Beautiful Even in Rubber Gloves (Updated)
Thursday, March 5, 2009 at 1:54 PM 
Image used with permission from Miriam's Kitchen
First Lady Mrs. O visited Miriam's Kitchen today, a non-profit organization that provides meals to the homeless in Washington, DC. But not only did Mrs. O visit, she helped to serve lunch. Per the New York Times:
“My purpose here is to listen, learn and scoop some risotto,’’ Mrs. Obama told the group of about 50 homeless men and women.
“There is a moment in time when each and every one of us needs a helping hand,’’ Mrs. Obama said. She described Miriam’s Kitchen as “an example of what we can do as a country and a community to help folks when they’re down.”
We are downright inspired. Mrs. O is using her new role as First Lady to do so much good - and doing it all so stylishly. Today she paired a white ruffle front blouse with a salmon pink cardigan (we believe the same J.Crew cardigan featured in Vogue) and black slacks. A clear vinyl, red buckle belt cinched her waist.
Update: Mrs. O's ruffle front blouse is from Isaac Mizrahi's new collection for Liz Claiborne New York! We have been waiting for Mrs. O to wear Isaac Mizrahi and are absolutely delighted. More here. Miriam's Kitchen was Twittering about the First Lady's visit all morning. Our favorite tweet? "She is beautiful even in rubber gloves". 
Image used with permission from Miriam's Kitchen / Photo credit: Rodney Choice
Reader Comments (89)
I agree with the first comment.
I also would like this site expanded beyond just our flotus's clothes but her issues, her family life, her workout info.......she is such a well rounded person that just talking about her clothes is now not enough.
i love this site and i really think it could be 100% better and if its donations thats needed, i am willing to donate to the cause.
love this site.
I do agree with you! Unpredictable is not necessarily Bad, especially in these uncertain econcomic times. It is certainly reassuring to see Mr.s O recycle some of her favorite piecees. So I hope that lase poster was not shouting at me in all caps. We can agree to disagree. Why do I need to be gushing over Mrs. O all the time in order to be able to give my opinion on this very public forum? If dissenting style opinions are not accepted, maybe as someone suggested this site should be members-only and be thoroughly censored to prevent the posting of such opinions. I thought that this was primarily about style. Also, different opinions, as long as they are expressed respectfully, allow us to improve and understand each other's point of views better.
Val -
Mrs Cs and Mrs Bs sartorial choices were mostly ignored because there was really nothing to discuss.
Mrs O is a different story.
For fashion lovers, she is speaking our language - she not only seeks out great, fresh, sometimes unknown design talents - she wears them !
She has validated supreme talent that has languished on the fashion margins by confidently and proudly wearing their designs for momentous occasions and not opting for the expected and safe.
Her fashion choices are usually exciting and rarely mundane - mundane being the hallmark of the previous FL fashion sense.
Mrs O's fashion awareness, fashion playfulness is part of an overall progressive and intellectual dynamic that she radiates so brightly each time she is glimpsed.
She is a modern woman. She is engaged w/ the modern world.
Her interest in fashion is one aspect of this engagement.
Her fashion choices - the known and the unknown, the conservative and the and the forward, the obvious and the sublime all reflect the fearlessness, curiosity and joy she brings to her life and the world around her.
Michelle is going to be on Oprah tomorrow according to Lynn Sweet on the Chicago Sun Times. Yay!
Wow! RTJ, that is one of the best posts I have read on this board. You are my new posing BFF! Even though you disagreed with me on some points you did not berate me for having a different opinion and you made your arguments successfully and respectfully. I wished more posters wrote like you. I will give you that Mrs. O has introduced us to new and exciting designers, but I think she is still trying to find her footing, which I am sure she will, because she has a strong sense of self and an open mind and playfullness about fashion. I just wish that sometimes she took more account of how an outfit plays both in real time and on print and video media, because they can be unfoorgiving. I loove seeing her radiance, which obviously has a very positive effect on her husband. And we all know a happy president is more likley to be an effective one. I also like that she is into fashion, but her world does not revolve around it. And yes, she has a very modern approoach as well. Thank you for your interesting and infomative insight!
RTJ, I meant "posting BFF" (that is best friend forever :) Sorry about the typo
Edwina, Michelle is not going to be on Oprah, she is going to talk about going to DC to interview her for O magazine
Val - differing opinions are what make life interesting don't you think ? - and how else would we learn anything ?
No one should expect total agreement on every point - that would be so dull. But wether one agrees w/ ones opinion or not, respect is in order.
I would never berate anyone for having an opinion - in a forum such as this I welcome and expect it. There is nothing more stimulating than good conversation.
