Ted Audio Collective.

Audio Collective.

This is Design Matters with Debbie Millman from Design Observer.com.

On this program, Debbie Millman talks with fashion journalist Kate Betts about Michelle Obama, her style, her

fashion sense, and one of the things that really sets her apart. She is the first

first lady to have the most amazingly beautiful sculpted arms. That is the difference and I think

that people are threatened by that or uncomfortable with it somehow.

Here's Debbie Millman. Design encompasses everything from architecture and urban planning to the visual arts and consumer products.

But when most people think of design, they think fashion.

As Kate Betts will tell you, fashion is more than clothes.

It's about cultural statements, it's about tribes, it's about business. In other words, it's about who we are or who we think we are.

Kate Betts is a fashion journalist who worked for Anawyn Taur at Fogue and was the youngest editor ever of Harp's Bazaar,

America's oldest fashion magazine.

Currently, she is a contributing editor for fashion and Design at Time magazine and The Daily Beast.

She is also the author of the just published book, Everyday Icon, Michelle Obama, and the power of style.

Kate, welcome to Design Matters where today I am talking with a little bit of laryngitis,

so please forgive my bit of a throaty conversational tone.

Thank you for having me.

It sounds good.

Perfect for the radio, audio.

Thank you.

Well, your new book is about why style matters and in particular why the style of

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