barack obama

The Classicist: The History of America's Upper Class

Filed under: Books, The Classicist, Wealth

Interestingly enough it took a foreigner - namely super-stylish British historian, author, and journalist Nick Foulkes - to realize that for most people the appeal of society swells is purely decorative. What sets his recently published book - High Society: The History of America's Upper Class - apart from the usual social history is the amazing array of archival photographs. Beginning with the early 17th century, Foulkes focuses on the famous families - the Vanderbilts, Fricks, Morgans, and Astors among them - who came to embody the American aristocracy. He also plots the social trajectory all the way to the present day, and heiresses such as the famed Miller Sisters, aka Pia Getty, Princess Alexandra von Furstenberg and Princess Marie Chantal of Greece, pictured on the book's cover, above.

Of course, you first have to accept Foulkes' premise that America does in fact have a class system, even if the current recession has painfully demonstrated that no one should take their positions for granted while Barack Obama's ascendancy proved that traditional barriers are no longer as formidable. "I am often told that 'American high society' is an oxymoron, either by those who hold the quaint belief that the United States is a classless society in which opportunity is open to all," Foulkes notes, "or by Europeans who believe themselves to be superior and look down pejoratively upon the social aspirations of a country that is younger than many families, social clubs, educational establishments, and even socks in the Old World."

The fact of the matter, however, Foulkes writes, is that "The United States is no longer a young country; it is a middle-aged nation with its own social codes and structures locked into its collective DNA. It has its prominent families, an untitled aristocracy, who exerted such a profound effect on the nation or have just been around for so long that the doings of their descendants are still a source of interest." The second pillar of American society is the plutocracy, "Men who made so much money that they simply floated to the pinnacle of the social structure on a tide of cash, building huge mansions and amassing art collections that remain among the most impressive the world has ever seen."

Gallery: High Society

National Horse Show at Madison Square Garden, 1960s.

Heiress, socialite and model Lydia Hearst.

Tags: aristocrats, Assouline, Astor, Barack Obama, BarackObama, Nick Foulkes, NickFoulkes, socialite, society, Vanderbilt

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The Obamas Will Pay For Their Own Redecorating

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Michelle Obama has already taken a rake to the White House lawn tohelp put a kitchen garden in, now the First Family is taking matters into their own hands when it comes to White House decor. New York magazine reports that Barack and Michelle Obama have decided not to use taxpayers' money to renovate their private quarters at the White House. Traditionally new presidents have $100,000 of government money to outfit their rooms. But the Obamas, who hired famous interior designer Michael S. Smith. will not be using public funds or accepting free goods to redecorate their quarters. Because it will be out of public domain, the exact budget for the Obama overhaul isn't known. Michelle Obama has expressed interests in brands like Pottery Barn but that might be a bit of a waste of Mr. Smith's talents.

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Tags: barack obama, BarackObama, michelle obama, MichelleObama, white house, WhiteHouse

President Obama Checks In To The Beverly Hills Hilton

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Celebrity Shopping

Every President from John F. Kennedy to Bill Clinton stayed in The Beverly Hilton's Presidential Suite and the tradition continues now that President Obama has spent the night there. The President is in Los Angeles as part of a tour of southern California that includes appearing on "The Tonight Show."

The Presidential Suite is a three-room suite that measures 1,870 square feet. It includes a master bedroom and living room and has views of Wilshire Boulevard. Amenities include two 42-inch plasma televisions and a 13-inch LCD screen in the spa bathroom as well as a patio, fireplace and library area. The suite is said to rent for $4,000 a night.

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Tags: barack obama, BarackObama, beverly hills hilton, BeverlyHillsHilton, president obama, PresidentObama

Miami Cigar Manufacturers Brace for SCHIP

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

President Obama wants to create jobs, yet he isn't too worried about some that already exist. Miami's cigar manufacturers are watching April 1, 2009 with grave concern. The new State Children's Health Insurance Plan (SCHIP) takes effect on that date, resulting in a 900 percent tax increase on every cigar made in the United States – or imported here.

What's at stake?

For Miami, it's the many people responsible for rolling 75 percent of the 272 million cigars rolled in this country. Manufacturers and retailers alike are bracing themselves. A tax that takes the surcharge on hecho a mano sticks from 4 cents to 40.26 cents is cause for alarm.

So, as my sergeant used to say, "Smoke if you got 'em." At this rate, you may not have 'em much longer ... or at least not as many.

