Stylish Support for Conservation
Monday, February 9, 2009 at 3:33 PM 
Photo credit: Tami Heilemann, DOI-NBC / Department of the Interior
After a short getaway to Camp David this weekend, the First Lady resumed her tour of federal departments today, visiting the Department of the Interior. As part of a ceremony rooted in the department's responsibilities to Native Americans, officials presented Mrs. O with a traditional Native American shawl, an honor that recognizes a woman of high achievements and distinction. Mrs. O spoke to a packed auditorium, thanking department employees for their commitment to public service, and later outlining the role she believes conservation will play in creating new jobs to stimulate the economy.
“At a time when so many Americans are out of work, sound energy and environmental policies are going to create thousands of jobs through the economic recovery and investment plan. You are at the center of one of this Administration’s highest priorities: securing America’s energy future, protecting our natural environment and using the natural resources as responsibly as we can,” Mrs. O said.
“It is not only vital for the survival of our planet as we work to combat climate change but also incredibly important to strengthen our economy and the well being of our families.”
Perhaps a sartorial nod to the gravitas of her subject matter, we saw Mrs. O return to more traditional business attire today. But that wasn't the only message echoed through the First Lady's wardrobe. As she promoted conservation efforts, so too did her clothes. If our eyes don't deceive, Mrs. O has worn both the jacket and pins seen today at least once before. Mrs. O previously paired the graphic black and white pins with a Zero + Maria Cornejo jacket on the campaign trail this fall, see here. And as Mrs. C has kindly noted in the comments, the black wool jacket was seen in October, when Mrs. O spoke at the Women’s Leadership Forum in Chicago, Illinois. 
Photo credit: The White House
Finally, we're curious if Mrs. O knew she would receive a shawl as part of today's ceremony. We can't imagine a better backdrop than what she wore - as the black and white accents added by her pins so perfectly complemented the horse applique pattern of the shawl. A video of the First Lady's remarks follows after the jump.
Michelle Obama, Sonia Rykiel in Outfits
Reader Comments (38)
Mrs. O has worn this suit--I believe it's by Sonia Rykiel--before. There is a photo of it in the What Lies Ahead: Hope for the Fashion Industry (Jan. 11) posting. Previously, she accessorized it with a silver mercury necklace by Tom Binns.
very businesslike, but attractive esp with the lovely black and white pin. I just hate their aren't more full length pics of the outfit before she put on the beautiful native shawl. We just can't seem to find enough full length pics of her when she wears these beautiful outfits.
Yes, it is the same suit. Love that she recycles outfits!
I love that she wore a solid-color outfit that would showcase the beautiful textile she was given - wonder if she knew in advance.
Lainie
Writer/Editor on Art, Craft, Cloth and Culture
Lainie.typepad.com/redthread
Yahoo has some 3/4 length views. I bet it wasn't a coincidence that she wore all black today, because she looked so striking with the purple shaw. Her hair looks lovely today, too.
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Michelle-Obama-First-lady-Michelle-Obama-holds-President-Lincoln-Inaugural-Bible-after/ss/events/pl/050108michelleobama/im:/090209/ids_photos_ts/r2552897303.jpg/#photoViewer=/090209/480/45200ed1413a46f79b62c25fbfa6fb67
I love those pins. I think they would look so overwhelming on me but they look great on her.
I'd love to know the story behind that shawl, too.
The pins don't do anything for me but I LOVE that the shirt has three black buttons that follow the line of the three black buttons on the jacket - now that is a look you don't see very often.
http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20090209/capt.45200ed1413a46f79b62c25fbfa6fb67.mrs_obama_dclj104.jpg?x=400&y=341&q=85&sig=B1B9umb0RANGAq8v5_LOTg--
http://www.daylife.com/photo/01eyfKo2vRcL3/michelle_obama
Any idea of the story behind those brooches? And it looks like she's wearing one of her cardigans buttoned-up underneath this suit jacket. A nice, clean look overall!
http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/01eyfKo2vRcL3/610x.jpg
I just absolutely adore this woman!
Stunning and lovely as always...
I just love the way Michelle mixes her wardrobe and accessories up. She gives such confidence to women to reuse and recycle pieces in their closets and jewelry boxes. She's a star and I adore her substance and style (not to be too idiomatic, but finally someone lives up to the word-worn phrase).
The shawl is beautiful! How lovely it was, too, that a traditional "Honor Song" was performed for Michelle Obama by the Black Bear Singers.
She looks very sharp in that Sonia Rykiel suit. I like it. The purple shawl makes her look more beautiful
I love how Mrs. O personalizes her outfits with with jewelry and accessories. I enjoy looking up affordable handmade "similars", here are a couple of brooches just for fun!
Black floral brooch from etsy, $12
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_12&listing_id=20826136&ga_search_query=brooch+black+flower&ga_search_type=tag_title
White floral brooch from etsy, $15.50
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20295741
ps: I have no affiliation with etsy or the sellars above.
