Wednesday
Oct202010
The White House Pumpkin Patch
Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at 9:57 PM 
Image by Alex Wong / Getty Images
Fall is upon us! Mrs. O made a second appearance today, hosting students from Tubman and Bancroft Elementary schools for the White House Garden Fall Harvest. Special guests included chefs Daniel Boulud and James Kent. On a style note, please admire the first lady's amazing boots! Might they be the Tory Burch Connell Chain-Trim Boot, seen here?
Update: Mrs. O wears the Herringbone T-Shirt from the Thakoon Fall Winter 2010 collection.
tagged Thakoon, Tory Burch
Thakoon, Tory Burch
Reader Comments (48)
Mrs. O's clothes are just perfect for working in the garden. And I love the boots. Most of all, I love the work our First Lady is doing, with such grace and class!
Looking gardening-chic!
Love the boots...very cool!
Lovely pic of her!
Try as they may, can't take away this amazing woman's ability to ease into, and own any situation or circumstance she finds herself in!!!
A fantastic role model - daughter, wife, mother, First Lady. She does it all so easily and so beautifully!!!
Ditto to Eleroy. And she does it all in fab-u-loso boots. Definitely the Tory Burch's.
Fabulous boots and a great top! Can't wait to see what she wears when she comes to the Seattle area!
LOVE MRS OBAMA BOOTS THEY ARE CUTE MALIA HAD THE SAME ONE SHE WEAR HERS WHEN THEY WAS ON SPINGS BREACK. LOVE HER TOP THE JACKET SHE WEAR BEFORE HER PANTS IS A LITTLE TIGHT BUT ITS LOOKED GOOD ON HER.
Well said, eleroy. She looks lovely. I like the boots.
Lovely. Good pieces, perfect for a gardening morning.
The expressions on those kids' faces - they're both so open and sweet. What a lovely photograph. The whole picture just makes me think of the value of kindness, especially within small moments like this.
Sometimes I wonder how she would dress if she were in the White House during the Kennedy era -- would she be as formal as Jackie? No doubt she would always look amazing... but the way she pushes boundaries of how a First Lady is supposed to dress, I wonder what she would do to shake up the 50's-60's!
p.s. Christen -- I am also in Seattle and excited to see how she rocks it :)
I'd love to get those boots!
Eleroy, so true. The great ones always make it look easy.
Love the boots
Way cool boots...Hair sharp as always!
I knew Michelle Robinson in high school, not close friends but acquaintances, and if anyone had asked me, then, if she would be first lady, I would have said yes. I knew then she was destined for greatness just didn't know how. It was Barack Obama's good fortune to meet her and have her take him to the pinnacle. She is so lovely and authentic. Her style cannot be pinned down because she is so diverse on so many levels, she is willing to push the edge without loosing her wholeness. I love her.
I just don't understand wearing $495 leather boots to work in a garden
This outfit demonstrates a number of things--freshness, youth, culture (if you know what I mean), and style. I cannot imagine a past First Lady pulling this off; not even my other favorite style icon Jackie Kennedy.
I noticed her boots immediately! Also, really like her blouse.
What about the sleek black pants? I love how they have a bit of stretch and are fitted, but not those dreadful strech pants that have plagued fashion this year. A perfect match for the andorondack jacket as well.
Hot boots!
I cringe every time Mrs. T posts a link with a price attached to Mrs. O's pieces because of the inevitable faux outrage over perceived extravagance.
What is the point of having money if you can't spend it?
Mrs.O better bring those boots to Seattle. It's going to rain for the next week or so.
Char from Seattle
One of the most beautiful women in history. She has more grace then any other first lady.
I love the entire outfit, but I must comment that given the economic climate in many parts of the country, does Mrs. O HAVE to wear such expensive boots just for walking around in dirt? I was quite surprised to see the price of those boots. I think her childhood obesity cause is wonderful, but I think people would also feel a bit better if she wore boots that came from Target or Walmart, or some place comparable for something like gardening. The kids don't care how stylish her footwear is.
I just think she was wearing those boots to make jane feel good about herself.
Dear PTA,
Sorry for the double post, but I read yours and I just wanted to ask - Can you tell us more? The Obamas strke me as being very much in the same PR situation as the Kennedys. The hatred generated toward them was equal to the love and admiration they got. I had a friend who dated John Kennedy Jr. and she said he was the most amazing person she'd ever met. She shared some real stories about a very real and remarkable human being. Mrs. Obama stries me as a person who, the more you get to know her, the more admirable she becomes. Since this is a fashion blog - I love the boots. I'm going to save up and get a pair. But fashion is the least of this woman's talents.
