Wednesday
Apr072010
Mrs. O in Good Housekeeping
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 at 1:59 PM 
PRNewsFoto/Good Housekeeping
The first lady is on the cover of Good Housekeeping's May 125th anniversary issue, wearing a teal wrap dress, accessorized with a classic strand of pearls. The first lady's Garavelli diamond flower pin - a gift from the president - adds a touch of sparkle and personal sentiment. Lovely!
Update: Mrs. O wears a Michael Kors Marine Stretch Matte Jersey Starlet sheath dress on her cover of Good Housekeeping
tagged Garavelli, Michael Kors
Garavelli, Michael Kors
Reader Comments (61)
I'm sure it's just me, but faux pearls are like the go-to card for First Ladies. And I hate them. The draping and gathering in that dress don't call for a necklace. But she herself looks great.
Thank MS T
I WILL LOOK OUT FOR IT. FLOTUS LOOKS LOVELY AS ALWAYS
Oh my. I think that's my favourite cover. Hands down. She looks so elegant but you know you'd still get a hug if you wandered in. Love it! (Have we seen that dres before???)
Erin I could not respectfully disagree more, the pearls with the Mr. O gift pin is really a nice touch of elegance to a beautifully drapt dress. She looks gorgeous. It is a shame that they felt the need to airbrush her. Magazines need to get it together and relax on that. I'm hoping that the computer is exaggerating the airbrush affect and that once I see this mag in person, it'll look less obvious. Damn. Why ruin a good thing?
Wow, she looks lovely. It's a very flattering shade and cut/twist on her.
Michelle looks lovely. I think the dress is good with a necklace. I think I would have put the pin on a shoulder and worn a different necklace -- not pearls. Michelle does this a lot -- comes up with her own take on things, like attaching the pin to the pearls. It's creative, I'll give you that.
She never ceases to amaze me! Thanks to Mrs. O I've discovered more ways to wear pins than I'd ever imagined.
IVA IS THAT THE BROACH ON THE PEARLS THAT POTUS GAVE THE FIRST LADY FOR THERE
ANNIVERSARY? I CANNOT SEE IT VERY WELL.
Beautiful dress, beautiful FLOTUS, beautiful jewelry. But, yes, there is a whole lot of airbrushing going on, esp. around the hairline. No need for this, folks! Let the beautiful FLOTUS BE.
Erin--why do you think they are "faux pearls"?
Yeah, I like the necklace/pin combo as well. They did go overboard with the airbrushing and what's up with hairbrushing her hairline. It looks like she has a lacefront on and I can't stand the way that looks.
Btw, Mrs. O looked adorable today at her townhall meeting. It was on C-Span so they probably will play it again or it might be on the website. Mrs. O is so personable and I loved how she interacted with the kids at the end and even answered some more questions while she was shaking their hands. Here's a pic:
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//100407/ids_photos_ts/r1941989057.jpg/
There is a good discussion about the airbrushing of this photo on Jezebel (http://jezebel.com/5511687/good-housekeeping-gives-michelle-obama-a-photoshop-facelift). Michelle is certainly gorgeous and this photoshopped picture botches that natural beauty up, which is unfortunate. Love the dress though!
I hear you IVA, the air brushing was needless. Anytime it is clearly evident (as it is with her hairline) it's too much and distracting. I don't want to get on a soap box and preach, so that will be the end of my rant on this. Our Michelle looks beautiful in this dress and I like the pearls, to me they are classy. It's good to see her get mileage out of that beautiful anniversary pin. She's a great example for all of us!
@ CMB the brooch is the gift from POTUS. Don't know about the pearls. These are two separate pieces. Remember she added this brooch (pinned it on the side of the pearls that time) when Oprah interviewed them around the holidays.
@ Nyon - Tyra did the lacefront too much and I agree, that's not cute. One thing I've always noticed about Mrs. O is that her hairline is natural in that it's not 100% clean-lined.
IVA, yeah Tyra did and a lot of women around here have started wearing them and you can so tell. Nobody's hairline is that perfect and it just looks odd to me so that's why I don't like it.
the cover photo looks photoshopped...
THANK IVA
I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE PIN. I COULD NOT SEE IT WELL IN THE PICTURE.
THE POTUS MUST LOVE WHEN THE FLOTUS WEAR THAT PIN.
