Mrs. O Takes Miami
Thursday, October 15, 2009 at 6:14 PM 
Photo by Joe Raedle / Getty Images
First Lady Mrs. O is in Miami today, speaking at the Florida Campus Compact Awards Gala held at Miami-Dade College in Miami, FL. The event is held annually to honor students and teachers from across the state of Flordia for their commitment to public service - one of the first lady's primary issues of focus.
Per the Miami Herald, Mrs. O asked the crowd:
"How do we show these young people that service is more than what you do once in a while, or for a year or two after college?"
Well chosen for the southern climate and event, Mrs. O wore for a brightly printed floral dress, topped with J.Crew Merino flutter bow cardigan (...and as luck would have it, the cardigan's on sale).
P.S. Our apologies for neglecting to mention ... the first lady also spent her early afternoon at Eglin Airforce Base (sans cardigan), speaking with military families stationed there. Further reading here.
J.Crew
Reader Comments (75)
You can see the dress very well in this video. It's very lovely!
http://www.pentagonchannel.mil/
Denisegirl: That was a truly touching photo...thanks for sharing it-
Thanks for the link to the video Yvonne, she looks absolutely lovely indeed!
Can't wait to find out who the dress is by; really unusual and spectacular pattern mix...and what a body to show it off!
Dear Shelley : i think we are in the same age range, and i'm in a job where i'm stuck in suits a lot of the time.. i've learned a lot from my daughter. if you think of the presentation as kind of post-modern- an invitation for the eye to play around and notice the differences in texture, in color, and the gracefulness of the cardigan- a blazer would not look as good with that dress , not even a boxy jacket. I think the whole cardie thing has its roots in a sort of ironic post-modern take on fashion-along with floaty dresses, or heavy cords. it's not just mixing high and low, it's mixing day and night and formal and informal. gen x and y will intentionally wear clunky shoes and jewelry that looks like it's made out of plumbing chains with chiffon dresses. To me MS. O . is a pre-eminent and very lady like practicioner of the make 'em think school of fashion. And her prestige makes it possible for the rest of us to have a little more breathing room for our creativity. i just snagged that sweater in mauve. This website is such a great place to learn. Thanks, and bonito dia to Mrs. T.
Reminds me of her Tracy Feith "Lei" dress.
http://mrs-o.org/newdata/2009/6/7/a-day-in-paris.html
Yvonne, thanks for the video link. I honestly think this is one of the prettiest and most flattering day dresses she's worn - ever. Really unusual coloration - especially the skirt. And very soft, light fabric (probably silk), which would be perfect for Florida heat. In terms of there being horizontal stripes on the skirt - well, not really. Most of the skirt is solid yellow, and there is a kind of multi-colored ombre thing going on at the hemline. Maybe 4" worth.
So, DVF? Thakoon? Someone we've never heard of before but now love?
And I still love the sweater with it, even though she had shed it in the video. I think it was a smart, chic choice for this event. A jacket would have been ridiculous. Way too constructed.
Bevi and Bella R.: No need to be so mean to Shelly. She said it was an honest question, which was actually pretty benign. She then explained herself further, and other posters chose to believe her. It is people like you two, who seem to like to be malicious to others, who are the truly ignorant ones.
Why, Christen, why must you continually stir the pot on this board...You're usually at the center of whatever drama is going on at the moment on this board...Please stop! Your behavior is very unpleasant. As far as Shelly's post - it's not so much what she said, but HOW she said it...It's possible to ask a legitimate question without the snark IMHO...
I think that the way Michelle dresses invites people in. Notice that when she greeting the soldiers and their families she is highly informal, she hugs people, she makes contact. The way in which she dresses IMHO puts people at ease. I think she dresses for her comfort but also the people she meets as well. Would you reach out to hug a woman in a perfect starchy suit?
Video of Mrs. Obama addressing the department of HHS is now posted.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7QLyv10tPw&feature=player_profilepage#
Sickantiredoffoolishness: Your "name" is just exactly how I feel...there are so many nasty people on here, and I think they need to be called on it. Shelley did not make her comments in a negative tone...there was NO need for anyone to get on her about her post aside from trying to answer her questions. I love to root for the underdog. When the maliciousness on here stops, then so will I.
I need that cardigan...
Mrs Obama is perfection as usual! Well done Mrs O!!
Tori, I need that dress NOW.
Does anyone know who makes the dress ?
Hi Shelly, there's nothing silly about your post. But honestly, Is it possible for any of us to answer truthfully and sincerely for FLOTUS? I doubt it. For one to overanalyze why she is wearing specific accessory or clothing item is simply a waste of time.