I love, love, love this jacket. The meaning of the gift is totally appropriate...what a role model for young women.
It looks like a lovely suit and she was presented with an equally wonderful gift.
adore the shawl - funny about Camp David - I was reading National Geographic yesterday and there was a photo of it in there and some history about it. Pretty interesting, wonder what it's like to be a neighbor somewhere in that area.
Excuse me but "her onion" is perfect! If she had no butt then the suit would be horrible. Where have you been? Women are paying big bucks to get what she has!
In the video I loved how she did a little Sashay Shante in the shawl.In the words of RuPaul, Mrs. O YOU BETTA WORK! lol
aww she looks great. how many people can put on a random purple shawl and work it like mrs. o? just naturally amazing that first lady of ours. lol and i really want to watch a clip of her full remarks.
@ Bevi, substance and style sums her up perfectly. This makes her more appealing than a lot of the 'fashion icons' out there
The first lady is an A plus in my books!
Someone please tell the lady on the left to take the gum out of her mouth. Damn lady, don't you know you're on TV behind the First Lady?!?!?! STOP CHEWING YOUR CUD!!!!!
I must say that Mrs. O has totally changed the fashion game and brought mixing and recycling of pieces back into style. She has skills in doing it though, so I'd advise those who are intrigued by her technique that it takes a skilled fashion eye to know what works with what, and Mrs. O has that.
Yahoo pic that shows a beautiful shot of her and her beautiful smile (plus she looks about 30 here):http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//090209/480/59b472e946874eb09d1a9002ccfb9413/
Her sweetness comes thru in that shot.
Mark you just made me laugh out loud - I couldn't agree more! Gum should be BANNED in public. Most especially on public transport, to spare the innocent from mouth-open-schlomp-schlomp. Yeeeugh.
ANYway, this beautiful suit ... Sonia Rykiel is such a great designer I'm delighted to see Mrs O in it. I love seeing Michelle in tailored jackets - she's got superb posture anyway and the jackets just nip her in and show her off to her absolute finest. Fabulous.
I love the suit jacket -- it's such a flattering, feminine cut, but still professional and powerful.
Whatever that is pinned to it is a nice touch, as well. And of course the shawl is lovely in contrast.
Kristan
http://jbu.phuzzymath.net/
C+
Off topic... My first time to your site...what a treasure chest on Mrs. O's style, from campaign trail > up to the moment - WOW! Still smiling at the T-shirt that's advertised - what a clever take off on one of Mrs. O's signature looks! Hope someone sends one to her.
Obama Chic: Michelle's Style During the First Three Weeks
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,490446,00.html
Oops-my link didn't work. I really think all should see this beautiful shot of Michelle here in the shawl-
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//090209/480/59b472e946874eb09d1a9002ccfb9413/
MRS. O IS GOING TO BE ON THE COVER OF VOGUE!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/10/AR2009021001579.html?hpid=topnews
I needed to get that out in large caps! How exciting! And, though I don't know the number off top of my head, she will be one of only a handful of African American Women to grace the cover and she is the second First Lady, after Hillary.
Also, she's remaining loyal to Jason Wu. She is wearing a "magenta silk dress". I cannot yet find an image of the cover but am sure it will surface soon.
More details about the picture!
"In the cover photo, taken by Annie Leibovitz, Obama is leaning on a soft beige sofa at the Hay Adams Hotel, where the first family stayed days before the historic inauguration. Obama is wearing a magenta dress by designer Jason Wu, who designed her inaugural ball gown. Her hand rests under her chin. Her left hand folded beneath her. She is wearing a diamond that you do not often see her wearing in recent appearances.
Behind her, light streams in between curtains. It is the pose of the odalisque. "
Ok, I had no idea what "the pose of an odalisque" was. But a quick Google Image search reveals that it's a reference to (19th century??) paintings where the models posed languidly on a sofas and beds.
http://images.google.com/images?ndsp=20&um=1&hl=en&rlz=1B3GGGL_enUS297US297&q=odalisque&start=0&sa=N
I can now definitely picture it. It sounds like a STUNNING picture. I hope we will be seeing it soon.
Well, a few of my comments with links are awaiting moderation, which makes the comment that did go through seem confusing. So, to clarify, Mrs. O is going to be on the March cover of Vogue!
Jenna-yes according to Washington Post. Michelle WILL grace the cover of the March 2009 Vogue magazine. Haven't seen any pics yet-anybody else???
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/10/AR2009021001579.html?hpid=topnews
Omg I am so excited about the Vogue cover, sqweals , cn't wait to see the cover shot
"Behind her, light streams in between curtains. It is the pose of the odalisque.“
Sorry, but Michelle as odalisque doesn't quite compute!
More about Michelle and Vogue:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20090210/michelle-obama-vogue/
Definitely NOT odalisque! http://s.wsj.net/media/Michelle_DV_20090210174204.jpg