And now, something for all you posh politicos..

This year’s election has sparked interest in many fashionable people including Pharrell Williams, Jay-Z, Russell Simmons, designers Maria Cornejo, Vera Wang, Alexander Wang, Charles Nolan, Tory Burch, Narciso Rodriguez, Zac Posen, Nanette Lepore, Tracy Reese, Lutz & Patmos, Juicy Couture, Rachel Roy, Rag and Bone, Derek Lam, Isaac Mizrahi, Diane von Furstenberg, Marc Jacobs, Proenza Schouler, Brian Reyes, Jeffery Costello and Robert Tagliapietra - and they’re all contributing their talents to the Obama campaign with ‘Runway to Change‘

Roy’s scarf is great (but I’m a total scarf-girl), Wang’s tank is uber cool (and it’s only $45), and Derek Lam’s tote ($75) does the best at making politics pretty. Really people, who needs the presidential debates when you can just go shopping?

I just wonder why Thakoon isn’t part of this since he’s dressing Michelle Obama left and right these days… (and thanks to my politically minded fashionable friend Brooke for pointing this out to me!)

I might have been a political science major, but I’m really not into politics. The elections don’t ignite some burning desire within me the way runways shows do, and for a long time I felt bad, or guilty, or something for not following politics or being interested in it. Whenever people ‘talk politics’ they simply talk over one another and it simply seems like they’re just looking for something to fight about.

This weekend I was surrounded by boys who did little but talk about Sarah Palin (McCain’s newly appointed vice-presidential candidate), her kid with down syndrome, her pregnant 17-year-old daughter, and any possible conspiracy theory they could find online.

Fashion has also gone all political on me as well. The industry is all abuzz over Michelle Obama and her simply astonishing sense of fashion. Her favorite designer (and Chicago native) Maria Pinto has enjoyed quite a lot of coverage lately (including quite a write-up in The New York Times), but Thakoon hit a high note on Thursday, when Michelle wore a dress from his pre-spring 09 collection during the Democratic National Convention. She always wore some more brooches by Erickson Beamon.

And unfortunately, you know that Michelle Obama was the inspiration behind Harper’s Bazaar’s September spread of Tyra Banks posing as the first lady in their story ‘American Dream‘ - more like American nightmare, but whatever.

The thing is, I agree that Michelle Obama has a much better sense of style than those in political circles seem to have, but I also feel like the fashion industry is going crazy about it. Other fashion bloggers have written about the fact that she choose a dress by Thakoon, ‘fashion insider favorite’ like it’s the most telling thing in the world. Like, she’s so in, she’s the next Jackie-O, she’s gonna save our industry, etc… I think, ‘maybe she shops at Barneys’ or ‘maybe she has a stylist’.

Anyway, I guess I’d better get used to all of this political drama and talk ’cause it isn’t going away any time soon…

Yesterday for lunch we made a run to the big Intermix sale at the Metropolitan Pavillion. It was definitely larger than we had anticipated and as soon as you walk in you are greeted by the designer collections on the left - lots of Chloe, Stella McCartney, some Helmut Lang, Zac Posen, etc.

I spotted a lone Thakoon dress that I obsessed about last fall, a bunch of gorgeous Stella sweaters, all of the ‘it’ Chloe dresses of this and seasons past…and then I spotted something extraordinary.

Rummaging through the racks, my hand fell upon a lightly waxed trench coat. No label, no price, no info - just a stunning coat created with careful draping and yards and yards of fabric. I couldn’t help but pick it up and haul it into the dressing room along with my other finds including high-waisted jeans from Earnest Sewn and a little silk romper.

The dressing room was exactly what you’re expecting - a bunch of girls stripping and clothing thrown all over the floor. I started with the Thakoon dress, which was of course too large (a girl can dream) and then moved along too the jeans. The fit was terrific, but flattened out things in back a bit too much so I moved on to the trench, which I knew I was going to love.

The trench was perfect. A little beat up, but perfect nonetheless. I twirled in the dressing room and knew it was going to cost too much, but took it to the counter and waited for the girls to give me a price. They said it was Lanvin, originally around $3,000 and that I could buy it for $700. After a bit of investigating back at the office, I discovered it was from the Spring 2005 Runway. I didn’t buy it because I already have a trench coat (and one I love) and because we need to buy a new couch, but I’m sad that I don’t own it since I’d wear it forever and love it always. Too bad I don’t still charge up a storm or that beauty would be mine…and now I need a trench to protect me from my own tears of sorrow!!

Anyway, go and get your own freak on (and if you see the Lanvin Trench think of me):
Intermix Sample Sale
Aug. 26-28. Tues.-Thurs.
9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Metropolitan Pavilion
110 W 19th Street (6th/7th Ave)

I have been a Thakoon fan since the day his line first debuted and am excited that he will be designing the next GO International collection for Target…although, I must admit that his capsule collections for both Nine West and the Gap were only so-so.

Thakoon’s runway collections are always smart, serious, and intellectually pretty. He has an extremely good eye when it comes to prints and can mix them as well as Dries Van Noten. With each passing season, I find that I’m looking forward to his collections more and more.

It was obvious early on that this editor-turned-designer was one to watch and in August 2006, I was fortunate enough to interview Thakoon for a feature article for Nikki Style magazine. He was soft spoken, very articulate, extremely thoughtful, and had a delicate yet pensive personality. I thought he was talented then and I think he is even more so now. For my full article on Thakoon from Nikki Style September 2006, click below to continue…