Michelle O.

Let's not talk/think about how long it took me to make this collage at Polyvore.com
Much has been made of Michelle Obama's style, and with good reason: She's mastered the high-low mix (yellow J. Crew cardigans and floral White House Black Market dresses elitist? Yah, no), she wears American (unlike Jackie Kennedy, who preferred Frenchies), and she favors up-and-coming designers (above, black and red Narciso Rodriguez on Tues. and bright floral Thakoon in August) and relatively unknown ones (Cuban-American Isabel Toledo—purple dress above—and Chicago-based Maria Pinto) instead of the stuffy, old-lady styles from peeps like Oscar de la Renta that Hillary and Cindy McCain reach for. Needless to say, the fashion folks heart her and are fighting to get their clothes on her back. And, since whatever she wears turns into retail gold, Oprah Book Club-style, here are the designers (all born in the U.S.A., young, and, by sheer coincidence, multi-culti) that def warrant her attention and resulting sale boost.

Doo-Ri Chung, one of Anna's faves, who took home nice CFDA awards in 2006.

Derek Lam, who's been around for a while but never evs gets the attention he deserves.

Phillip Lim, whose sensibility would make M.O. even cooler than she already is. And me even more jelly than I already am.

Rachel Roy, who's stuff is super sleek 'n chic. (BTW, R.R. is one of the prettiest people EVER, which makes it near impossible not to hate her.)
All runway pics from Style.com, Spring 2009 collections

In return for this sage advice, Michelle, I request only your hand-me-downs.