In a decision that I find disappointing, California's Supreme Court decided to uphold Proposition 8, thus continuing California's ban on same-sex marriage. The one positive caveat to the decision was that the 18,000 marriages already completed in the state would remain in tact. 18,000 of the millions of gay people in California have equal rights. Yay? Oh well.

The decision ratifying Prop 8 runs in stark contrast to the apparent temperature of much of the United States, with what seems to be a domino effect of same-sex marriage legalization: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts and Iowa have all legalized same-sex marriage, Vermont's law will take effect in September, and New York is (hopefully) not far behind.

The bright side of this dark decision comes twofold today. One, Judge Sonia Sotomayor was nominated by President Barack Obama to the highest court in the land, the United States Supreme Court. A month ago, I wrote a piece for Fox Forum predicting Sotomayor to be the best choice for the position. I argued that she fulfilled Obama's call for change, as her appointment would be a historical one (she'd be the first Latino on the Court), and her experience with community building and pro-socal work is extensive. Further, she was named a U.S. District Court judge by George H.W. Bush in 1992 and elevated to her current seat on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals by Bill Clinton, giving her a bi-partisan background. She's a liberal judge, but Obama claims that she will "interpret" laws rather than make them.
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While most people were talking about Barack Obama's historic inauguration, every fashionista was asking just what the first lady, Michelle Obama, was wearing at the inauguration.

According to New York magazine's blog, Michelle chose a yellow dress with silver overlay, some embellishment on the neckline and matching jacket. The designer is Isabel Toledo. The dress, a throwback to the retro fashion that made women clamor to look like Jackie Kennedy, was paired with Glacier pumps by Jimmy Choo and matching yellow scarf.

Toledo told the New York Times that the coat and dress were made of Swiss wool lace, backed with netting for warmth and lined in French silk. "I wanted to pick a very optimistic color, that had sunshine," she said. "I wanted her to feel charmed, and in that way would charm everybody."

The look was simple, sophisticated and appropriate for such a momentous occasion. With her hair down and just a pair of earrings to go with the outfit, Michelle's look did not overpower this important day for her husband, who wore a simple black suit and a red tie.
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Sure, President-elect Barack Obama may know what he's going to wear on inauguration night, but the big question on everyone's mind is what will his fashionista wife Michelle Obama be wearing?

Of course, many have compared our next first lady to the most famous of fashionista first ladies, Jackie O, so designers are clamoring to get their designs on her. Here, we've rounded up some possible choices for the big night, thanks to Women's Wear Daily:

1. Michael Kors, who is known for his classic American style, has imagined a belted, one-shoulder, royal-blue gown for the future first lady. It is both glamorous and simple, a winning combination for a night like the inauguration.

2. Diane Von Furstenberg confirmed that she submitted some sketches to Michelle. In one sketch, we see the dress as a reimagining of her famous wrap dress: long, straight and white with a big bow at the waist.
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