A Wednesday Evening Dinner Party
Wednesday, March 4, 2009 at 8:33 PM 
The President and First Lady Mrs. O are hosting a dinner in the East Room of the White House this evening, entertaining the congressional committee chairmen, their Republican counterparts and their spouses - 180 guests in total.
Mrs. O is wearing a black velvet pant suit, paired with her oversize Moschino pearl cluster brooch. Said brooch has become a new staple accessory in Mrs. O's wardrobe. Speaking of accessories, a few people have asked about the new watch on Mrs. O's wrist recently, here and in her White House portrait. We've just learned it's a classic Cartier Tank Francaise watch. Fancy!
While this jazzy pantsuit may seem to break with Mrs. O penchant for dresses, it's not unprecedented. The palazzo pants remind us of this Isabel Toledo ensemble Mrs. O wore in June for the Calvin Klein fundraiser event in New York City, paired with a Tom Binns necklace (and repeatedly praised by the editors of Vogue). Though we're partial to a good dress, we love that Mrs. O continues to keep us on our sartorial toes with her easy elegance.
Reader Comments (71)
I like this ensemble! And I'm glad Mrs. Obama is wearing the really lovely brooch again. This evening attire looks to be very versatile. I think we will see it a lot. Any idea who the designer is?
Here's a shot of the shoes!
I like!
http://www.daylife.com/photo/09VM71E1cReJD/Michelle_Obama
I think this is a very safe outfit. It's a working social event. And her outfit reflects both aspects of the event.
Good job Mrs. O!
she looks so comfy, i wish i had a suit that looked half that comfortable.
As moja31 says, comfort above all! I love it! Just by looking at it I feel as if she's comfortable and elegant. Love the velveteen? component and, of course, the brooch.
It's a look that any of us could wear...and look just as good.
Love the way the brooch just pops off the simple black ensemble. It's the perfect touch.
They look so comfortable, elegant and happy. There is such grace in their entertaining.
I love these Wednesdays at the White House!
She looks so much better in black than grey. Elegant outfit. I'd love a closeup of the jacket- the contrasting fabrics adds interest.
She looks beautiful tonight!
Black is beautiful!!!!!!!!!!
So gorgeous, relaxed and happy tonight!
That Isabel Toledo outfit in the opening piece is great too. All black is the way to go with a statement piece of jewellery.
I love the way photos of our first family make me smile.
I think its unfortunate that there has been such an (unjustified)uproar over sleevegate. I am afraid that now our FLOTUS is gonna stick to wearing safe and boring pantsuits. I think without sleevegate she may have worn something more exciting and fashion fwd. Lets not criticize and scrutinize Mrs O to the point were we take the sparkle out of her wardrobe and turn her into a mini Hillary CLinton in pantsuits.
Check out the new slideshow at huffingtonpost on skin baring first ladies
I'm not a fan of this particular outfit. It's blah and predictable. However, her outfit is appropriate for the occasion - dressy enough without being overdressed - and she is properly covered up for the occasion. Guess she heard the cry, and is paying heed about when to show some skin (and there are times when it's fine, like the National Governor's Association dinner dance event) and when not to do so.
I like the look....but mostly I LOVE their smile!
@ Alison, I highly doubt the First Lady went out and bought pantsuits simply because a bunch of anonymous people - likely republicans - feigned outrage over her sleeveless dresses. I am sure she has plenty of pantsuits in her wardrobe (after all she is a professional woman) and she will wear them when SHE feels like it.
Michelle always mixed it up. I think sleevegate was just weird timing. She had the photo-op in the WH kitchen and then the formal (of course, she'd wear sleeveless to the formal governor's ball). Then came the not-so State of the Union speech.
If it wasn't for the Vogue and People cover, and then the release of her official portrait, I don't think her "right to bare arms" would've been as big a deal.
I think she's too confident and self-assured to let her wardrobe choices be dictated by something like sleevegate. Maybe she wore a pantsuit because she felt like wearing a pantsuit.
WORD
Such low-key laid back chic. Luxuriously relaxed.
It appears however peripheral Mrs O has been following the Fall 09 shows, she seems aware that black was all over the runways in NYC and Milan.
Shoes are perfect.
Brooch adds just that single touch of shine - Mrs O is so great at keeping the bling in check.
Less is more.
I love her outfit. She looks comfortable and it fits the ocassion. The shoes and the pin complete the ensemble. Having her hair down fits with the casualness of the evening. As usual, she did a great job! And she'll go sleeveless again when SHE wants to.
