Joining Forces in Hollywood
Monday, June 13, 2011 at 8:15 PM 
Photos by Robyn Beck and Michael Buckner / Getty Images
The First Lady was joined by writer and director J.J. Abrams and Air Force Pilot Captain Kelly Smith in discussion at the Writers Guild Theatre in Beverly Hills, California today. The purpose of the talk was to encourage a more positive portrayal of military service members in popular entertainment, as part of the First Lady's Joining Forces movement.
On a style note, Mrs. O kept things chic and simple, wearing a textured black dress and cardigan, accessorized with layered bracelets, coordinating earrings and red pumps.
Update: Mrs. O wears a Rachel Roy Dropstitch lace cardigan and dress, both available on RachelRoy.com from the designer's Summer 2011 collection. Is Rachel Roy Mrs. O's new favorite designer?
"Michelle Obama Pushes for Better Treatment of Military in Hollywood" [NY Times]
Rachel Roy
Reader Comments (39)
How beautiful she is! I LOVE her hair, and as much as it's possible to tell from only seated pictures, the dress looks lovely, too. Another great, and very different, look for our Michelle!
She looks totally beautiful. The dress has almost an Alaia feel to it. Love the accessories. She had a very busy day today and tomorrow will be more fundraisers in Berkeley at the Claremont Hotel with Alice Waters as chef. I hope she enjoys it all!!
Wow! Casual but elegant hair - lovely. Earrings equally lovely and her pop of color with her shoes.
A winner of a look.
Wow how many gorgeous hairstyles can Mrs O. look wonderful wearing?!!
This one is very young & trendy - love it.
The red pumps look beautiful as well.
I'm in HEAVEN! I am a fan of basic black (too much of a fan...lol) and this outfit is pure black outfit goodness. Sexy, sophisticated, sassy. Just love it. And love the red pumps and the easy-going up-do. HOT!
Love the look. Where is her partner, Mrs. B?
Makeup, Hair, Styling... SO ON POINT!! Beautiful, Fresh and Most of All approachable ! Not so Hard as in the past! Our First Lady ROCKS!!! FACE BACK!!
Long Live OUR QUEEN!!!
One class act; the dress had soutache. Mrs O is such an amazing woman. She exuded warmth and humor today. She was at a private fundraising luncheon after this 2 miles from our home....... then back to the Westside for another fundraiser and then up to the Bay Area for two more events tomorrow. These two have amazing energy. POTUS was in NC for two events and then to Florida for two more....
Mrs. T, I hope your success with this blog is measured by the number of hits you get each day rather than by the number of comments that are posted because, even though I don’t always chime in with my POV, I never (yes, never) miss a day logging in to see what Mrs. O is up to. For me, my daily visit(s) to this site are about far more than simply what’s she wears. I can’t see much of her dress but I do know that she’s wearing my favorite color combination and, even though I will not see her tomorrow, I’m stoked that once again, she will be visiting my beautiful Bay Area. The best part is that I know one the chefs at the Meritage Restaurant (at the Claremont Hotel). If he’s not sworn to state secrecy…I can’t wait to get the inside scoop on her visit and the breakfast event. Thank you for all to you do!
WOW!
This is very classic look! There are additional pictures of the dress on the Obama diary website under the 13Jun date activities where you can see the beautiful hemline of this elegant dress!
http://theobamadiary.com/
Another winner for our Michelle. I absolutely love the jewellery, particularly the bracelets!!! @ Meta, I was thinking the exact same thing ; from what I can make out, the dress seems to have elements of her other Alaia dresses.....hmmm....
Wow! I love the color combination and all the textures and patterns at play in this look. This hair works so well for Mrs. Obama - so sleek and demure!
There is black, and then there is black. This black is so rich, and the little touch of color with the shoes and accessories just make the richness of the dress and cardigan stand out more.
I love Mrs. O's entire ensemble. Shout out to Captain Kelly Smith!
Love the outfit, hair especially and the jewelry. Would LOVE info on the earrings! Red shoes were a great "something extra".
Beautiful outfit! I love the textures. Interesting subject they are discussing, but I think Hollywood has tended to portray the military in a variety of lights, not all bad.
BTW, thanks again Mrs. T for this blog and to all who contribute. @Ann, re Weekend Chic response, I didn't realize this blog was exclusively about fashion, because that is not all Mrs. O is about (as beautifully attested to by Kate Betts and Mrs. T in their excellent books). I come here to learn about what Mrs. O is wearing and equally about what she is doing as First Lady. Will certainly stop with the annoying long-windedness. ;)
I bought that dress last March when I was in the US !!! Actually, it's a very dark blue. I do love it even more now!
i just love how Michelle's skin always looks flawless from head to Toe.
the whole outfit looks awesome.............
