Photo credit: Flickr user Barack Obama // Creative Commons Well, it was bound to happen at some point. We hate to say it, but this is not our favorite look on Mrs. O. While campaigning northeast of Detroit last week, Mrs. O layered a cropped mini-trench in jade green with a purple striped long sleeve tee and slim black pants. We can't quite put our finger on what's not working. We like the attempt to mix colors and pattern, but taken as a whole, there's just something off. There's a casualness to the top half that doesn't quite match the bottom. And perhaps one hue too many in the total mix. Were the jacket left out of the equation, we think the look would have been much better. Mrs. O is human, and just like the rest of us, her fashion isn't always flawless. Almost, but not always. We like that she's trying new things, but wouldn't be horribly disappointed if this particular look went to the back of the closet. Date: October 2, 2008 Venue: Voter registration rally, Chippewa Valley High School, Clinton Township, MI

Photo credit: Flickr user Barack Obama // Creative Commons Photo used with kind permission from Flickr photographer Towleroad We wanted to pay tribute to one of our favorite Mrs. O looks in recent months. During the DNC week, Mrs. O wore a stunning mix of natural hues to speak at a LGBT luncheon. Her dress was made of pleated chiffon in mushroom, shaped at the waist by a matching belt. Gold and bronze multi-strand beads were a lovely accent to the overall look, and a fresh alternative to traditional pearls. Mrs. O wore two variations of the ensemble, at one point also paired with a cream three-quarter sleeve cardigan. Interestingly, we believe Mrs. O wore the same dress in azure blue for her appearance on "The Colbert Report" in April, and yet again in punchy pink for a campaign trip to Puerto Rico in May. Notice the similarities in the chiffon fabric, pleats and cut. As observed in our post about Mrs. O's matching jackets, we get the sense that when something works, Mrs. O likes to buy more than one. For someone constantly on the road, with multiple public engagements per week, buying in bulk must be the most practical way to shop. Mrs. O, so fashion savvy and yet so practical. Date: August 26, 2008 Venue: LGBT luncheon, Democratic National Convention

Photo used with kind permission from photographer Jeff Fryer: www.jefffryerphotography.com Mrs. O was working overtime on Wednesday, making two campaign stops in a single day: a morning voter registration rally at the University of Colorado at Boulder, followed by a quick jaunt to Kansas City, Missouri for an early evening session. How did Mrs. O manage to stay poised and polished through a grueling day? She wore a basic but bold, red ribbed (and wrinkle resistant?) twinset, accompanied by tailored black trousers and a signature jeweled brooch. As the day wore on, Mrs. O adjusted her look, rolling up her sleeves, tying her cardigan around her neck and repositioning her brooch on the front of her red tee. With the help of versatile, in-between season layers, Mrs. O still looked fresh, despite what must be an absolutely exhausting schedule. Mrs. O, we hope you have a chance to catch up your sleep this weekend! Photo used with kind permission from photographer Chris Pavlacka Finally, can anyone tell us where this top is from? Our sources believe it's off the rack. But which rack? We'd love to hear your thoughts. Date: October 1, 2008 Venue: Voter registration rally, University of Colorado at Boulder; campaign rally, Kansas City, Missouri