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Tags: barack, barack obama, barack-obama, BarackObama, cigar, cigars, cigarshop, florida, miami, obama, president obama, PresidentObama, schip, smoke, smoker, smokers, smoking, tax, taxes, tobacco, tobacco industry, TobaccoIndustry

Table Fifity-Two: The President's Valentine's Day Dinner Destination

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Celebrity Shopping

barack and michelle obama on valentine's day

Like many other couples, the President and First Lady went out to dinner on Valentine's Day. The pair dined at a Chicago restaurant which is owned by Oprah's former personal chef, Art Smith. Table Fifty-Two specializes in high-end versions of classic southern food like shrimp and grits, crab cakes, pan-seared catfish, jambalaya with sides of macaroni and cheese and collard greens. According to the Chicago Tribune, Smith, who was Oprah Winfrey's chef for ten years, greeted the couple and whisked them away to a private dining room. The dinner destination apparently surprised some local foodies who were guessing that the Obamas might end up at Spiaggia for Italian food or at Topolobampo for Rick Bayless's Mexican/Southwestern fare.Table Fifity-Two is known for its generous portions, is Mrs. Obama toting home the leftovers in the picture above?

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Tags: art smith, ArtSmith, barack obama, BarackObama, chicago, michelle obama, MichelleObama, restaurant, table fifty-two, TableFifty-two

Fairmont Chicago's Obama-Themed Presidential Suite

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Chicago's Fairmont Hotel just re-opened after a $50 million renovation that includes a new 1,850-sq.-ft. top floor Presidential Suite dedicated to the city's own Barack Obama. Overlooking Chicago's Grant Park, where Obama made his historic acceptance speech on the eve of his election as the 44th President of the United States, the plush suite features an "illustrative montage" of Obama's life along with a selection of memorabilia including campaign buttons, newspaper headlines and seals of the various offices he has held throughout his political career.

The Fairmont has created a special package to inaugurate the suite which includes an intimate, chauffeur-driven tour of Obama's favorite spots in Chicago in the hotel's private Bentley Continental Flying Spur (above). The package features roundtrip airport transportation, fresh floral arrangements upon arrival, a fully-stocked butler's pantry, a personal concierge to assist with reservations, museum passes and basketball or baseball tickets, and spa and restaurant credits. The two-night package is available for $8,244 plus tax.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: Barack Obama, BarackObama, Bentley, Chicago, Fairmont, Fairmont Hotel, FairmontHotel, Hotel

President Obama's Tumi Briefcase

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Men's Style

The slick leather briefcase our new Chief Executive has been spotted with lately is this Tumi Alpha Leather Expandable Brief. Made from rich, glove-tanned leather designed to burnish to a beautiful patina over time, the rugged yet stylish case features a removable computer sleeve, numerous organizer pockets, and plenty of room for papers, files and extra white bow ties. We're not sure when and where President Obama acquired the bag, but it retails for $550. The briefcase is part of Tumi's Alpha Collection, inspired by aeronautics, automotives and sports,which features several stylish pieces for business and travel including everything from toiletry kits to golf bags. It also comes in ballistic nylon for $350.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: Barack Obama, BarackObama, Briefcase, Luggage, Travel, Tumi

Obama's Big Bucks Bulletproof Wardrobe?

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

There's been a lot of speculation over whether Barack Obama actually wore bulletproof clothing when he was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States on Jan. 20. There were certainly a number of extraordinary security measures in place. One thing's for certain however - the only person capable of making bulletproof clothing that's indistinguishable from your average Hart Schaffner Marx ensemble is Colombian designer Miguel Caballero - but it costs a hell of a lot more.

(For the record, Caballero's rep declined to comment when we asked if they'd furnished the President with any clothing.)

Back in October we told you about Caballero's stylish $10,000 quilted riding jacket. Known as "The Armani of Armor", Caballero developed a proprietary lightweight anti-ballistic fabric which he fashions into a number of garments, including a bulletproof tuxedo shirt (above). This allows for maximum flexibility and discretion while providing protection from weaponry ranging from a 9mm pistol to an Uzi, depending upon the security level you select.

Caballero's high-end Black Label line, favored by such security-conscious VIPs as Prince Felipe of Spain, President Álvaro Uribe of Colombia and President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela, also features a $12,000 bulletproof polo shirt, a trench coat, leather jackets and even ski gear. An additional stab-proof lining is optional on most garments. Check out the gallery for some more of his attack-proof designs.

