Fabulous to Fitness
Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 5:37 PM 
Photo by Mike Segar / Reuters Pictures
First Lady Mrs. O visited Maple Avenue School in Newark, New Jersey today, where she promoted the "Let's Move" initiative with Newark Mayor Cory Booker. Mrs. O's next stop was the New York Police Athletic League's Harlem Center, where the first lady not only emphasized the importance of physical fitness, but got in on the action.
With the change of venue came a change of wardrobe. Mrs. O began the day in a gray top, paired with a gray, gold and scarlet print skirt. A tassel necklace (the first lady's second in recent weeks!), a black belt at the waist, and black tights and boots completed the look. In New York City, the first lady turned to athletic wear, wearing the Potion Purple Define jacket by lululemon and black athletic pants.
Update: In the first photo above, Mrs. O wears a Jacquard floral skirt by Etro. Thanks to Maria for the tip!
Photo by Stan Honda / Getty Images
Etro, lululemon athletica
Reader Comments (50)
Elegant, athletic, beautiful, caring, on and on and on....I just love watching the vibrancy of our First Lady as she represents us so well. This outfit is so very becoming and beautiful. Thanks Mrs. T
Whenever I see the first lady "moving", I can hear this song ringing in my head, "I'm every Woman", song by Chaka Khan. The dressy casual look is perfect for cold weather and the workout gear is just perfect for the just move activity. Thanks for the pictures.
LOVE LOVE LOVE the gray top and gray, gold and scarlet print skirt and boots!!!!
I've never looked this good working out!
She looks fabulous in athletic wear. I wish she would keep that idea in mind when dressing for other occasions - - clean lines and strong colours. The action photo of her in mere tights and a zip jacket shows her at her best. Just look at this strong, striking woman! My reaction was, "Wow!" The other outfit, metallic skirt, belt (please Michelle, no more belts!) and boots was not flattering to someone of her stature and position.
Oh.my.goodness!! That necklace, skirt, and belt are perfection! She pretty much has to wear tights because the skirt is so short. This makes for a great holiday outfit, too. First Lady is workin' it today!
She is just a beautiful woman beginning from the inside....class personified. I LOVE both looks ... and she definitely gives me a nudge that I don't have to look frumpy going to work out.
...and even her handkerchief is purple!ROFL
Gorgeous dressed up and gorgeous dressed in sweats. I'm actually starting my routine again and exercising. I know what I'll be wearing! LOL
I love it! Both of them. Athletics maybe come part of her legacy! And that definitely unique for a first lady.
The athletic outfit is from lululemon, a great company she has worn previously. The jacket is the define jacket.
She looks uh-mazing in that workout outfit. Maybe I haven't been loving some of her recent street clothes choices, which gave the impression that she was widening. But no way. Unbelievably gorgeous and inspiring. That's new territory for first ladies, to be sure!
Over the knee boots? Not a fan. Just stop them at the knee and they'd be so much more flattering and appropriate.
When I see a picture like the one of her in the school, I always think "Sacha and Malia have the coolest mom in the world." Look at that outfit. Not many mothers can pull that off. It's not the greatest picture, but I bet it looked great in person. The gold detail at the hemline is fabulous.
I can only echo what others are saying. Both outfits are winners but I am loving the skirt.
That fabulous workout outfit is about as far from "sweats" as you can get! Love the purple top! Wish I could see her shoes...
Thanks KP for the company name of the sweats!!!
A very fit 40 year old. I wonder how many of us women realise that as we get older and put on weight, yes we do, that blaming age, is no excuse.
She looks great....
A little off subject, but I was wondering if any of the readers have seen the cheap shot thrown by Sarah Palin at Michelle? I have posted it for your reading dis-pleasure:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/geoffrey-dunn/sarah-palin-michelle-obama-book-america-by-heart_b_785784.html
The workout gear is fly, but I have to agree with Laneq on the skirt combo (not sure I would word it that way, re: status and position), but it just looks mismatchd. Beautiful separates that do not go well together. Wrong length on the skirt and the casual boots; I don;t know the whole thing is off to me.
LOVE everything about the skirt, top, necklace, boots ensemble!!! Can't wait to find out who the designers are! Great blog. My compliments.
I agree with operafanatic. If I were Malia or Sasha I'd be so proud that my mom dressed in modern, hip clothes. Mrs. O. is redefining the role of First Lady in so many ways. She's powerful and present. She will never just fade into the background and be her husband's shadow. And she inspires me to be bold in my own choice of clothes. I love both outfits. I'm not normally crazy about her belts but this one works; it really completes the lookt.
WOW, the sprinting photograph is beyond fabulous - this picture says it all; youthful, hip, sophisticated, fit, energized....etc.
Loving both looks! She looks amazing in the athletic gear.....toned...fit....active. Could the skirt be by Jason Wu? He had a couple of pieces in his Fall 2010 collection with the gold leaf details.
Creed419, I had the same thought, but checked last night, and it's not Jason Wu.
Lululemon outfit is very nice, beautiful color for the top. As for the other outfit, the fabric for the skirt is lovely but the style is not flattering - too much poof on the sides caused by the huge pleat in front. I'm tired of the belts.
Mrs. O looks great! I especially love the second pic because you can realy see how fit she is in the athletic wear. When have we ever had a First Lady that is photographed running, dancing and generally enjoying life while teaching kids to be athletic and active! God Bless America and the Obamas!
Mrs. O, I really want to thank you for creating a place that gives positive news about the First Lady and our First Family. I have made it a point to avoid bitter and malicious coverage and this is one of very few places where good news is available. I appreciate the fact that the First Family represents America well around the world and that this blog is one source that takes the time to cover that representation. Keep up the positive flow.
What an inspiration to ladies worldwide. She just keeps delivering the fashion and finesse!
