Monday
Sep212009
Taking a Stylish Stand (Update)
Monday, September 21, 2009 at 2:17 PM 
Image by Win McNamee / Getty Images
This morning Mrs. O spoke in support of health care legislation at the White House, dressed in a boldly printed black and ivory skirt, ruffled blouse and muted green cardigan - all belted at the waist, of course.
Click here to read Politico's coverage of Mrs. O's speech, including a video.
Update: Thanks to the tip in the comments, we've discovered Mrs. O's skirt is Diane von Furstenberg, the Bhare Skirt in African bands from the designer's Fall 2009 collection, seen here.
tagged DVF
DVF
Reader Comments (135)
She looks wonderful - the skirt/cardigan/blouse/belt look is such a signature for her. This is one of those times it really worked. I like the way she's switched to pumps, rather than sandals. It's like she's "back to work" after a few weeks away, so the summery sandals are back in the closet. And the darker colors point toward fall, while the fabrications are light enough to keep her from wilting in the heat.
Could that skirt be one of her Suno purchases??
Is this appropriate enough for her to wear? Should she be wearing something else? Doesn't she know where she is going, this outfit is not fit for the occasion. *rolls eyes*
Great outfit, but great picture as well. If you look at some of the close-ups, it appears that the top of the skirt has some kind of leopard print. Very cool skirt.
Great combination of colors and print, as she moves into her fall wardrobe.The belt, I think, is key to bringing the whole outfit together. Luv the skirt too, another memorable moment form Mrs. O.
Not a flattering look for any woman who is not Kate Moss thin, which includes the great majority of us.
FLOTUS takes the cardigan and blouse to a whole different level!!!! We should all be so daring. Makes the day a little bit brighter!!
I love, love the skirt, but don’t like the outfit overall.
It’s just too much. Each piece could be signature on its own, but all together it looks cumbersome.
One more thing, I'm so happy she decided to discuss a policy issue. She was a major administrator at a hospital in Chicago. She has vast knowledge in this area and her voice is needed the policy side.
No question about it, she is FIERCE!
I like this outfit but the belt could be a bit more narrow. The skirt is lovely, the color of the cardigan adds a nice refreshing touch and I think it's a very appropriate outfit for the talk, which (if you read it) is all about how ordinary women are negatively impacted by the current health care system. She didn't overdress and she didn't look too casual. She looked fresh, accessible, and put together.
Very nice skirt and I love the color combo's in this outfit a lot too. The belt is also very interesting. I've never seen one quite like that. It'll be interesting to know who designed it.
But more importantly I love that she is finally entering the health care issue. She was the vice president of a hospital after all and I think her opinions and view points will be greatly valued and should be respected. I can see that she will often be involved in many of the key issues of Pres. Obama's administration but going about it from a more personable angle, which she is very good at, since she also did a lot of work for community service organizations.
BTW, I think that blouse is the same Isaac Mizrahi for Liz Claiborne one that she wore to the soup kitchen earlier this year.
I like it a lot! She better work those curves! The skirt, the shoes, the belt... I'm lovin it!
@ Christen - I couldn't disagree more about needing to be Kate Moss thin to rock the outfit Mrs. O is wearing today. Don't sell yourself (and women with a little bit of a figure) so short when it comes to wearing full skirts and belts.
I love HER style!
@Roxane she is dressed in business casual attire. I don't see the problem. she is at the White House a.k.a her home. she is not speaking to heads of countries. I take it you are one of those people who wear high heels and a suit and over dresses every place you go... *rolls eyes and sighs*
I love the pattern on the skirt. I'm no fan of the belts, but I do like that she embraces an hourglass silhouette.
Looks like her top half and bottom half are going to two different places. Just my opinion. The cardigan looks are getting old, but if she is happy in them, then so be it!
@ MsMoe.
I think Roxanne was being sarcastic, hence the eye roll. She was mimicking those who say she doesn't dress for the occasion.
@msmoe
Roxane can speak for herself, but I think you missed that she was being sarcastic. I suspect you both are on the "same side," so to speak.
I want that skirt. And I am also very glad she is speaking on a policy matter. The WH is bringing out the big guns!
FLOTUS is amazing! Yesterday, she had two public appearances and the next day, here she is delivering a speech on healthcare. How does she do it?
I was BEING SARCASTIC!! Read the prior thread about people whining about what is appropriate. Take a chill pill
@Christina
Thank you, I was being sarcastic, anybody can tell that.
I love the belted sweater look - but wish she'd pick a more narrow belt.
