Sunday
Aug302009
Honoring Senator Kennedy
Sunday, August 30, 2009 at 4:27 PM 
Image by Jewel Samad / Getty Images
Image by Jewel Samad / Getty Images
First Lady Mrs. O and the president joined in ceremonies to honor the late Senator Edward Kennedy this weekend in Boston. For funeral services held at the Basillica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Mission Hill, Mrs. O wore the same Moschino bow blouse she wore to visit The Vatican earlier this summer. Arriving at Boston's Logan Airport the evening before, Mrs. O wore a Sophie Theallet shirtdress, first seen this spring, belted with her famous Alaia.
tagged Alaia, Moschino, Sophie Theallet
Alaia, Moschino, Sophie Theallet
Reader Comments (89)
The stripes on the dress match the plane :)
Does anyone besides me like the fact that FLOTUS repeates the clothes she wears? I was under the impression that you could not or should not do this when you are a public figure. l. Now men have a leg to stand on when the wife says "I can't wear that, everyone has seen it". We can say "if the first lady can repeat clothes so can you, take that dress back". Thanks!!!
DC
Mrs. O is always representing the USA well and her husband. She is an excellent good example of what a woman loves to be and do for her husband, children, family, and countries of others with grace, if given the opportunity. Her spirit is so loyal, faithful, and firm to what is morally right that the world can see it. I admire her and her husband's strength and dedication to support and help others. They both are great serious and sincere humanitarians and I think they are working so hard to make things humanly right as much as God gives them the strength to do. HIS STRENGTH AND POWER IS UNLIMTED AND LASTS FOREVER!
you certainly have to be very confident to wear those pleated bubble skirts
but kudos to Mrs. O, who's not afraid to make a fashion statement
Is Mrs. O allergic to suits or something? If ever there was an occasion to wear one, yesterday's funeral was. And before I get my head bitten off, there are some very stylish, non-boxy, modern suits that she could have worn and still looked fashionable. Yesterday was not a day for fashion statements or mix and match; it called for simple, classic, somber elegance and she dropped the ball. Also, I know there was no way she would know that she would need clothes to go to a funeral and that she did not pack one, but let's get real here: Do you honestly think she could not have gotten an oufit flown out to her (or shipped, or FedExed) in Boston or the Vineyard? A nice classic,elegant, long-sleeves dark suit would have done her and the occasion justice. (I know that she has at least a couple and that she looks great in them, because I've seen her photographed wearing them).
I'd really like to see Mrs. Obama consult a new stylist and build a fall/winter wardrobe that is young, stylish but more elegant than the quasi casual clothes that she has worn to date...summer is over and a new look would be more helpful.
I didn't like the sweater she wore at the funeral. I thought it was way to imformal for the event, a simple jacket and trousers or skirt would have done just fine. It also looked as if she was wearing her corset belt (which is fine) but mixing it with that skirt (and the short sweater) made her bottom half look huge. Didn't like her funeral attire at all.
There are also new pics of her arriving at Andrews AirForce Base and I'm confused by her footwear. I thought she had twisted her ankle at first but now it, unfortunately, looks as if she's wearing 2 different pairs of shoes (I hope she wouldn't do that because I will fall out but it looks that way) and the dress she is wearing looks too grandma-ish.
http://www.daylife.com/photo/01u59Tc87zgJG?q=Michelle+Obama
Oh just leave her alone and visit another site.
No I won't visit a different. I like this site (and that's why I'm a registered user and not an anonymous commentor).
I actually like the outfit she wore to the funeral. I wish there was a better picture of the skirt. It had some kind of gathering in the back.
And her sandals today are the same shoes she wore sight-seeing in Italy. I'm ambivalent about the black dress she wore today, it looks like a good travel dress, in terms of comfort.
Immediately the goons come out to offer advice. Save it. Our first lady doesn't need it. She wore black to a funeral. Nuff said.
Those shoes are old news. She wore them in Rome. Also, I have never seen my grandma wearing a sleeveless sundress that stops above the knees, but if that is what your grandma wears then that is pretty cool.
Well since the shoes are old news, who designed them? I would really like to know. And whether or not your grandma would wear a dress above the knee, Michelle looked grandma-ish and dowdy in it.
Leave Mrs. O alone. She is a beautiful woman, I love her.I love everything that she stands for. You people always have something negative to say. Get to her status then talk.
@ DC Clark
I love that she repeats oufits. And trust me everyone is taking notice. Anna Wintour, the reigning empress of fashion, whipped out the same Herrera dress for two very public occassions. Talk about influence.
