Michelle Obama has been our first lady for just over seven months, and she’s already been attributed with making a positive contribution to the U.S. fashion industry, along with advocating on behalf of military families and more. Now, Jenee Desmond-Harris writes on The Root that Michelle is a role model for single women.

During the Obamas’ weekend trip to France, Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, the two most stylish first ladies we know, got to hang out for the second time. The two don’t seem to want to outdo one another in the style department, and I have a hunch they coordinate their outfits when they make public appearances together. On their first meeting, both wore tie-neck coats (left). On Friday, they appeared at a ceremony at the Prefecture of Caen in belted white dresses. Coincidence? I think not.

• Lance Armstrong’s girlfriend Anna Hansen gave birth to their son Max last night. [Dlisted]—And he’s already made his internet debut via Twitter!
• Jessica Simpson gave Tony Romo a $100,000 speedboat for his birthday. [Perez Hilton]—Her shoe line must be doing very well because we know she doesn’t make big money from her music.
• While Kate Gosselin is in North Carolina with her sextuplets, Jon is at home with the twins filming scenes for their reality show. He says their marital problems are a private manner. [E! Online]—Hmm, maybe he should stop posing for tabloid covers, while he’s at it.

Um, can I go on a date with the president? This Saturday, Barack Obama and his stunning date, first lady Michelle, jetted to New York City for romantic night on the town: dinner and a Broadway show. They chowed down at Blue Hill, then drove up the blockaded Sixth Avenue, where massive crowds lined the sidewalks, and headed to Belasco Theater to see “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone,” a play about black America in the early 1900s.

“I am taking my wife to New York City,” Obama said, “because I promised her during the campaign that I would take her to a Broadway show after it was all finished.”

Nothing says ‘I Love My President’ like a tin of pomade. At least, that’s what the folks at Murray’s must have been thinking when they debuted the ‘Murray’s for Obama’ specialty tin, which is filled with their legendary hair pomade and conditioner. The orange-red can is stamped with a drawing of President and first Lady Obama rocking some pretty classic ‘fros. We totally love Murray’s—that s**t works, but we wonder if they took too much liberty with the Obamas likeness.

Well, whether it’s perceived as cool or too caricature-like, it is for a good cause. The collectors item sells online for up to $4 or $7 bucks a pop, depending on size and a portion of the proceeds goes to support charities. In the eighty-plus years the company has been around this is the first time they have created a custom product for a sitting president. So maybe it is a stylin’ honor.  [Murrays]

Is it “Hate on Michelle Obama” week? Supermodel Iman told Parade Mrs. O is “no great beauty.” Now, comic Jay Mohr is adding his two cents. During a call-in on “The Jim Rome Show” on ESPN, he went off on a mean-spirited monologue about the First Lady.

Legendary model Iman must have been feeling spicy during her interview with Parade. When asked her thoughts on Michelle Obama, Iman responded: 

“Mrs. Obama is not a great beauty, but she is so interesting-looking and so bright. That will always take you farther.” She didn’t stop there. “When you’re a great beauty, it’s always downhill for you. If you’re someone like Mrs. Obama, you just get better with age.”

So far, all’s quiet on the White House front with no response from a spokesperson or Michelle Obama. [United Press International]

We know Michelle is insanely stylish. Even though she’s not a supermodel, she’s probably the most attractive first lady we’ve had since Jackie O.—who was rather “interesting-looking” herself.

What do you think? Was Iman’s comment a tastefully-made point or a tacky remark? Let us know in the comments section.

To say Michelle Obama’s wardrobe has attracted considerable attention would be an understatement. The world is obsessed with what Michelle wears. She always looks so put-together yet modern—and the designers whose clothes she sports get their names in the news. But are they actually seeing an increase in business? Michelle’s fashion choices seem to have one of three effects on the industry.

