar de la Renta (too associated with Republicans), her current designer du jour, Maria Pinto (good, but not high profile enough in my book) and Carolina Herrera (sometimes too nondescript) but we sort of had a consensus with DONNA KARAN.

Donna happens to be one of MY ALL TIME FAVORITE DESIGNERS and one of the biggest influences on my aesthetic. I had been saying for so long that Donna needs to get her hands on Michelle's curves. Donna 'gets' her body type and would be able to work wonders with her. I see Michelle in Donna's jerseys, her double crepes and double faces, all topped off with a double face cashmere coat - I'm getting goose bumps. I do not see her in all that drapey, esoteric stuff from this coming Spring 09 season, though. Go for sensual, sculpturally tailored hand of Donna which was not on the runway, but will probably be in the stores. Or, hit the archives for inspiration from this stellar collection from Spring 1995:

And then, by golly, I open up WWD online this morning and Mother Karan is putting her designer pitch out there:

WWD - DONNA’S DREAM TICKET: Donna Karan would like to be part of the Obama transition team — apparel division. During a visit to Los Angeles this week to open her latest Urban Zen wellness and retail outpost, the designer said she would jump at the chance to dress the future first lady, Michelle Obama. “I think [Obama] would be divine — she has so much of her own style, I would love to dress her,” Karan said. “It’s not about her clothes, it’s really about who she is, and her passion for children, culture and wellness. I’m hoping to get to work with them — it would be my dream. They are so committed to ideals that are much in alignment with mine.”

I sincerely hope she takes her up on her offer - it would truly be MAJOR. Michelle really is the embodiment of Donna's whole strong, feminine, sensual, assertive and modern woman. This could be a match made in fashion heaven.