I agree that Mrs O is trying out new fashion choices along w/ her standards - and this is what I find endlessly fascinating about her - she is open and willing to take chances and search out the new while remaining true in spirit to her own unique look. She tweaks her ensembles and makes them hers.
That is true style.
Lovely outfit! Very pulled together. I wish I had the figure to pull off the belted sweaters like Mrs. O. It is a nice look. I also love this lipstick choice. I love a nude lip (one of my mainstays) but this bit of color with the coral sweater is fabulous!
Thanks to all who posted the other links to information about this visit. As a committed volunteer it does my heart and soul good to see the first lady not just visiting, but actually rolling up her sleeves and working while she was there. THere was a quote in the Washington Post article that really stuck out for me:
"It's unbelievable for our guests that the first lady will be here," Roccanti said. "It reaffirms the notion they matter. That people care about them. For the most part, people ignore them. But today, arguably the most popular person in America is coming and shaking their hands. We tell them everyday how much they matter. But coming from the first lady of the United States, that is a powerful statement."
This says so much!
Here's a link to the video at MSNBC that has a photo of Malia, Sasha, and Michelle on the swing set:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/29537799#29537799
You may need to pause it when the photo is shown cause it goes pretty quick.
There are other ways to show off her figure than these old fashioned belts. Could you imagine Carla Bruni in this outfit...naa..I don't think so. Michelle's style needs some polishing up for sure. Every now and then she seems to be making mistakes of the kind that I would ...She doesn't have that luxury, when she makes a mistake the whole world sees it.
Superstar: If Mrs Obama is that dismissively predictable, then why oh why won't you just give up and go away for good-
Especially since in your opinion, there's nothing new to see?
Suji: Michele Obama has never pretended to be a perfect fashion model - you guys have forcibly projected that onto her. She is woman comfortable in her own skin and style and fashion choices and she looks perfectly fine to me.
Carla Bruni was a fashion model before she became first lady - She even posed naked and publicly discussed her affairs with a number of prominent celebrities (married and unmarried)-
If you really want to compare Mrs Obama with Carla Bruni Sarkozy, we'll have to tread the comparison path entirely -No picking or chosing-
Ditto on Superstar please please find another site we are here to share opinions and admiration for our first lady not negativity. Her styleis her style learn to live with it.
One more point let us not forget that what she said at the shelter is far more important than what she wore,she stressed that many people would be having a hard time and WE ALL NEED TO LEND A HELPING HAND.
Lily, Susan, et al. This is Obama's America, not Bush's. Even he welcomes diversity of opinions. Superstar and Suji did nothing wrong but express their opinions, which you happen to disagree with. I'm totally for that. So why should they leave this site? Many posters claim that this site is about style only, period. But as soon as a poster does not entirely like one of Mrs. O's looks, all of the sudden, what she wears is no longer "important." That is sort of disingenuous. Neither Mrs. O's charitable activities nor Carla Bruni's personality has any bearing on whether they are good dressers. We need to decide once and for all the purpose of this site and stick to it and not use it to arbitrarily get rid of opinions we do not like, as long as they are expressed respectfully.
Lily, isn't this blog about Michelle Obama's Fashion and Style as the page title says? Also check the top right of this page..Follow the Fashion of Mrs.O: What & Who she is wearing.
I am not comparing Carla Bruni with Michelle, but Carla's fashion sense with Michelle's and I think that's ok.
Suji, you bring up an interesting point about expectations, though. I think (maybe I'm just imagining this) that the French public might want or expect some really fashion-forward statements from its "first lady." I think that Americans have different cultural expectations. If Mrs. O was "Viva Glam!" all the time, everywhere she went, I think that Americans would start to think she was becoming Marie Antoinette.
We've already seen some of that with sniping about all the Obamas parties, (like they're really having dozens of parties all the time.) The French might laugh if Carla Bruni were to suggest she was a "mom-in-chief," as Mrs. O has described herself. Americans consider it a part of Mrs. O's charm that she thinks of herself that way.
Americans like our public figures "down to earth" -- other countries may like their public figures to be a little bit "above the crowd." So I think your comparison to Carla Bruni is valid; not because I think Mrs. O should dress like Carla Bruni; that's clearly not her style. But because I think part of the way each woman dresses is a reflection of what she believes the public wants of her.
There's a huge difference between constructive criticism and vitriol. And posters can sense the difference between the two. I'm ready to lay down the sword for Michelle and if that means staying on the backs of negative posters and their "out of nowhere" comments regarding Mrs. O...then so be it. Not only is she a dynamic woman with an equally dynamic husband; she's the first African-American first lady and she deserves to be treated with respect cause the truth of the matter is that we are not on her level. Her and Barack just choose to live in the realm of humility.
