Monday
Sep122011
A Concert for Hope
Monday, September 12, 2011 at 12:28 PM 
Photo by Alex Wong / Getty Images
Last evening, President Obama and the First Lady were joined by Vice President Biden and Dr. Biden for 'A Concert for Hope' held at the Kennedy Center in Washington to mark the tenth anniversary of 9/11. For the concert, Mrs. O wore a Prabal Gurung at J.Crew Exploding bow blouse paired with a slim black pencil skirt (or possibly trousers?). A stack of bangles completed the chic black and white look. Dr. Biden opted for a lace cocktail dress, embellished with a ribbon belt at the waist.
tagged J.Crew, Prabal Gurung
J.Crew, Prabal Gurung
Reader Comments (54)
watched all of this live and couldn't wait to see some stills. Our FLOTUS looked flawless all day. It was such a moving day on so many levels, for everyone, and our POTUS and FLOTUS led us in a peaceful, respectful day of mourning and reflection and hope. His speech at the Kennedy Center was perfect and got a standing O. The Bidens look great too. Love Dr. Jill's dress. I know that Mrs. O doesn't focus on her fashion nearly as much as we do...she is a woman of substance and intelligence who happens to have a natural sense of style. But she is just a breath of fresh air...always looking fresh and modern...and on special occasions, simply stunning.
I think I remember JCrew previewing this collection a while back. Mrs. O looks really beautiful, as the does the entire group. Thanks, Mrs. T.
I don't remember this collection looking so nice when I first saw it. Mrs. O really pulls it off! I suspect that the blouse requires a woman of some stature to wear it, otherwise you'll end up looking overwhelmed by the bow.
beautiful, just beautiful. the bow becomes her!
I was almost afraid to read the comments here because I was sure she was going to be slammed for this blouse. Personally, I love it. It's pretty, she has the stature of carry it off, and it's got a sense of humor. At the end of a very long day (actually, a week) of appropriately serious tributes and ceremonies, it is refreshing to see something that makes us smile. I think it was a good choice.
Oh man! Mrs. T I distinctly remember you linking to this saying possibly she might wear it? Or it was HuffPo? I remember the model wore it with this beautiful white blazer. I love when she wears things on my wish list! Love!
Mrs. O has been the most dignified public figure of all during this 9/11 anniversary.
I realize it's sacrilegious to making a comment about 9/11 and then jumping in to discuss fashion. It is not my intent to offend.
I like this blouse, but I do feel it straddles a fine line and I'm not sure whether it falls on the fashion-forward or the excessive/overpowering bow side.
the First Lady and Dr. Biden both look beautiful and elegant in their frocks. i agree, the First Lady is tall and regal enough to pull off the size of the bow on this top. otherwise, it could seem overwhelming. absolutely lovely. :-)
simply stunning! she gets my vote anytime.
simply stunning! she gets my vote anytime.
This is just about the cutest, freshest, most boundingly optimistically blouse I've seen on Mrs. O! I love it and she obviously enjoys wearing it! What a wonderful fashion statement that says onward and upward!
Beautiful blouse. I agree, that you must have the stature to carry this look off. I wonder what our FLOTUS will be wearing on the campaign trail? By the way, Mrs. T, some of the looks that you highlighted in the New York Magazine article are very nice, but I don't think that our FLOTUS will be wearing snakeskin though. Can you imagine the roar that that would cause from our friends at PETA?
The blouse is ridiculous. She is not a present. She is a grown woman at a highly publicized solemn event.
FYI-I notice that the cut of the armholes on the J. Crew link seems a bit higher than as worn by Mrs. O. Have anyone else noticed that??
I also am anticipating what she will choose for the campaign trail. Should be fun to watch!
I agree with Wyllow - the bow is really over-the-top and almost silly. In contrast, Dr. Jill Biden looks wonderful - a perfect dress for the Kennedy Center (but it would not have worked at the original location - the National Cathedral - unless she had worn a jacket or wrap).
