Ikram Goldman

>> Loic Prigent's The Day Before series, documenting the 48 hours before Proenza Schouler, Fendi, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Sonia Rykiel shows, doesn't air on the Sundance Channel until Sept. 9, but they've put up 11 clips total spanning the four segments, and the entire Fendi episode has leaked to YouTube — watch here.  A couple of favorite clips below: the first in which Karl Lagerfeld's muse Amanda Harlech yells for some music, initiating the Fendi employees' seasonal late night fashion show — one male staffer even wobbles the runway in vertiginous Fendi heels; the second in which Proenza Schouler's clearly nervous Jack McCullough — who yearns for a cheeseburger — and "fidgeting" Lazaro Hernandez are inclined to physically touch every look backstage before it goes out on the runway.  Ikram boutique' Ikram Goldman calls it "blessing" the garment.

The video clips! »

>> The meteoric rise of Jason Wu — he has tripled his sales appointments for his sold out, yet-to-be-unveiled Fall 2009 collection — shows what an influence Michelle Obama can have on a designer.  But Wu doesn't just have Obama to thank — he never actually interacted with the First Lady, but rather with Ikram Goldman, owner of Chicago boutique Ikram, and Obama's gatekeeper to the fashion industry.

In fact, none of the designers who have made clothes for the First Lady have had any direct contact with their White House client — all commissions, measurements, bills, and other directions have been mediated by Ikram, causing something of a controversy; the clothes that Obama has worn recently are predominantly from designers that Cathy Horyn points out, "Ikram sells and ultimately stands to benefit from" — Jason Wu, Isabel Toledo, Narciso Rodriguez, Proenza Schouler, Thakoon, and Mario Cornejo.

Is Obama limiting herself? »

>> First Lady Michelle Obama — soon to be Vogue cover girl, most likely shot by Annie Leibovitz — has been in position for a day and already made a couple of careers: those of Isabel Toledo and Jason Wu, who are now household names.

Both designers' looks were special-ordered through Chicago boutique owner Ikram Goldman, who is expected the advise the First Lady over the next four years — she also helped with Obama's choice of Jimmy Choo shoes and Loree Rodkin jewelry — and neither Wu nor Toledo were told their designs were for the inauguration.  The two designers were on The Today Show this morning, talking color choice, fabric choice, and how they were "awestruck," in the words of Jason.  And that's not even to mention how all of this will impact their sales — a Spring version of Toledo's dress will hit Barneys in March, retailing for $1,500.

Video: Jason Wu and Isabel Toledo on Mrs. O »