New first lady Michelle Obama is intriguing women with her sense of sophisticated and affordable fashion. White House | Black Market experienced that first-hand last June when Obama’s TV appearance on “The View” in the now-famous “tank leaf print dress” caused the item to sell out overnight. So the retailer decided to capture the excitement of the first lady’s style and her husband’s presidential inauguration at its Union Station boutique in Washington, D.C.
In January, the store’s windows featured four one-of-a-kind, handcrafted gowns, each accompanied by the designer’s original fashion sketch. White House | Black Market’s Victor Johnson and Lexy Onofrio further transformed the boutique into a one-stop shop for inaugural celebrations by also displaying jewelry, shoes, handbags and accessories. “I think it was a refreshing change of scenery,” says Johnson, “especially since January retail windows across the country were dominated by clearance and liquidation messages – or worse.”