Mrs. O to Grace Cover of Vogue
Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at 4:04 PM 
Portrait by Annie Leibovitz / Vogue
So widely rumored that one had to assume it was true, The Washington Post has confirmed that First Lady Mrs. O will grace the March cover of Vogue. Revealing details about Mrs. O's self-chosen wardrobe for the shoot - a magenta dress by Jason Wu for the cover and a black dress by Narciso Rodriguez for an interior photo - the Washington Post article also shares perfectly expressed sentiments from Anna Wintour that will be included in the issue:
"Change was the clarion call of Barack Obama's election campaign," writes Vogue's editor Anna Wintour, "though I don't think any of us at Vogue initially realized that would include the difference that was going to be made by First Lady Michelle Obama's wardrobe."
"It wasn't just that her choices projected a simpler, streamlined, more modern attitude, rejecting the ridiculous idea that the only way for a First Lady to dress is in the dreaded White House standard-issue uniform -- the boxy, anonymous suit that always managed to look as appealing, and as comfortable, as armor. Instead, we have a woman who is happy in newer, less obvious designer choices like Wu and Toledo....It's inspiring to see our First Lady so serene and secure in her personal style."
Further coverage from the AP provides insight into Mrs. O's feelings about the "controversial" Narciso Rodriguez election night dress:
"Mrs. Obama said she is aware of how her wardrobe is being scrutinized, but she makes no apologies for her choices — even the Election Night combination of ripped-from-the-runway, fashion-forward dress and plain-Jane cardigan."
"I'm not going to pretend that I don't care about it," [Mrs. O] said. "But I also have to be very practical. In the end, someone will always not like what you wear — people just have different tastes."
We've also heard that in addition to dresses from Jason Wu and Narciso Rodriguez, Mrs. O will wear a head-to-toe J.Crew ensemble featured in a two-page spread in the issue. We love that no matter what the venue, Mrs. O stays true to her personal style and favorite designers. Will this be the best selling Vogue ever? We'll certainly be buying in multiples!
Update: MSNBC has revealed the Vogue cover here (though, based on other reports, we don't think we were supposed to see). We also hear that Andre Leon Talley will appear on the Today Show tomorrow morning to give us a first glimpse of the issue, so either way, we'll get the full scoop then. Stay tuned!
Update: Style.com now has an abridged version of the feature article, "Leading Lady", posted, here. Click on the slideshow to see additional photgraphs of Mrs. O from the issue. A video clip of Andre Leon Talley's interview on CNN today can be seen here. He says the Vogue staff, in partnership with photographer Annie Leibovitz, "wanted the cover to evoke the real Michelle Obama ... to show her warmth from within."
J.Crew, Jason Wu, Narciso Rodriguez in Media
Reader Comments (62)
Mrs. O will be a stunna. No questions about it. Va Va Voom...
Magenta sounds like a color that's really going to make her photo pop even more.
Yes, Ms. Wintour, you've seen it; a "First Lady so serene and secure in her personal style."
Long may she continue to stick to her own unique, personal style. I cannot wait to see her in those photographs!
Sounds wonderful. I can't wait to pick up that issue.
Mrs. O sticking to her personal style speaks so much to her inner strength and confidence. She is totally genuine. Who's ever heard of a being seen in the same outfit twice. Maybe some of our celebrities will rethink this issue and recycle more.
Here are fresh pics of Mrs O.
http://www.daylife.com/photo/04k44I3ghHdA7/michelle_obama
I love how genuine she is with these kids.
Here's the cover.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29125595/
Mrs. O reading to children today:
http://www.daylife.com/photo/02rcc6K8Wb0S1/Michelle_Obama
I can't wait until it hits stands! Does anyone know about what size Michelle wears? I'm very curious because a couple of my friends have seen her and says that she really is smaller than she looks on TV.
Here is the website to the photo of the cover!!!!!!http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29125595/
How exciting.
A Vogue cover definitely cements Mrs Os position as America's premier fashion leader of the new age.
Bravo !
