Michelle Obama wears Naeem Khan when she and President Barack Obama, arrive for the Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013. . (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

It might be back to business in Washington, D.C. but the inaugural interlude made for a stylish few days.

Michelle Obama showed a lot of love for Jason Wu, of course, dressing for the second time in one of his gowns for the inaugural balls. But her choices for other official functions once again demonstrated her loyalty to the American fashion industry as well as her penchant for staying true to her own fashion identity.

Obama’s ivory embellished Naeem Khan coat and dress ensemble for Tuesday’s prayer service, the black beaded Michael Kors dress she wore over the weekend and even the casual looks she donned all showed her support for the $350 billion fashion industry, said Steven Kolb, CEO of the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

“She’s a great force for American fashion,” Kolb said. “She’s doing more than just picking clothes; she’s making a statement. She knows that fashion drives the American economy, whether she’s wearing something from a small start-up or a mega brand like J. Crew.”

That said, the first lady selected things “she feels pretty and comfortable in,” Kolb said. And she always puts her own stamp on an outfit. That’s why she accented her sharply tailored custom coat and dress from Thom Browne with a jeweled sash from J. Crew. And why she chose one of her signature cardigans rather than a jacket to toss over her dress for inauguration day lunch. And also why she decided it was time for a new hairstyle with bangs for her 49th birthday just before all the inaugural hoopla started.

Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden, wearing a Lela Rose coat, after the Inauguration ceremonial swearing-in. (Mandel Ngan/Getty Images)

There were others to watch besides FLOTUS of course, and Dr. Jill Biden always represents well at these occasions. She made a smart choice in a Lela Rose coat with a big bow on the front for the inaugural swearing in, and was sophisticated that evening in a cowl-neck blue satin dress from Vera Wang.

The right coat — well tailored and preferably in a flattering color — is a key piece for these occasions when you’re being photographed outdoors, in the cold. That’s what made Eva Longoria’s pink leather wrapper look both fashion forward and chic. And of course the Obama daughters were lovely in their violent and periwinkle princess coats from J. Crew. Jenna Lyons, the brand’s creative director, said the coats are classics on the company’s line, but that the colors Sasha and Malia wore will be retired.

Actress Eva Longoria at the presidential inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol.(Win McNamee/Getty Images)

As far as couples making a statement, it was hard to take your eyes off Jay-Z and Beyonce at the swearing-in ceremony, lip synching lyrics or not. His Tom Ford suit and her beaded dress and fur coat might have been a little over the top, but we wouldn’t be expecting this pair to be wearing the proverbial Republican cloth coats now would we?

Let’s hope we can see more such style on display throughout the administration. It is stimulating the economy, after all.

Recording artists Jay-Z and Beyonce arrive at the presidential inauguration. He wears Tom Ford; she’s in a fur coat and beaded dress. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Jeff Nelson, Special to The Denver Post

Steward Ceus is one of Denver's "most eligible" singles in 5280 magazine's Single in the City.

The February issue of 5280 magazine will be mailed to subscribers on Friday (non-subscribers can find it on newsstands Monday) and you can bet that one of the most popular stories in it will be the one that profiles 17 of Denver’s “most eligible” young professionals — the ones who’ll also be introduced at Single in the City, a Feb. 15 fundraiser for Volunteers of America.

Well, guess what? We can name names today.

Maybe not all 17, but four of the sizzing singles are:

Tasha Jones, 38, director of marketing for Forest City Stapleton; Steward Ceus, 25, goalkeeper for the Colorado Rapids; Andrew Freedman, 29, chief of staff for Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia; and Joanna Powell, 24, pastry chef at Cafe Aion.

The magazine will hit newsstands on Monday, but if you can’t wait to learn more about the party itself, there’s more about it online.

Cafe Aion pastry chef Joanna Powell.

Single in the City begins at 7 p.m. at EXDO Event Center, according to co-chairs Zach Wolfel and Jennifer Daurio. Tickets are $35 advance for general admission; $45 at the door and $125 advance for a VIP admittance that includes hosted bar, catered appetizers and a dedicated lounge.

All guests will enjoy red-carpet photos, music spun by two DJs, an appearance by the men and women featured on the 2013 Colorado Firefighter Calendar, dating games and the antics of emcee Chris Parente from KDVR/KWGN-TV.

The tickets can be purchased at several area businesses, including Luxe Salon, Moda, Belmar shopping center, Simply Moore and the Garment District.

There is also an opportunity to win tickets by visiting the Single in the City Facebook page between Jan. 28 and Feb. 1.