McKinley, I agree with you on the having money and not spending it comment. I mean she is the FIRST LADY of the UNITED STATES! What would be said if she showed up with cheap, grungy shoes, knowing that she will be photographed!? Knowing that somebody would say something like could she not have worn nicer shoes/boots??!1 If she showed up for this event wearing anything less, I think I would have a problem with it. I think she SHOULD look sharp even down to her $495.00 boots
What ever happened to Chrystelle from Germany, I always enjoyed her posts
Those boots are dy-no-mite on Mrs. Obama! Her entire ensemb is just perfect for this outing!
@McKinley. Ditto...about the point of having money! Nothing's wrong with Payless shoes, but why buy them if you don't have to! I've always preferred quality over quantity, myself.
Mrs. O should not wear boots from Target or Walmart, unless she wants to. I dont wear boots from either of these places and I'm no first lady. To me those boots look similar to the link but not the same. Remember the whole hoopla over the million dollar sneakers that turned out not to be?
Overall, nice outfit.
I can handle Target or Walmart for some of my clothing, but when it comes to my feet - I cannot wear cheap shoes. The material burns my feel. So - maybe our First Lady have the same problem.
And honestly I think suggesting our First Lady wear cheap shoes is - well - TOTALLY INSANE.
For gardening, there is nothing wrong with gardening clogs that cost significantly less than the Tory Burch boots, which are a fashion, not practical item. Flotus rocks the boots, but it isn't the right venue. If you want to convey authenticity as a gardener, wear rubber clogs (or to be cool Hunter clogs) and save the Tory Burches for other occasions. As someone said, the kids don't care and everyone else will be denied the pile on her expensive mis-steps. The garden should be a place where she wears what people who actually garden wear. I love her fashion, but gardens are real work places, not photo ops and she'd do better to dress that way. What is her message? The whole country is hurting, but I have money so I buy what I want? The fashion is just distracting from the important message of nutrition, organic food, etc. She has plenty of venues to be fashion forward, so why use the garden?
This outfit is one word - groovy. Those children must love seeing their First Lady looking so fly! I think she loves to dress for the kids. She knows they appreciate the look. I need me that top, those pants, and especially those boots.
PS - the student with the plaid shirt is in Heaven admiring the First Lady!!
I too like the outfit.
Mrs T. if we could reference look books instead of retail sites when possible it might be better. Not to tell you how to run your site.
I think rich people who can afford to pay for american designer pieces should do so, those who can't can use the boots as inspirations and buy what they can afford. Putting money into the economy helps the country in the long run.
@Tammy that is a great idea.
FLOTUS News:
Her and POTUS will be heading to India two weeks from today, where they will spend 5 days. I expect FLOTUS to wear some Indian inspired outfit for the official state dinner.
"The whole country is hurting, but I have money so I buy what I want?"--Leslie
Newsflash: The whole country is not hurting. There is still plenty of money around. And in our consumer driven economy, it needs to be spent. Take an economics class or better yet just look up Japan's woes and see what happens when people clench money with a death grip.
Instead of knocking her, invest in J.Crew. And spend your dividends.
Wow, McKinley, is it really necessary to condescend to make your point? I wasn't saying she shouldn't buy the boots, just that a more practical gardening shoe would be more appropriate for an actual harvest. The boots are great; my only point is that the outfit, while fashionable, is not what most people who actually do garden would wear. I wear my Tory Burch boots to the movies, or shopping, or out to dinner. In my garden, I pull on my Hunter boots or rubber clogs. I wish I knew who made the anorak she is wearing...
Following up on Leslie's comment, I think stylish, expensive gardening clothes and shoes/boots would allow Mrs. O to shine as our First Lady and also communicate her serious commitment to "real" gardening and nutrition. I just think this kind of outfit is a bit silly in the garden--fine for attending a sports event or shopping at an outdoor market. Just my opinion and my advice to Mrs. O.
" I wear my Tory Burch boots to the movies, or shopping, or out to dinner."
Well just like you Leslie, Mrs Obama chooses to wear hers as she pleases and she's picked her garden. Where's the problem?
Could someone please add a link to the following ABC GMA video:
Michelle Obama's power to move markets
First Lady Fashion, First Class Finances 99350 News, Meg Oliver reporting, The first lady's choice of outfits can lead to big stock increases - and more. Billions of dollars at stake
2008 - 2009 she made 189 public appearances during 29 she wore clothes by public companies whose sales increased ...
Belle
People seem to be missing my point regarding Mrs. O's expensive boots. Yes, I'm sure she can afford them, and yes, perhaps she needs expensive footwear because of a problem with her feet. My point was that I think she could have gotten a more reasonably priced pair of footwear than something that cost over $400. Unless she HAS to wear expensive footwear because of a health reason, I was thinking it would be nice to set an example that more average priced boots would have been just as nice. And people, I'm not limiting her purchases to Target or Wal-mart. There are PLENTY of other places where Mrs. O could purchase a nice boot at a lesser cost. I'm sorry if I hit a nerve with others.
