In the Mix
Friday, May 7, 2010 at 7:38 PM 
AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais
First Lady Mrs. O hosted a Mother's Day event in the East Room of the White House today, where she acknowledged her mother Marian Robinson, who was seated in the audience (and wearing a sweet, tie neck top).
On the style front, the first lady mixed things up today, quite literally. Her three-quarter length sleeve dress combines a floral top and graphic plaid skirt, brought together at the waist in a twist. The first lady is on a bold style streak as of late. My sense is that this particular look may be a bit polarizing in that it challenges convention. Does anyone recognize the designer?
Update: At last we have the answer! Mrs. O's dress is from the Moschino Cheap And Chic Fall Winter 2010 collection. Seen on the runway, paired with a fabulous pink jacket, here.
Moschino Cheap And Chic
Reader Comments (80)
Mrs. T, I admire your tact: "a bold streak" and "may be a bit polarizing," indeed! Let's all remember how stunning Mrs. O has been all week and get on with our lives.
But what a lovely event and how gracious for Mrs. O to include Tricia Cox and the Eisenhowers as well as Mrs. Carter.
The colorful palette continues; I love the mix of pattern, shapes and hues. Personally I love this kind of style, and I cannot wait to see who designed this frock. Happy Mother's Day to Mrs O and her Mom and all you moms out there!
i loved it. better than the thakoon dress although is was also slammin'. Mrs.T do you think the skirt is tweed?
here is a full-length pic.
http://www.daylife.com/photo/061z1nA9Oc4uz?q=Michelle-Obama
I'm surprised to say it ... but I really like it. A very surprising combination, yet somehow it works.
Oh.My.Word.
I STILL love Michelle!
Mrs.O on her way to have dinner with the president.
http://www.daylife.com/photo/0fOSevmdoUazb?q=Michelle-Obama
Not crazy about mrs Obama outfit but I love her shoes her mom top is nice
I love this look as well, although I'm surprised that I do. Our FLOTUS can carry off so many interesting looks! If you go to whitehouse.gov, there's a great video of her speech -- welcoming Roslyn Carter and her granddaughter, Tricia Nixon Cox and the Eisenhower granddaughters, and the White House mentees, and praising her mother. Very real and moving. Sometimes I still have to pinch myself to confirm that this is real and we have such a brilliant first family!
Love her style it is so outstanding.
Flotus and Potus are having date night
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/President-Barack-Obama/ss/events/pl/020807obama#photoViewer=/100507/ids_photos_ts/r1052261623.jpg
I have noticed that this is becoming quite a trend among the fashion elite. A lot of high end designers are mixing things up like this. I think it fun and so unexpected of a first lady! I am so used to seeing suits, stockings, pearls and pumps in the White House, and to see this is so refreshing and inspiring. I love the way Mrs. O is also mixing up her hostessing duties at the WH to include such a huge variety of events and guests. She is such a leader and inspiration. She and my president has made the WH a living breathing monument to American history and pop culture. Love them. Obama 2012!
No Thank you to the outfit, but a BIG YES to her Speech. It brought a tear to my eye when she choked up because I feel the same way about my mommy. It's on the White House website if you would like to see.
that woman is fearles when it comes to fashion, and i love that about her.
I adore her, but I don't like this particular mix of patterns.
Thanks to boazwife for the full length view, which really sold me on the outfit. She looks amazing!
I don't like this look at all.....
@Nyon and Patient - I agree with you both.
What a sweet speech.
This is not my favorite. The patterns are too confusing. Rarely does FLOTUS not completely dazzle me with her clothing choices. While it's not a case for the fashion police, I think she should retire this one.
It's different, that's for sure.
I STILL love Michelle!
I have to agree with Nyon, Patient & Bevi; not a favored at all. But loved the speech.
is it one piece of separates?
Anyways, have a nice weekend everyone.
