Dowdy No More?

By Ann Marie Bonardi, Amanda Bower, Lina Lofaro, Ellin Martens, Sora Song, Heather Won Tesoriero, Josh Tyrangiel and Rebecca Winters

Fashionistas handed Laura Bush the verdict even before the end of her first 100 days: Honey, you ain't in Austin, Teaxs, anymore. So last month the First Lady hired designer Arnold Scaasi to spruce up her look. The choice is not exactly fashion-forward: Scaasi also dresses mother-in-law Barbara. But he vows to make Laura look "snappier," in vivid colors like turquoise ("tur-kwaz") and "a bright bottle green." (The red that Oscar de la Renta put her in, right, may be a foretaste.) We asked Scaasi and celebrity stylist Phillip Bloch to appraise the First Lady's fashion choices thus far. Clip and save: Laura will unveil her new look when she accompanies George W. on a trip to Europe in mid-June.

REDRESSING GRIEVANCES From left, boxy green suit: "She has a beautiful figure!" raves Scaasi. "The biggest change will be in the proportion" of her suits. Red Inaugural gown: "Didn't hate it, didn't love it," says Bloch, who'd prefer to see her in "cool, hip" American designers, like Karan or Klein. Blue Inaugural coat: "That blue is pure Washington," says Bloch. "There is no blue like that in nature! Achh!" Purple plaid suit, worn to meet Hillary Clinton: "Fire whoever put you in that!" snaps Bloch. Off-white gown, worn to Jacqueline Kennedy exhibit at the Met: Should have been white, says Scaasi, like Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg's. "I'm not a beige man," Scaasi says darkly.