Gallery: Miguel Caballero Bulletproof Clothing

Tags: Barack Obama, BarackObama, Bulletproof, Colombia, Miguel Caballero, MiguelCaballero, Obama, Security

Obama's Tux Maker Goes Bankrupt

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Men's Style

Hartmarx, the Chicago-based clothing company that made President Obama's dodgy tuxedo for the inaugural ball (above), as well as several of the suits he wore on the campaign trail, has just filed for bankruptcy the Chicago Tribune reports. Obama favors the firm's fairly bland Hart Schaffner Marx line, but the company also makes high-end men's clothing under its Hickey Freeman label, that, to our way of thinking, is much more suitable for a stylish young Chief Executive (it even has a Presidential Collection). Hart Schaffner Marx sales have picked up a bit thanks to Obama, but not nearly enough.

A newer, hipper Hickey Freeman spinoff, hickey, has recently become a fashionista favorite, and will hopefully survive the process. The company plans to continue operating while it undergoes a reorganization, but said it may sell some or all of its assets. Hartmarx, the largest maker of men's tailored clothing in the U.S., traces its roots to 1872, when brothers Harry and Max Hart first opened a men's clothing store in Chicago. The company also owns the downmarket Sansabelt and Palm Beach brands, and has licensing agreements with several well known labels.

Tags: Barack Obama, BarackObama, Black tie, BlackTie, Chicago, hart schaffner marx, Hartmarx, Hartmarx Corporation, HartmarxCorporation, HartSchaffnerMarx, hickey, Hickey Freeman, HickeyFreeman, Obama, Suit, Tuxedo

Obama's First Fashion Faux Pas

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Men's Style

While we're all rejoicing at the fact that Barack Obama is our new president, we did have some reservations about the tuxedo he wore to the inauguration ball (above). Simply put, the combination of a notched-lapel dinner jacket (by Hart Schaffner Marx) and a big, shiny white bow tie was not quite the thing for a commander-in-chief. We asked our old friend Alan Flusser, the world's leading authority on men's style who's been interviewed several times about Obama's dress sense, for his thoughts on the matter. Flusser is a renowned designer and author of several seminal works on men's style including Dressing the Man: Mastering The Art of Permanent Fashion. You can check out his interview with Charlie Rose here.

In Dressing the Man, Flusser writes, "The whole idea of a formal suit [i.e. tuxedo] is to distinguish itself from the notch-lapel business suit, not replicate it." Flusser declares that a dinner jacket with notched lapels is nothing short of a "sartorial oxymoron, convoluting both the form's aesthetic logic and its promise of timeless elegance." A proper dinner jacket should have peaked lapels, or, for slightly less formal occasions, a shawl collar. As for the white bow tie, that should only ever be worn with tails - hence the classic "white tie and tails" - and should never be satin. (For the record, George W. Bush was also fond of the notched lapel look - though thankfully not the white bow tie - which showed to his disadvantage when he met with stylish French President Nicolas Sarkozy.)

"I've been doing interviews about how purposeful and reasonably stylish Obama dresses and how he might just begin to set a new fashion bar for the congressional set," Flusser tells Luxist, "and then he goes and shows up in that hodgepodge of formalwear contrivance. In fact, although we make clothes for people he knows, I have been reluctant to reach out to him because he obviously has more on his plate than any one human is entitled to. However, after last night's display of sartorial naivety, I am now determined to throw my hat into the ring of potential fashion advisors/designers for his evolving Presidential wardrobe. Frankly I care less as to whether we make his clothes than teaching him what dressing in a statesman-like manner actually constitutes. I think he's just the greatest and I want nothing more for him than to succeed at everything."

That said, Flusser notes, "Talk about dressing green - this is a [sartorial] advisor kind of meltdown. I don't care if he chooses to wear mediocre or inexpensive clothes but that is no excuse for sporting a notch lapel (always peaked or shawl lapel) dinner jacket with an oversized white bow tie, making him look gift wrapped and therefore costumed. Although Obama tends to look as if he's comfortable and wearing the clothes, last night's ensemble made him look as if the clothes were wearing him, like he was taking his best shot trying to wear something he had little feel for, which obviously (as you have so correctly observed) he does not. Okay, sermon over."

Note - for more on the ins and outs of men's formal attire, see last week's Classicist column, "Ralph Lauren, Whit Stillman and Black Tie," and this post from Michael Williams' brilliant style blog A Continuous Lean.