AT 1st glance I was puzzled by the dress but after see'ing it from different angles I love it. Has anyone seen the pics from date night (May 7th), Mrs. O and Potus go to KOMI restaurant?
Not a fan of this outfit, but my love for the event far outweighs the design of the dress. What a classy event and as a White House buff it is so wonderful seeing Rosalyn Carter, one of my favorite First Ladies as well as the daughter/grandaughter of Nixon and Eisenhower.
Maybe because I love mixing patterns in my own life, I love this dress! The waist cinching, turning into another pattern, WOW! Last time I was this excited was Mrs O arriving in mexico in the Tracy Reece dress.
And look at how she is looking at her Mom.
Fab!
Months ago I suggested that before wearing anything that Mrs. Obama's staff photograph an outfit to see how it "looks"...had they done this, I think this one would have been discarded.
I love Mrs. Obama and think she is the best FLOTUS in my lifetime.
Funky garden flower afternoon tea. Intriguing choice.
totally l
LOVE this so cool!!!
Could it be a DVF?
The dress is absolutley awful but I agree with Tammy, the look on her face is beautiful!
The love in the eyes of the first grandma, divine. Three generations of First Gr'ma, Lady and daughters, that's special to capture those moments, the daughters are lucky.
Okay, I'm not in love with the look. But I like the "bravery" of wearing it in the first place. When you wear your fashion and not the other way around you inevitably end up being a "do". Happy Mom's Day, girls.
@Tammy, I'm with you, I love the mixing of patterns and textures. Nobody does it better than Anna Sui and Diane Von Furstenberg, but I don't think it's either designer. It kinda looks like Jason Wu, but whoever did this, did it right! She looks amazing as well as the other ladies. This seems like it was a wonderful event that the young ladies in attendance will remember and benefit from. Very nice, indeed.
Well....., my first thought was "hideous" -- not Mrs. O, never ever that! I'm talking solely about the dress. Anyway, I quickly closed the window but then I found myself going back to the picture about five times. Here's my conclusion: the mixed patterns are so unlikely (floral and plaid, for goodness sake?!) that I now actually think it works. But here's the thing -- a dress like this has to be worn with confidence; you have to know who you are; and you have to wear the dress, it can't wear you! I would never wear this dress. For one thing, I'm not tall or lean enough; and, secondly, I don't have the confidence to pull off this look. Mrs. O sure looks like she feels good wearing it. I think it's fun that she's open to experimenting with different looks, and it's definitely fun to watch. For all of these reasons, in the end, I give it a thumbs up. I have a feeling that this look is going to generate a ton of comments -- I can't wait to see what everyone has to say! Although I'm new to the site -- in terms of commenting not visiting -- I still feel that it's okay for me to say this: I hope people will choose their words carefully. Words do matter!
I have viewed this dress from several angles of photos; I'm not "feeling" it; if I was able to view it "live", maybe my opinion would change; love the pumps though.
Mrs. Obama. I love you, you are my idol, but while your body is hot, the outfit is not!
Don’t lie people! You can love Mrs. O and still hate the outfit.
While it appears that both the top and bottom have the same color's, it is difficult for most to process two different patterns side-by-side working together. It's an art thing,..something called juxtaposition...
I loved the Thakoon yesterday, but this one not so much. That said, I have the sense she's really coming into her own taste-wise and it's showing in the clothes she's chosen for Spring. She's always had a definite style, but lately - especially with all the bold prints - it feels like we are seeing the real Michelle Obama. There is something about the way she's carring herself lately that looks like she's more comfortable with herself and her role than ever before.
I loved the pictures of the 2 of them going out to dinner. The president looks so great in that mushroom-y color. I remember when he wore it a few times on the campaign trail. He's been shaking it up sartorially lately - I've actually spied a couple of navy suits. And all of them are clearly made to order now, with beautiful fabrics and perfect tailoring.
At first glance, this frock does jolt the eye. It is Bold.
