New York, January 21 : A 41-year-old Chicago boutique owner, who helped Michelle Obama select her critically acclaimed inaugural wardrobe, may even advice the fashion-forward U. S. First Lady on what to wear over the next four years.

Ikram Goldman, though not holding any official title, is being touted to be Michelle's closet assistant during Barack Obama's presidency.

Sources in the White House say that association with Michelle might help the Israeli-born Goldman, whose Rush St. shop is a mecca for Chicago''s best-dressed set, become one of the most powerful players in the fashion industry worldwide.

Wendy Donahue, a fashion columnist at the Chicago Tribune, says that the gold Isabel Toldeo dress-and-coat ensemble Michelle wore during the inauguration was "special-ordered through Ikram".

"That Obama trusted her guidance for the first day of her tenure as First Lady would lead me to believe that she will continue to shape Obama''s style, and thus the image that America has abroad, during the White House years," the New York Daily News quoted Donahue as saying.

Goldman was also responsible for selecting the Isabel Toledo pants and tunic Michelle wore on the campaign trail, and the 17,000-dollar Loree Rodkin diamond earrings she donned at Monday''s "We are One" concert.

Source in the know also say that one of the reasons why the First Lady was drawn to Goldman''s door was the fact that the latter's smartness.

They corroborated this by pointing out that Goldman had been wisely turning down all requests to talk about her experiences working with Michelle Obama.

"Ikram has been silent, which may be one key to her standing with Obama," said Donahue. (ANI)