When I saw this the first designer that came to mind was Alaia, also. Rachel Roy sure is becoming a favorite of our Michelle. Even though this outfit is a lot of black, it still manages to look breezy and summery. I like how she adds those red pumps for color. Those sure look like Anne Klein's Christa pumps in red patent leather. I saw some on ebay recently.
Go FLOTUS!
I love the cardigan and the detail on the blouse is beautiful!
She reportedly wore a navy dress to lunch in Pasadena after this event. And the cardigan is sold in dark navy (looks black in photo) at Neiman Marcus.
http://tinyurl.com/3bbveh7
I thought this was a black outfit, but it could be very dark navy....?
I think this is the dress. V-neck, banded waist, ruffled lace detail, and in the same Midnight (navy) as the cardigan:
http://www1.bloomingdales.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=529592
Here is the dress at Rachel Roy's website (#13/14 in the slideshow) - detail shows better than in previously submitted photo:
http://www.rachelroy.com/Summer-2011/110155103,default,sc.html
I would have never guess Rachel Roy. I thought it was Azzedine Alaia. I really like the whole look. It works well on her. I like her hair as well.
I've rarely commented on what Michelle wears because so often I don't like her choice of clothes. More often the clothes wear her - a classic fashion faux pas. But this outfit is one of the type I wish I'd see more of. It's elegant and subdued, highlights her strong good looks and allows her radiant self to shine through. Please, Michelle, skip the fussy fabrics and pleats and ruffles and just keep it simple!
Wow, I would have never guessed Rachel Roy...
LaVonne, you said it well, it is so rich looking!
VERY classy and elegant! Mrs. Obama's outfit is very appropriate to the occasion and "in synch" with Captain Kelly Smith's uniform.
Absolutely stunning as usual! She just takes my breath away - looking chic and understated at the same time is no mean feat! This is the first time I've posted here but I must tell you Mrs. T how much I adore this blog.
Lol @ IVA - My basic outfits are black on black. I'll never forget my friend's comment about wearing black - "It is diminishing."
The pop of color in the pumps and the exquisite jewelry really make this look sing!
@flotusrocks - this site will never be just about the clothes. In Mrs. O's case, the Woman Makes the Clothes and who she is has a profound influence on how she wears her clothes. It is as much fun to praise Mrs. O the person as it is to comment on her wardrobe. Aspects of her personality influence how she carries herself, and therefore how she dresses. It's the big picture. She is sartorially sometimes serious, sometimes fey, sometimes glamorous, and always makes choices that elicit response. She's People, and that's why so many women can identify with her and emulate her style.
I want those earrings! Love the entire ensemble and her hair as well. I would like to see her eyebrows thicken up a little, though. She has such a lovely smile, too.
One word - beautiful!!!! Mrs. O is really rocking those red shoes.. Loving the accessories
Love everything about this look, but I especially like the shoes and those earrings!!!
Our First Lady looks beautiful-the jewelry and red shoes make this look!
@Bevi, I totally agree with your perspective and comments. Right on! I could not have said it better myself. (BTW, my comments were sparked in response to what someone had said in the Weekend Chic thread). Again, your thoughts and my viewpoints are definitely reflected in the excellent books by Mrs. T (Michelle Obama: The Face of Fashion Democracy) and Kate Betts (Everyday Icon: Michelle Obama and the Power of Style).
@lanneq, I don't think I've ever seen Mrs. O's clothes wearing her. That's why she has inspired blogs and books -- because it is absolutely Mrs. O that we see rockin' fabulous clothes, and in the process she's changing fashion, changing Washington, stirring up the design world, and changing a lot about how we view fashion, style and what we wear in our own lives. I feel that it is who Mrs. Obama is inside and the choices she makes that shine through in such a revealing, informative, and inspiring way.
Thanks to everyone for your inspired observations.
These quotes from culture and fashion world cognoscenti re Mrs. O (and Kate Betts' book) are also revealing and right on:
"You can put almost any woman in beautiful clothes and she will look amazing. But if you put an amazing woman in even the most simplest clothes, you redefine style completely. Kate Betts [in her book] reminds us that grace, confidence and intelligence add up to true radiance." Calvin Klein
"Michelle Obama represents a woman who wears the expectations of the world effortlessly, and whose authenticity is her greatest accessory." Keli Goff (cultural and political commentator).
I would this entire outfit!
I would wear this entire outfit!
Her hair is chic sophisticated and elegant. Can someone tell me, is it pulled up into a chignon?
Her face is so pretty.
@ Mrs. C and Bevi, re: her sartorial choices - Well said! Her love for our wonderful military and their families, shines through.
Blessings to Captain Kelly Smith.
Love, love, love the red shoes! - Toto! I believe Dorothy has turned green with envy. :>)
Mrs. Obama is always a class act.
Peace.