The Today Show website had a picture of the cover in the item at their website, and it's a stunner (no surprise):
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/29125595/
the photo is up over at Heard on the Runway; love the dress. http://blogs.wsj.com/runway/2009/02/10/michelle-obama-chooses-jason-wu-for-vogue-photo-shoot/
Wow, I can't wait. Hail to the new Queen of fashion.
Lady Carla, I've seen Michelle in person and she looks to be about a size 6 or 8. She is a lot smaller looking in person. Her waist is tiny.
Narciso Rodriguez got a second chance to make up for the red election night dress with the fabulous camel and black outfit he designed for Mrs O. at the inauguration concert, I think Jason Wu's second chance with the cover dress should also be promising (of course this is my personal opinion, many thought he got it right the first time with the inauguration ball dress)...but hey, differing opinion
can't wait for the issue, im beyond excited!!!
Thanks PrimeTimeMom!! Cute screen name!
I read, a few weeks ago, that Michelle Obama takes size 12.
oh this is good news. can't wait to see the cover and read the article.
Today's new look... can't quite get a grasp on it!!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/10/first-lady-obama-tells-te_n_165797.html
The cover is at the MSNBC site
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29125595/
I can't wait until the issue hits the newsstand! I'm so there!
OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG....I LOVE THE DRESS (even though I can't see the entire thing)
I AM OFFICIALLY LOSING SLEEP WAITING FOR THIS ISSUE!!! YAY!!
Jason Wu has officially redeemed himself in my book!!!
Mrs. O recycled the brooches she wore with a red narciso rodriguez dress to the 2nd presidential debate, while visiting a community center in DC today. http://www.daylife.com/photo/01zh2ZG3fOgZJ/michelle_obama
she looks so comfy and cute.
Ahh!!! Love the color and fit. Fun, flirty and Springy!!!
And did you catch her from today? Here's a cute picture of her hugging a little child. More pictures are on that link.
http://www.daylife.com/photo/00323rE4NF2GX/Michelle_Obama
Mrs. Obama is definitely not a size 12- she has the upper body of a size 6 woman and the lower body of a size 8. I'm 5'll and I am a true size 10/12, and my arms, torso, and legs are not NEARLY as svelte as the First Lady's.
Anyway, I think that I might actually camp outside of Barnes & Noble for this issue of Vogue. But I hope that Dear old Mr. Leon Talley doesn't set foot near Mrs. Obama's wardrobe no matter how many covers Ms. Wintour decides to grace with Michelle's beautiful face(as much as I love Stylefax)...sorry.
Wow, she looks fantastic. I bet some day there will be a coffee-table book with photographs of the First Lady, similar to the books that are available of Princess Dianna.
With the economy tanking it was imperative that this cover not be flashy or arrogant.
It is the perfect cover for the times-a simple but beautiful pose, not overdone. The dress is gorgeous and the color compliments her skintone so well. Her arms-wow-how many women can claim arms that sleek and svelte, and a waistline to match. What a first lady-I love the cover. Can't wait to see the spread inside-it must be awesome as well.
In person she looks like a size 4-6. She looks WAY bigger on T.V. then in real life.
I will definitely being buying that issue of Vogue after a very long boycott of the magazine. Every month the same boring actresses on the cover and the interior filled with stories of rich girls who care nothing about anything but themselves. Finally, we have a woman of substance, style and integrity, oh yeah, and a degree from Harvard Law School. A woman we can all look up to and aspire to me. Yeah!
ummmmm...I highly doubt that anyone would REALLY have to camp out at a bookstore to purchase a copy of the magazine- it was a joke. But seriously-this issue will probably be as valuable as the MLK or now-infamous V-Day edition of Life Magazine-from a historic perspective, that is...just guessing that it would be the reason that someone would buy multiple copies.
I love love love Michelle, but there is some really obvious and awful Photoshop work here. Superimposed head much? I had to rant via blog: http://thelishlist.blogspot.com/2009/02/vogues-awful-retouchers-have-their-way.html
Love the Vogue cover. There's a vintage elegence I can't quite place...
