Simply Stunning
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at 10:18 PM 
Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Time Inc.
We are beside ourselves, our First Lady is so beautiful. Really, there are no words.
Mrs. O is in New York City this evening, to address Time Magazine's "100 Most Influential People" gala.
Update: Red Carpet Fashion Awards reports that Mrs. O wore a simple black sleeveless Azzedine Alaia gown, with a Peter Soronen corset, accessorized with multiple strands of necklaces by Loree Rodkin, and simple diamond stud earrings.
Correction: Mrs. O wears a Michael Kors square neck gown in stretch, double face wool crepe. 
Photo by The White House
A fantastic slideshow from Talking Points Memo follows here.
REMARKS OF FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA TIME MAGAZINE'S 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE AWARDS New York, NY; May 5, 2009
Thank you Rick for that kind introduction and thank you for including me in tonight's festivities. It is a pleasure to join you all. There are few times in history when the saying 'we are all in this together' would be more applicable than now. Events like this one show how truly connected our world is; how one person's invention can create an entirely new economy; how one person can change how we see the world. The ability of one person to influence the outcome of someone else's life inspires me.
When I made the decision to leave my job to found Public Allies Chicago, an AmeriCorps program that prepares youth for public service, I realized right away that I had made the right decision.There are few things more rewarding than watching young people recognize that they have the power to enrich not only their lives, but the lives of others as well. But careers in public service are not always encouraged. We push our young people to strive for things, an advanced degree, a job title, a big salary. Rarely do we urge them to stop and think about what their passion is, what kind of life they want to live, what kind of neighbors and colleagues and parents they want to be.
In doing so, we, as a society, often miss out on their creativity, their inventiveness, their resourcefulness- and some really good ideas! We also miss out on the opportunity to inspire a new generation of innovators and entrepreneurs who will direct their energy and talent toward solving their community's - and our nation's - most serious social problems. Careers focused on lifting up our communities - whether helping transform troubled schools or training workers for green jobs or helping low-income families access health care - are not always obvious. But, at a time when our nation is facing unprecedented challenges, encouraging careers in public service and social innovation is more important than ever. Already, we are seeing young people leading the way with their entrepreneurial spirit, energy and commitment to serving their communities.
For example, Charles Best, a former Bronx public school teacher, started an online philanthropic marketplace called Donors Choose to help teachers who were spending up to $500 a year out of their own pockets for basic classroom materials. Through Donors Choose, ordinary citizens can directly fund projects initiated by enterprising public school teachers. Online donations have helped students in San Jose become avid readers through the Dr. Seuss series. An art class in the Bronx had no paint brushes. Now every student has a set.
Rebecca Onie is a social entrepreneur who founded "Project Health" to help break the link between poverty and poor health. I remember meeting Rebecca when I was at the University of Chicago and I was very impressed with her. Rebecca organizes college students to staff Help Desks in urban medical centers, universities and community centers. Students then connect low-income families to other critical community and government resources - such as housing vouchers, supplemental nutrition assistance, and educational support. This year, 600 college volunteers will dedicate 100,000 hours to connect over 15,000 low-income children and adults to the resources they need to be healthy."
And then there is John Alford who grew up in a housing project in Brooklyn, attended college in North Carolina and then Harvard Business School. John recently launched NOLA 180 a 'turn-around' organization for failing public schools in New Orleans. NOLA 180 transforms these public schools into high-functioning charter schools that prepare every student for college. Langston Hughes Academy is the first school to benefit. Students spend 50 percent more time in their classrooms. Parents are given teacher's cell phone numbers so they can call for help with homework. And, in honor of their namesake, Langston Hughes, students receive instruction in persuasive writing, public speaking, debate and poetry. In its first year, Langston Hughes students outperformed the city's public school average in reading, writing and math.
Charles, Rebecca and John. I know they are here somewhere. Congratulations and thanks for all of your hard work. This is exactly the kind of social innovation and entrepreneurship we should be encouraging all across this country.
And that is why tonight, I am pleased to announce that as part of the new Serve America Act, the Administration is creating a Social Innovation Fund to help innovative nonprofit groups and social entrepreneurs, like the ones I just mentioned, expand their successful approaches to tackling our most pressing national challenges. The idea is simple: find the most effective programs out there and then provide the capital needed to replicate their success in communities around the country. By focusing on high-impact, results-oriented non-profits, we will ensure that government dollars are spent in a way that is effective, accountable and worthy of the public trust.
In this room of Leaders and Revolutionaries, Builders and Titans, Artists and Entertainers, Scientists and Thinkers, Heroes and Pioneers, I think we can all agree, we did not get to where we are alone. Our success was made possible with the encouragement of a diligent parent or teacher, a grandparent who told us we had real talent, an older sibling who paved the way and set a good example, a scholarship or grant that created an unexpected opportunity, or a neighbor or community leader who told us to dream big. That's certainly been the case in my own life.