After a long day at my office when I get home, I really look forward to seeing what's new on Mrs. O blog even if I do not post a message. Thank you Mrs. T
I don't care what anybody says, those over the knee boots are fabulous on our Michelle! She's rocking them like nobody's business, and those black tights are just the way to go with them. I love the print of the skirt, the colors play well against each other. Never in a million years would I have thought that grey, burgundy, black and gold would look good together but it works. When I first saw this outfit I thought it was a dress. I'd sure be interested in knowing who's the designer. Somehow, it looks like Moschino to me. Oh well, time will tell.
I won't even begin to talk about her doing the Flo-Jo sprint, and looking good while doing so. This woman puts people 1/2 her age to shame. I should know, I think I'm 6 or 7 years older than her. HAVE MERCY!
SEXY, SEXY - She truly is "Every Woman..." as a previous poster said. I love BOTH looks!
So, from the picture of Mrs. O with Mayor Booker, I'm not convinced that they are boots. To me, they look like black winter tights. Are they any other pictures that could show a clearer view?
Love the skirt, and love, love, LOVE her workout gear!!! I've been walking more and dancing even more!!!
Mrs. T thanks for replying and thanks for all of your hard work on this site.
@ Mr Mr,
As we've all come to learn, you cannot get anything from Sarah Palin but "cheap"; that's what she's all about, and she demonstrates it everyday in her unceasing and unseemly quest for money and fame. Can you just imagine how she would carry on if her and the first lady's situations were reversed? Meaning that the first lady had a daughter with an illegitimate child and who didn't even graduate high school and is now prancing around on Dancing with the Stars. She and her allies wouldn't let the Obamas forget it, while castigating them about contributing to the breakdown of the American family (remember the moral values crowd?). So the best you can do with a non-entity like Sarah is to ignore her, she'll self-destruct
sooner or later, they always do.
Now back to our favorite topic, the first lady is looking rather "fly" in her outfit (young, fresh, distinctive), Talk about form and function! She's certainly holding her own with the young ones; this tells us how fit she is. She inspires me to get up and MOVE!
Lovely! But when I saw the long tassel necklace, I instantly thought, Coach's whistle! Tweet!
What a FLOTUS! She keeps things real. She's out there walking the walk, not just talking the talk. I love her style choices, but even more I love her energy, spirit, and joie de vivre.
A clear winner, as expressed by most here. The First Lady looks great in her lululemon athletica athletic wear. The brand is a little on the pricey side, but not obscenely so. Yet, it is worth it.
P.S. I didn't realize lululemon athletica had a men's line. I stopped in the store last weekend, in Pho, and bought two long-sleeved shirts (designed for runners). They're extraordinarily well designed and tailored, and have a sleek "slimming effect" about them. And they FEEL great! (And a lot of their items are on sale/clearance currently--as were my shirts!)
Are all of these lovely clothes and accessories gifts to the First Lady? And, if they are gifts, are they reported as "gifts" and is the "gift tax" being paid by the Obamas?
Oh, I LOVE the over the knee boots! I got myself a very similar pair some years ago and they have been my favorites ever since ... and I do wear them to school. Can't understand why anyone would find them 'inappropriate'?? With the skirt a modern version of the classic holiday colors.
And she's striking in that lululemon outfit. Makes me have a close look at my running wear ...
Lululemon stock just shot up. Love, love, LOVE the color and fit.
The FLOTUS looks more fit than I can ever remember seeing her. She must be working out regularly. Her silouhette in the gray top and flat-pleat skirt is incredible!
@lanneq: this belt is exactly the right width and is sitting exactly where it should. She likes belts and actually should wear more like this one. It does wonders for her figure and shows off her small waist to a T. She looks perfectly proportioned. Perfect.
@ L. Boyer, I would think that in these horrifically nasty political times that you can be assured if anything that our First Lady puts on her back is a gift, IT WILL BE REPORTED! I would not be surpised if it became "Breaking News" as if it were indeed a matter of national security. It's not as if The First Family wore Salvation Army discards prior to coming to The White House! SERIOUSLY!!
I know we are supposed to keep politics out of here, but I can't think of another first lady who was such a good example of the American women. She gets attacked from the far right folks, but never mind--her moral example for her children will live on. I can't possibly imagine her children, as teens, posting those infamous statements on face book that a certain women's two daughters did recently (you know what I'm talking about).
@ isonprize - If you go to http://theobamadiary.com/category/michelle-obama/ and go to the third group of pictures under the heading "Let's move Newark", you will get a better look at the boots and see that they actually rise to the middle of the knee and that she is wearing black or dark gray stockings / tights.
All things considered, she looks "fly" according to mszonian524.
Have a great weekend all.
Mrs. O at the theater on Broadway
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/20/michelle-obama-and-her-gi_n_786368.html
I dont come on here much and I am sure that it has been addressed. But this pic needs to be revisited. OMG!
http://theobamadiary.com/2010/11/12/embrace-2/#comments
L. Boyer, why don't you perform the necessary research regarding presidential gifts and report your findings to us? The information is readily available and public. That way, you will have facts.
P.S. Can you tell I teach critical thinking and library research skills to college students?
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE MEESH! When, if ever was the last time you saw a First Lady doing anything
even close to running? Can anyone tell me the designer/name of the knotted necklace in the first photo? would appreciate your help.
Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving!
That purple color is perfect! Pleez, no mention of Snookie Palin here; I am on vacation and want to thnk only pleasant thoughts!
Wow!! great woman, what ever she wears fit her, she look beautiful, i like her
Every time I see this vibrant woman being so active, with children (who probably could careless about what she wears) I am deeply touched. I hope all women of all ages, take the hand of a child and go play a good game of duck, duck, goose.