Belle, thank you for sharing the video, which I've posted to the related story and pushed back up to the front of the homepage. xx Mrs. T
@leslie
I did not know you set the standard for when to wear Tory Burch boots. Some of you need to stop trying to impose the way YOU dress on Michelle. Furthermore, I did not know there was a uniform that one should wear to garden.
@brc
It's her money, and her body. Why are you concerned about what she spend on her clothes? Some of you need seem to want Michelle not to like nice clothes. Stay out her and POTUS bank account!!!!!!!! I never remember hearing Laura Bush needs to wear a pants suit from Target.
Some of you are a little too concerned with how much Michelle spends on her clothes!!!!
I think she's our "Lady Di" .... and Lady Di used to wear good old Wellies ... I think Di would have saved the Tory Burch boots for dancing and harvested the garden in the Wellies ... my thought is that "Lady Michelle" would look very very chic in Wellies . ..
Because she is in the public eye, whether she wants the job or not, being a role model comes with the territory (of public life). She also provides any anti=O's with ammunition and fault finding, and she doesn't need to be making their job any easier than it is. No sensible gardener wears expensive anything to work and sweat in a garden...how she spends her money for travel/dress-up/personal appearances will always come under scrutiny. Despite all this, she is still a favorite first lady in my book.
It matters very much what Mrs O wears on her feet. These delicious boots will now be sold out (or near to), because women all over the world will see a stylish flat boot that can go anywhere - which, as any mother with a good job and a good income will know, is The Golden Boot.
Mrs T posted a wonderful article recently about how much money Mrs O generates for the fashion industry when she wears a single item that can be identified. These boots will make SO much money for Tory Burch - people may go to the website and not buy these boots but another pair - and check back in the spring to see what else is in.... They may buy two pairs of these and something else. A shop may decide to invest in Tory Burch next year and put in an order which helps them to plan or take on more staff.
When people criticise Mrs Obama for wearing beautiful clothes in an unusual setting I think they often fail to look at other aspects of what we are seeing - not least the fact that when we saw the garden recently in some detail (TV interview - wandering through the garden?) there are neat and well trodden pathways in between the vegetables. It's not like she's slithering about in a filthy allotment in which case maybe walking boots would be a better idea.
Plus, leather boots come up beautifully when they are cleaned. It's not that you *can't* wear them in the rain and mud, it's that we have become used to the urban idea that you *don't*. Forgetting that leather shoes have been the staple footwear of gardeners, climbers, coachmen, cavalry men and soldiers on ground slightly less tame than the White House vegetable garden!!!
Therefore, I feel that it's a tad naive to say that she "should" wear cheaper or different boots for gardening. The fact is, she didn't. And these were lovely, and flat, and quite rugged soled, and why not? She earned the money, she can buy 'em, if she wants.....
I still love the fact that she just looks like someone's very attractive mother at a school outing. Does she rock? Oh yes she does.
@ Roberta,
It's been several days since this photo has been posted, unfortunately it took me this long to come across your post regarding the First Lady wearing these particular boots in the garden. I find your comments "interesting" on several levels. First, why are you so wound up about the First Lady wearing this very beautiful, durable, and practical pair of boots in her garden? What is it? Is it because some have identified these boots as a Tory Burch, and therefore, expensive. Is that what have you so worked up. Well, news flash to you, it's because they are such a well-designed and made boots that allows the First Lady to wear them any and everywhere. After spending so much for them why should she put them on a shelf in her closet to worship it and gather dust? I say show their flexibility by wearing them everywhere and often. That's the beauty of buying well-constructed clothes and accessories, they have the potential of lasting a lifetime so long as they are well maintained. Another thing you may want to keep in mind, the fact that since the First Lady has a penchant of repeatedly wearing her clothes, shoes and other accessories several time over like most "normal, ordinary" people, it makes sense that she would purchase items that are well-constructed and made of the best and finest materials for in the long run, these items will last forever and they are more cost-effective. There is a difference between a pair of shoes purchased from Payless vs a pair of custom-made shoes handcrafted from the finest Italian or Brazilian leather. Secondly, the idea that the First Lady should only dress in a certain way to "appease" her critics or to minimize negative comments from the "haters" on the Right is ludicrous. Big flash to you, these cowardly people are of no account and have never and will never show any degree of respect or common decency to the Obamas. So this First Lady do not have to waste her time addressing these poor souls, instead, from all appearances, she will continue to strut her stuff and look magnificent while doing so. Remember, a woman of substance doesn't have to crawl into the sewer to prove herself worthy to those who abide there!
Where are the pants from?