Wednesday
Jun022010
A Lovely Remix
Wednesday, June 2, 2010 at 10:30 AM 
Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images
The first lady joined U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid at the Red Rock National Conservation Area yesterday to help launch Mrs. O's Let's Move Outside! initiative to promote more outdoor activity for children.
For the event, Mrs. O paired a floral Etro cardigan with a J.Crew skirt and Sonia Rykiel belt (all first seen last spring/summer). Silver ballet flats completed the look and kept Mrs. O on the move!
tagged Etro, J.Crew, Sonia Rykiel
Etro, J.Crew, Sonia Rykiel
Reader Comments (69)
her skincare regimen disclosure would be more than welcome.
I don't particurarily like this outfit on FLOTUS..It isn't flattering to her figure.
But I think she is still BEAUTIFUL & FABULOUS...
How she manages to wear so many bold colors and patterns - and pull it off - amazes me. This outfit, with all that is going on, works still. She's good.
Mrs. T - here's a peak at an outfit I don't think we've seen. http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Michelle-Obama/ss/events/pl/050108michelleobama/im:/100602/480/urn_publicid_ap_org957ce5c8753f42c78015818070419da0/#photoViewer=/100526/480/urn_publicid_ap_org3d0f3f6e10254b62aa6eae8a99f51de0
MRS OBAMA LOOKED NICE BUT THEY ASK HER TO CLIME THE MOUNTION WITH THEM BUT SHE DIDNT BECOUSE SHE WAS NOT WEAR THE RIGHT CLOTHES BUT SHE DID E VERYTHING ELSE WITH THEM EVEN MR REID GOT INTO IT TO. LOL AND I LOVE HER SUNGLASES SHE WEAR AND HER FLATS. SHE LOOKED REFRASHED AND READY TO MOVE AGIAN. AND SHE LOOKED WAY BETTER THEN WHEN SHE WAS IN CHIGAGO HE HAIR WAS IN THE BUN FOR THE LONG WEEKED.AND SHE WAS NOT TO HAPPY BUT THEN AGIAN WHO CAN BLAME HER THE REPOTERS KEEP FOLLOWING HER AND THE FAMILY. THEY NEVER HAD A BREACK. MRS OBAMA DIDNT COME OUT TO MURCH. ONLY WHEN THEY WAS WALKING. AROUND THEY OLD NABORHOOD.
Even this outfit would have been more appropriate to the business women's speech than the coral one. There is something about an empire waist, sleeveless, and the fabrication that says picnic, swim suit cover up or picking up the kids from school. I have a similar dress in my closet that I use for those activities, but I don't wear pearls with it.
hey iva -
think mrs T put that on her may 27th blog. still chewing on who the designer may be.
I love her outfit...
YIKES. That skirt is AWFUL and makes her look six axe handles wide. She has a GREAT figure and this does nothing for her! She should stick to pencil skirts.
She looks so cool and collected. I'd love to know her secret! I wonder what the temperature is?
I'm with Ida. How Mrs. O carries off these sorts of disparate looks has become beyond any sort of rational thinking on my part. I could dissect this particular outfit in a million different ways. Ultimately, though, she just does carry it off. She does. Because she is who she is. Because she knows who she is. I love the skirt; I especially love the patterned top. I LOVE LOVE LOVE her huge sunglasses. I can't believe how beautifully aglow she looks out in the heat of the desert hopping around with these kids, even as she hasn't been feeling terribly well. The other ladies on the rostrum look very nice also. Dear Senator Reed looks as if he could use a tall glass of ice water. And a cap! He is game nonetheless, and I applaud him for that.
Apologies to Sen. Reid for misspelling his name. So sorry.
Not a fan of this look, although the color palette is nice.
I love the Etro top especially when Mrs. O paired it with a black skirt and black
belt to attend the meeting with representatives from Corporate Voices for Working
Families on May 07, 2010
I like this outfit. It goes together nicely and is balanced off with the shoes. Again, the angle of the photo is such that any woman who is not a Twiggy would appear fuller.
It does not look like Sen. Reid was going to be climbing any mountains either.
This is not my favorite outfit, though I love the colors. It seems to be a weird fit somehow. However, she is so pretty and i applaud her for asking all of us to get out and get fit. Whether we have alot or a little back Is a topic that I wish we could just drop. We are all differnet hshapes and sizes and but what makes us valuable is our character, heart and soul. Mrs. Obama has these three things to the max. (And she is so pretty!)
Looks like negative nellies and trolls are getting bolder and more comfortable...interesting to say the least.
