Robin Givhan explores Michelle Obama's affinity for Moschino in a lengthy article in the Washington Post today — because the world should never accept that MObama wears things because she likes them. Everything and every label she puts on her body means something.

Now, Moschino is unique in that it doesn't try to piggyback off the publicity opportunity. They let Michelle wear their clothes, notice on the television, and then sit back and remain calm, cool Europeans, rather than e-blast press releases to bloggers like us, who would in turn freak out about the news and tell you. However, Moschino designer Rosella Jardini reveals she can't help but think about making pieces Michelle would like when putting together their collections. She praises Michelle for not being afraid to stand out, stylistically:

"When women are elected to a certain level, women who've dressed in an exciting manner have a tendency to fall into the category of wearing little suits without detail and without personality," Jardini says. "How we create an image is undervalued. If you take for instance Queen Elizabeth, she's followed a strict code through life. When you see her, when you think of her, you see the little hats, the colors she chooses. When you think of political figures and how they choose to dress, it should be part of how they create their image."

Beyoncé Knowles wore a Versace gown to the 2009 MTV Europe Music Awards today in Berlin, Germany, and the shape was so fitted, she looked like a glorious mermaid.

Do you like trains on dresses, or do you find them cumbersome?

When we ran into Vogue contributing editor Lauren Santo Domingo at the Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering fall gala last night, she conveniently sidestepped the issue of how or even whether the staff acknowledged Anna Wintour’s 60th birthday at the office this week. “She’s in Washington right now being anointed. She’s being knighted by President Obama — I think that’s a pretty good 60th-birthday present,” Santo Domingo said, referring to Anna's recent appointment to the White House Committee on the Arts and Humanities. So, they don’t mortify people on their birthdays with cake and singing at the Vogue offices? “They do for us — we have pizza parties and cupcake parties,” she said. So apparently they don’t ignore birthdays at Vogue, it’s just that the employees wouldn’t barge in on Anna with a cake lit with 60 candles.

After Oprah named Spanx one of her favorite things, the market for shapewear tripled to $750 million at the end of last year. Women are nuts for Spanx despite the things we've known all along: They are embarrassing if you find yourself wearing them while caught with a man you want to get with; men think they're insane; and they are impossible to pee in because they're so difficult to remove. Though they have a "double gusset" opening, there are no guarantees. The Wall Street Journal tells the story of Amanda Davis, who won a "tell us your shapewear nightmares" contest:

As she ran to the bathroom at her school, she debated, "Do I squeeze out of the Spanx or do I try to pee through the crotchless thingy?" After soaking herself, she had to skip class and go home to change.

The Journal investigates why women put themselves through this.

Last night Lady Gaga ran around London in a black lace body stocking not unlike the red lace body stocking she wore for her performance at the Marc Jacobs after-party during Fashion Week — except this time she wore a bra and kept her nipples to herself. She carried what looks like an awesome studded leather motorcycle jacket. Ironically, this morning's Zoe Report also heralds lace stockings:

When your black tights or leggings are getting snoozy*, swap them out with an unexpected lace option for some added flavor. Wear them with an oversized tunic, combat boots and a big hair bow … you may be a lucky star ;) xoRZ

*Snoozy = Boring

"A big hair bow" — another Gaga trademark (even though Zoe probably means the ribbon kind, but still). Anyway, if you want to be a walking mini-RaGa (maybe that's where the weird opening to "Bad Romance" comes from), Zoe recommends you buy these $110 lace leggings by LNA.

Living In A Lace World [TZR]
So Hard To Bare [Jezebel]

Times are especially tough for independently owned labels like Versace. They don't reside in the safety of the big, warm bear arms of a company like LVMH, which can always fall back on Champagne and cognac sales until the world's appetite for luxury goods increases. Last week Versace announced it would cut 26 percent of its workforce, but they don't expect to return to profitability until 2011. Donatella herself is handling it surprisingly well, though. Because, as she notes in the Times, she's gotten over problems before, like cocaine addiction. And even when she was addicted to cocaine, she still went to work.

“If my problem was as big as everyone says, how did I run this company and create all these collections?” said Ms. Versace, whose 2004 stint at a rehabilitation center in Arizona came about only after a group of friends, Elton John among them, staged an intervention during one of these parties at her palazzo on via Gesù in Milan.

Yesterday, Vogue publisher Tom Florio was given oversight of Condé Nast Traveler and Bon Appétit, in addition to his Vogue duties. Florio used to oversee Vogue, Teen Vogue, Men's Vogue, and Vogue Living. But having closed the latter two magazines, what was Condé Nast supposed to have him do? Work less? (Ha.) Florio will have a minion to help him at Vogue: Susan Plagemann, who leaves Marie Claire for the gig. Plagemann spent four years as publisher of Marie Claire, where ad pages haven't taken as hard a hit as Vogue's have in the downturn. At Marie Claire, ad pages have only fallen 15 percent, while Vogue's have fallen 32 percent. Do the staff changes lend any credence to rumors about Vogue undergoing a makeover? Until Plagemann signs them up for a reality show (Iron Vogue, The Vogue, The Anna Wintour Project), we won't assume anything.

Plagemann Named Vogue Publisher, Florio Role Expanded [WWD]

The fall runways were rife with autumnal plaids, from DKNY to Zero + Maria Cornejo to Vivienne Westwood. But off the catwalk, bold checkered prints can end up looking more lumberjack than luxe. This full-skirted dress by Japanese designer Yuki allows you to embrace the trend in a way that’s more understated than, say, lipstick-red buffalo-check. The versatile black-and-white print can be paired with a blazer for work or dressed down with leggings and boots for the weekend.

Check Full Dress by Yuki, $170 at Topshop.com.