Tickled Pink
Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at 3:06 PM 
Image by Saul Loeb / Getty Images
Yesterday the first lady spoke to the annual meeting of the School Nutrition Association in Washington, D.C., where she was warmly received by a crowd of several hundred.
Per the Washington Post: "In her 25-minute speech, the audience of hundreds of food service directors applauded as often and as earnestly as if the first lady were delivering the State of the Union: 15 times in all. And they gave her standing ovations at the beginning and end of her speech."
For the appearance the first lady wore a hot pink dress, with origami folds at the neckline. A jeweled brooch completed the lovely look. Thanks to reader 'Nora' for the title suggestion!
Update #1: Mrs. O's brooch is a 1960s Schreiner piece, acquired from the Carole Tanenbaum Vintage Collection and purchased at Ikram in Chicago.
A few words of perspective from the fabulous Carole Tanenbaum: "What is wonderful about Mrs. O's style is that she is comfortable in her skin and therefore wears clothing casually but elegantly. This is true even when we think of her in evening wear. She choses fabrics that move with her body. Her approach to jewelry is the same. She wears her brooches in unconventional ways, and they look especially great because of this!"
Also, a full-length image of Mrs. O's dress can be seen at InStyle.com, here (thanks to reader 'chrystelle' for the lead).
Update #2: Thanks to reader Rebecca for the tip that Mrs. O's dress might be Talbots - it is! Mrs. O wore a Summer 2009 ponte knit dress from Talbots. Though no longer online, it may be available on sale in some stores.
Reader Comments (38)
Wow, that is really pretty! She looks amazing.
Lovely! She glows in saturated colors and this dress shows her off wonderfully. Loving the makeup, and hair, which is growing back so fast! Shorter hair looks good on her, but I personally prefer a little more length on her. Overall, she looks divine, and although I'm older than FLOTUS in years, I still want to be her when I grow up:)
The dress is either a Moschino or talbots?
The dress is evocative of the grey Mrs. O wore a few days ago - Moschino?
I love the off center placement of the brooch. This is a lovely shade on the First Lady.
Mrs Obama looked nice in pink her speech was good. Today mrs omana wear a gray sweater with marshing gray top and a black pants and a nice peals.but her belt didn't go with what she was wearring. I saw the Pics today am sure you guys will put it up later in here.
Love this color on her! Spring is almost here....!
This dress is very similar to the grey Moschino sheath dress. Great color for her.
Pretty in pink is all I have to say about this look!
I LOVE this gorgeous color on her. I love the fit and the origami design. Her hair and makeup look great. Best of all -- her smile, her character, her jois de vivre shining through from within.
Well written, Nyon. Pretty in pink for sure. And her brooch is to die for. I have actually incorporated a brooch with my boring suit uniform a few times this year. All because of Mrs. O!
Mrs. O looks great! She is single-handedly redefining the 'classic American beauty'. God bless America!
HER HAIR IS AMAZINGGGGGGGG!!!!!
Efflorescent. Impeccable. Make-up applied very well to create a natural rosy look.
Pink dress highlights cheek blush and eye shadow, beautiful blend.
I may be running out of words.... but not Motivation, from our First Lady of stay in shape,
look fit and well toned. Yes, I'm starting now, picked up the dumbells, gotta get rid of flab
on my arms. Fit for spring.
She's just continuing to blossom and come into her own....I adore her.
LOVE THIS!! I wish we saw the full length. I wonder if this is Mochino, it is so similar to the grey dress she wore a couple of days ago.
This color reminds me of raspberry sherbet, the origami details on the bodice can be unforgiving but she works it out. FLOTUS' make-up is spot on and it really picks up the color of her dress. That pin is fantabulous! This is a good look on her.....wonder who designed this dress?
I wish my drawing skills enabled me to translate what I see in my mind’s eye to paper. In my head, I’ve “sketched” several different versions of what the bottom of this dress might look like. Whatever the total silhouette turns out to be….I’m sure the rest of it is just as lovely as the top.
Asereht, u can see the full-length picture of her dress on instyle.com.
it is a very pretty sheath dress.she is wearing it with her pink shoes she wears with her thakoon sommer dress.
Thank you Chrystelle. I just took a look and she does not dissapoint.
@Chrystelle, good looking out, girl! She looks awesome in that dress.....now that's a dress! Those pink pumps set it off!
Very Pretty! Loving the brooch too!
my pleasure.it where i see a lot of Mrs.O full-length pictures.you can even see the McQueen blouse+ navi skirt and black boots combo.i don't know who does their sleuthing but he/she is very competent.
Here's the link Chrystelle found.
@Strong Foru, Let me say this. Powerful statement there. I couldn't have said it better
myself. Exactly right. @Chrystelle thanks for pictures. Enjoyed them.
Just lovely, simple and warm. I do live this woman.
A great, great look! Love the bright color of the dress and the detailing, but I love that brooch even more!
I love the First Lady. I can spend all day looking at pictures of her. She looks sensational here. That colour is shockingly fabulous.
Wow, thanks for that link to Instyle! I was treated to a slideshow feast of recent outfits!
Such a pretty color and a flattering neckline. I hate to say it reminds me of Jackie Kennedy because that sounds like I am not crediting Mrs. O for her individual beauty and style. But it does remind me of Jackie...flash-forwarded to 2010.
Lovely dress, unnecessary and oddly placed brooch IMHO. Takes away from the dress.
In the full length view, it appears that the dress is a bit too snug through the hips.
Michelle is G.L.O.W.I.N.G! Perfection - the hair, the make up, the dress, the colors, THAT BROOCH! Just perfect. Michelle is an artist and her fashion is her art. Look at what she did with that brooch. It's as if it was made to go right there on that dress. Just amazing. She looks so happy. She's in her element with this new "Let's Move!" initiative.
Goooooo Michelle!
The pink is a great color for her, there are very few colors that don't flatter her gorgeous skin.
I have a comment / question for the women. We are in the middle of a cold winter here on the east coast and the majority of my clientele are women. None of my female clients or friends have worn anything sleevless since November. I'm curious if any women out there are already sporting "Spring Sleevless Fashion"?
I'm a big fan of MO, but sometimes feel that the garment selections are out of season and these beautiful dresses should show up in late April or May. She is obviously very comfortable in her choices (she doesn't seem to be shivering from the cold).
I'm just asking because I'm curious....this is not meant as a dig towards MO or anyone wearing sleevless in the winter so please be kind in your response.
@River Rush
Since the sheaths Mrs. O wears, are made from wools, knits, & other worsted fabrics. I'd say she was 'in season.' Additionally, you need to keep in mind that most of these outfits are ensembles with matching jacket or coat. Finally, she's the FLOTUS stepping in and out of limo's shadowed by TBG. Really no need for coat or jacket at the podium or banquet table of the event. Peace . . . no snark intended.
All: Generally, I think we make sweeping assumptions, based on milli-seconds of film. How many of uswould like to be judged by every frame of film someone took of us? God forbid! Just wondering . . .
Lastly, MICHELLE COME BACK IT"S JUST A BLOG & faceless people viewing & commenting on it.
This dress is identical to one I bought at Talbots in August 2009 - I'd swear it's the same dress.
@MICHELLE : is that you posting without ALL CAPS? If it's you, I truly appreciate and applaud your effort!
Love this colour on Mrs O and love the folds, the brooch and of course the smile. Mrs T you say this is a knit - how fine IS that knit?!!!
Absolutely lovely dress, perfectly placed brooch