Editor’s note: The acclaimed fashion editor and author of Michelle Style: Celebrating the First Lady of Fashion, Mandi Norwood, has become a trusted authority on Michelle Obama’s wardrobe. Norwood spent eight weeks and sleepless nights researching the First Lady’s outfits, poise and shopping habits to create a book that serializes Michelle’s fashion flair since the Democratic primaries in June 2008 — and also serves as a guide with simple tips on how to emulate this modern icon. Norwood, who also co-founded the consulting company Trampoline, recently gabbed with wowOwow on everything she knows (and doesn’t know!) about Michelle’s style.

wowOwow: Michelle Style features pages of full-color original sketches from top designers, including Isabel Toledo, Tory Burch and Tommy Hilfiger. What was the process like to create the book?

MANDI NORWOOD: Well, it was just really about hitting the phones and calling up all the designers that I knew from my magazine. I’m a magazine editor-in-chief, so I know a lot of the designers and put a lot of calls in also to designers that were working closely with Mrs. Obama. And it was simply a case of I need it now; in fact, I need it yesterday. And many of them were just more than happy to collaborate on a book like this. It really is a celebration of her style.

wOw: You spent a considerable amount of time researching Michelle Obama’s style before she entered the White House. Have you noticed any changes since she has become First Lady?

MANDI: Yes. She’s become even more of a risk taker. Before she became First Lady, we talked a lot about those sheath dresses and very sort of simple, tailored shapes; and bold, block colors, and things that were very classic. And she was, obviously, compared many times with Jacqueline Kennedy, and there were obvious similarities. But I definitely think that since she’s become First Lady her confidence has grown and she’s obviously incredibly comfortable in her own skin, and with the whole role of First Lady. And I think she’s having a lot of fun. And that is sort of symbolizing the clothes that she’s choosing. She’s choosing much more avant-garde designers, avant-garde shapes, and really shaking up her closet.

wOw: I can’t agree with you more. When you say "shaking up her closet," do you mean how she mixes a lot of different designers, styles and price points? She’ll mix J. Crew with a Narciso Rodriguez?

MANDI: Right.

wOw: So do you think she’s deliberately throwing in some cheaper accessories? Or do you think this is all just part of her innate style?  

MANDI: Even before she became First Lady, when you look at her natural style — one day she would be wearing a Gap sundress and the next minute, she would be wearing Maria Pinto.

wOw: Yes!

MANDI: So it’s something that she likes to do. Obviously, I think she enjoys, on a personal level, dressing across price points and designers as well as chain store. But I think that could well be the very sort of strategic, sensibility behind her style. I think as First Lady she has a responsibility of taking the temperature of the nation and to dress accordingly. She’s an incredibly smart person and I just don’t think for a minute that she is not clued into what people are thinking, what people are saying.