Cathy Horyn reported recently that she had heard that Ikram Goldman, owner of the Ikram boutique in Chicago, is no longer Michelle Obama’s unofficial stylist. Mary Tomer, who authors the Mrs. O blog about the first lady’s clothes, suspects Michelle is now taking fashion advice from little known White House aide Meredith Koop.
In April 2010, Politico.com ran a short, unnoticed piece on Mrs. Obama’s “secret style weapon.” Koop is a 28-year-old White House aide rumored to play a “pivotal role” in the First Lady’s style. At this point, little else is known about her position. But why the move away from Ikram? Logistics and location are one possibility. It may simply be more convenient to have someone Washington-based at the helm of Mrs. Obama’s complex wardrobe. Robin Givhan offered another possible hint with this November 2009 tweet: “Ikram in DC ‘selling Michelle dresses she can’t afford.’ so sayeth a source.”
Meredith Koop: Michelle Obama’s New Unofficial Stylist? [HuffPo]
A New “Shadow Stylist”? [Mrs. O]
