Issue 36: Fashion

Featured Response: Cator Sparks || Writer, CatorSparks.com

Cator Sparks

Even though the US and the world is going through great economic strife I believe that this new First Family (and they are truly a first) will lend an ease to the world fashion that hasn’t been seen since the Kennedy’s Camelot.

Think of the classic Sperry Top Sider’s worn by JFK on his sailboat. Think simple Oleg Cassini shifts adored by Jackie. The Obama’s are classic and graceful people and their presence will herald in a new American ideal that will be widely copied.

I am hoping that Obama will also be keen on keeping fashion made in the USA and helping make that more affordable. We already know Michele has her eye on some of America’s hottest young designers and I hope she will continue supporting our great talents.

Finally, I am really hoping an ancient African Obama family tribal print may be discovered and be widely used in the world of fashion. Can you imagine a chic Michael Kors trench in vibrant orange, green and gold patterns careening down the runway? Now that would be swell!

Cator Sparks is a freelance writer based in Harlem, New York.

His work can be read in T Magazine of the New York Times, Elle Decor, Style.com and Out magazine amongst others. Please visit http://catorsparks.com and check out Cator’s blog to read up on his many dandiacle and debaucherous outings.

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Inaugural Insight

  • The inauguration for the first U.S. president, George Washington, was held on April 30, 1789 in New York City.
  • Should January 20 be a Sunday, the President is usually administered the oath of office in a private ceremony on that day, followed by a public ceremony the following day.
  • Immediately following the oath, the bands play four ruffles and flourishes and "Hail to the Chief", followed by a 21-gun salute from howitzers of the Presidential Salute Battery.
  • The inaugural celebrations usually last ten days, from five days before the inauguration to five days after.
  • Since Thomas Jefferson's second inaugural on March 4, 1805, it has become tradition for the president to parade down Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House.
  • According to tradition, in the first inaugural, President Washington added the words "so help me God" when reciting the oath, although there is no contemporary evidence of this.
  • In 1977, Jimmy Carter started a new tradition by walking from the Capitol to the White House, although subsequent presidents have only walked part of the way for security reasons.
  • The War of 1812 and World War II forced two swearing-ins to be held at other locations in Washington, D.C.
  • The new President assumes power at noon on January 20th, regardless of whether or not he has actually taken the oath of office.
  • There is no requirement that any book, or in particular a book of sacred text, be used to administer the oath, and none is mentioned in the Constitution.

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