Whine, whine, whine. She wore a sweater, how dare she. *yawn* I doubt she would change the way she dresses because people on here tell her too, she has been working with IKRAM for over 4 years, she has the same trainer for over 10 years and the same hair stylist Rahni for over 30 years. so if you looking for her to do what you want it aint happening. She is going to wear her sweaters, her shorts, her hair in a ponytail, her belts, her shoes, and whatever she damn well pleases.
@barabara
If you are lloking for her to dress like dowdy laura bush its not happening. This woman is not a white woman with gray hair who is in her 50's. She is a young minority woman, who loves colors and dresses. She is not the stuffy Cindy Mccain with the hot boring solid PANTS SUITS!! SHe is like Hillary Clinton she wears what she pleases despite what people say. People talked about hills suits, but she wears them faithfully to this day
@Nora
Obviously she did not want to wear a suit, so what is the problem. Just because YOU like suits does not mean everyone else does. Also, I don't know how much more simple do you want than a freaking black blouse and a black skirt?BASIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wonder how old some of you on here are, because a lot of you act like you live in the 1930's. (boring, basic solid colors, long hot ugly suits is so old style)
@victoria leon
Sandals like that are IN STYLE, just like the gladiator sandals, or the thong sandals, the sandals that wrap around the ankle.
@ Mia Monte
I have no problem with gladiator sandals or with sandals that wrap around the ankle but I don't like those particular sandals because it looks like only ONE sandal wraps around the ankle and the other doesn't. I just don't like those shoes but I'm not going to make a big deal about them like some did with shortsgate.
Sorry, don't know who designed them, but I'm sure you can find out . I see the grandma remark kinda got under your skin, but I was stating an observation that I noticed in my reality, thats all.
Oh no, I'm not in the least bit concerned with you remark. You disagreed with me without being aggressive or rude. So no problems.
I tried to research who designed the shoes but all i found was right-winger sites. Scary. Oh well.
why would anybody find fault about what the first lady wore to Sen Kennedys funeral?
she was there to pay her respects it wasn't a fashion show
The sandals look assymetrical and we all know that Mrs. O loves assymetry.
I personally don't like the huge bows on the dresses....but I LOVE this family no matter what they wear! I really love how affectionate they are with each other. I grew up without a father (he died when I was ten), so I especially love how much obvious affection there is between the president and his daughters. And he is so attentive to Michelle.
About the shoes or sandals - it looks like they're symmetrical; they just look odd when you see one side of one and the other, skinny side of the second one.
Nora, why a suit? A simple black dress is perfectly appropriate for a funeral service. (i note that the second Mrs. Onassis did not wear a suit to either of her husbands' funerals.)
VL - the "sandals" appear to be cut differently on the inside than on the outside. That's why they look that way. That said, they are ugly! Nevertheless, if her feet swell on a plane like most folks' do, they're practical.
Mia Monte, I admire that you are so loyal to our first lady, but sometimes we have to put protocol and occasion before our personal likes and dislikes, even if it feels a wee-bit uncomfortable. Yesterday was not about Mrs. O's fashion sense or comfort it was about honoring a dead man who means a great deal to our country, and the ceremony was held in a Catholic church. Thus, the occasion did not call for a BASIC skirt and blouse and I agree that we are not in the 1930s (although they had some pretty sharp "and sexy" suits even then). You will note that my post did not request that Mrs. O wear one of those "boring, basic solid colors, long hot ugly suits" that you find so old style. it suggested a simple, elegant, and sylish suit that did not require mix and match. She could have done it because I've seen her do it before. Also, I am a young person who thinks that some traditions should be respected.
I like her sandles! I think they're very fresh, unusual, and stylin'. I like unique things, and admire people with the courage to wear them. She wears them well.
Some of you on this site are completely out of order! Take a breath - and realize that you are commenting on someone else's personal fashion decision - not yours, your daughter's or friends. Mrs O had managed to make it thru life without your ideas on what she should wear. And, I promise she'll continue to make her own decisions - like any smart women does! It's so high school - grow up-mean girls!
@ Victoria Leon
I believe the shoes are the sandals she wore in Rome and they are Martin Maison Margiela. I saw a red heeled version on the Barneys shoe site the other day.
http://www.barneys.com/Ankle%20Boot%20Sandal/156195106,default,pd.html
Oh let's get real....Mrs. Obama could have worn a suit and someone would have had a complaint about that.
@Nora: sure a suit could have been purchased or flown in THEN the complaint would have been "how dare the Obamas spend that money in our economy"
I'd like to send a newsflash to the negative nellys and naysayers.....Mrs. Obama is an intelligent, well educated and confident woman. If you can't appreciate that, look in the mirror and try to see what's lacking in your life.
I'm not suggesting that everyone has to like what Mrs. Obama wears all the time. What I am saying is that the snide remarks and snarky posts are indictive of something more than a passing fashion commentary.
