Michelle Obama's wardrobe advisor to be honoured

Michelle Obama's wardrobe adviser, Ikram Goldman, will be honoured with School of the Art Institute of Chicago's (SAIC) Legend of Fashion Award.

The designer and retailer will be presented with the prize at the school's annual student fashion show and fundraiser on May 5.

SAIC Fashion Design Department Chair Nick Cave said: "Ikram is the perfect choice for this award. She is a visionary, not only within the world of fashion, but within the world of art and culture. A visionary doesn't function solely in the present, but sees into the future. Ikram has that ability. She functions from a place that is about growth and about one's life continuing to evolve, reform, and reshape itself."

The boutique owner became famous after being an advisor to the US Fist Lady when she started helping her pick clothes to wear during her husband Barak's campaign trail in 2008.

The pair have become such firm friends that Michelle asked her to help select her critically acclaimed wardrobe for her husband's inaugural ceremony in January 2009, including her gold Isabel Toldeo dress-and-coat ensemble, which she specially ordered.

The award will be presented by Sally Singer, the editor of T: The New York Times Style Magazine.

Ikram is also planning to expand her fashion empire, opening a new, 10,000 square foot Chicago store stocking men's and women's clothes in Chicago.

Past recipients of the Legend of Fashion Award from SAIC include designers Anna Sui, Nicole Miller, Maria Pinto and Gary Graham.