Official White House Photos by Pete Souza

Additional photos from the recent White House Governors Ball have made my day! Love the second look at Mrs. O's Thakoon gown. And might those be the Loree Rodkin diamond bangles Mrs. O parted with yesterday?

Per Political Punch, the first lady gave her inaugural jewelry a special goodbye at yesterday's Smithsonian event: “Oh look the jewelry!” she said with a laugh and a wave, “This is what I’ll miss the most. Bye jewelry!”

Photo by Ron Sachs-Pool/Getty Images

Tonight is the much anticipated Governors Ball, held in the State Dining Room of the White House. Surprisingly, few photos have surfaced. Mrs. O appears to be wearing a chic black evening dress for the fete, paired with flawless hair and make-up. Fingers crossed we have a chance to see the gown!

Update #1: Mrs. O wears a black georgette tiered ruffle gown by Thakoon. If only there were full-length photos!

Update #2: Eddie Gehman Kohan, the editor at Obama Foodorama, has shared a bit of fabulous perspective on the evening. At the White House music preview event yesterday, Mrs. O relayed that she intended to wear white for the evening. The first lady told the audience: "Tonight we're having a big Ball, and everyone gets dressed up and I'm wearing white, just so you know." There seems to have been a change of wardrobe plans before the event!

Additionally, Ms. Gehman Kohan offered insight as to why there are so few photographs from last evening. In a change from the year prior, there was no formal ceremonial arrival for the governors and their spouses. Press wasn't allowed to photograph arrivals, and just a small group of photographers were allowed inside the State Dining Room after guests were seated.

For those interested in last evening's menu and table settings, Obama Foodorama has a great overview, here.

Update #3: The gown! Many thanks to Nyon for finding and sharing!

Image by Pete Souza / White House

Mrs. O pictured with Angela Vallot and Judy Byrd Blaylock in 2007; Image via New York Historical Society

It was during the Democratic National Convention in August 2008 that many (including us) first associated Thakoon with Mrs. O's repertoire of favorite designers. A look back at campaign events in 2007 and early 2008, however, would show that Mrs. O had worn several pieces from Thakoon before the abstract floral, reverse-kimono frock debuted.

One such piece is an embroidered ivory jacket, hailing from Thakoon's Spring 2007 collection. Mrs. O wore the jacket for a "Women in Public Lives" speaking engagement at the New York Historial Society's annual Strawberry Festival in June 2007. Supporting women's issues, Michelle Obama echoed a now familiar platform, saying: "Society, community, and family are only as strong as the health of their women."

In 2006, Thakoon Panichgul had been named the runner-up for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Prize (won this year by another Mrs. O favorite, Sophie Theallet). The flowers the designer received for his nomination served as the inspiration for his Spring 2007 collection, which used "weighty fabrics like taffeta and organza to create form, and employed ruffles and pleats to make delicate petal sleeves and layered rosebud miniskirts," wrote Style.com.

We were excited to discover a similar Thakoon dress, cut in ivory silk, with the same floral embroidery, pop up on eBay recently, and wanted to share. If nothing else, it jogged our memory about the jacket above. But perhaps one lucky Mrs-O.org reader will snag the dress? Details on the eBay auction: Size 4, "Excellent pre-owned condition", starting bid at $270, auction ending 8 days from now. Click here for more.

P.S. There is a great little exhibit on at the New York Historical Society at the moment, "Lincoln and New York". It's worth a quick visit, capped by a snack at the Shake Shack around the corner.

Image via ebay user ClosetCompass

Image by Mandel Ngan / Getty Images

Furthering her work in support of arts education, First Lady Mrs. O hosted a workshop for classical music students at the White House this afternoon.

For the event, Mrs. O chose a gray tweed suit. We particularly love the folded detail at the back of the jacket and a french twist for an extra dash of polish. We will investigate the designer and report back.

Update: Mrs. O wears a jacket and skirt by Thakoon.

Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton 

desertwind, thanks for pointing us to this new photo of Mrs. O, taken at the first World Series game this past week. It appears that under Mrs. O's World Series sweatshirt, the first lady was wearing a black and white jacket and blouse combo from Thakoon. We first spotted this look during the fall of 2008 at the first vice presidential debate in early October, seen here.

We love that this look was given an encore - one of our favorites of last year - not to mention the enthusiasm on Mrs. O and Jill B's faces, reacting to a big play during the game. Is that a brooch we see, pinned at the center of Mrs. O's blouse?