Posting resumes Wednesday!

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Posting on Political Style will resume on Wednesday evening (GMT) as I am off to London for some R&R. Check back then!

Academy Awards 2011: The King's Speech takes Four

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For all the post-awards coverage and style visit here.

Wayfarer Cool

Google

I picked up my very first pair of Wayfarers on Friday... and I love them! Who else has a pair and in what colour?

The Christchurch Earthquake: Five Days On

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As the recovery and clean-up continues, take time to watch this poignant video set to the New Zealand national anthem. We are all Kiwis during this difficult time.

Jumpsuit for the First Lady

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The First Lady hosted the Motown Concert at the White House last night, and for all of us sartorial lovers she wowed by wearing a black satin and silk taffeta jumpsuit by L'Wren Scott. Jewellery by Cathy Waterman amped up the look. We can't wait to see some full length shots!

Lip Balm Junkie

Google

I seem to be addicted to all types of lip balm lately, and even though I have many pots/tubes/sticks in my cupboard I couldn't resist buying THREE more today. After weeks of searching I finally managed to purchased Carmex in the cherry and strawberry flavours, and picked up Dove's re-release of their creamy Lip Care stick. I've also been looking at MaxFactor's Lip Infinity pens- that might be tomorrow's purchase...

Motown at the White House

The First Lady held a workshop featuring Motown artists in the East Room of the White House yesterday. 'The Sound of Young America: The History of Motown' featured artists and individuals such as John Legend, Smokey Robinson, Berry Gordy Jr and Bob Santelli.

Mrs O wore a metallic dot dress with a ruffled front detail and a floral brooch.

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Giffords aide returns to work

Office of Gabrielle Giffords

Politico reports on the great news today that Pam Simon, the community outreach coordinator for Rep. Gabrielle Giffords has returned to work. Simon, who was injured in the January 8th shooting, assists with the Congresswoman's work with the military, seniors and schools.

President Obama's statement on Libya

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Rahm Emanuel wins Chicago Mayoral Race

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Rahm Emanuel was announced the winner in the race to be Chicago's next mayor last night, taking an impressive 55% of the vote. Read The Huffington Post's report here.

Sarah Brown to sign copies of her new memoir

Luxist

Sarah Brown, the wife of the former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown will be releasing her memoir 'Behind the Black Door' next week.

For your chance to own a personalised signed copy of the eagerly anticipated publication, click here for more information.

Devastating earthquake hits Christchurch, NZ

As we hear and see the reports of the devastating earthquake which hit Christchurch at 1250pm yesterday, we keep the people of the city in our thoughts and prayers. I visited Christchurch on a three week holiday last May, spending time with close friends who have lived in the region for most of their lives. Christchurch is a beautiful city, a mix of old and new architecture with the friendliest people you could wish to meet. I sincerely hope the quakes stop and the city and its people can return to everyday life, becoming stronger from the experiences of the past several months.

One of our friends was at work when the quake struck, she told me of hiding under her desk but being thrown out continuously as the tremors continued to roll. She managed to escape from the building, climbing over overturned photocopiers and furniture. The tremors continued to roll as she stood outside, and along with her boss, she lay down on the floor as she could not stand up. Thankfully all of our friends are safe and unharmed and a Skype call at 715am GMT was extremely reassuring!

Special recognition must be given to St John, the organisation who run the country's ambulance and rescue service. Their volunteers and staff are working flat out to help the injured and the survivors and their dedication and determination is a source of inspiration for us all.

Photographs of Christchurch from my visit in May last year can be found here.

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Rep. Jackie Speier: 'Abortion fuels intolerant thinking'

AP

The Huffington Post  provides an op-ed from Rep. Jackie Speier this morning, the Congresswoman who revealed on the floor of the House last week that she had an abortion several years ago. It is shocking to hear of calls she has received from members of the public over the past several days and highlights why federal funding for Planned Parenthood should be reinstated.

From the Bookshelf... Everyday Icon: Michelle Obama

Like many Mrs O fans, I was excited to receive my copy of 'Everyday Icon: Michelle Obama and the Power of Style' by Kate Betts. Having pre-ordered my copy back in November 2010, it was a great Saturday when the parcel plopped through my letterbox.

The most striking thing about the publication is the use of colour. The front cover has the First Lady in a neon coloured print dress by Thakoon at a White House reception, and catches the neon pink colouring from one sample and follows it throughout the book's cover. Betts consideration of the world of Pantone coloring is one which makes the publication stand out from many similar books which have been released, and reinforces the importance of the choice of colour in each and every outfit.

What I especially like is the array of photographs from various events both in the US and across the world, and the accompaniment of designer sketches from several of the First Lady's outfits. It is certainly lovely to see some of Thakoon's sketches, and I was interested to learn that two outfits that Mrs O on their trip to Europe (the reversible black and magenta jacquard dress and coat and the white tweed coat and black dress trimmed in grosgrain ribbon) were two options originally designed for the Inauguration ceremony. There are also sketches from Maria Pinto and Jason Wu, and references to the style of previous First Ladies. What makes the book stand out for me (and this may be a small thing) is many fabric sample of Mrs O's gowns. We see up close a swatch from the Isabel Toledo lemongrass wool lace coat and dress duo and the more affordable Talbots dress. It is also exciting to see many of the accessories from the First Lady's wardrobe- a variety of pins, the space-like Alaia belt and the Jimmy Choo kitten heels.

Betts does a fantastic job of chronicling Michelle Obama's style, both through her life and her current period in the White House. With interviews from many of Mrs O's designers and contributions from the fashion world, this is a book for anyone who appreciates or is interested in the fashion of the First Lady. I sincerely hope that Betts revisits the style of Michelle Obama in the future so we can all understand and visually witness how her sense of fashion continues to evolve and inspire us all.

The White House

Betty Jackson @ LFW AW11

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I need those black patent shoes!

This Week on the Hill...

MONDAY 14TH FEBRUARY: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton talks to reporters in the Hall of Columns after meeting Speaker Boehner

TUESDAY 15TH FEBRUARY: Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner's electronic devices are seen on the floor at the Senate Finance Committee.

TUESDAY 15TH FEBRUARY: Senator Lisa Murkowski is pictured at the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

WEDNESDAY 16TH FEBRUARY: Director of the CIA, Leon Panetta is pictured at the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

WEDNESDAY 16TH FEBRUARY: Rep. Ed Markey (D:MA) is pictured with Arthur the Aardvark outside the Capitol following a press conference discussing the House Appropriations Committee proposal to end federal funding for public broadcasting.

THURSDAY 17TH FEBRUARY: Secretary Clinton gives a news conference after meeting Senate members about Egypt.

THURSDAY 17TH FEBRUARY: Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen is pictured at the Senate Armed Services Committee on the defense budget.

THURSDAY 17TH FEBRUARY: Leader Pelosi is accompanied by firefighters and police officers as she gives a news conference criticizing the Republican's policy on jobs.

FRIDAY 18TH FEBRUARY: The interior of the Capitol rotunda is pictured.

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FRIDAY 18TH FEBRUARY: Leader Pelosi is pictured at a Democratic news conference.

The White House: January/February 2011

The White House