If you think you have to be a size negative zero or less to wear what she has on perhaps you need so serious help with your self esteem. She looked very well put together, the skirt is beautiful on her and in general. I'd love to know who designed it.
She is a full figured woman like millions of American women. Instead of wearing a sack and trying to waste-away to fit into a small minded view of beauty she has embarrassed her beautiful shape and in turn inspires all women to be true to who they are. In every sense.
This event will be shown on C-Span at 9:30e/8:30c tonight.
And, if you are interested in health care reform, the CEO of Mayo Clinic follows with some very interesting insights. I saw the tail end of it earlier and look forward to catching the first half.
Totally inappropriate for the First Lady speaking in the Old Executive Office Bldg....the belt looks like an air fitler.
Love it when a new photo is posted and and I find myself gasping out loud--the element of surprise and unexpectedness is what I look forward to and Michelle rarely fails to disappoint. This skirt is a knock-out! And love how she pairs it with the greenish color. However, the troublesome belt again..it looks like one of those rubber belts the Army swat teams wear to hold their bullets.
Miss.
That skirt is spectacular!!!
For those of you who seem to prefer 0 size models, below is a link to a picture of a line of these (if they even make 0). Makes me think of holocaust survivors when they were first discovered at the end of the war.
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/NY-Fashion-Week/ss/events/fashion/090909nyfashionweek
Roxane: You're post @ 2:40pm made me laugh out loud!
@ Babs
I get that element of surprise too when i open this page and anew image loads.
LOL about the blt comment. When I saw it, I thought of the belts that I see our NYC policemen wearing and carrying their guns and other ammunition in.
I like the skirt!
"However, the troublesome belt again..it looks like one of those rubber belts the Army swat teams wear to hold their bullets."
Hee!
I find it interesting how she often seems to mix these "soft" clothes (full skirts, ruffly blouses) with "hard" elements, like those belts.
Mrs. Obama's outfit is a miss. This could have been a pretty good outfit, but there's too much going on here. The skirt is cute, as is the cardigan. However, that ruffled blouse and the two belts (or is it just the fabric at the top of the skirt?) is just overkill. Mrs. Obama is trying too hard here. Had she kept it simple, it would've been a home run.
I agree that the belt could have been a tad smaller.
But, I have been rocking belts and I really got something last night.
Women's clothes in the past ten years, have steered us away from a proper waist. Everything is low waisted (you really have to be hipless to pull it off) steering the eye to the biggest part of our bodies (most of us, our hips). Last night I was rocking a belt ala Mrs. O and I looked so slim and trim, because I was pulling the eye to the smallest part of me. I had an aha moment. And I have also been wearing cardigans alot and I feel so ladylike and delicate. It offers this perfect alternative to a structured jacket. It is so retro.
So here's a clue, try it. Then if still want to, knock it. Otherwise, go over to HuffPo and bash Michelle Obama all you want. But I for one am sick of it! If you have an opinion like "You have to be skinny and White to wear those clothes" go away. If you have an opinion like "Michelle Obama has no idea how to dress" go away. Seriously!
Mrs. T, I think that any post that compares Mrs. O to an animal or a bird (September 18, 2009 at 4:11 PM Unregistered Commenter Northern) should be deleted. Unfortunately, now that she has stepped into the health care debate the response to her attire is downright nasty. It is fine to say that I don't like this or that outfit for X or Y reason but to attack her person or character is downright low class and I hear the meanness underlying many of the most recent posts. The anti-Michelle's are going to hi-jack this site and render it useless. That is their goal. Please don't let this happen. There are so many other sites where they can go to exercise their right to nasty free speech.
Absolutely fabulous. Makes me so proud to be a woman - not to mention to be an African American woman at such a time as this!
Wow, so much self hatred is being shown here! Just because some people arent happy with their body (or how they think their body should look) is no reason to knock MrsO. She is all kinds of fabulous, and I like what she's wearing.
Funny how some admire pin thin crack addicted over payed supermodel, and some knock down what achievable healthy body should look like. My advice is stop projecting and start enjoying the fashion.
Ciao
She makes me think about fashion. Her juxtapositions are always intriguing.
Ms. Opnion (?sp): Mrs. O. has "embarrassed her beautiful shape?" WTH? Actually, all I was saying is that the lines of this outfit are not flattering to her. Compare this outfit (where, yes, there IS "too much going on") to her black sequined dress or the red Pinto dress she wore earlier. She looked SO much more fabulous in those! Simple lines are the best, and Mrs. O. has proven that she knows how to maximize her look in less "busy" clothing. As a full-figured, tall woman who loves every one of her curves (and so does my husband), I know what looks best on me and suffer no self-esteem issues, thanks!