I didn't like so much the green-ribbon brooches she wore today,the same ones she wore on her red dress during the second presidential debate. I did like the dainty detailing on her flats, though.
CNN reported Michelle Obama as a size 12 on the morning of Inauguration Day. The woman reporting it was happy that Michelle Obama took a size 12--a size that a real (and slim) woman of Michelle Obama's build might take. Perhaps in the days ahead we'll know for sure about her size, and as some have said, she may well be a smaller size. Perhaps she is a mix of sizes--depending upon what she's wearing (tops, slacks, dress, skirt) and what the cut is of the individual piece.
@chicagoan
You sound stupid
She wore Maria to the White House in Novemeber AND she wore Maria last month to lunch!!!
MizzBella - I very much doubt that this cover, lovely as it is, will have a great deal of historic value. This isn't the first, and won't be the last, image of Michelle on a national or international magazine. It's not the first of a First Lady on the cover of Vogue. And it does not portray an iconic moment in history.
And to the other Bella: Calling someone else "stupid" adds nothing to the conversation, and certainly does nothing to maintain the usual high level of discourse around here. Disagree if you like, point out a factual error (politely), but you do yourself no favors when you call other people names.
How do I get hold of the US Vogue March Issue as I am based in the UK.
Allegra-what woman on CNN was crass enough to report the First Lady's size???? Could be me-but I don't think that's something a news station should feel it has the right to tell the world-my goodness why the tell us how much she weighs next???
how tacky if true
Bella - Just so you know, "Chicagoan" above was actually CarolineG posing as one of our site regulars. So not the true Chicagoan who is lovely and comments frequently on the site.
This is a gorgeous cover, the smile, the poisition and the cover. Vogue, will have record breaking sales of this issue and it will make history. Vogue is not known for putting women of color on their covers. Other magazines will try to follow the lead by putting MO on their covers. Let's see how long it takes before she on every magazine cover. It is very exciting how the world is changing.
FAHSION RULES
I think that Vogue could have done much better. Her smile looks uncertain to me and her hair could have looked better. I love Michelle, but she has looked far better on and off magazine covers. I am totally underwhelmed.
I gasped when I saw this! Just stunning. She looks AMAZING yet so true to herself. Mrs. O just radiates in that magenta dress. What a stunner. Her curviness and amazing arms are in full evidence, yet in a very sober, tasteful, PRESIDENTIAL manner. President Obama wrote in his memoirs that when he first met Michelle, he was captivated by the combination of her strength and determination as well as the tenderness/vulnerability in her eyes. I think there's some of that in this picture. They did a great job with the cover. I only hope there's some issues left on the stand for me today!
Check out the Style.com link above. The photographs inside are BEAUTIFUL. And Andre Leon Talley's writing, perfect.
Mrs. T-thanks for the link. Amazing!! Maybe you/the other blog moderators could also put up those pics up for us to directly comment on AND for the record? ;)
While I have to agree that reporting the First Lady's dress size is tacky, (I don't recall any other First Ladies dress sizes being revealed) I can't help but to say the Mrs. O is definitely NOT a size 12. I've had the pleasure of not only meeting her, but also getting a nice hug from her during the campaign. A very fit size 8 on top and MAYBE 10 bottom.
The cover is gorgeous!
davesoko1...I'll look up the reporter's name...there are two female reporters at CNN that I confuse somewhat, so I don't want to name the wrong one. Yesterday I thought at first I had read it somewhere and then I remembered this morning that I'd heard it on CNN.
What an elegant cover!
Kristan
http://jbu.phuzzymath.net/
What a lovely dress and article about Mrs. O! I love the coral blouse and sweater and coordinating skirt in the click-through, too. Will look forward to the print edition!
Even if Mrs. O is a size 12, it's not like a size 12 is particularly large. What does it matter if she's a size 12, or a size 24, or a size 0? It's how she looks that matters, and you can be beautiful at any size.
I love that dress. But I have to say, I've seen better pictures of Mrs. O. That's not criticizing her, that's criticizing the photographer, or retoucher, or both. The inside shots are more appealing.