Look hard to get 'the look'

On a day when Liz Claiborne just wouldn't do, First Lady Michelle Obama wore designers known mostly to insiders, Isabel Toledo and Jason Wu.

Wu, the 26-year-old fashion phenom, designed Obama's cream-colored, one-shouldered inaugural-ball gown. Originally from Taipei, Wu has only been designing a few years. Nordstrom recently added his designs, the first major store to do so. But local fashion plates hoping to score one of Wu's or Toledo's pieces locally won't have an easy time of it. Nordstrom carries both designers but not at its Mall of America store. Wu's pieces are only carried at Nordstrom stores in Texas, Washington and California. His dresses sell for $1,000 to $4,000 and gowns for $3,000 to $6,000.

On a more practical level, recessionistas were buzzing about a wedding dress similar to Wu's design available at David's Bridal for $99. DB has stores in Richfield, Roseville and Oakdale.

Obama wore Toledo's pale-lemongrass dress and matching coat during the swearing-in and inaugural parade. Toledo is only carried in Nordstrom's Seattle store, but other designs of hers can be special-ordered locally. Only about a dozen retailers nationwide carry Toledo's designs, according to Nordstrom. Manhattan-based fashion house Faviana is already at work on a knockoff expected to sell for about $450.

Gretchen Weisman, who co-owns Fashion Avenue, high-end consignment stores in Edina and Wayzata, said that she has sold both designers in her stores but does not currently have any pieces in stock. Toledo, who used to design for Anne Klein, has never been a very commercial designer, said Weisman, making her designs difficult to find.

And what about Michelle Obama's green gloves and Malia's and Sasha's outfits, all from J. Crew? An employee at the Southdale J. Crew said that all of those items were custom-made. They might be available next fall, depending on demand.

If you know of a local boutique with Wu's or Toledo's designs, let us know.