I don't like it. It is blah and looks like PJs. I think that purple dress for the speech would have been great here. One of the things with Mrs. O is that she does not know when to wear what. Most of her ensembles are perfectly beautiful, but she needs figure out what works best for specific events. Like the outfit she wore yesterday to greet the wife of the British PM made her look downright dowdy, especially next to the polished look of her counterpart. Perhaps social secretary Desire Rogers can help, she seems to have a great sense of style and occasion and knows what works with the media. And I know she loves flat, bust she seriously needs to make an effort to wear heels every now and then. And yes, I know the work she does and what she says is more important than what she wears, and yes, she has signature things, and yes, she likes her comfort, etc.; she is a striking woman with a great figure and she needs to own it and realize that she is not only dressing for herlsef but also as ambassador of American style before the whole world. And I am pulling for her to look amazing, wonderful and flawless so her beautiful inner strength is enhanced and shines through in the style of the clothes she wears.
Someone mentioned earlier that they hope she switches up her brooches more frequently, but for as much as that piece cost, I'd be wearing it in the SHOWER if I were her. (smile)
I also like to imagine that maybe it was a gift from her boo... (double smile)
In every picture these days, regardless of the outfit, Michelle is just mega-watt radiant. Black velvet is one of my faves. I hope more pictures surface.
The president is quoted as saying at the dinner that they love to have company because they get lonely in such a big house.
More pictures at the huffington post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/04/michelle-obama-wears-pant_n_172011.html
Here's a fun site:
dresslikemichelle dot com
I'm really interested in what she wears, and that's why I read this blog, but in the end it doesn't matter -- she's gorgeous and is doing a fantastic (unpaid) job, and mostly I like that she looks happy and relaxed. And I bet Barack likes that too. So when an outfit is totally fine but not statement-making, that's okay too. And yes, love the brooche.
My goodness look at her adoring smile of Barack while he is speaking. It's almost reminiscent of that "Nancy Reagan stare" that Ronald Reagan got from his loving wife.
They just look so happy. I love that brooch, and I love the fact that she is wearing it again.
Unpaid job, yaaah. I know there are bennies and they signed up for the job, but yes, she is doing a fantastic job getting out there, all unpaid.
I absolutely love this! Perfect for the situation, a perfect way to show she's settling into her role in the WH (remember hostess pajamas, anyone?) and all-around stunning in monochromatic accented with a statement piece of jewelry. I wore something like this just today, except I didn't look half as good in it!
OH, and yes, the shoes!! Sexy and slimming, but flat (they must be because she is not towering over him). What a find. What are these exactly??
michelle has always like to bare it for her man.
look at her in December 2004 preparing for a night out with her buddy, barack.
http://tiny.cc/DIIAh
sleevegate was just a media mix-up to get ratings on our very popular first lady.
Yala-
The more I look at the photo of Michelle and Mrs. Sarah Brown together (which btw is the same dress Mrs. Brown wore in the photo with the Bidens) I am thinking that perhaps Michelle did not over dress because Mrs. Brown did not over dress either, in fact Mrs. Brown looked a bit dowdy too. It appears Michelle was being a bit diplomatic by toning down her fashion icon'ery - perhaps to make Mrs. Brown feel more comfortable.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1159082/Spectacular-wives-Mrs-Brown-Mrs-Obama-hold-formal-meeting---swap-Top-Shop-clothes-model-helicopter.html?ITO=1490
I love the "bunching" of her pant leg as well as the shoes. She looks so relaxed in this ensemble, yet it is so chic, as earlier stated.
Side note - I am in Los Angeles on business - and the Obama signs are everywhere still. This sense of lingering support is so refreshing in the midst of daily media blitzes by those who would love to see POTUS "fail".
It is great that that Obamas keep their keel steady; and that they keep their eye on the prize. Michelle does her part by being optimistic in her demeanor and approachable to so many sectors of our people.
All her outfits are eye candy to me - Love it!
I love the way Michelle mixes things up -
I love this outfit!!
I seem to recall some grumbles from a few days ago about Michelle's style being nothing but "sheaths and cardigans". I pointed out at the time that her fashion choices are VERY dynamic even as she does have certain signature silhouettes. And this is a great example of that. She's been wearing so many flirty, sleeveless dresses and for tonight, she reverts back to a black suit. But it's not just a boring suit--it's velvet and paired with a fierce brooch. I don't think it's a "safe" look at all. I think it is sophisticated and grown-up, but still quirky--and definitely not obvious.
I also LOVE the flats. I am one who generally wants Mrs. O to wear heels, but these shoes with their pointy toes are not even close to dowdy (like many flats can be).
Anyway, I hope Mrs. O enjoyed her evening!
I love Mrs. Obamas outfit. As usual!! :-) She look absolutely stunning in about everything I see her in. I know that it is probably more important to her to be known as a wise and working woman, wife and mother, but I enjoy looking at her clothes too!
