Obama Favorite Maria Pinto Closes Chicago Store and Business

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

This weekend, news out of Chicago marked a blow to the fashion business—the closure of one of Michelle Obama's favorite labels, Maria Pinto.

Pinto, famous for her simple yet comfortable dresses in bright colors and classic silhouettes, is a favorite designer of famous faces like Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey. In fact, her sheaths were spotted on Mrs. Obama during some of the most historical events surrounding the inauguration, and thus she has secured her place in fashion history.

Nonetheless, the rough economy is unforgiving and Pinto announced to the Chicago Sun-Times that she is closing down her whole business, from wholesale to her retail boutique on South Jefferson in Chicago.

She's been in business for twenty years and her clothes grace the racks at Bergdorf Goodman, but even with Obama and Oprah at her side, Maria just can't get through this recession, and she's got plenty of company in the fashion unemployed lines.
· Chicago fashion designer Maria Pinto to close doors [Chicago Sun-Times]
· Maria Pinto to close business [Mrs. O]