Anywho, thanks miss t for pointing that out to me. I must have missed it. I am waiting for the day that people realize that Mrs. O is who she is, her body is what it is, she's happy with it, and as a result will wear things that accentuate her body. Some may not find that what they consider to be beautiful, but that's not Mrs. O's issue - that's each individual's.
Mrs. O owns her body and she is in great shape.
I admire that fact the most of the time she chooses clothes that flatter her physique. Who among ups have perfect bodies and who decides what perfect is? I adore mrs. O. She is self-possessed and confident.
Iva--I send apologies your way for calling you Ida. A slip of the fingers, for sure, but I am indeed sorry. Having read your posts for so very long and--best--having appreciated them so much--I deeply regret this error. Thank you!
This is an interesting outfit; I do love the colors. This outfit is not one of my favorite looks for Mrs. Obama; however, if it pleases her, then it pleases me!
Someone mentioned that Mrs. Obama should have worn a pencil skirt. To me, that would have been to constricting. The skirt that she is wearing allows air to flow and, therefore, helps her to stay relatively cool. In addition, this skirt is apropos for walking on sand and possibly walking up inclines.
Not one of my favorites; but, it is a nice outfit for the occasion.
I hope she wasn't walking outside on sand and rocks the whole time in that outfit. Silver flats for "move outside," oh, come on.
Love the skirt. Love it color! (So alive!) Love that radiant brown skin, too. But the top/shirt is OFF! The style, structure, pattern, and cut clash, are a disjunct, with the horizontal pleats of the skirt. (The only harmony of the top to the skirt is the yellow of it.)
Still, the woman breathes confidence into all of her clothes. She still can pass GO in my book, sartorially. But, this time she cannot collect the $200.
Not feeling this look. But, she has so much going for her, you can't help but to admire her to the utmost. Rock on Mrs. O!
Well again she's pulled a faux pas in her dress selection. What was she thinking, to wear that outfit for exercising outdoors? It looked thrown together haphazardly and makes her look wide and ungainly. It possibly would have passed muster for a speech or a small reception. Where were the black bottoms she wore at the WH exercise show? They would have been far more appropriate for a canyon political photo op.
Also, she really, really needs to cover up those knees and the peek-a-boo thighs with their hint of cellulite.
I don't care how toned and buff someone is; looking at those knees and thighs is not attractive. She could benefit from some advice on style and age-appropriate dressing. She is long past the cutesy, faddish age of dressing but doesn't seem to realize it.
Not crazy about the outfit, but I love the boldness of the colors. I have an aunt that calls women like Mrs. O "a clothes horse", meaning that they can wear anything. Yes She Can! LOL!
I would never wear this outfit, BUT...it is very fashion forward! Isn't this why we love her so much? cause she takes risks and puts things together that we have NEVER seen from a FLOTUS? Because she wears things that are "inappropriate" for a woman "with hips"? And she is with kids and she typically wears fun and funky things when she is with the kids. And she doesn't look big, people. She just doesn't look small. There is a difference.
Don't know if this has been posted, but here's a link to some more behind the scenes photos from the WHCD. It shows full length pics of the first lady's dress.
more photos
The problem is that the outfit, though cute, isn't really flattering. And more of a problem, IMO, is that it isn't suitable to the occasion. She needs to be wearing one of her moving-around outfits but maybe in a slightly more dressy version -- great leggings, a safari-type jacket, flats, and a T. Something like that. She'd look professional enough but then wouldn't look silly in the middle of the wilderness doing jumping jacks with a bunch of kids. :-)
Pants and her sequined sneakers would have looked much more appropriate and been so much more comfortable for this type of outing. The outfit she has on is quite disappointing in so many ways.
The colors in this outfit is so alive and vibrant. I remember when our Michelle wore this skirt last year, J. Crew was inundated with requests for this one. It looks paired nice with this Etro top and white T shirt. As for myself, I cannot imagine how utterly miserable I'd have been in pants in that type of oppressive heat. When I went on a cruise two years ago, I packed dresses and skirts so that ALL of me could breathe. Even though she stated she was sick, our Michelle still shows up and is in the moment, as active and personable as ever. She looks as lovely on the outside as she seems on the inside.
Oh, by the way, @ Miss R, THANKS SO MUCH FOR THAT LINK! THAT SITE IS LOVELY!
