Checking out the Instagram pics from yesterday's The White House Fashion Education Workshop, we're more convinced than ever that Michelle Obama is the forever First Lady of our fantasy wardrobes and our hearts. We weren't surprised at all to see the usual suspects—Jason Wu, Zac Posen, Narcisco Rodriguez—but were pleasantly surprised to see a veritable parade of FADER's fave designers—the ones we've been lusting after and championing hard the past few years—turn up for the festivities. Duro Olowu, Charles Harbison, Maki Oh and others turned up in full force, as substitute sartorial teachers for the day to a group of lucky design students. We've done a round up of our favorite IG moments for your viewing pleasure. And also, this happened: Michelle Obama, we see you.
LoadingThe First Lady @michelleobama with our First Lady of Fashion @voguemagazine #FashionEdu @whitehouse @reachhigher2020
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Duro Olowu
LoadingThe future is bright . With some of the talented students in my "inspiration" workshop at First Lady @michelleobama #fashioneducationworkshop #reachhigher2020 yesterday morning at the #Whitehouse #whitehouseedu #talented #students
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We fell hard for the colorful, intricate designs of Nigerian-born Duro Olowu a few years ago, as did Michelle Obama, who was wearing his creations from way back. Peep our backstage coverage of his brilliant spring presentation from 2011.
Azede Jean Pierre
LoadingGoodnight! @whitehouse! Thank you @michelleobama, @whitehouse, I feel so special to be invited and honored to have been included. I was inspired myself to #reachhigher <3 @FLOTUS #teamAJP #FashionEdu
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LoadingWith the girls @iamnaomicampbell & @doublenrich <3
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Tuned-in celebrities like Solange have been onto the Haitian-born designer for a minute now, but she was still relatively green when we named her one of our designers to watch last September. She turned it out for White House, outshining Naomi in a deep red cut-out jumpsuit.
Maki Oh
LoadingNBD just @maki.oh and I at @whitehouse with @michelleobama 👠❤️🇺🇸🏤💚💭💚
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Maki Oh's breathy ease, obscure prints, and unique takes on design and femininity caught our eyes wayyy back when. "Flygeria", a magazine piece written by our own Style Editor-At-Large Mobolaji Dawodu, is a must-read for its personal perspective on, and its gorgeous photos of, the Nigerian fashion designer.
Opening Ceremony
Loading@humbertotoo & #CarolLim's first trip to the @WhiteHouse ✨🇺🇸✨ Many thanks to @MichelleObama for being an incredible host & giving #OpeningCeremony the opportunity to impact students thru #FashionEdu & #ReachHigher2020
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Humberto Leon and Carol Lim, the papa and mama behind Opening Ceremony, really don't require any introduction. Consistently changing up the game and disrupting fashion, it was a no brainer they would be included in The White House's workshops, and looking good while doing it. See our behind the scenes coverage of their second ever runway show, here.
HARBISON
LoadingAwesome students from my undergrad alma mater #NorthCarolinaState. Go pack! #FashionEdu #ReachHigher @WhiteHouse
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LoadingEva + Abe + Chuck #CelebrationofDesign @whitehouse #FashionEdu
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Charles Harbison's whimsical, ornate confections have had us feeling feelings ever since he graduated from Michael Kors and Billy Reid to start his own line, HARBISON. Read our in depth interview about the trials and tribulations that accompany being a young designer in New York.
Public School
LoadingGod Bless 'Merica 🇺🇸 #Flotus #FashionEdu #ReachHigher #SecretServiceTackledUsShortlyAfterThisPic
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We haven't been shy about going hard for Public School, whose collections are consistently the cleanest and most exciting menswear in the game. The Sean John alums have been on our radar since their Invisible Man-inspired collection back in 2010, but since then we've tapped them for everything from playlists to video interviews. <3