PS PLEASE KEEP THE POTUS SAFE ON HIS TRIP TO PRAGUE.
They so did not need to airbrush her! It makes me so mad to see her beautiful skin and hair end up looking so matte and lifeless! Good Housekeeping should be ashamed of what they did to a naturally beautiful woman.
I recently started wearing some pins I no longer wear on my necklaces and people loved the look!
Compare this "photo" with Jessica Simpson on the May 2010 Marie Claire cover. They should have let Mrs. O be Mrs. O! I'm not saying she should have done it "au naturel" like Ms. Simpson but just let the woman's real beauty shine through...............for goodness sake, this airbrushed cover is a travesty. Good Housekeeping is getting raked over the coals, by the way!
Airbrush ? I hardly noticed it. Mrs O is perfect anyway so any amount of airbrushing is wasted on her because she doesn't need it. The picture is simply gorgeous, lovely smile, beautiful dress and accessories. She's a babe !
erin,
I tend to agree about the pearls, and i think mrs. o's gone a little heavy on the single strand of pearls since the start of the year. it seems to be the go to accessory to make an accomplished woman seem non-threatening & homely (hence the omnipresent pearls now that she's really out there launching her initiative), it's a tad "ladies who lunch" meets 1950s housewife for my tastes.
that said, i like the way she's wearing them in this instance, the addition of the brooch makes it interesting.
as for the airbrushing issue, it does seem that someone got a bit overzealous, but jessica simpson hardly went "au natural" for her cover, more like "natural looking makeup."
Um-m lovely but predictable I still prefer the black and white outfit in the previous post.
IVA, I think the pin makes it personal and so I don't dislike it as much as if it was just the strand itself. I just have a thing about pearls, maybe. They don't seem particularly modern to me. A colored strand would've been nice and a curve ball for the entire look. Mrs. O could borrow some from Nancy Pelosi - she has A LOT of them! And LW - you're right. I have no idea if the strand is real or not and shouldn't have assumed. You know what they say...the first three letters of assume spell.....!!!
Mrs T - I have actually been dying to figure out for a while now, whether Michelle's current strand of pearls is real and as well, her double strand. I know she wore a gobstopper strand last year, but those were a lot bigger in size and recognizably Carolee by the hook. And for that matter, can you please figure out what perfume she wears! inquiring minds want to know!
The Cover is atrocious! Good Housekeeping should fire whoever is responsible for this, and issue an apology. this is NOT a good look.
How do you spell ELEGANT and classy? m-r-s-o
In my books, jewellry comes and goes but pearls will be around forever. Single strand or double strand - I wear mine with jeans and casual wear at the weekend or corporate suits for work. Every lady should have a string of pearls in her jewellry box.
Said many times on this blog that not a fan of those pearls. So I will desist from commenting on the pearls again. Like the dress. I have a coral blue jersey dress just like this that I bought at Target for $19.99. So comfy and beautiful. Love wearing it. Had it on this weekend and went straight from running errands with my husband while wearing flats and then throwing on heels from the trunk of the car to go to a club. It was fun!
Beautiful dress, great color. Love the twist front! I also like the addition of the brooch to the pearls.
NICE CANT WEIT TO BUT THE MAGINZNE.
Here's something maybe Mrs. T could answer for us: In the case of magazine covers, would the subject have to approve it before it went to print? I'm alright with everything and can even get past the poor lighting....but the hair?! Wrong, wrong, wrong! It looks lifeless. We all know her hair is extremely shiny and healthy!
Very nice. I just hate that these magazines airbrush to cartoon level. But, as for the person questioning the necklace, first its not faux. I don't think any of our first ladies have ever worn faux pearls. Secondly, the pearl and diamond pin only serve to finish/polish the look. Once again, Team Obama shuts the haters down!
This is lovely--the dress is very flattering.
I really wish they had not photoshopped this picture! She looks like a lifeless doll!! Part beauty of Mrs. O comes from her natural appeal, and when they photoshop it all away, they just took away what is best about Mrs. O. Shame on Good Housekeeping!
