Maria Pinto Closes Chicago Boutique. What's Michelle Obama to Wear? (M's designer goes bankrupt)

The StyleList ^ | February 15, 2010 | Lesley Kennedy

[Stoat]

Maria Pinto Closes Chicago Boutique. What's Michelle Obama to Wear?

by Lesley Kennedy  Posted Feb 15th 2010 at 4:26PM

 

(Image not included due to Free Republic rules pertaining to Getty Images)

Even designing dresses that turned Michelle Obama into a fashion trendsetter couldn't keep Maria Pinto in business.

The designer has closed the doors to her Chicago boutique, reports the Chicago Sun-Times, and she is expected to seek bankruptcy protection this week.

Pinto tells the Sun-Times "economic challenges and soft buying trends at the top end of the apparel market" contributed to her business woes. 

''I am confident that the 'Maria Pinto' name will not go away, but will merely take a break, before emerging in a new form," she tells the newspaper. 

"I plan on using the next several months to explore different avenues and opportunities for business, as economic conditions improve."

In addition to dressing Obama (see the purple sleeveless sheath dress she wore for the final primaries?), Pinto's customers also included Oprah Winfrey and several Chicago socialites and civic leaders.

Pinto studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and New York's Parsons School of Design and Fashion Institute of Technology, and worked for Geoffrey Beene in her first fashion job. In 1991, she launched her own line, which was carried in stores including Bergdorf Goodman, then she opened her Chicago boutique in 2008, according to the paper.

And, if there's any debate on Michelle Obama's style power, here's a look at her first 100 days of fashion.

[Krodg]

I agree

[1_Rain_Drop]

Thanks for the "good news" ping LOL

Fashion designers must be careful with whom they associate with. I wonder if Manshelle will have the same golden touch with designers as obama has with elections.

[Stoat]

It is a squirrel. Remember that photo of the tourists and the squirrel that went viral months ago? Someone set up a site where you could put a picture in and it would add the squirrel. It has since been taken down and I wish I had done more of them while it was up and running.

Actually, I had missed that photo when it came out and I thank you for bringing it to my attention. Here's the original photo and an article about it:

 

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2009/08/13/squirrel-banff-photo-brandts-geographic.html

 

and I was delighted to find that within the article above, there is a site (perhaps one that is different from the one you had difficulties with) which allows people to make up photos featuring the squirrel.

Of course, I HAD to give it a try ;-)

 

 

Thanks very much for bringing it to my attention :-)

[mojitojoe]

Good one! Thanks for finding a new squirrel maker. The other one was easier but this gives you more options.

[Allegra]

Even Allegra would have nothing good to say about those orange socks (See post 18)!

Oh, dear...oh, my goodness...oh, man.....words fail me. Really.

[angcat]

Shows how our country has declined. Embarassing trash was put into the Whitehouse.

[angcat]

LOL LOL LOL

[Albion Wilde]

...you mean to tell me that of all the businesses this "president" is going to let fail---he'd even allow an avowed supporter/sycophant to go under the bus???

Dude. The President's brother lives in a hut. His aunt was on welfare and then up for deportation. He didn't take his children to see the grandmother who raised him on her deathbed. And you think they would worry about a fashion designer?

[Albion Wilde]

Sorry Ms. Pinto, but Hope and Change demands that rich folk be demonized and put more skin in the game. No more money for expensive clothes.

Nailed it. Oh, the irony!

[gathersnomoss]

Pinto = Up In Flames

[gathersnomoss]

Pfwaaap! Thank you Mad Magazine.

[gathersnomoss]

Thank you for bringing beauty to an otherwise revolting post.

[Albion Wilde]

[ETL]

[ETL]

[patriot08]

Re; pics of Big Mo with legs apart

You honkies learn the hokey pokie

You put your right foot out and shake it all about....

[patriot08]

Look at the eyes in this pic...dead, evil.

[patriot08]

She needs to be confined to dark pants suits and have her mouth duck-taped shut. Oh, wait..No. She’s such a good target. Carry on, Big Mo.

[Albion Wilde]

Someone must have told her that standing with her legs spread apart would make them look like they aren't bowlegged. It doesn't work

Check out the top photo of the Sarkozys in post 104. European gentlepersons, and particularly the French, have a long tradition since the time of the American and French revolutions of standing with the feet together and the toes turned outward. It is considered polite behavior.

"Blue Boy" by Gainsborough, 1770

"The turnout" is also one of the most basic instructions in classical dance, which came of age during the Renaissance:

You can see that stance in the portraits of our early patriot leaders.

I suppose we should be proud of our American traditions, where anyone from any background can rise to the top office in the land. We have had classless presidents before, like Andrew Jackson, but he had other strong points. With this group, there's so little to admire.

[patriot08]

I think Laura had a prettier face. There was something odd about Jackie’s face..the wide set eyes.
Agree, Jackie was more fashionable..glamourous.