Photo credit: Getty

OMG! The First Lady and Kate Middleton (the Duchess of Cambridge, if we’re using her proper title) were in the same room! Wearing clothes! Now we know why the Rapture was postponed.

Earlier today Michelle Obama chatted with the Duchess at Buckingham Palace in a blue floral Barbara Tfank dress and contrasting pink bolero jackets. The newlywed stuck to her classic high street (British translation: you don’t have to be royalty to afford it) style in a $340 dress from Reiss that’s already sold out online. {Fashionista}

If history repeats itself, Reiss could be on track to sell as many of those dresses as they can get in stock: the white dress Middleton wore in her engagement photos reportedly sold at a rate of one per minute after being identified.

We think Prince William and President Obama were wearing clothes too, but no one has noticed so we can’t be sure.

As we speak, Michelle Obama is enjoying a state dinner at Buckingham Palace, where she and the President will stay for two nights – in the same suite that Prince William and Kate Middleton used after they were married (we’ll let you draw your own connections there). There aren’t pictures available yet, but the First Lady looked positively stunning in a white halter neck gown, and we’re sure Duchess Catherine won’t disappoint either.

Update: the photos are in! View the white Tom Ford gown Michelle Obama wore to the state dinner at Buckingham Palace and the items we found that will let you steal the style.

While many – us included – think that the criticism was unwarranted in a fashion age where designed in America rarely means made in America, could the designer’s frustration stem from a similar dress of his own?

Compare this dress, from de la Renta’s Fall 2010 collection, to the red McQueen gown worn by Mrs. Obama. If you zoom in on the de la Renta dress, you’ll notice small black dots, but otherwise the color and print seem similar to the McQueen gown the First Lady chose.

While this wasn’t the first time de la Renta has snipped at Obama’s sartorial choices, it’s hardly the first time that she’s worn a non-American designer to an American event either.We still think the McQueen gown was both appropriate and flattering, but perhaps seeing a gown with so many similarities at such a highly publicized event was why this particular look struck such a nerve with the designer, who has yet to make it into Mrs. Obama’s wardrobe.

Critics have been weighing in on the red Alexander McQueen gown that Michelle Obama wore to the state dinner for China. For various reasons, they really should have kept their opinions to themselves.

First, there’s this quote from Oscar de la Renta: {via the Cut}

“My understanding, is that the visit was to promote American-Chinese trade — American products in China and Chinese products in America. Why do you wear European clothes?”

Then there’s one from political pundit Bob Colacello on Vanity Fair:

“My only criticism of the whole thing is of Michelle Obamaâ€s choice of designer and dress. I think it was absolutely wrong for her to wear something by a foreign designer, particularly at a dinner for China, with which we have a terrible trade imbalance. She really should be promoting American fashion. And I think the dress itself was all wrong, too. It made her look gigantic. She completely overshadowed President Hu, and even President Obama looked small next to her. I think sheâ€s trying too hard to be fashion-forward, and thatâ€s not really what a First Lady should be. Itâ€s too bad, because sheâ€s a beautiful woman—and itâ€s a beautiful dress, but just wrong for the occasion.”

To address Mr. de la Renta’s query, one normally wears clothes because they like the way the clothes make them look and/or feel. It’s part of why people look at what Michelle Obama is wearing in a way that they didn’t for Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton or Barbara Bush. She doesn’t dress according to a set of fashion rules, she wears things that she likes. Not everyone likes the same things that she does – and that’s fine, but people look at her clothes because they show a level of personality and daring that hasn’t been seen in a while. In and of itself, that’s doing more for fashion than sticking with safe choices that are universally acceptable.

To address the point of both his and Colacello’s critique that a British brand doesn’t have a place at an American state dinner, we have to ask that someone kindly remind both gentlemen that Americans have moved on from 1776. When it comes to de la Renta, don’t misunderstand us: in spite of being an established designer, his clothes are still beautiful and the label has shown forward thinking and modernity in accessories, its engagement on social media and in general.

Both critiques ignore the modern realities of the fashion industry, however.