First, according to WWD, the First Lady has had an effect on designers, but it’s not always by increasing their sales. Since many of the clothes that Michelle wears are beyond the average American woman’s budget, designers are seeing an increase in name recognition, but they haven’t had dresses flying off racks. Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte said they have been emailed a great deal since Michelle wore one of their creations. Thakoon and Maria Cornejo said many more stores have requested appointments to see their collections and possibly pick a few items to offer their customers. Jason Wu’s recent trunk sales around the country have caused mob scenes. These higher-end designers have seen a greater response to their designs from people outside the fashion industry, which could translate to increased business down the line.

At left, Michelle Obama. At right, Michelle Obama’s makeup artist, Ingrid Grimes-Miles. Don’t their faces look eerily similar? See, ladies? The shape of your eyebrows and your makeup can change your face. [NYMag.com]

If you missed it, here’s President Obama’s speech at the White House Correspondent’s Dinner. He’s very funny. I love the moment when he comments on Michelle’s right to “bare arms,” and she flexes and gives the Prez an adorably flirtatious look.

“I had a father and a brother who thought I was beautiful, and they made me feel that way every single day. I grew up with very strong male role models who thought I was smart and fast and funny, so I heard that a lot. I know that there are many young girls who don’t hear it.”

—First Lady Michelle Obama [via People]

While Americans have been focused on Michelle Obama’s wardrobe choices and how she’s advancing the careers of younger designers, women in other countries are more concerned with how she’s boosting their lives and self-worth. In India, one woman says Michelle “shows women that it’s OK to have dark skin and to not have a son,” which are normally looked down upon in her country. In Vietnam, women marvel that Michelle walks beside her husband, rather than behind him. Thu Nguyen says women in her country “are not human beings,” but Michelle shows women can do anything.

Now you can play with Barack and Michelle, even if they’re too busy to fit you into their social calendar. HeroBuilders.com has created handmade action figures modeled after the first couple. With Michelle’s exposed guns and Barack’s concealed yet bulging muscles, these two look ready for a good ole villain beat down. Each doll is just as stylish as the person they’re modeled after. Barack wears his signature dark suit, and Michelle has options: a yellow dress similar to one she wore last month in Europe or a black dress like the one she wore for her official portrait. You can get both Barack and Michelle for $89.95, or just Michelle for $49.95. Spending time with the first couple, however, is priceless. [HeroBuilders.com]

Another day, another Michelle Obama fashion flareup. Today, pockets! Like, rilly rilly big ones. Speaking yesterday at the Department of Homeland Security, Mrs. O. wore an emerald jacket with oversized pockets hanging below the lining over a purple-striped, long-sleeve tee. Not surprisingly, this is a love it or hate it getup. The fashion blogs speak after the jump.

Remember all the crazy talk after the inauguration about Michelle Obama threatening to ban Beyonce from inaugural activities because the singer was making goo-goo eyes at the president? Well, as we expected, that was just talk—Michelle is so above that! She seems to be the type of woman who plays her cards close to her vest, so she probably wouldn’t publicly confront Beyonce, even if she did suspect something was up. Not only that, but Beyonce says the First Lady thanked her before one of the inaugural balls for being a role model to daughters Malia and Sasha. Both First Daughters showed their appreciation for Beyonce when she performed at the “We Are One” concert in January. Beyonce said she was stunned when Michelle pulled her aside.

She told me that she was very happy that her children had an artist like myself and—I don’t even feel right saying this—she said she was happy they had me to look up to.

[The Sun]

Michelle Obama could only continue as everyone’s favorite woman for so long. An itty bitty backlash against the First Lady has begun, and it stems from her fashion choices. Last week, in a WWD article, designer Oscar de la Renta lashed out against Michelle’s clothing choices:

American fashion right now is struggling. I think I understand what [Obama and her advisers] are doing, but I don’t think that is the right message at this particular point….I don’t object to the fact that Mrs. Obama is wearing J. Crew to whatever because the diversity of America is what makes this country great. But there are a lot of great designers out there. I think it’s wrong to go in one direction only.

And he’s not the only one who wishes Michelle would stop favoring young designers…

The Obamas went to Europe, and they got (and gave) more than crappy souvenir T-shirts from all of the countries they visited. Barack and Michelle got some flack for what they gave British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his family when they came to Washington last month, so did their gift-giving improve?  Keep reading to see how the Presidential presents stack up.