Obamas ring in inauguration with J.Crew

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Sky-high prices and designer labels only? Not for the Obamas.

At today’s inauguration, Michelle Obama accessorized her yellow Isabel Toledo sheath with cashmere-lined green leather gloves from J.Crew, while daughters Malia and Sasha were dressed almost entirely in the retailer’s preppy fashions.

But don’t rush out to the nearest J.Crew store to get the same look: The only items that came off the rack were Michelle’s gloves. The girls’ overcoats were designed exclusively for them and were made in ‘one-of-a-kind colors,’ said J.Crew spokeswoman Margot Fooshee.

‘Some of the pieces, including the coats they were wearing, we’re looking at incorporating into our fall assortment for 2009,’ Fooshee said.

In recent months, Michelle Obama has been a vocal supporter of J.Crew, telling Jay Leno on the ‘Tonight Show’ in October (while wearing a sweater, tank top and skirt by J.Crew): ‘We ladies, we know J.Crew. You can get some good stuff online.’

After that, the retailer quickly reported a spike in Web traffic as women rushed to buy the same outfit. J.Crew’s website even gives a shout-out to the first lady with a page that features the three pieces she wore on the show under the words: ‘Politics aside, this outfit gets our vote.’

And this afternoon, J.Crew’s website registered an error message when trying to access its gloves page.

‘Michelle has such an innate style,’ Fooshee said. ‘I think she dresses the way a lot of women dress, and that’s high quality without insulting prices. She can wear J.Crew in a way that looks extremely designer, high-end.’

-- Andrea Chang