The first lady was very lovely at the funeral. After she was seated, a couple of close up shots showed that. Is the bow kind of shiny? One shot seemed to indicate that and it looked like she had a black satin sash at the waist. Only had a fraction of a second to see it. Perhaps the sweater was bunched on the side at the back? Below is a video of the Clintons and then the Obamas arriving inside the church. As Michelle kisses Hillary, the view reverts to the back of the Obamas. It looks like there is nothing back there, but the President's arm gets in the way as he puts it around her waist.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cJv770cSno&feature=related
The next two videos are of his eulogy. A close up of Michelle is in the second shortly after the President mentions Bo. She is gorgeous yet graciously blends in and does not seek the spotlight.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEee_rAdHfU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGnSc4vPwDU
It may be the reason why she wore black today is because they were meeting with a family of a soldier killed in Afghanistan before they took off. They are pictured with a Massachusetts congressman who likely helped arrange it. The President met with the soldier, one of 50 survivors of an attack in Iraq when two soldiers saved them by sacrificing themselves, when he visited Camp Le Juene (sp?) earlier this year. More sadness added to the overarching sadness they have already endured this week.
I really, really believe that the reason Mrs. Obama doesn't wear suits is because they're trying to create a soft, approachable Mom-in-Chief image for her, rather than the hard, angry, militant, executive image Some People would like to tar Mrs. O with if she were wore, and was photographed in, tailored suits.
The Big bow - the belt again, PLEASE!!! These are really not appropriate. Jackie wore a magnificent suit at JFK funeral . And if you search the web for state funerals you will see what is appropriate and what is not. This does not mean that Mrs. Obama did not look nicely dressed. But she is the FIrst Lady. She ooked beautiful. Please do not get offended - but there is a difference in what is appropriate and what looks nice.
I agree, Hyde Parker, it could have been a stylish dress as well, but just not that mix and match option that she chose. It made it look as if she was trying to hog attention and put fashion before circumstance. Also, I beg to differ with you about Mrs. Kennedy; she did wear a tailored suit to JFK's funeral, and even gloves, as she had decided that it was going to be the highest of state affairs; here is a link http://records.viu.ca/www/history/Sixties/jfkfun.jpg. As for the second husband, it seems as if she wore a suit or a black dress. The pics show her with a long black coat, so I cannot really tell. Anyhow, just because Mrs. Kennedy did or wore something, which may or may not have been right, does not mean that Mrs.O should replicate it. She should have her own style and follow her own path.
@ Mrs. HJS
"Sure a suit could have been purchased or flown in THEN the complaint would have been "how dare the Obamas spend that money in our economy"
You're right people would have complained just like they complained about her sneakers or there Martha's Vineyard rental, etc. You are 100% correct.
I agree with you, mrso2; I don;t believe it fits the "soft" image they a re trying to portray, but I am confident she could have pulleed it off at least this rare occasion.
Also, Mrs. HJS, no need to attack, we all can have our likes and dislikes. Anyway, how do you know she did not have what she had on flown in? After all they were not anticipating a funeral, were they? And I am pretty sure they have shops in Boston or even express shipping fro Jcrew online et all where she could have gotten an outfit prono. Given the occasionm, a funeral, few would have begrudged her a new outfit :) I've said my piece, now I'll be out of your hair.
I saw a clip of Mrs. Obama at the funeral and the Moschino blouse looks amazing in high-def!
Twitter = Strongforu
@ mrso2
They certainly have softened her image. She used to wear pants and business shirts all the time until all that "Michelle is a radical and hates whie people" crap, now she wears dresses all the time. But tailored suits certainly can be soft especially if it's a modern jacket (3/4 sleeves especially) mixed with a skirt.
@ Victoria Leon
You are correct, tailored suits can be soft. However, I don't see a soft tailored suit as a lot different than what she wore, except that her skirt was full, rather than narrow.
Was wondering if anyone noticed that Caroline Kennedy wore a black dress with a beige CARDIGAN to the memorial on Friday night. LOL. I thought of Mrs. O immediately.
Nora: It's my understanding that the President and his wife, like most heads of state, travel with an appropriate wardrobe for mourning or funerals. And, given that most people within their circle were very much aware of how ill Senator Kennedy was this past week, the two of them came prepared for the worst.
This is what Mrs. Obama selected in advance to wear, believing it to be appropriate. Personally, I don't see anything wrong with what she wore.
There's nothing wrong with a suit, and I'm sure she would have looked nice wearing one. (Though I feel weird thinking of a funeral mass as a "fashion" occasion. But anyway.)
I'm not quite sure, though, what a suit might have offered that a black blouse, skirt, and sweater did not. Those pieces seem adequately somber. They appear tasteful, to me. The only "exuberance" might have been the bow on the blouse, but in black, it is also subdued (to my eyes) So I'm puzzled. What am I missing?
