GREEN & GLOVER: Swiss miss

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By Stephanie Green and Elizabeth Glover

Designer Isabel Toledo, known as the creator of first lady Michelle Obama's Inauguration Day suit, is a Cuban-American, so why was she feted at the residence of Urs Ziswiler, the ambassador of Switzerland, Wednesday night?

Mr. Ziswiler explained to us that he has been impressed with Mrs. Toledo's use of Swiss fabrics in her collections, most notably those from textile producer Forster Rohner AG, and has been trying to arrange a party in her honor since learning that her historic inaugural design included threads from his home country.

The first lady is credited with putting Mrs. Toledo on the fashion radar by wearing many of her designs on the 2008 campaign trail and then honoring her by donning her creation at the moment she became the nation's first black presidential wife.

Mrs. Obama "still has it," Mrs. Toledo said of the lemon-grass-colored dress and matching overcoat. "Many museums and exhibitions have asked for it."

When asked how it feels to be part of such a momentous occasion, she said: "I wanted to design something that she wore for the moment of the swearing-in because that was the historic moment."

As for her colleague Jason Wu, who crafted Mrs. Obama's white inaugural gown, she said, "Jason is great. It was a beautiful and light dress."

In addition to meeting and greeting guests at the packed soiree arranged by her Swiss host, Mrs. T, who was joined by her artist husband, Ruben, showcased her 2010 resort line and let the cat out of the bag, as it were, by letting it slip that Mrs. Obama had, indeed, ordered one of the outfits from the collection.

We tried to find out which one, but Mrs. T coyly demurred, "I really shouldn't say."

We also ran into Rep. John Tanner, Tennessee Democrat, who informed us that, like most guys, he had no idea who Isabel Toledo was before being dragged to the party by his fashion-loving wife, Betty Ann.

"Does she like to shop, Congressman?"

"Unfortunately," came his reply.

The Tanners were doing some bipartisan mingling with Rep. Ed Royce, Californian Republican, and his wife, Marie.

Speaking of double dating, Mr. Toledo, who is a dead ringer for musician Marc Anthony, volunteered that he and his wife love to dine with Jennifer Lopez and her hubby, Mr. Anthony, and share a few laughs about their physical resemblances.

No hippiecare!

Two former cast members of the 1980s hit sitcom "Cheers" have graced the nation's capital with their presence within the past week. On Oct. 30, Woody Harrelson was in town for a screening of his latest film, "The Messenger." On Thursday, John Ratzenberger, who played postal worker Cliff Clavin, was on Capitol Hill, where he spoke to thousands of protesters on the West Lawn of the Capitol about stopping health care reform alongside his Hollywood pal, actor and conservative activist Jon Voight.

"I'm the son of a truck driver and factory worker from Bridgeport, Connecticut. It's really quite an honor to be here," Mr. Ratzenberger said before situating today's health care reformers in a tradition of radical politics with an extended reminiscence about Woodstock.

"What you have to remember is that these people who are trying to push the health care bill on us are not the philosophical descendants of John Kennedy and Tip O'Neill," the character actor warned. "They're the philosophical descendants of Abbie Hoffman, Saul Alinsky and Wavy Gravy. These are Woodstock Democrats. I was actually at Woodstock. I was a tractor driver, and they needed some of the carpentry skills I had. But when it started raining and everything fell apart because nobody was prepared — it was misery. It was a mess! And the very people that they railed against in their philosophical outlook on life — the military and the government — were the very people that, with the sound of the helicopters coming over the hill, it was the National Guard that saved Woodstock! It's the very people they're against that are saving them still to this day!"

One can only imagine the political debates on the "Cheers" set back in the day, what with cannabis crusader Mr. Harrelson and Clinton chum Ted Danson on one side and outspoken conservatives Mr. Ratzenberger and Kelsey Grammer on the other.

• To contact Stephanie Green or Elizabeth Glover, e-mail undercover@washingtontimes.com.