Michelle has stated that she loves belts, so I expect to see her wearing them quite often. I happen to love chunky bracelets and necklaces, and you would expect that I wear them frequently. She has a defined style and I think that most people in the world do. All I care about is that she has some style. We could see her in suits everyday, which would really be predictable and boring.
Well I'm not getting into the comparison game. Partly because I think it denigrates all parties. Laura Bush had a style that would appeal to some, so does Hilary Clinton and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. Mrs O has her own style which, seeing as this is a blog entitled Mrs O, is why I'm here. Amazingly.
RJT, beautiful post, couldn't have put it better myself, thank you.
As for Mrs O's trip to Miriam's Kitchen....? That is inspired leadership, truly inspired. I just love what Mrs O is doing with this platform she's got. Can you imagine the donations that are going to POUR in to Miriam's Kitchen today? Can you imagine the number of people who are going to get involved in volunteering out of this one event? It's magical, to bring warmth and a helping hand to people who are living on the bottom line.
I don't know how anyone can denigrate the First Lady for this when she brings attention to people who have no voice. She could sit at home doing naff all every day, but she's doing things that will make a difference.
Posh,
I didn't see anyone criticize Mrs.O, pleae could you point out the comment that "denigrated" the first lady?
Mojo:
I do not see anyone here that is being disrespectful as I would be the first one to say something.
This is a "fashion blog" where clothes are critiqued.
It seems to me that this site is becoming very personal and differing opinions are challenged about Mrs. O fashion sense. We can agree to disagree and not knock each other because we don't happen to like a particular outfit. For the record, this look is okay, but the belts are not for Mrs. Obama.
Mrs. Obama is in the public eye (which by the way she choose)and she will be dissected with a fine tooth comb just like any other first lady. She is no different.
I happen to really like her and what she is doing, but I will state my opinion on her "fashion" sense.
I've also stated, unlike some others, that she does not need a stylist. She needs to find someone with a sharp eye (not Ikram) to help her tweak her styles a little more. That's it.
I think Michelle looks great and because of her I've embraced belts and cardigans and more color.
Let me mention first that I am not a belt-loving person, mostly because I do not have the body for nice belts. But I need some information from all of you. Arent's the belts we are seeing so much in Mrs. Obama worn too high - or is this the right way of wearing them. I feel that sometimes these belts or fabric sashes cut her nice figure off.
Comments???
MJMR:
Mrs. Obama is wearing the belts on her natural waistline.
She is short-waisted and belts do not work for her as they truncate her body.
I've stated my opinion on this many times. My mom is short-waisted and stays away from belts.
She has a great figure but should not wear belts.
I LOVE the ruffled-front blouse! Where did it come from?
I saw the clip of Michelle on the news last night and she was adorable. She is a very amazing person.
Michelle on the cover of O magazine!
http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2009/03/oprah_and_michelle_obama_white.html
love the belt! great way to get the cinch without adding a big horizontal line! anyone know where to find it?
man, that guy needs to watch it! He's holding onto Mrs. O's hand a little too much!!!
Coral sweater + ruffle shirt + pinstripe pants sounds like the perfect work outfit. I'm totally stealing that look.
And she's wearing the same belt on the cover of O magazine so you can check it out close-up. I'm not crazy about the plastic aspect--maybe I would have gone python?--but it's not a deal-breaker. I haven't braved belt over cardigan yet, maybe next week!
Thanks for posting the link, Hiatus!!! I really like her outfit put together. Mrs. O is just amazing. Besides her style and dress, I think Mrs. O surpasses Jackie O. very much bc she is a strong public speaker. Such a great role model!
Hiatus posted this link earlier:
http://www.daylife.com/photo/025N50Y3DU6X2/Michelle_Obama
*SCREAMS* Michelle and Oprah on the cover of O magazine
http://www.daylife.com/photo/01uX9zI3O30Xj/michelle_obama
In the Daily Telegraph there is a picture of Michelle in her prom gown.
Here's the link to the article and photo of Michelle in her prom dress:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/michelle-obama/4949507/Michelle-Obamas-prom-date-describes-their-high-school-romance.html
The ruffle front blouse is Isaac Mizrahi for Liz Claiborne New York. This is EXCITING.
Thank you for the ruffle front blouse information, Mrs. T!
Jersey Girl, thanks for that pointer on short-waisted figures. I learnt a whole lot about it today.
Mojo
i got your back in the got mrs. obama's back thingy. *shines my sword* lol.....seriuosly though, i take no prisoners when it comes to our first lady so trollers take the first plane to france if you love the french lady so much......