Thanks Miss R for the WHCD photos. After looking at them I was struck by how hard the First Lady is choosing to work and how fulfilled she seems to be by it. I know she's human and must have her moments but we don't see it, is it b/c she's so determined to make the most of her role to promote important lifestyle values and habits? At first I got hooked on this web-site b/c of the fashion and especially her effort to use fashion to make a statement about the context one is in at the moment--to help tell the story in a way--I find that very interesting about her choices. And because she seems to know exactly why she is wearing something I find that I like every outfit--even when I can intellectually see that it's not as flattering as it could be or it's unconventional for the moment that the photograph is capturing--then I see other shots of the same event and see her interacting with poeple in a different way and the outfit looks spot on.
sorry to ramble-- the WHCD photos made me do it!
As usual My Lady you add beauty to the occasion.
Okay, here is one I don't like. I remember the skirt from when she went to Italy. That ensemble was a perfect ball out the park. However, the change of the jacket ruins the skirt. Sadly, I have to give you a three Mrs O, and that's for hair and make-up. But you get a TEN on having a beautiful smile and heart.
But wrong skirt for the jacket. Wrong jacket for the skirt.
She's wearing a beautiful champagne/blush color tonight. She and the girls are kind of matching and they look amazing!
Okay, I took another look at the ensemble, and I can certainly see how she paid this jacket with this skirt. However, I stand on my first comment, when she first paired this skirt with the very nice J. Crew multi-mustard colored cardigan. (And it's probably why this just doesn't work for me. Once you've (had) seen good, you can't go back to BS-Whitney Houston Waiting to Exhale).
I've digressed.
My point being about my second look was that this probably could have been pulled off, but its something wrong about how the jacket lays. It's pulled too tight at this waist. It needed to hang more.
And perhaps it did, or perhaps there is a reason why its pulled too tight. She did do exercise, leaning forward, and so on in this very same ensemble on a mountain in Nevada. So perhaps its just this portrait was snapped post exercise. Which would make sense as to why it would be pulled so tight.
Perhaps.
Okay, the ensemble Mrs. O has on tonight more than makes up for this. TEN!!!!! OMG! Dazzling, that's the word Mrs. T for the post you are going to put up of tonight ensemble honoring Paul McCartney!
Mrs.O looks gorgeous tonight in a blush satin dress with beautiful draping at the neckline. She's also wearing a belt with yellow stones and embellishments and what I believe are some of her Monique Pean bangles. Sasha and Malia look adorable as well.
I love that they are honoring Paul McCartney and I heard that Corrine Bailey Rae was there as well. Paul obviously loves the Obama's and he even dedicated his song titled "Michelle" to Mrs.O at one of his concerts last year. Very cool.
After seeing her in that dress it got me wondering if the designer could be Paul's daughter Stellla McCartney. After all she did wear Stevie Wonder's wife Kai Milla's design at the same event honoring him last year. That light blush satin is very prevalent in Stella's collections. I love Stella McCartney's clothes and it would be very cool if Mrs.O did indeed choose her designs for tonight.
Considering Mrs O hasn't been feeling well,I admire her for pressing on and not disappointing the children. I like both pieces she has on - but don't know if I like them together. What I do like however is seeing a grown woman wearing what she wants to wear, not being afraid of color and mixing up patterns.
Mrs O is not a small woman - but she is far from a big woman. She is shaped like 99% of AfAm women and there are millions of ridiculous women getting botox in their butts because they don't have it naturally.
Mrs O will always be beautiful, always be intelligent and from what I observe, will always be her own person. If she can rise above all the negativity - I think we can too. So far as all of the negative comments that are on the board - I suggest people just ignore them. I scroll right on by.
that's my skirt. i have it in two colors. yay. something in common with michelle...:)
As I've stated before, I'm not terribly knowledgeable about fashion though I find it interesting to observe. Here is a link to an article on dressing too young. It's primarily about the Sex in the City gals, but adds a paragraph at the end about our first lady. The author strongly concludes that she is guilty of no such thing.
http://www.indystar.com/article/20100601/LIVING17/6010329/1276/LIVING17/What-s-hot-It-s-up-to-you
By following miss r's link and clicking on "more Michelle Obama link I came across a photo from tonight's concert of Paul McCartney singing "Michelle" with the Obamas visible and the president directing his gaze toward Michelle. Other photos follow. They are much clearer than most I have seen and for the first time I was able to see the details of the blouse she wore leaving for Chicago.
http://obamadiary.wordpress.com/category/michelle-obama/
Sharon,
OMG!!! How in the world have I never seen this "Obama Photo and Video Diary"? Thank you so much! The pics of Mrs O are fabulous. What am I saying... the whole thing is fabulous! The May 25 'running mates' pictures of her with the Let's Move kids are just precious. The black and white blouse, black pants and sneakers on. She is so beyond cool, she's hot!!
