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On the eve of First Lady Michelle Obama's 50th birthday celebration — with its controversial "Eat Before You Come" invite etiquette — fashion critic Robin Givhan took a contrarian approach to MObama mythology for the Washington Post Opinion section's "Five Myths" column. First myth up to be busted: "Michelle Obama is the most fashion-friendly first lady."
Nope, says Givhan. While Michelle's closet is filled with both J. Crew and Jason Wu, Givhan notes that the current First Lady doesn't attend industry events or meet designers the way Jackie Kennedy, Nancy Reagan, Lady Bird Johnson, and Laura Bush did during their years in the White House. Despite Michelle's clout in the fashion industry, Givhan writes: "Yet other first ladies have had more personal relationships with designers — and opened the White House doors to them in a way Obama has not."
· Five myths about Michelle Obama [WaPo]
· "I Don't Think It's Rude, But…" Etiquette Experts Perplexed Over First Lady's Party Plans [WaPo]
· All Michelle Obama coverage [Racked DC]