This print is genius to me. A field of muted flowers spun into schizophrenic plaid: I see this print as the work of some contemporary mixed media artist. This is no ordinary dress. It is a vivid collision of Art and Fashion.
Oh, Mrs. O., can we turn back the clock to a few weeks ago when everything you wore for months was so beautiful? The trend this last week has been following is not promising at all.
Surprisingly it works for me too. Maybe it has something to do with the cut. It looks nic on her and she pulls it off well.
I really love this look! The mix of prints is sophisticated in a fun & festive way.
Not for the faint of heart.
Lovely Mothers Day celebration look and spot on.
I was waiting for this photo to appear after seeing it on yahoo news early yesterday! love BOLD! I love COLOR! I love the CONTRASTING MIX! It's OUTRAGEOUS and SPELLBOUNDING all at once! I must see her shoes!!!
I don't recognize the designer, but it has Asian influence all over it! There are only two groups of peoples whose traditional fabric collaboration I've admired over the years, the Africans and Asians. Their flare for layering prints with solids, mixing contrasting colors with patterns in a similar tone/hue family has always been a mystery and a big hit with me, until I majored in fine arts major in college. After much study, I found the secret.
The dress is very artistic, but not as smashing as some of her other wardrobe selections. There is something about the two different, yet similar prints that is not speaking to me. Too busy. I am curious as to who the designer is, though. Love her hair with one side tucked behind her ear. I've starting wearing my hair this way and have received many compliments. This website is so helpful in determining our own personal style.
Our First Lady's Mother's Day event honoring all mothers speech was outstanding! Her mother is her ROCK! At this tea, she included mentees, and daughters/granddaughters of past presidents'. When she spoke about motherhood, and everything this position encompasses, then to only receive a bouqet of flowers was too funny! Then she added, maybe a box of chocolate and brunch (along with it)! So apropos!
Wow! I got so caught up with her speech, I completely forgot about doing a further search on her shoes!
Interesting juxtaposition and on trend.
I like the combo direction and adventure.
Looks good and what an endearing moment...
Mrs. O is wearing this well. I commend her for her daring and confidence.
I'm neutral on this outfit. All that I can say is that, not everyone can wear this combination; however, Mrs. O has the height and body to do it justice.
Oh, yuck. I don't like that dress at all.
I am not crazy about this look, it makes my eyes dance all over the place making me dizzy.
It's a dress ? I thought it was a skirt and blouse. I love Michelle but I'm not feeling this at all. The patterns do not (IMO) compliment or contrast.
Happy Mother's Day To All Mrs-O.org Ladies!
I felt a sense of discord clanging in my head the moment I saw this outfit. The more I stared at it, I recalled that I felt that same sense of discord when I first saw a totally modern glass pyramid juxtaposed against a centuries old Louvre palace in France. San Francisco also has a pyramid…of sorts. It’s the ultra-modern, Trans America Pyramid building. Standing proudly right next to it is an ancient rooming house built in the early 1800’s that survived the great quake of 1906. Images of both of these iconic, much photographed, places are forever seared into my memory and I can’t think of, or imagine, either of them without its “odd” partner.
While this outfit may never be included in my top favorites worn by Mrs. O., I know beyond a doubt that it will always remain my most remembered. I salute her bravery and the strong sense of self required to wear this dress. More than the dress itself, I will also remember the absolute love on her face as she gazed at and spoke so lovingly of her Mom.
Happy Mother’s Day to all!
Asserht - great comments! I agree about the IM Pei pyramid and the Transamerica here in my hometown. It's the unexpectedness in the context that makes them work - and work beautifully.
Others have said the dress is growing on them, and I feel the same. I keep going back to it too. I'm especially intrigued withthe midsection where it all comes together. I never thought it was separates, and that may be why it works for me (finally). Separates would have risked looking like a bad personal choice, but there is a boldness in it being a dress that is intriguing. The designer was bold in creating it, and the wearer in wearing it.
Just look at her face in all the pictures - she owns this fashion statement, just like she owns her words.