Tags: Alan Flusser, AlanFlusser, Barack Obama, BarackObama, Black tie, BlackTie, inauguration, Tuxedo

Doing A Brisk Business in Obama Merchandise

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

The one thing that seems to be driving people into stores lately is Obama fever. Merchandise celebrating President Obama has been a big seller for makers of T-shirts, mugs, hats and more. The Runway to Change section from the Presidential Inaugural Committee sells tote bags, scarves, t-shirts and more from designers such as Diane von Furstenberg Tory Burch, Zac Posen, Narciso Rodriguez and Donna Karan. Proceeds go to defray the cost of the inauguration. These goods will be available for a few more weeks on the website. Other retailers and enterprising business people are hoping the Obama merchandise craze lasts long after the inauguration.

Another unique item of Obamorabilia is the official ballot from UncommonGoods shown above. The oversized ballot was printed specifically for the old-fashioned, pull-lever voting machines used in New York City which are slated to go into retirement this year. These unused ballots feature voting instructions and a full list of candidates and parties. It is framed in black ash wood and protected by plexiglass and sells for $350.

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Tags: ballot, barack obama, BarackObama, obamorabilia

Hennessy 44 Celebrates 44th President

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Hennessy Cognac gets in on the Obama hoopla with a limited edition cognac. The collector-edition, individually numbered bottle sells for around $30. A percentage of proceeds being donated to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund which awards scholarships to students attending historically Black colleges. A total of 180,000 bottles were produced and will be sold primarily in Washington, D.C., Maryland, Illinois, New York City, and Georgia. Like NY Magazine's Grub Street, we're pretty sure Barack Obama isn't a Hennessy man. Grub Street hopes he's a whisky man. If so, he's in luck, Scotland has extended an invitation for Barack Obama to attend a Burns Night supper in Washington D.C.

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Tags: barack obama, BarackObama, cognac, hennessy, inauguration

Barack Obama's Cars Then and Now

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Celebrity Shopping

President-elect Obama's new ride, the Cadillac Presidential Limousine was officially revealed just around the same time another Obama car his 2005 Chrysler 300C Hemi went back up on eBay. Obama leased the car in 2004 and traded it for a Ford Escape Hybrid in 2007. The car was bought by Tim O'Boyle who first tried to sell it on eBay in December. He took it off the site after his accountant told him it was wiser to own the car a year for tax purposes. Now it's back on eBay with a starting bid of $100,000 and a buy-it-now price of $1,000,000. The Kelley's Blue Book value for the car is $15,750. O'Boyle says he received a private offer of $150,000 the last time the car was up for auction and that he has a number in his head of what he wants. The 2005 330C has less than 21,000 miles on it and O'Boyle says it is in like-new condition.

Tags: barack obama, BarackObama, cadillac, chrysler, inauguration

Barack Obama Coffees For Inauguration Morning

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

If you want to drink in presidential style there are several cocktail options that have been created for the inauguration festivities, but you may want to start off your morning with a cup of coffee.

Thanksgiving Coffee, an artisan roaster in Northern California, has created the President's Blend, a coffee that honors Barack Obama with a three-part blend. The coffee combines beans from his father's homeland of East Africa (Uganda and Ethiopia, which is at least near his father's homeland of Kenya) and his childhood home of Indonesia. The coffee is fair trade and organic and sells for $11 for 12 ounces.

Another three-part harmony comes from Hawaii's Kona Joe Coffee which is releasing the Barack O Blend, a blend of Hawaiian, Kenyan and Indonesian beans that sells for $12.95 for seven ounces.

Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii offers the Obama Blend, a blend of 100% Kona, Kenya AA and their Hawaiian blend, Volcanic Roast to honor Obama's heritage in both Africa and Hawaii. It sells for $14.95 for eight ounces.

Tags: barack obama, BarackObama, coffee

Obama's First Meal As President Has A Lincoln Theme

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Barack Obama may not be able to keep the trim physique he showed off in Hawaii recently for long based on some of the food he'll be served in the next couple of weeks. The menu for the Inaugural Luncheon has been announced. The luncheon traditionally features food from the home states of the new President and Vice President, as well as the theme of the Inauguration. The 2009 inaugural luncheon has been designed to commemorate the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln (Feb. 12, 1809) and will feature foods Lincoln would have eaten or enjoyed. The first course will be served on replicas of the china from the Lincoln Presidency.

The menu for this year is:

First Course: Seafood Stew
Duckhorn Vineyards, 2007 Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley

Second Course: A Brace of American Birds (pheasant and duck), served with Sour Cherry Chutney and Molasses Sweet Potatoes
Goldeneye, 2005 Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley

Third Course: Apple Cinnamon Sponge Cake and Sweet Cream Glacé
Korbel Natural "Special Inaugural Cuvée,"
California Champagne