Audra: From controversial shorts to gorgeous gowns Michel Obama has definitely made headlines for her taste in fashion. Mary Tomer is here. She’s the author of Mrs. O, The Face of Fashion Democracy and Mary is going to show us why the first lady really is a true fashion icon and why everybody else says it you. Welcome with to that show Mary?

Mary: Thank you.

Audra: Good to have you here. I know that you started off with creating a blog and then you turn it in to the book on Michelle’s fashion. What made you decide to do all of that?

Mary: I started the blog in September 2008 and the inspiration with really came from watching the DNC and I’d already started tuned into Michelle Obama’s style but it was during the DNC that I went from interested to absolutely cap brilliant.

Audra: Really, with one particular outfit or just in general?

Mary: I think it was the combination of the it serve entire four days but there was one particular look the second night. It was an Ivory Rose bouquet dress that I didn’t know the designer and it hasn’t been covered in the media and it serve sanity to my computer on the wild Google search.

Audra: To find it.

Mary: To find it, yes.

Audra: Why do you think the public is so obsessed with what she’s wearing or you know what they like and what they don’t like and on her

Mary: I think to answer the second part of the question first, I think that sometimes controversy is that arise really are just serve a natural by product of the intense level of interest. I think if weren’t so passionate, there wouldn’t be that kind of other descending voice. I think the reason that we are so captivated is because there Michelle Obama is doing things with her wardrobe that we haven’t seen the first lady do before from bringing Jay Crew to the White House and wearing that you know in rotation with designers with Jason Wu and emerging new names in American fashion. It just keeps it very fashion, interesting and their serve something always new to follow in Michelle Obama’s style

Audra: And you mentioned controversy, remember the controversial shorts? What do you think about those? Where you feeling like everybody else was or where you saying, That’s not a big deal?”

Mary: I guess affirm me personally, I thought it really excited that Obama’s had shared a personal vacation moment. And I thought, you know what else could a women wear, hiking in the Grand Canyon in August with her family. I think shorts some absolutely appropriate. So I was a little bit cutoff guard by the controversy but at this point, you can't be surprise by anything.

Audra: Exactly. And you interviewed so many fashion insiders for this particular book? A lot of whom have designed gowns for her. When they have to say that the facts that she does wear high in designers but she can also wear the Jay Crew in the HNM at the same time?

Mary: They’ll love it. I mean Isik Rahi in particulars, he’s been the champion of this kind of high little bow movement with his designs for target and then his own line. He really spoke about Michelle Obama’s um you know wearing a Jay Crew cloth again with the Azzedine Alaia Belt, she just loved the mix and it’s so unexpected and fresh particularly to be embrace by such a public figure, I thinks it’s what has everyone really excited

Aurda: I don’t know if you cover this in the book or not, but I’m always curious to know. How involve does she end the designs that, does she just go with flow kind of girl or is she just you know there from beginning to end with her input?

Mary: My senses that um she’s probable less involve with actual designs but certainly kind of has of finals say what she’s wearing or not.

Aurda: Okay, and Jackie Yu. I love, love, love Jackie Yu, also a fashion icon as well. Some people have may comparisons between the two, do you see a resampling or do you think that they are there are there two totally different women with two totally different styles of fashion?

Mary: Well, I think were the, the comparison between women is fair is that level of entry begins excitement that surrounds them. I think there’s a certain way we feel about Michelle Obama that perhaps women haven’t felt about our first lady’s since Jackie Yu. I think though um, as that kind of comparisons that made in the media, it’s gotten a bit too literal at times because I think certainly you theirselves are quite just distinct. Michelle Obama ha embraced diverse range of designers. Jackie Yu usually step at all could see me. And Michelle Obama is mixing different price points. Jackie kind of these are pretended towards it’s—the really high and couture.

Aurda: Right. Giving women some options out there because you know we love to shop. Thank you so much Mary, good to meet you

Mary: Thank you.

Aurda: Congratulations on the books to.

Mary: Thank you for having.

Aurda: Alright and you guys can see many more of the gorgeous gowns accessories ans designs worn by our first lady just by picking up a copy of Mrs. O, The Face of Fashion Democracy or you can also go to bettertv.com for our link to more information.