Fashion designers fans of Michelle Obama

NEW YORK, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- U.S. fashion designers are big fans of Michelle Obama, seeing in the future first lady a woman with great taste and a liking for U.S. designs.

Geren Ford, whose clothes sell at Barneys, told the New York Post that Obama "can bring the American fashion community to the forefront."

"By making the choice to wear American designers, she's sending a statement to people here that what we make as a country is important -- that it's part of our currency," he said.

Obama's clothes got generally positive reviews during the campaign, although the red and black Narciso Rodriguez sheath she wore on election night attracted some raspberries. But Raul Melgoza of Luca Luca called it a "flattering classic silhouette with modern detailing."

The big fashion story of the campaign was the Republican National Committee's $150,000 spending on a new wardrobe for Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin after she was nominated as vice president.

Loree Rodkin, a Los Angeles-based designer of expensive jewelry, said she was surprised and pleased to see Obama wearing her earrings. Rodkin said the design retails for $10,275 a pair -- and were not a loan.