I posted this on the previous post as I was watching the speech, live. I think she looks like she is wearing a car tire around her waist. However.....her hair and makeup are flawless. The skirt is stunning. Would have liked to see it with a plain blouse so that it was the showcase. The blouse from this photo's angle looks awkward. The belt is probably expensive but I think it screams "cheap". The whole outfit doesn't look styled. But if our FLOTUS was comfortable in it, that's what counts. She does not dress for anyone but herself. Still, I just can't believe the difference between this rather unfortunate hodgepodge of an ensemble and the floral dream dress of yesterday.
Been out on the blogosphere....the belt is now known as the tire belt. It's getting the kind of attention no one wants. :( If anyone has the FLOTUS's ear, tell her to put it in a drawer and let it quietly fade into history. Very sad....the cute skirt is not even getting press. It's all about "the ugly belt". Even men are weighing in saying it reminds them of a car part!
I love this look.
And, as a bonus -- TBG!
I think she's really lucky to be tall enough to carry off so many features in her outfit today. I like it and it suits her. For me I would not add the ruffle blouse but a very plain one. If she feels confident and comfortable then can't argue with that!
As for the question of suitability to the occasion, I can't help thinking that by now surely most people have realised she has her very own taste and style that she follows through. I'm assuming people who believe her outfit unsuitable to the occasion would prefer her to dress more 'conservatively' and more 'traditionally' but she has an entirely different role to her husband and an entirely different perspective (though equally powerful I might add). Bearing this in mind, whether it's a conscious decision or instinct, I think it's very clever of her to maintain this distinction through how she dresses. Just my humble opinion.
The length of the skirt is perfect as was the length of the sequin dress Mrs. O wore to the Hispanic Caucus event. This length is most flattering and should be duplicated over and over. I would have selected a less fussy blouse and belt. Pumps are perfecto. Love the color of the sweater, too.
This outfit would have been more forgiving if she had not added that green cardigan. At least then all the other busy elements would be in the same color scheme of black and white.
Hi Christen, I believe just the opposite..you definitely need some fierce curves to pull this look off and FLOTUS definitely has it and then some.
This picture alone will send many of the Kate Moss waif followers running to their cosmetic surgeons to mimic this look. Unfortunately for them this look can't be bought as it is a genetical and ancestral gift to Michelle.
GO MICHELLE!
I think she looks lovely in this outfit. The skirt is kind of funky and the ruffled blouse and cardigan add a soft feminine touch. Hair and make-up always perfect!
I watched this last night on CNN. She did a great job! I'm somewhat surprised the administration has kept her 'on the bench'. What are your thoughts....her choice? or sometimes I think maybe they don't want to appear to be like the Clintons. Just thinking outloud.
julie, per your request, I removed the comment. Thank you!
@all those who know who you are, it is not your criticism of what you like or don't like, it is your tone and choice of words that are troubling. Sometimes I don't like what she is wearing and I can say so without demeaning Mrs. Obama. This site is for people who LIKE her and can rightly express their dislike of something she is wearing. What if someone spoke to you in your tone, you would not like it. Go to Fox News and Free Republic et al and start a "Michelle doesn't know what she is doing" thread, they would welcome you there. That's were the thin Kate Moss type people go for refreshment.
Mrs. T,
I sooo agree w/Julie and I'm glad you've removed that nasty, vicious comment about our First Lady Mrs. O. Please continue to monitor the postings on this site and anyone saying anything downright nasty, mean, evil, and racist about our First Lady, please immediately remove their post. We will not allow this site to become their latest "town hall meeting" where they come only to shout, scream, holler, and spew their evil venemous poison at our First Family. Let us all be vigilant and as soon as we see them slithering onto this site, shut them down by asking Mrs T to remove their blog.
You go Audrey! Your response to Beegee was right on!!!
And ladies, once and for all, recognize that Mrs. O does not look to you (those who criticize her clothing choices) for approval of what SHE chooses to wear. When SHE looks in the mirror and says to HERSELF, "I love it", and wears it, the only other vote SHE'S probably seeking is HER HUSBAND, our POTUS, not you. And by the way, every photo I have ever seen of both of them in it he's always looking at her sooo approvingly. So, feel free to state your personal preferrences of what you'd wear or not wear, but don't cross over the line to criticize FLOTUS because of HER choices for HER.