kate betts

When Michael Kors gives style advice, he might just throw in a little relationship advice, too.

Fashion writer Kate Betts asked the designer how he would counsel girls who are trying to keep up with perennially changing trends, and he said she should "take the same approach she takes to guys."

"There's great fling material, and then there's great husband material!" Kors said. "Apply that to your wardrobe and it means invest in the key pieces you'll want to spend time with season after season, the pieces that will help define your style. Don't invest major money in the trendy pieces that will feel old by this time next year. Like dating that guy just for fun — it's not to say you shouldn't do it, just don't sink a lot into it!"

Seasoned fashion journalist Kate Betts already gave us a preview of her new book Everyday Icon: Michelle Obama and the Power of Style, by selecting eight iconic Michelle Obama outfits and telling us why they matter. After speeding through the book — a definite must read of February — I asked Kate a few questions about how our current first lady combines style and substance. Read our conversation below:

TrèsSugar: In the book you discuss how Michelle Obama's stylish example has impacted young women, especially those who are African American. How does Michelle show style and fashion can empower women, considering we hear about how the fashion industry can have a negative impact on a young woman's self-image?

Kate Betts: For young African American women, she's obviously an amazing role model. She's probably the first style icon that they've known in their lifetime that's not in the entertainment or sports business. That's a powerful thing. She got where nobody thought she could with her intellectual power, and she used her style to carry her on this amazing trajectory. And what I think she's trying to show, without talking about it, is how feeling good about yourself, dressing well, taking care of yourself can empower you. And I think she's speaking directly to young African Americans who strive to emulate her. But I think it's a message for all women.

In Michelle's case, she traveled through unfamiliar territories like Princeton or corporate law firms, and I think her style was totemic for her. It was part of herself that she was holding onto. In those foreign environments it's easy to feel pressure to fit in and to become something else, and I think the White House is the biggest example of that. The pressure to dress for the job and "become" the first lady is intense. But she often says, I'm a better first lady when I'm Michelle Obama than when I'm "The First Lady of the United States."

TS: How come Michelle Obama's "be yourself" message comes off as more authentic than when it's written in women's magazines?

KB: We see Michelle as this authentic person. It feels like her public persona is her private self also. So we really believe her and have faith in her. It's easier than with a magazine that may seem inauthentic because they use models or because there's somehow commerce behind it.

TS: How much of Michelle Obama's regular mom, J.Crew-wearing style is calculated for political reasons? Get the answer, as well as a peek into Michelle's stylish college days, after the jump!

>> When Stefano Tonchi was announced as W's new editor-in-chief yesterday, he said he only began talking with Conde Nast about the position last week. But WWD reports that Tonchi had been looking to leave T for more than a year, and was lobbying hard for a senior position at Conde Nast as well as looking at the possibility of a high-level position at Hearst or Time Inc.

Big changes for W under Tonchi are expected, and although he emphasized that the transition will be smooth — “Nothing is going to be traumatic. I don’t think there is any rush to make a revolution. It’s an evolution, it’s not a revolution” — those at the top of the W masthead — creative director Dennis Freedman, deputy editor Julie Belcove, and fashion director Alex White — are said to be in vulnerable positions.

White was reportedly interested in the editor gig »

>> While the new W editor-in-chief could be announced as early as today and Stefano Tonchi seems to be the man for the job, the New York Post reports that former W fashion director (and current Elle creative director) Joe Zee is "in a neck and neck race" with Tonchi. Meanwhile, Fashion Week Daily has a full list of potentials for the job — Tonchi, Zee, Carine Roitfeld, Kate Betts, Katie Grand.

But what about the rest of the W staff? The Daily reports that the departure of W editor and editorial director Patrick McCarthy came as a shock, and so far, there has not been a formal staff meeting about all the changes.  The Daily's sources are convinced that creative director Dennis Freedman, design director Edward Leida, and fashion director Alex White will all leave the magazine — and possibly deputy editor Julie Belcove, who is said to be "a wreck," as well.

Meanwhile, The Daily is surmising that W senior contributing fashion editor could stay on as fashion director, and Tonchi's close friend Anne Slowey, Elle's fashion news director, is a top contender for executive editor at W (or perhaps Tonchi's position at T).

>> Kate Betts Suggests the Answer for Ailing Fashion Magazines: Publish Less Often — You know it's bad when top editors willingly suggest that they should be doing less in print.  Kate Betts, editor of Time Style & Design, which comes out six times a year, says of the Web-induced acceleration of coverage pace: "If I'm going to a fashion show, I think about how I'm going to cover it on many levels. Now, you have to think what could be a video interview, what could be a Time interview. It is kind of exhausting, and every season, it's amped up even more. It's almost too much information. Maybe fashion magazines should only come out twice a year." [Adweek]

>> Peter Copping's First Nina Ricci Collection Said to be "Great" —We have yet to see any work from Peter Copping for Nina Ricci — his first collection for the line, for the Cruise 2010 season, was supposed to come out late last month and seems to be running a bit late — but it sounds like it's something to look forward to. Kate Betts's has "an extremely reliable Parisian source" who says that Copping's Cruise 2010 collection is "great." [Kate Betts Twitter]

>> Valentino Fall 2009 Couture Said to Be "Radical" —Valentino has made some major personnel changes recently in hopes of reinvigorating the brand under the direction of Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli, and the designer's third effort — their Fall 2009 couture show tomorrow — is to be "shrouded in black," according to TIME Style & Design's Kate Betts. Meanwhile, a Times UK editor who attended a collection preview says it's "incredible. It's Valentino meets gothic. Radical." [Kate Betts Twitter, Times UK Twitter] 

>> Fall 2009 Chanel Couture Inspiration Revealed —Chanel's Fall 2009 couture show isn't until tomorrow, but this evening Karl Lagerfeld hosted a select few editors — including TIME Style & Design's Kate Betts — who reports that the collection is inspired by "floating panels." [Kate Betts Twitter] 

UPDATE: Apparently the set involves a huge No. 5 bottle and the theme is '70s nightclub. [Grazia Twitter]

>> ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL —Louis Vuitton released the latest edition of its Annie Leibovitz-lensed "Core Values" campaign, featuring astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Sally Ride, and Jim Lovell staring up at the night sky in the California desert.  This segment of the campaign, which in the past has featured Catherine Deneuve, Keith Richards, Sofia and Francis Ford Coppola, among others, marks the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission to the moon and symbolizes the brand's efforts to attract sophisticated customers — Kate Betts noted yesterday that this ad "is the coolest one yet." [WSJ]