Proceeds from the event go to the Volunteers of America Brandon Center, an 118-bed emergency shelter in the Denver metro area. It has 90 beds for women and children, 27 for female veterans and 1 emergency bed. Residents may stay for 30–90 days while they undergo case management, employment assistance, GED training and domestic violence classes.

Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314, jdavidson@denverpost.com and @GetItWrite on Twitter

Three major fundraisers — the Heart Ball, Mi Casa Resource Center‘s Taste & Tango and the inaugural Civic Center Gala: A Park for All Seasons — will take place on Saturday night, and while all of them are sold out, waiting lists have been established.

The Heart Ball: Bill Lindsay, president of the Lockton Benefits Group, is chairing the Heart Ball. The theme is Cabaret for a Cause and festivities begin with cocktails and a silent auction at 6 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Convention Center; dinner, a live auction and dancing follows.

A 15-member Executive Leadership Team is working with Lindsay, and members include Drs. Jim Jaggers, John Rumsfeld and Reginald Washington; Mike Pacitto of T. Rowe Price; and Ernst & Young’s Scott Hefner.

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Former Denver resident Anne Donley and her husband, Tom Smith, at their New Year’s Eve wedding in Kansas. Photo by Darrin Hackney, Special to The Denver Post

Congratulations are in order:

* Stephanie Dunn, who specialized in complex commercial litigation when she was a partner at Perkins Coie, is now a judge on the Colorado State Court of Appeals. She was appointed by Gov. John Hickenlooper and succeeds Arthur Roy, who is retiring. Stephanie received her undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado Boulder and her juris doctorate from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. She also clerked for the late Luis Rovira when he was chief justice of the Colorado Supreme Court. Stephanie’s parents, Jerry and Charleen Dunn, celebrated Stephanie’s move to the bench by hosting a cocktail buffet at Cherry Hills Country Club on Jan. 12.

* The chief executive officer/executive director of Mi Casa Resource Center, Christine Marquez-Hudson, has been named 9News Leader of the Year by the Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation and 9News. She’ll be honored at a luncheon taking place April 11 at the Marriott City Center.

* The Art Students League of Denver celebrates its 25th anniversary by hosting Art & Soul, a celebration set for April 6 at the McNichols Building in Civic Center Park. Chairmen are Betsy Palin and Henry Meininger, Catherine and Mikkel Saks and Margaret and Mark Berzins; Carmel Koeltzow is the event coordinator and food will be by Three Tomatoes.

* On New Year’s Eve, former Denverite Anne Donley married Tom Smith at a 10 a.m. ceremony in Wichita, where he is co-founder and CEO of Alltite MobileCal and she is the company’s marketing director. Longtime friend Jim Guttau, public relations director for the Four Seasons Vail, officiated. The ceremony preceded a dinner-dance held at Wichita Country Club, to which the newlyweds belong.

In lieu of gifts, Anne and Tom suggested that guests donate to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kansas; $18,000 was raised.

Anne, who grew up in Steamboat Springs and did marketing for Nordstrom before moving to Wichita, was married in a gold Badgley Mischka gown. For the reception, she changed into a Vera Wang gown that she had originally tried on in traditional white at the Anna Be salon in Denver, but after flying to New York during Fashion Week and trying on the dress in black, she chose it, instead.

The Gatsby-inspired theme was executed with a little help from her Colorado friends. She had Paul DeLongchamps and a staff of nine from Bistro Boys Catering come in to do the food. Jay’s Valet dispatched a crew from its Oklahoma City office to handle parking; and Guttau officiated at the vow exchange. Denver-based Event Rents also was utilized.

Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314, jdavidson@denverpost.com and @GetItWrite on Twitter

Missy Franklin attends the NBC Universal Golden Globes viewing and after party held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel. (Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images for NBCUniversal)

Among those enjoying the Golden Globes party swirl was Missy Franklin of Centennial, who traded her swim suit for designer dresses to attend Hollywood dinners and parties last weekend.

Franklin, a senior at Regis High School and the winner of five medals at last summer’s Olympic Games, made appearances with such Olympics pals as Natalie Coughlin at several high-profile parties. The statuesque swimmer tweeted photos of herself with such celebs as Bradley Cooper, Ben Affleck, Anne Hathaway and Kobe Bryant.

Missy Franklin, dressed for the Spago party where she met with the cast of “Les Miserables.”

For the Globes after-party scene, Franklin looked all grown up in a black ABS gown that she got at Mariel in Cherry Creek North. Mariel owner Denise Snyder helped select the scoop-neck dress and black floral necklace from jewelry designer Joe Vilaiawan of Los Angeles. Vilaiwan was in Denver last September for the Sue Wong benefit.

