Dressing the First Family – J. Crew's Jenna Lyons on inaugural fashion

On Monday and estimated 800,000 gathered at the National Mall to celebrate the second inauguration of President Barack Obama. Crowds both in Washington and across the globe also gathered to see the navy silk coat by American designer Thom Browne worn by the First Lady Michelle Obama. The coat was accessorized with gloves, shoes and a bejeweled belt from American retailer J.Crew – an Obama family favorite. The Obama’s eldest daughter Malia wore a J.Crew coat during the ceremonies.

This morning CNN National Correspondent Alina Cho and J. Crew executive creative director Jenna Lyons join “Starting Point” to discuss J.Crew’s part in American history.

After receiving a flurry of emails, texts and phone calls on the First Lady’s choice to dawn J.Crew accessories for a second inauguration, Lyons says yesterday turned out to be “an exciting morning.” On the business side Lyons says it’s difficult to equate the First Lady’s impact on her company into dollars. Mrs. Obama “shops like every other American… often times we don’t know that she’s going to wear it so it may no longer be available, it may be on sale and so for us it’s not about getting the sales from the actually thing,” Lyons says.

Lyons, who has never met the Obamas, says her sense of connection to the First Family is through the pieces they wear.

“People feel connected. They can have maybe the actual coat that Malia’s worn,” says Lyons.