I stand here today because of people who loved me, and pushed me and believed in me. I stand here today because of scholarships and grants and experiences that gave me opportunities I was afraid to dream of. I never imagined that, as a result of all that support, I would be in a position to be a role model for girls around the globe. Girls who look at me and see something more for themselves, more than society expects of them. Girls who now think anything is possible. As global leaders, let's not underestimate the power each of us has to change the world for someone - and let us not be afraid to try.
Loree Rodkin, Michael Kors, Peter Soronen in Outfits
Reader Comments (332)
@ Jay -- Gee, I don't know. Are you paying for them?
@ Leah D -- Hater! HAAAATTEEEERR!!!! Ha! I'm just kidding. But this is proof we've been looking at these pictures too long! Ya'll need to go to bed. All right, *I* need to go to bed.
Jay,
Uhm...Dear if you checked the previous post on Mrs.O you would have seen she wore the same dress again...LoL
If fact if check many of the post Ms.T have put of Mrs.O she has reworn many outfits. So, yes she recycles her clothing. But then again when you want to hate on some one you don't let facts get in the way.
I think Michelle looked great tonight. And the folks "tryning" to find fault with this look are just nitpicking. Nobody is perfect either was Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton, Barbara Bush etc..all the previous First Ladies defined there OWN styles.
Mrs. T, I don't know if that matters or not in temRs of legal copyright issues, but you should change the year at the bottom of the page to 2009' it still says 2008. These days one can never be too careful!
FOR GOODNESS SAKES why do some of you think people hate with every comment they post. If you've read all my comments they've be very positive. I have always liked the idea that Mrs.O repeats her cloths like normal people do.
I was wondering the number of clothes she has to buy for the next eight years without being criticized for repeating them.
Jay. You put absolutely NONE of that context in your post. All you asked is, is she going to wear this expensive stuff for the next eight years? Since that is a common refrain among Obama critics, it was taken as criticism. If it's not criticism and an honest question -- how can any of us answer that? None of us are close enough to her to have any idea what she's going to wear on a day to day basis.
But, if you have been here a while, you would have seen literally dozens (okay, maybe a dozen) expensive pieces that she has worn more than once, including just earlier today. So, forgive us for not understanding your tone or remembering everyone who posts here. Sometimes tone doesn't always come across in this medium.
Then all the more reason for not jumping on every dissenting opinion and resor to name calling?
A very classic look, one she can pull off because of her height and build. The beads are great -- a touch of casual spontaneity. I like her hair up, it's a great way to show off her shoulders.
I say Michael Kors.
simply FIERCE!!!
This is a nice pic of the First Lady Michelle Obama on Sesame Street:
http://www.daylife.com/photo/0c7zfoq0P09ZW?q=michelle+obama
Lilly, you're going to have to tell me where I called someone a name in this thread or any other.
This dress does have a sporty Kors feel about it, doesn't it? Intrigued!
These beautiful comments bring tears to my eyes. Long live the Obamas!
I was out with girlfriends tonight and couldn't help wondering for a minute what Michelle was wearing. Couldn't wait to get home to see pics. It sure didn't help that the event was right around the corner from where we were.
So I just logged on and all I can do is GASP! I love it!
WOW
WOWOWOWOWOW
This dress is simply stunning, she looks fabulous, her hair and accessories are perfect, I am just speechless
Gorgeous! I've been mostly lurking in recent days but this dress has totally amazed me. It reminds me of her Maria Pinto looks because it's so body conscious and classic.
Her waist is super, duper tiny!!!!!! Gosh. She must work out A LOT to get that body.
OUTSTANDING!!!
Christina: My apologies if you were only kidding when u referred to Leah D as a Hater above. However, there are some posters who do truly take every negative comment to heart.
I love this new hairstyle. It's sophisticated and yet so simple. I love how she does this. And the dress, WOW. And sleeveless, hehe.
Mandi Norwood's new book is out, Michelle Style. I see a sequel in the works!
http://www.obama-mamas.com/blog/?p=220
Grecian goddess, standing there like a pillar of strength. My dear First Lady, you are just too fly.
In this stunner, she evokes a caryatid, one of those beautifully sculpted feminine figures found in the Pantheon and other ancient Greco-Roman masterpieces.
Michelle a.k.a Renaissance, I am in awe.
Here is an image of the Sesame street appearance.
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//090506/480/00c47939608249c7ba4bd2ae14ceafbb/
NEW PHOTO up on Yahoo of Michelle during the Seseame Street taping .. she has on a blue-green sweater and a white top with blue-green trim.
Lilly, yes Christina was joking, she said so in her comment - no harm done.
Spectacular!!!!
Not only does she look beautiful, but I read her speech on HuffPost and it was just as simple and brilliant as her dress.
All the pics of Mrs. O and the other guests, especially those at WireImage, give the impression that this was a much more stylish event than the Met Gala. In fact, the entire event, epitomized by the First Lady, seems a definition of how style trumps fashion every time. Substance is beautiful!