Franklin also wore styles from Mariel for a dinner at Spago with the cast of “Les Miserables.” Her short form-fitting Gender Bias dress and sleek hairstyle was in perfect step with the glam factor of the evening, Snyder said.

Julianne Hough at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 13, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Much attention at the awards ceremonies focuses on the gowns and jewelry worn by actresses on the red carpet, but hair and makeup also play a big role in an actress’ image. As a beauty blogger, and a female, checking out whay they’re wearing is a great way to gauge what styles are trending at the moment.

Zooey Deschanel’s filmstrip manicure. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

One of the most buzzed-about trends of the Golden Globes were the manicures. Nail art continues to gain steam that has been building in the last year. Zooey Deschanel tweeted a picture of her movie-inspired manicure and her filmstrip decals are sure to be replicated. Even the most subtle manicures were graced with a hint of nail art: Julianne Hough had an edgy maroon and gold French manicure and Sarah Hyland’s quiet strip of gold on her noir manicure was the perfect embellishment. Let’s not forget the beaded accent nail sported by Anne Hathaway. She added just a hint of black-tie glam by applying caviar accents (small beads) to her ring nail.

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Tasha Polizzi’s striped top and skirt for fall-winter 2013-14. (Provided by Tasha Polizzi)

One of the terms that has been bandied about a lot lately in fashion circles is “heritage.” It’s shorthand for brands going back to their roots rather than chasing the latest trends all over the style map.

At last weekend’s Western & English Sales Association market at the Denver Mart, which drew retailers from across the country, companies specializing in western wear revisited the designs that helped launch their brands, and also used vintage looks as inspiration for their new lines for next fall and winter.

Tasha Polizzi based pieces in her fall-winter line on a striped Indian blanket in muted shades of orange, purple, blue and red. “I’m so inspired by vintage pieces,” said Polizzi. She interpreted the pattern in a flowing skirt, cape-like “sagebrush” top, a shawl, fringed cardigan and dress. “It’s all the colors I love right now,” Polizzi said in her showroom at the Mart. “They look so fresh.”

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Charles Kettering III and Dr. Lisa Kettering

St. Joseph Hospital Foundation’s first Heritage Gala takes place Saturday at the History Colorado Center with Dr. Lisa Kettering and her husband, Charles Kettering III serving as chairmen.

Lisa Kettering previously served as vice president of medical affairs and chief medical officer for Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital. Charles is president of Ridgeleigh Management Company and the Kettering Family Foundation.

The gala launches the Heritage Project, a $623 million capital campaign to benefit the new 830,000 square foot Exempla St. Joseph Hospital that is scheduled to open in December 2014.

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Rian Johnson accepts his Critic’s Choice Award for Best Sci-Fi/Horror Movie.

Today we bring you one good thing after another:

* The Golden Globes were great, but for Cherry Hills Village residents Craig Johnson and his wife, Lisa Daniel-Johnson, the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards on Jan. 10 had considerably more appeal. “Looper,” a film written and directed by Craig’s son, Rian Johnson, was picked as Best Sci-Fi/Horror Movie. “Looper,” starring Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, also had been the opening feature for the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival.

* Lead Alliance Media Group has changed its name to Five Hype, and is hard at work promoting the Jan. 21 Mile High Dreams Gala, presented by Kroenke Sports Charities and held at the Pepsi Center. Five Hype’s clients also include rapper Kid Ink and Denver Broncos Wesley Woodyard and Knowshon Moreno.

* Freelance photographer Patricia Duncan, whose book, “A Defining Moment: Barack Obama, The Historical Journey to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.,” was nominated for an NAACP Image Award in 2012, has begun a new job: receptionist for Colorado’s 69th General Assembly. Her sister, the late Vikki Buckley, was Colorado Secretary of State from 1994-98.

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Julianne Moore wears Tom Ford at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel Jan. 13, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

The Golden Globes are typically considered the warmups to the Oscars, not as fancy given the evening’s more relaxed format. But Sunday’s ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hotel showed the entertainment world’s A-list actresses intent on bringing their A-game.

Considering all the fuss they go to, we reserve the right to ponder and critique their efforts, just as we do their performances. So here are some musings on the red carpet parade.

Among the hits:

1. Tying for first place were two JMs: Julianne Moore in sleek black and white Tom Ford and Julianna Margulies’ Emilio Pucci black gown, which was both revealing and covered up. Combining it with a high ponytail was clever styling. The pictures on the red carpet don’t do Margulies’ dress justice.

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