An American fashion designer does not always mean made in America. Just ask Mayor Bloomberg and the committee fighting to save New York’s garment district. American designers frequently send production to Chinese manufacturers, and promoting American design alone – which Mrs. Obama has done on several occasions – won’t change that.

Colacello’s last point is almost too silly to address, but we will. The dress itself was a vibrant shade of red, which is symbolic to the Chinese. Mrs. Obama is 5’10”, so in comparison to a shorter person, other than amputating a limb or two for the occasion, she will stand out. President Obama is a slim man and he’s wearing all black; it doesn’t take an art degree to figure out that a red ball gown will stand out in comparison. Also, she’s 47 not 74 – matronly gowns that blend in with the curtains and osteoporosis to put world leaders at ease with their height are both a few decades off.

Lady in red

Really, there’s not much to say about the First Lady’s look besides wow. Vera Wang, in one of her own designs, was more understated but still elegant. We have to say the biggest surprise came from Wintour though. Perhaps it was out of deference for the First Lady, but the Vogue editor seemed a bit under dressed. Yes, Chanel suits are elegant and classic, but among the gowns of the evening – not just Michelle Obama’s either – it seemed like something better reserved for a cocktail gathering than a formal affair.

No one wants to be accused of trying to upstage the Michelle Obama or the first family (just ask Desiree Rogers), but did Wintour take that directive too far? We’ve seen the Met Gala photos so we know she has some gorgeous gowns in the closet, and we can’t imagine many designers refusing to lend a gown to the editor of the leading fashion magazine. Being low key is a good way to ensure an invitation to the next event, but we hope that Wintour doesn’t play it quite as safe the next time around.

Anna Wintour, Vera Wang and Christianne Amanpour (wearing an Armani suit that seems like a better choice for a formal dinner)

Kors thinks the future British royal shares style similarities with American royalty

We already predicted that Kate Middleton would inspire the same type of retail adoration that Michelle Obama commands since both are known for mixing mall/high street brands with high fashion and it seems that pre-fall name-hater Michael Kors has similar sentiments.

“When I designed the outfit for the Michelle’s first official portrait no one thought she would wear matte jersey but she did. Past women in the same position had always worn a tailored suit. When I look at Kate I see a changing of the guard in what is considered elegant. She is likes to look easy but chic. I would liken her to Obama and Carla Bruni in that way. All these women are in situations where they shaking off the formal suits of their predecessors,” says Kors. {Vogue UK via the Cut}

Mrs. Obama has a few decades of life and accomplishment in general on Middleton and we’re not sure about the Carla Bruni comparison, but the future princess is certainly on her way towards becoming a modern style icon. Style may not be the best judge of someone’s personality, but Middleton’s refusal to let tradition and expectations dictate her clothing choices suggests that she may retain some of the experiences that allow her to relate to a larger public instead of getting caught up in the trappings of a title.

If that doesn’t pan out, at least on some items you’ll still be able to shop like a princess and retailers will surely try to get you to relate to that.

Instead of ordering mass quantities of ornaments and trees to deck the White House halls, the First Lady decided to dig around the Presidential basement, re-use the 800 or so ornaments from previous administrations, have 60 community groups bedazzle them with local flavor, and then decorate according to the theme: “Reflect. Rejoice. Renew.”

While you may not have 800 ornaments in your basement (at least, we hope you don’t), this holiday season is the perfect time to take a leaf from the First Family’s book and “renew” and recycle your old decor – all in the name of good taste and green living, of course!

Read More {Earth911.com}

Read More {People}

She exudes a classy, neo-prep chic that is always age-appropriate, without resorting to boring basics or frumpy, overly-buttoned-up skirt suits.  (Sorry, Nancy Reagan.)  We love how she shows women and mothers just like her that it is easy to look polished yet fun every day, no matter the occasion.

To get style like Michelle’s, stock your wardrobe with basics like trousers, flattering knee-length dresses, and colorful cardigans — what is crucial is the fit: neither too tight nor too baggy.  Add quirky details like belts and punchy brooches, but keep embellishment to a minimum in order to let yourself shine.

Read the full story {Newsweek}