Celebrating 40 years of marriage — and a good 12 years of avoiding all reference to a certain beret’d intern — this year also marked Bill’s 65th birthday. To wit, the Lady slipped into her best Marilyn Monroe schtick to sing “Happy Birthday, Mr. President.”

As if further reason was needed to celebrate, the concert was also to raise awareness about the Clinton Foundation’s humanitarian do-goodery around the world.

In addition to getting caught up in a “Bill Romance,” Gags claimed the former president was “Bill This Way” and referenced Hills in “Yoü &I”:  ”Sit back down where you belong in the Oval Office with those high heels on.”

Video of the entire concert, featuring performances by Stevie Wonder, U2, Usher is available at Yahoo!

Hillary Clinton getting the big picture in Rick Owens.

Fierce Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama telling it like it is in Proenza Schouler. What, no McQueen this time?

Doonan decided former Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko needed more Dior Haute Couture in her life. As does everyone.

Susie Bubble wants Home Secretary of the United Kingdom, Theresa May, bubbling up in Versus.

Though she hardly needs the help, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy gets reworked in Stella McCartney. Only gripe, where’s the goddamn heel?

Samantha Cameron, wife of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, looking felicitous in Felicity Brown.

Former French Presidential candidate Segolene Royal going to werq in Dries Van Noten.

Nicola Formichetti threw First Lady of Cameroon and all-around fabulous black lady Chantal Biya in some Mugler. That heel is presumably also 24 inches.

Queen Rania of Jordan gets short and flirty in Erdem. Meanwhile, she’s a queen, for Elizabeth II‘s sake, not a starlet going commando at a film premiere.

Last, and certainly least, Sarah Palin, looking chic on her way to ruin what’s left of America in Christopher Kane. I can hear her cackling even through this illustration.

What do you think of these politically-charged high fashion makeovers? Personally, I think Hillary looks the best out of all of them —  giving goddess realness while sacrificing none of the power she’s been harnessing in those pantsuits over the last decade or so.

Link Love: Vogue UK

Anthony’s “claim to fame” is apparently that he was “born the same day “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” by the Beatles, was released in the U.S.” Obviously Weiner was on a fast track to romance at an early age. He’s a Virgo, ladies.

Weiner describes his ideal woman as “someone smarter than me,” and judging by the fact that his wife, Huma Abedin is not only Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s top aide, but also hasn’t been caught sending crotch shots across the internet, it looks like Weiner hit the jackpot. Let’s hope Huma’s description of her ideal man was “someone more stupid than me.”

Oh, did we mention Huma is gorgeous and has great fashion sense? That’s an Oscar de la Renta weddng dress.

Thrillingly, Weiner would like to spend his days off trying on expensive clothes he can’t afford. Finally, something we have in common. If you want to try on some clothes you can afford, and that are also topically hilarious, check out some of these witty “Weinergate” items from Mogulite.

In case anyone is wondering, my favorite cartoon character is Anthony Weiner…for obvious reasons.

Link Love:

www.styleite.com

You come from an eclectic, non-traditional family of artists. What type of art did you grow up around?
My grandfather revolutionized the interior design industry. He was one of the first people to bring colored wallpaper to California during the late 1960s and 70s. My cousin was in the music industry and has written songs for Whitney Houston. My grandmother was an illustrator, my mom’s first cousin’s husband is a well-known sculptor and she is an amazing painter who began her craft at 50 years old. Hillary Clinton asked her to paint a portrait of Chelsea when they were in the White House. My entire family gets together in Ojai, CA for Thanksgiving, and it’s like Woodstock revisited – with all these artists together, it’s the best energy and love you could ask for.

So you were very encouraged as a child to follow your dreams and do whatever your heart desired?
Both of my parents are entrepreneurs, so it makes sense that my brother, sister and I are independent. I wouldn’t say art was pushed on us, but we went towards it naturally. I spent most of my early days as a soccer player, competing on the early Olympic Development Team and in college as well. But somewhere in college, I decided I wanted to do something creative. I thought maybe I didn’t have the art gene, but suddenly, it’s all I wanted to do. I went back to school to study interior design at Parsons and took milliner classes at FIT. I secured an interior design job working with Bill Sofield, where I worked on everything from high-end residential to Tom Ford stores to the SoHo and Tribeca Grand hotels.