Once again, THANKS A MILLION to Miss R for the link. Now there is an 8 minute video of tonight's event that is posted. It is adorable enough. You see our Michelle, oh she looks lovely. The color of her dress looks like the colors used in Stella McCartney's Spring/Summer 2010 collection, but that draping reminds me of Lanvin. When the camera pans the audience, you see Mrs. Robinson, our First Granny as well as Sasha & Malia. The entire audience looked really nice and seems to have enjoyed themselves. I cannot wait til July for this PBS special!
It's a mystery to me how two people can see the same photo and have such widely varying points of view about Michelle's body and her taste in clothing. One thing is clear though: People filter their views through a political lens.
I think her toned body exhibits disciple, and her clothes reflect a taste for thoughtful practicality and vibrant optimism. Michelle is an intelligent, independent woman who is not letting anyone else define her. I think she's a fantastic wife, mother, daughter and First Lady. She accomplishes daily what lesser women can admire and aspire to.
Petty comments about her body or lack of decorum are reflective of their writers, not Michelle.
I think this is one of the very rare times she misses, from this angle she looks slightly mismatched and unbalanced.
Here are links to two links of "My Michelle" clips:
http://www.realradio-scotland.co.uk/news-sport/mccartney-risks-punch-from-president/c5crvy8f/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
http://www.wxii12.com/video/23777229/index.html
First off let me say I absolutely love Our First Lady – What style and elegance – It’s been so uplifting watching all of the many styles she can pull off – BUT although this is a great look and she pulls it off again – I have to say this is a VERY BAD choice for this occasion what is she saying here - this is rough terrain - the students are wearing appropriate clothes (i.e. shorts and sneakers) What kind of message is she sending here – She’s lucky she did twist an ankle with those great looking flats- Michelle you have given so many wonderful and teacher able moments to our young people. Please don’t blow it with this type of message of fashion diva – It’s is so not the message you really have to give our young people.
The videos from last night's event are great! Everyone looks as if they're having a great time, and I love seeing the President singing "I love you" to Mrs. O. Very special indeed. And I'm sure that an evening of great music was a welcome and much-needed change from all the pressures facing the President right now.
AppleGirl, thanks for the links.
I love this First Lady, and I'm so thankful that she's FLOTUS in my lifetime. I'm grateful for her wonderful husband too, but as a woman and a mother, I'm especially thankful for her.
Michelle Obama is 100% real. She's 100% authentic. There's nothing fake about her. No plastic smile like former first ladies permanently pasted on her face. It's a warm, caring, genuine smile that touches your heart and connects you to her. No faux causes just for show. She means what she says and says what she means.
She's a wonderful example of a modern woman, mentor, wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend. Michelle shows us how to love and accept ourselves and those around us. With a light touch, a smile, a look, she acknowledges you and says, "You matter. You're beautiful. I accept you just as you are."
She uses her style, her grace, her platform to teach us how to love ourselves and embrace life and live ours to its fullest. How to use what we have to make a difference. What a wonderful teacher to have.
So, ignore the haters, the self-anointed critics who sit behind their computers and nitpick and try to push a negative narrative about the First Lady. They will never be able to walk in her shoes. They will never be able to learn the lessons she has to teach us. Their world is small and trivial and their comments just serve to prove that. I feel sorry for them.
Thank you universe for the Obamas!
IT TIME TO UPDATED AGIAN MRS OBAMA WEAR A NICE TOP AND PANTS LAST NIGHT THEY DID A CONCERT AT THE WHITE HOUSE MR OBAMA WAS SINGING ALONG WITH THE FAMILY AND MRS OBAMA IS WEARRING A RED ROSE DRESS AND A WHITE SWEATER HER HAIR IS BACK IN A BUN AGIAN SHE IS CARRYING A NICE BAG ALONG WITH MR OBAMA THEY WAS AT THERE KIDS SCHOOL.
Look, here’s the deal. Would I wear a similar outfit for the occasion ? Probably not. I would have probably wore linen pants and a long sleeve cotton top (which I find cooling in hot conditions as opposed to wearing short sleeves). Footwear would have been sneakers or soft walking shoes, definitely not ballet pumps.
However, would I judge this amazing woman on her choice of wardrobe ? Definitely not. She can wear what she likes. She is the First Lady of the United States of America. India Arie sang she is not her hair and Michelle Obama is not her clothes. She is so much more than her clothes. If she wanted to wear a tutu then that would be her choice and by all accounts her God given right. I admire Michelle and her wardrobe is just a very small part of her that I admire. I haven’t always loved her choices but I am so "over" finding fault because she does so much good in the process.
Having said that I fell in love with this skirt when she wore it in Italy and I love it today. A ray of sunshine on a sunny day.