@alsace, I agree. Style will always win in an epic battle with Fashion. The ladies at the Met seemed over done and looked liked caricatures of themselves. It was quite an odd scene.
This harkens back to Oscar night. Joan Rivers and company were gawking at Hollwood's finest, when the real deal was entertaining in the Executive Mansion. There is no need to mention what she wore because it is etched in all of our brains.
the shape of her hair is just lovely. which she could wear that smooth,sort of cap-like sweep everyday( not necessarily short)
she looks lovely...
ABSOLUTELY STUNNING......I AM AWE STRUCK. YOU LOOK LIKE A WORK OF ART. LOVE THE LOOK.
just to defend the ladies at the Met, it is supposed to be "costumy" and slightly overdone, while trying to remaind fashionable :-)
Best. First Lady. EVER.
@ Lilly -- not a problem!
@ Leah D -- yeah, I was just messin' with you. I'm glad you knew not to take me seriously. No one should take me seriously! :)
I wonder if this dress is nipped in at the waist as it appears, or is that an optical illusion made by the lectern?
what do you guys think, which looks even more stunning, the Peter Sorensen dress from the governor's ball, or this (I can't decide, they are both spectacular looks!)
SUPERB! Now that's what I call STYLE. A few years from now, this look will still look glamorous, feminine and sophisticated.
apparentely the dress was alia and is was navy blue.
she looked great
The power of a Woman !
The power of a Woman !
The power of a Woman !
The power of a Woman !
The power of a Woman !
The power of a Woman !
The power of a Woman !
YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYES!ravishing, elegant, class, cute !
Mrs Obama, this is the kind of dress which you should continue to wear, structured , simple and no fuss!
You look absolutely georgous !!
by the way, there is a picture out of Mrs. O with the jacket that Ivory Jason Wu made with her inauguration ball gown (Im not sure if you are able to get permission to post it Mrs. T, but it is in the inauguration picture book, where Tom Brokaw of NBC wrote the preface)
I must say, Im glad she went with using the president's jacket, because I did not like that jacket from what I saw
ps; I saw it on Morning Joe this morning, Im sure someone can find the clip, Tom Brokaw was talking about the book, and the clip flashed by
First class look for a First class First lady.
Oh.My.God, Simply stunning!
fantastically beautiful!
Mrs. O just exudes class, style and substance. She looks magnificent.
Has anyone discovered her secret to such gorgeous skin? I would love to know what she uses. Sigh.......
I found this quote from nydailynews(dot)com. I just couldn't believe that this dress is navy blue, as mentioned by tia2 from above. It looks black in every photo I've seen. Also, I didn't know Alaia did gowns like this. And surely didn't believe that Mrs. O layered it herself with a Soronen corset. I thought the corset was built into the dress. My favorite First Lady looks have been Alaia and Soronen---I hope they get their props for this outfit.
"For evening, the First Lady changed into city-perfect cocktail attire - a stunning floor-length navy blue gown from high-end French designer Azzedine Alaia, layered with a corset from her Chicago favorite, Peter Soronen - to deliver a keynote address at the Time 100 Most Influential People Awards at Time Warner Center"
"Fashion fades, style is eternal"
-Yves Saint Laurent
"A girl should be two things. Classy and fabulous"
-Coco Chanel
Mrs. O is the epitome of great style, class and over all fabulousness. This picture especially captures that.
BTW, There's a picture of Michelle with Elmo on the Huffington Post in their Style section. It looks like she's wearing the same cardigan she wore on the cover of Essence with her mom and a matching striped tank or t-shirt underneath. She looks cute as usual.
Good detective work, Janelle.
It's really hard to see navy here - what an interesting overlay of a corset. Hope more photos appear that can show the detail.
Absolutely elegant.
Wow on the dress.
Don't hate me, but I have a question about Mrs. O's eyebrows. I have thought for awhile that they are drawn higher than they actually are, and if you look at the last of the HuffPost photos you can see her natural eyebrow ridge. Block off that area of the photo, don't you think she'd look younger if they were drawn lower?
I just love this woman...."Spectacular" is the only word I can think of when I see her..... I think i may just love her more than the President!!!!!
Check out this photo gallery of some of the stars that came out for the event. There are even some photos of Mrs.O interacting with Oprah and the ladies of The View.
http(colon)//theybf(dot)com/index(dot)php/2009/05/06/times-100-most-influential-people-party/#more-11041
Omigod, she looks beyond stunning!
The tight material between the chest and the waist not only flatters her form but is also a great detail, making this elegant black dress just a little more unique.
Kristan
http://jbu.phuzzymath.net/
The speech is really inspirational. Michelle's message is positive and her regal appearance truly blends fashion with style.
I found it interesting that Michelle addressed policy - which shows that at times she will relay the administration's actions. It strikes me that Michelle has a very full plate. Perhaps more so than previous first ladies? Or does it appear that way because this administration is more closely examined than any other?
I can't wait for the White House press correspondents' dinner. Does anyone know who the keynote speaker will be?