Interior design can be a very mathematical and structural craft. How did working in that industry influence your millinery?
I always say I make structurally interesting hats. Because I worked for an interior/architecture firm, I consider proportion, scale and how things move and look. I have the mind of an interior designer and the advantage of having worked with different materials. Unlike many designers perfecting their craft in the fashion industry, I came from people working with wood and ceramic. I am always asking how can I take these materials and techniques and construct them into something else, something new. That is my challenge, working with non-traditional materials.

Hats are almost becoming a lost dressing art. What made you want to go into the millinery business? Was it a lack of good product in the industry?
My aunt was a fashion designer in California and was always putting us kids in the fun hats she was making. Apparently, my great-grandmother was also a milliner in New York. My husband used to go to a milliner in the East Village, who we loved. I wanted to figure out how a milliner worked, so I asked if I could apprentice her, an unpaid position. Unfortunately, she rudely said no. It was very discouraging, but it motivated me to learn the trade and prove her wrong.

It came to the point where I was working long hours at the firm and was constantly stressed out. I asked myself “if I only had six months to live, would I be doing what I am doing now?” And I thought, “no, I would be working on my own. “ I looked down, saw all these hats I made and realized how much I loved making them. Selling hats to friends turned into selling them online. I just began selling at Charles Nolan, ABC Carpet & Home and will be in Treasure & Bond in the fall. But my big goal is Bendels.

Where does your inspiration come from on a daily basis? Do nature and people inspire you? What about the architecture of the city?
It’s so random. My husband and I travel a lot, and I spent a lot of time photographing anything I find interesting. I often find myself searching for things I photographed more than fives years ago and is relevant to my current project. I could be walking down the street, see something and think it would make a terrific structure or a cool color combination. People must think I’m a tourist because I walk the city with my head up. I see plants and flower arrangements and examine the proportion compared to the vase. I don’t make many large hats; I try to take the idea of a big hat and make it more me. I just styled women for the Frederick Olmsted Awards at Central Park and the Kentucky Derby with small fascinators and headpieces. I think small is the new big – fascinators are really in this season.

In the future, is there any other type of art you want to explore? What else could you design that the Satya woman would love?
I am a huge fan of dresses with pockets. Charles Nolan and I began our friendship over it – he always made them and I always love them. So I think next year, there might be a collection of vintage-inspired dresses and smoking jackets for women. I strangely like uniforms. Like the cartoon Daria, I work towards wearing the same thing every day. I want the same dress in a dozen colors and patterns to wear with black tights, black shoes and a jacket. I don’t like to think hard about what I’m going to wear. Comfortable, beautiful and chic is my motto. That is the Satya woman.

You can see more photos of Satya’s work and read her blog on her website.

- A test shot of Julianne Moore as Hillary Clinton for the HBO movie, The Special Relationship, proved so strikingly similar to the real Mrs. C, I had to do a double take. Though the part ultimately went to Hope Davis after Moore dropped out to do The Kids Are All Right (good choice), I can’t help but wonder what could’ve been. Much like everyone who voted for Hillary in the 2008 election. [Blackbook]

- Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf Goodman, a documentary about the luxury retailer, is set to begin production this month. A party was held for the movie this week at Bergdorf’s, which has given writer-director Matthew Miele full access to shoot in the store. Miele’s wish list of interviews include Valentino, Sarah Jessica Parker and the reason I get up in the morning, Liza Fucking Minnelli. [Page Six]

Horyn already expressed her approval of the gown, stating that it “recalled some of the opulent state dinners of the Reagan era” and trumpeted the gown’s approapriate level of “pomp”.  She also understands the subsequent fallout that has occurred, led by Oscar “The Grouch” de la Renta, over choosing a foreign designer for such an important occasion:

“His [de la Renta's] business is based in the garment district, and by using local factories for most of his production, he contributes to its prosperity. This is an important issue to him.”

She is less sympathetic, however, to the CFDA, whom she sees as being more than just a bit hypocritical in their condemnation and are simply trying to “goad” Mrs. O into wearing American designers:

“The truth is many of its members, including its president, Diane Von Furstenberg, manufacture a significant portion of their clothes outside the United States, mainly in Asia.”

But given the heated rhetoric over one gown chosen for one event over one week ago, Horyn thinks — and rightfully so —  that attention is being taken away from Mobama’s substantial accomplishments.

“I want her to be known for something other than her fashion. I want her to be a great first lady who truly cares about the lives of Americans at the time when many need help. I want her to be far more than “prime placement” for a dress label — whatever the country of origin. She supports a number of causes, notably healthful eating habits, but these deeds are being overshadowed by what she wears.”

