Alright, just a bit more about people I disagree with (and find ugly)...
It seems that some really sad, persnickety British people are upset about Gordon Brown and Co.'s recent White House guest experience, particularly the gifts they received from their hosts, the Obamas. I love a tradition, but I'm not so keen on policing formal rules of engagement--people ought to give gifts whenever the spirit moves. But if we're getting down to the technical stuff, isn't it the guest that typically gives a gift to the host, not the other way around? You come to someone's home and you give them a gift in return for their hospitality, warmth, food, wine, beds. Granted, it seems a little off for the President to be giving the Prime Minister a collection of DVDs...but this is all beside the point, a smidgen of background information.
The real object here is the much sadder and persnicketyer American essayist and famed "anti-feminist," Caitlin Flanagan, formerly of The New Yorker (Lord knows why). She's penned a piece for New York Magazine's dippy Michelle Obama issue about how "frazzled" and "tasteless" our new First Lady is (as evidenced by the gift-giving fiasco and what she terms "her big-and-tall gal ready-to-wear"). What?! Odder still, Flanagan attempts to pass off her catty, inaccurate criticism as some sort of positive recognition of the new values of a new economy. All schlock. I've never seen Ms. Obama appear the least bit "frazzled," on the contrary she's slick as can be, clean, brightly attired, young, healthy, brilliant, confident, chicer than most of her predecessors, a stunning mannequin for American Sportswear. And I'm sorry, but I still haven't gotten over the whole first black family in the White House thing, the breathless joy of overcoming historical binds and limitations (essentially, wholly beautiful). Also, they've come to us as equals; Mr. and Mrs. President Obama exude such professional and personal/parental respect for one another (and a good share of discernible passion). I just think there are loads of reasons why Michelle Obama is terribly chic and stylish and beautiful and perfect for right now not because of some malarkey about the lowered standards of a recession but because she is strong and smart and hope-inducing and independent and bold (things we need a dose of when the chips are down). There is supreme substance in our First Lady's stylishness.
Refer to the picture above (of the errantly critical Flanagan)...who does she think she is doling out opinions on taste and style? I mean, really?! The woman seems shrill, corny, confused, stilted, beige, and self-loathing. And, ugh, the orchid in the fireplace. Can you stand it?