The president and first lady were honoring a remarkable man. Ted Kennedy did much for this nation.
Michelle wore all black to a funeral. Where is the controversy in this? She does have a lovely silhouette in this ensemble. And during the president's eulogy, there is a cut-away to Michelle for a few seconds. You do not notice the clothes.
Jackie Kennedy did indeed wear a suit to JFK's funeral with a black pillbox hat and a heavy long black veil.
Three cheers for Mrs. O and her new direction of fashion...When she came to Washington, a fresh wind blew through and I am delighted with her results...Wear a suit...don't have to, she has given us permission to let that out of date tradition, go...pouf...I personally am sick of the little black suits and the helmet hair that have dominated our capital city for so long...
So, I say three cheers for this young and forward thinking FLOTUS..
Keep up the good work...
I think the all-black outfit was appropriately somber for the occasion, but I do think it lacked sophistication; and for a person in her position, I think that's a consideration. Regardless of the color, a skirt, blouse, and cardigan are more casual than a dress or suit. I doubt that anyone except perhaps one of her husband's political rivals was noticing how she was dressed, since fashion was not the emphasis of the occasion, but to me it does seem a bit on the casual side. As others have pointed out, suits come in a variety of styles and can be quite soft and approachable looking. Even a black dress IMO would have been a better choice.
At his burial parts of the letter Ted Kennedy wrote to the Pope were read. Personal delivery by the President and his wife meant a lot - I was touched to see Mrs. Obama's nod to their act of friendship by wearing the same blouse she wore then.
Agreed MsG, if she would have simply switched the sweater with a black jacket then there would be nothing to discuss. But it's not a big deal since it's Teddy's funeral.
Who made Mrs. Obama a fashion icon? YOU? Did you ask her if she wanted to be an icon? She is now the well educated wife of the President of the United States of America, a mother with 2 young children who is doing her best to support her husband and raise her children, caring of her mother, respectful of her father's memory.
I think that she is telling us that she does not care what we and Oscar think about her clothes. She will re-wear her favorites and the things that she is comfortable with.
I have seen people on this blog complain about the tax payer dollars that she spends on her clothes, now Nora suggests that she should have had an outfit fedexed to MV. Huh! so that Limbaugh and Beck et al could complain about the elitist using our tax dollars while Givhan calls her common!? What the hell do we want from this woman, tell me or rather ask yourself what it is you are lacking in your internal lives and trying to blame her for. I have never seen a First Lady so derided and insulted like Michelle Obama and I don't care what you so called fashion critics say; your insulting comments say a lot more about your own internal deficiencies than whether or not you like what she has on at any given time. Why don't you fashion know-it-all's post pictures of your appropriate selves on a blog for all to see what the women of American and the world should look like. You all sound so pompous and self righteous. You talk about Jackie's class, we did not have the internet then but I remember that she was mutilated for the things she wore and when she married Onassis to get away from American and its right to free speech!
Mary Tomer may have been well intentioned but I have noticed a gradual deterioration of the comments on this blog. I have also noticed that many original posters, who could intelligently criticize with a conscience, have faded away.
Anyway, I think that long after you are dead and gone and no one remembers your style, generations will be reading about this dignified Lady from the south side of Chicago who clothed herself well, inside and out, who loved and represented her country well in spite of the disrespect leveled at her.
I really didn't see the whole ensemble until the picture was posted here -- at the ceremony, there were only a few shots of her sitting down. So I didn't even know she was wearing a cardigan until I saw it here, and all I thought was "oh, that Moschino blouse." I admit that when I was watching the service, I was not really thinking about how everyone was dressed.
I'm not really "feeling" lack of sophistication or casualness in this outfit -- you know how you just get a feel for the style of certain outfits? Jeans and sneakers "feel" casual, a dress and pumps "feels" more formal. But that's just me.
Maybe she is "allergic" to suits in the sense that she just prefers separates and dresses.
@Victoria Leon:
The sandals that she is wearing in that picture you linked to are cut so that the instep (the side facing the middle of your body) is different from the outer part of the shoe. That's not a terribly rare style -- you can see a picture here of Rihanna wearing some boots where the instep is different from the outer part of the shoe.
click here
Obviously Mrs. O's propriety will always be questioned, but let's give her credit at least for being able to match her shoes.
Clothes do not make the woman
Those cut away boots that Rihanna are wearing rock, and I find that the flat ones Mrs.O are wearing are quite age appropriate.
Nevertheless, I find it difficult on an occasion like this to comment on Mrs.O's repetition of her outfit to the funeral since it is her presence there that matters most. I too had some fleeting thoughts about it myself during the course of the ceremonies, but they were quickly replaced by the emotion, respect and absolute sense of inspiration that was on her face.