Horyn goes on to cite an article in The Economist that expressed the hope “to hear more about what Mrs Obama thinks and a lot less about what she wears.”

That article, published during the first months of Barack Obama‘s administration, cited Michelle Obama’s impressive background  — she graduated cum laude from Princeton and earned her law degree from Harvard before embarking on a successful career in the public and private sector — and credited her hands-on approach during the 2008 election, traveling around the country giving “intelligent, substantive and well-delivered” speeches in support of her husband.

Ever since that election the White House, according to the article, has tamed down this image, trying “its best to turn the first lady into a celebrity mother-cum-clothes-horse,” in reaction to Hillary Clinton‘s  forthrightness during the first years of the Clinton administration.

“Hillary Clinton’s determination to act as a virtual co-president back in 1993 helped to create a backlash against her husband’s administration. It also raised uncomfortable questions about power and accountability. Given America’s continued neuroses about race, an outspoken black first lady might prove to be even more divisive than an outspoken white one.”

Not only would an “outspoken black first lady be divisive,” it would be downright alienating.  It’s true that Mrs. O has taken a back seat to her husband — his position practically calls for it — but that has not reduced her own merits. It’s really America’s perception of the Obamas and who Americans want them to be and want them to represent that has dictated this fanatic fascination with her sense of style.

At the onset of the Obama administration, there was an excitement that everything would be different, better. A sort of optimism that was frequently compared to John F. Kennedy‘s election some 50 years prior. And  with this new, black Camelot came — as The Economist put it — the “Jackiefication” of Michelle Obama.

Couple that with the fact that the Obamas were younger, more attractive and more accessible than any first family since the Kennedys and the American public couldn’t help but slip Michelle into Jackie Kennedy‘s iconic pillbox hat. It was all part of the optimism, but with this comparison we lost or forgot or chose to forget the Michelle Obama of the campaign trail; the passionate, articulate Ivy-league educated attorney who stood beside her husband rather than behind him.

It’s easy to forget that despite her flirtations with couture and high society, Jackie Kennedy was also a well-educated woman with her own opinions who later in life had a successful career as a book editor.  Hillary Clinton simply reinvented what a First Lady could do and hers is a large pantsuit to fill.

Horyn believes that the only person who can change the perception of Michelle Obama is Michelle Obama. But it’s all part of a great balancing act. After all, Michelle Obama represents so many things to so many people.  As an African American, she is an inspiration for all minorities; as a successful woman, she is an inspiration for other women; as first Lady of the United States, she is the face of America and a champion for civil causes; but at the end of the day she is a woman and like most women her clothes are an extension of her.

It’s impossible to please everyone, particularly when everyone has an opinion about what you say, where you go and what you wear. No doubt it would behoove the press to focus on the causes Mo champions, but let’s be real, that shit doesn’t sell. And if there’s one thing Americans respond to it’s celebrity culture. There are no bigger celebrities in the world than the Obamas and like all celebrities, we as a culture love to build them up and tear them down, only to build them up back again.

This dress controversy will blow over, but how will history remember Michelle Obama? Will she be proactive like Hilary? A style icon like Jackie? A lush like Betty? Sure Mo has a hand in her legacy, but America will remember what it chooses to remember. Thats the way history works. It’s written selectively by the winners, so for all her degrees and her speeches and her social work, will she only be remembered for a few great dresses?

We’ll have to wait to see how the rest of her husband’s presidency goes before we can even begin to answer that.

Link Love: New York Times

The top 10 includes Oprah (#3, but who should really just have a de facto position at #1), Hilary Clinton (#5) telephone duo Lady Gaga (#7) and Beyoncé (#9) and Ellen Degeneres (#10). Resembling more their list of the 100 Most Powerful Celebrities (also heavy on the ladylove), Forbes admits to changing the criteria of what they consider “power” for this years’ list.

“Our assessment is based less on traditional titles and roles and more on creative influence and entrepreneurship.” Translation, they know who sells magazines and ad space. Pulling up in coach, Anna Wintour comes in at a pitiable #56, behind Sarah Jessica Parker (#45) and Katie Couric (#22).

It’s like I can hear her planning the downfall of mankind for this egregious slight. Or maybe that’s just my liver dying. Either way, I’m full of a sense of dread. What do you think of this list? Is power really based on popularity nowadays?

Mix these two together and you get this…

Which looks exactly like Beyonce at Fashion Rocks last night….

Coincidence? I think not.

Thanks to NYMAG for the Beyonce Pict.