She Wore Yellow

Michelle Obama has captured the imagination and engaged the sleuthing skills of fashion editors all over the world. The single question keeping many clotheshorses up at night: what will she wear today and - even more importantly - tonight?

One thing is for sure, beyond the fit of the dress, the cut or particular designer, she surely considered the symbolism of the color, too. After all, what would grey say to the world? (Yes, the situation is bleak.)

For the swearing in of Barack Obama as the 44Th President, Michelle wore yellow! Like a ray of sunshine over her husband, Michelle is as glowing and warm as any spouse could hope to be in a similarly serious, monumental and soon-to-be legendary position. (No pressure.)

Apart from the fact that yellow is my favorite color (okay, I'm a little biased) - it's a fantastic choice for such a celebratory day! It's jubilant, warm, joyful, festive and bright - but not so saccharine as pink or distracting as orange (two colors I also adore). And it's also a color that lots of modern parents consider unisex. (A nod to bipartisanship, perhaps?)

In Japan, yellow represents courage.
In the U.S. it's often associated with welcoming home friends and family from war.

Yellow is also the color of cowardice - but, I'm sure we all agree that this isn't the case with Michelle. She's definitely a fashion risk-taker, within the bounds of political sensibilities (I don't think any of us want to see her in bedazzled Ed Hardy wear).

However you feel about this color, Michelle looked absolutely regal, radiant and ready in her layered, beaded, knee-length dress with matching coat and (chiffon?) scarf designed by Cuban-born, American designer Isabel Toledo. And Obama? He looked very handsome, too!

Now, the burning question, what will she wear for the Inaugural Ball?

PAST FIRST LADIES' COLOR CHOICES

Hillary Clinton: Violet beaded gown with a blue-velvet silk overskirt
Laura Bush: Red Chantilly lace gown with a scooped neckline
Mamie Eisenhower: Pink silk gown dotted with thousands of pink rhinestones
Jacqueline Kennedy: Off-white sleeveless gown of silk chiffon with a beaded over blouse and floor-sweeping cape
Barbara Bush: Royal-blue gown with velvet bodice, square neck and diagonal dropped waist
Nancy Reagan: White one-shoulder lace satin sheath with crystal and bugle beads
Lady Bird Johnson: Yellow-rose-of-Texas colored A-line gown
Pat Nixon: Gold and silver gown made of mimosa silk satin, adorned with Austrian crystals