Mrs. O looks fabulous. She is entertaining at home and looking relaxed, comfy and elegant. Those who are worried that her arms will be covered from now on...have no fear SUMMER is coming...
Beautiful! Comfortable and classy! Unfortunately black on black does not photograph that well, but one picture I saw looked like there was some detailing on the jacket as well. I like that they are inviting different groups in, but I can imagine this schedule must be exausting!
I love the pantsuit. I would love to see a better view of the pants. But it definitely is not boring! As to her arms they are to die for! Remember Jackie K and her beautifully toned arms in the sleeveless sheaths. Always a beautiful look if one has the arms to carry it off! Michelle has never disappointed me with her choices or her demeanor! We are so fortunate to have such a lovely first lady!
I can't even see the clothes beyond the radiance of those two. They are so confident and in synch - I love to see them together.
She looks great, as always. I'm sure the fact she's wearing sleeves has nothing to do with "Sleevegate." Mrs. O. does what she wants and follows her own style, which is great. She's a beautiful, young, intelligent, vibrant woman. The whole controversy over the bare arms is a non-starter, IMO. Would I wear sleeveless dresses as often as she does, in February in DC no less? Hell no, I wouldn't, but I am ALWAYS cold. Maybe Mrs. O. is one of those people who's always warm? The cold doesn't bother her? Whatever - her arms look amazing and if I had them I'd show them off whenever I could.
BTW my favorite outfit/look so far was the green dress, heels, and soft hair she showed us on the evening of the Stevie Wonder event. Magnificent!
This was not a State dinner, and I don't believe that the Browns were there. It was for selected members of the Senate and Congress. I am sorry to see her attractive velvet pants outfit relegated by anyone here to something she did because "probably Republicans" were commenting negatively on her bare armed look.
She is dressed as any well-bred, affluent woman of her age might dress to entertain at a dinner party on a Wednesday night in her home. The tone was to be rather relaxed and understated but elegant. It was not black tie.
Its theme as stated by the President was a "timeout" presumably from politics. It would be nice to do the same here - stick with fashion, not politics.
Thanks for the great pictures ~ very classy look and appropriate. I am a bit surprised about these weekly and very expensive dinners at the White House, though.
I agree that there is nothing special about this outfit. It's boring and not her style. I also hope she hasn't given in to "armgate". Those people are just jealous haters with nothing better to do. Her arms are beautiful and the dresses were beautiful. This suit is not. The only thing I like about the outfit is the brooch.
BeeGee, Groovymarlin and others: the people who continue to post about "sleevegate" do it only to incite anger from other readers. Please ignore the trolls.
The luxuriousness and glamor of black velvet never shows well in a photograph. On a tall woman, these evening pajamas were probably dramatically stunning.
One of the strategies last night was for the Obamas to seem accessible to their guests. Drop dead, knockout, pull out all the stops glamor and glitz are not accessible.
As with the Queen of England (read up on the parameters for her dress code some time - fascinating), clothes are more than fashion statements. They set tone, they carry meaning.
I second what Lainie said: not everything has to be statement-making. This is pretty and appropriate (no small feat!), but not a headline event. (Although if I wore it it would be my #1 outfit!)
Important note: I didn't think I liked palazzo pants until now. I believe the key is to be 80 feet tall like Mrs. O!
Yes. Please ignore the trolls who spew their soft racism towards Michelle O and "sleeve gate." If Michelle were white nobody would have a problem with her arms.
She'd make a potato sack look great and the jealous lurkers can't stand it.
That is a gorgeous trouser suit and she looks incredible in it. Comfortable and elegant without being too stiff or dressy. I hope they had a great evening and look forward, as ever, to the unfolding sartorial delights of the year!
(Alison? I doubt very much that Mrs O would be cowed by anyone into wearing something she didn't want to wear. I am sure she will continue to have confidence in her own clothes choices.)
Mixing it up has always been Michelle's MO as some of her long time fans know. Nothing new here, folks.
I agree about the velvet looking more matte in photographs but in person it must have looked very luxuriously elegant.
Michelle is lucky to have her height, because it allows her to have a range of looks that some of us couldn't carry off.
i read somewhere that the obamas are footing the bill for entertaining their own guests, if its not a state dinner. they even pay for their own food while in the while house, like people do when they're staying in hotels.
Not quite like staying in a hotel. They buy their personal groceries and liquor. These are then prepared by the White House chef(s) for their family's use or their personal guests.
I'm not sure where last night's dinner would fall on their expense spectrum. I have a hunch that they would not have paid for it as it was "official" entertaining as president, although not a state dinner.