Mrs. Obama is dancing to the beat of her own drum and we as onlookers, admirers and the like should truly resepct that.
Take good care,
Melcy
@ Bella R.
Not too? Reaks ignorance? Hmmm. I wouldn't be calling anyone else ignorant if I were you. Correct grammar: Not to. Correct spelling: Reeks ignorance. Anyway, since when is it wrong to ask a question or not love a look? We are all here -- well, most of us, anyway -- because we respect and admire our lovely first lady. But she is not perfect. No one is. Sometimes she goes for a look that not all of us adore. Surely we can question why she might have chosen something over something else without being lambasted and called ignorant. That's one of the things wrong with our country today -- there's no tolerance for anyone who might have a different opinion, no civility, no respect, and a lot of name-calling. If everyone would only follow that Golden Rule of treating others the way you'd like to be treated, wouldn't this world be a better place . . . .
GREAT SPEECH I WAS THERE AND SHE LOOKED NICE TEN SHE WENT HOME JUST IN TIME TO HAVE DINNER WITH HER KIDS HER HUSBAND WAS NOT THERE BECOUSE HE IS COMING ON OCT26 IN FLA CANT WEIT TO SEE HIM TO.
No interest in joining the fray, but it appeared to me that Shelly asked what is known as a "rhetorical question". Along the lines of "Why do you suppose (someone) does (something) when they could do (something else)?" , knowing that no one will be able to provide a response.
Probably not a good idea here.
Is it a dress or is it a blouse and skirt? Who is the designer? That's all I really want to know.
If you go online at J Crew and look at their sale pages there are some real bargains. I like this sweater.
PAT: Thanks so much for pointing out what I was dying to point out, but I was sure I would be lambasted by the critics. Bella R. also misspelled the word "gorgeous" as "goregeous," yet she dared to call Shelly "ignorant." Hmmmmm. I do not believe Shelly's comment was either "snarky" or "rhetorical." I have noticed that when someone new comes on board, they had better go with the status quo, or else. I happen to like cardigans, maybe Shelly doesn't....so what? I really liked what you said about the Golden Rule...let's try it.
BTW, "Sickantiredoffoolishness," I believe that you are one of the regular harpies who changed her handle to throw posters off. You've never commented on here before. Strange.
canyongal, it's a dress. I posted a pretty good full length front view up the thread a day or so ago.
Now I'm just glad I didn't misspell "rhetorical" when I was trying to cut Shelly a little slack.
(Ducking under coffee table.)
This dress certainly has a lot going on. I like the sweater more than anything, except of course her flawless hair.
I really don't like the shoes in the fulll length pictures, but I think I like them more than the dress.
The silhouette is perfect for our First Lady - her body looks fantastic and the dress even with the complicated patterns fits like a glove.
@ Shelly, is your original question more about the cost of the cardigan and not the fact that she is wearing one?
@ Christen -- Please take a look at the woman in the mirror before you try to check others! It really isn't necessary to call the regular posters here "harpies." You continually call out others for the same behavior you yourself engage in. Everyone (including you) is entitled to express themselves and shouldn't be disparaged just because someone else on the board happens to agree or disagree with them. For the record, I am not a regular poster. I just felt compelled to post because I am really getting sick and tired of all of the foolishness I see going on here. There's no need for snarky and/or insulting language, no need to spell check people's comments, no need to rail against others just because they don't share your opinion or that of another poster with whom you happen to agree...I could go, but I won't... The site is becoming less enjoyable due to all of the squabbling. It just seems that some people are always looking for a fight. Enough already!
I come on this site, because I love looking at Michelle Obama's clothing. I have only posted once before. Regardless of whether we like her outfits or not, this bickering is giving women a bad name.
Let's all get along.
Christen, you are childish, I have never read some so called grown women act like two year olds on a playground. People are entitled to their thoughts just like you are entitled to write dumb crap!! The same also applies to Pat. Maybe, one day you and Pat will grow up and act like adults, or maybe you all are kids, shouldn't you being doing your homework!!!
F.Y.I. FLOTUS will be on Jay Leno on Friday
@SHELLY
I don't understand your questions. Are you saying wearing sleeves makes one look smart? I have never heard that before. Hmm sleeves makes on look smart, I don't think so.
Yes, Mia Monte, I know it is just terrible that Pat should suggest that we try to remember the Golden Rule. Do you know what that is? It is from the Bible, and it is "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." As I said earlier, let's try it!