Designer Maria Pinto Has Saved Michelle Obama From Shiny Prom Dress Nightmares, Herself

Chicago-based designer Maria Pinto is once again being heralded by the press for her work in dressing First Lady Michelle Obama. And, judging from Michelle’s choice in prom dress (see below), we think Maria deserves all the praise she can get…

A lot of virtual ink has been spilled - by reporters, bloggers, breathless fangirls and h8ers alike - over Michelle Obama’s taste in clothing. We’re inclined to think Michelle doesn’t exactly have “great taste.” Which is fine! Being a lawyer, raising two girls, running about on the campaign trail take precedence to shoe shopping and making sure your outfit doesn’t make you look like a carnival ride on acid.

Which is why we think Maria Pinto is such a godsend when it comes to fine-tuning the First Lady’s style. Some of Michelle’s more personalized choices - from her white inauguration gown to her 1982 prom dress - have left a little to be desired in terms of form and fit. To wit:

Maria Pinto, and probably a team of other stylists, designers and beauty experts, have helped polish Michelle’s personal style and relay her love of bright colors to something that is (usually) flattering and stylish, while maintaining a sense of uniqueness and not looking like a mannequin.

Says Pinto, humbly, of working with Obama: “She’s an example of the life we’re all living. She goes high-low, mixing J. Crew with designer. I think we can all relate to that.”

We could relate to that, except J. Crew happens to be completely out of our price range. So maybe it’s more like, “mixing Mandee’s with Target.” What we do relate to, thoroughly, is that Michelle is a mom and someone with a career who seems to love her family and her work. We like that some of her choices are less than perfect. She’s someone who isn’t afraid to play with fashion and trends - even if the results are sometimes a little garish. Which reminds us, we really need to call our mom and ask her if she’s been shopping lately.

Click Below For Michelle Obama’s Best & Not So Best Pinto Outfits

Michelle Obama: Photograph of US President’s wife and her first ‘boyfriend’ [Telegraph]

Secrets of Michelle Obama’s Style [More, print version]