Michelle sported her J. Crew ensemble over at the Tonight Show last month, and J. Crew's not only featuring her outfit on the site, they've even purchased a Google AdWords campaign for it.



You, too, can channel the first lady-to-be in a Pembridge-dot pencil skirt ($148) and Italian Deco tank (was $148; select colors $99.99), but sadly, you won't be getting one of the Crystal-Button Colorblock cardigans, which have all been snapped up (probably not by Republicans).

The clothes do seem to be a huge distraction lately, as Rebecca Traister points out in her piece over at Salon called "The Momification of Michelle Obama": "The majority of the coverage of Michelle Obama in the week since her husband was elected has centered on her clothes."

More from Traiser: "The Associated Press wondered what kind of first lady Michelle will be, and concludes, "the kind of first lady this country has not seen in decades." You mean, the kind with a high-powered job? No, "the mother of young children."



There's been a lot of hype over Michelle donning "accessible" clothes (no Cindy McCain $5,000 de le Renta suits in mustardy green HERE!) -- her first public foray into fashion on The View is credited with both softening her image and selling out the $148 White House/Black Market dress before the episode even aired.

But there are a lot of people I know back home who still are NOT going to dish out $148 for a simple dress, or $450 for an outfit. Accessibility is in the eye of the credit-card holder.

So... ARE we focusing too much on clothes, from Michelle's sundress to Sarah Palin's $150,000 of Neiman splurges (sorry, but .... drool! I simply MUST run for office someday, dahling)?

As always, we must turn to Google for the truth of the matter:

"michelle obama dress the view" = 413,000 hits
"michelle obama j crew" = 294,000
"michelle obama job administrator" = 2.3 mil

OK, at least we're starting to start out our priorities.

Post to Print 350,000 More Copies of Election Edition

From article: The Post is printing an additional 350,000 copies that will be for sale at 7-Eleven, CVS, Giant, Harris Teeter, Safeway, Shoppers Food and Pharmacy and other retail retailers around the region.

Today's the day, my little chickadees. I shivered in the predawn darkness outside my polling place with 200 or so of my closest buddies, who all looked like they'd showered, groomed and consulted with a personal shopper before hitting the line at 5:45 a.m.

I hope they enjoyed seeing me in hot pink sweatpants, a free sweatshirt from my old job (three sizes too big) and a hand-knitted hat whose closest color match could only be termed "kaleidoscope." And large uncovered pores, I haz dem.

Tonight I'm freelancing for the Associated Press on results in Prince William County, Virginia. Polls in VA close at 7 p.m. so I should be able to scarf down some chicken pad Thai before then. Yes I can.

(My too-much-extra-time-in-Excel graph inspired by GraphJam)

I'm about to lose electoral college control and I think I like it, like it.


Political beliefs aside, I am sooo looking forward to watching like 17 hours of political coverage from my TiVo once I get home on election night. No spoilers, pls, kthnx.

Slate's calling like, hundreds of e.c. votes "Safe Dem" and a whole buncha others "Lean Dem," so I'm thinking Barack's gonna come out of this with oh, about nine thousand and twelve electoral votes.

But when it comes to a dance-off, the election may go another way.


I do, however, most heartily regret the existence of any person who Photoshops Sarah Palin's head onto a bikini body.

I'm a decent Photoshopper too, but I use my skills for good, not evil.