I, too, am very disappointed by the photoshop hatchet job -- totally unnecessary and Good Housekeeping should be ashamed by the BAD job and disrespect shown to the First Lady. I sure hope someone on FLOTUS' staff complained about this. Oh well. On to the next! I love the dress and I love the pearls/pin combo. I agree with what someone here already stated -- every woman should own a strand of pearls (IMHO). I do and I wear them with a variety of attire, whether dressy, business, casual -- whatever and whenever. :-)
Silver Pearls - hello! Did I convey that I hate Mrs. O? You must not visit this site very often. I love the First Family. I support the President. Vigorously. I think Mrs. O is remarkable. I merely don't like pearls, faux or otherwise! And btw. what in the world would be wrong with wearing faux pearls or faux anything as First Lady? We aren't in the Court of Windsor here. I make a very nice living and most of my stuff is fake, phony and plated! And I think that's pretty smart, actually!
The photoshopping is sending a horrible message about body image to teens and adults alike. This photoshop is becoming a Avataris. according to Jezebal, "You have to admit, the First Lady does keep a good house. But the editors of Good Housekeeping seem to think she could could have a better face. The May issue of the mag is a Special Collector's Issue, and not just because it's full of "home makeovers." No, you'll definitely want to hold on to this one, because Michelle's got a makeover too! The entire bottom half of Michelle's face seems to have been replaced, her forehead has been nicely tightened, and the entire right (our left) side of her face seems to have scored some extreme chiseling. A solid helmet head and weird lighting finish off her look."
This is worse than the Demi Moore face and model body. Let's face it Mexico's Vogue is ahead of the game, insulting airbrushing by having 3-D photographs. This is not about real beauty, but fake covers to sell magazines.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/07/isabeli-fontana-goes-3-d_n_528974.html
Love the dress and the pin attached to the pearls. Michelle always manages to give anything she wears her personal spin. Too bad about the photoshopping because it is a photo otherwise.
I love the dress she is wearing, lovely color, classy and classic. It is a pity that Good Housekeeping did not leave her hairline and face real, she is lovely without any help from Photoshop and they are sending the wrong message about "our bodies, ourselves" which is the opposite of what Mrs. O is trying to accentuate. She does look lovely though and no amount of 'shopping' can modify that incredible smile.
Agreeing with denisegirl - there was no need for the photoshopping. It's a bit of an insult when Mrs O is as captivating as she is, naturally. But I still like this cover best for the dress, necklace, etc.
I think all magazine covers are photoshopped ... it is the way of the world
At least they kept all her features (kind of).
Remember when Naomi Campbell was on the cover of W and they photoshopped her belly buton out completely?
Michelle is airbrushed to within an inch of her life. Too bad. She really did NOT need that much retouching. The magazine has gone way overboard. I'm surprised someone didn't say something before this went to print. It's overdone. But, Michelle still looks lovely and this is a good magazine.
I found an email address for the editorial dept at Good Housekeeping Magazine. Use this address to send a brief and polite note to the editor about butchering the First Ladies photo. I live about 10 blocks from their corporate headquarters...but I won't bother to walk in. LOL
GHLetters@goodhousekeeping.com
I already sent a very kind and totally professional note that included my name and phone number.
Less photoshopping... makes her seem stiff, or like a wax at Madame Tusaud's.
Love the earrings, they complement the brooch/necklace...
Kanini, that is the exact word I was searching for.....waxy! She looks waxy and unnatural in this picture! Thank you, Ruth Leslie, for your information and I WILL be sending GH an email!
I absolutely hate what they did to her hairline -- it's distracting and odd-looking and totally unnecessary. Otherwise, dress, jewelry, make-up..tres elegant. One hopes that in future Mrs. O's press people will do a better job of working these issues out in advance with the magazine -- such inartful airbrushing is really appalling for a national pub.
silver pearls - i agree with erin on the faux pearls. as an fyi, the other mrs o (jackie) famously wore a faux triple strand. the first mrs b did as well.
Feminine, very figure flattering and the cross front DRAPES beautifully.
Thanks again Mrs. T for keeping us up-to-date with the magazines, another great benefit on this blog. I collect magazines with Mrs. O from time to time. This one I will definitely buy and it’s just in time for mother’s day. I must say, I haven't seen a magazine with so many favourite topics and articles. Wow!
Would someone be so kind as to explain what a "lacefront" is? I can see that her hairline looks different but I don't know what that term means. Thank you!