I love Jill Biden's dress; it's sophisticated and classic. That is one big bow! Instead of looking at Mrs. O, your eyes are drawn right to the bow. Wow!
The look fits her well considering her stature and well her swagger to carry off something dramatic like this. Someone smaller would have been dwarfed by the bow. And, its quite appropriate for the occasion regardless how solemn.
She looks Absolutely stunning!!! Blouse,skirt, hair and fresh and beautiful makeup.
Keep it up Fabulous First Lady.
Try again Willow- the concert is for HOPE not solemn
I think this is a case of the clothes wearing the woman rather than the other way around.
There aren't many women who could wear this blouse - FLOTUS is one of them. It's kind of out there, but I like it on her. It would have looked stupid on a short blonde, but it works with FLOTUS's height and coloring. Well played.
Wyllow. I agree. It's a bit over the top and draws too much attention. Clothes should fit the occasion. This outfit failed. Also, someone needs to soften the hair. The new do ages her
And I LOVE IT!!
Mrs Obama wore that blouse to give a humble if not solemn bow to America in the face of the tenth anniversary of 9/11. She gives thought to everything she wears. It's beautiful and classy. Honestly, it would probably suit my 5'8 height but I agree with other posters, you need the stature to carry it off.
@wylllow: I beg (not really "beg") to differ: Michelle Obama is not only a "present," she's a GIFT--to me. Make that a gift to the country. And a damn fabulous one at that!
I think the bow is just plain silly!
Again, this blouse suits her and the occasion. She is being who she is....wearing what she loves.
This event was called, “Concert for Hope”.
FYI - Today at 12:45 EST, Mrs O Honors the Smithsonian's Cooper Hewitt National Design Awards Winners. It will be livestreamed here:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/live/
What a fashion statement! Mrs. O wears it well.
Dr. Biden looks terrific; Mrs. Obama, the First Lady, not so much. The bow looks ridiculous and I agree with the other poster that it was an inappropriate outfit for such a solemn occasion. Mrs. Obama is about 40% hits and 60% misses in my book. To The President's job speech, while she did display a measure of frugality by wearing again an expensive designer dress; it was awkward because Maria Pinto, said designer, had to close her shop. She is, in effect, one of the jobless. So perhaps not the most thoughtful choice. At the tennis event recently, one outfit was appropriate and attractive, while the other was just plain weird. At the 911 ceremonies, while her dress fit and was in an appropriate dark color, the design was more like a cocktail dress. Considering that she has a considerable budget and advisors, I would think that by now she would be able to make wiser fashion choices.
What a long day they had. Such grace under pressure. So present and so reassuring.
And that is one BIG BOW! But she looks great! Dr. Biden too!
@Jestina - I totally agree with you and many other posters who astutely picked up on Mrs. O's choice of a purple sheath when POTUS delivered his speech to Congress a few days ago. She always considers the venue when she dresses. Her interpretation of what is appropriate to an occasion is fine by me.
"EXPLODING bow blouse" for 9-11? Poor choice of words, there, IMO.
We have First Lady with a personality and style that is completely unlike any other in history. She is also a younger First Lady than we have been exposed to in a while. Generally I love the way she looks. Yes there have been some items that I wouldn't(probably COULDN'T)wear, but she is expressing her own style, and doing a fine job of it. She doesn't have to, or need to, conform to anyone's idea of how she should look, other than her own. God bless you Mrs. Obama.
Mrs. O looks stunning!
Love your comment, Marcus Perry. Mrs. O is indeed a gift to us all.
First, I thought she looked stunning. Then I looked at it again and thought the blouse was a bit over the top. Looked at the reviews too. Really mixed reviews on this blouse. Overall, it is not bad. I have seen her do worse. Love the sophisticated stack of bangles though. I have similar ones, (alas, not diamonds). I should consider adding them to date night.
It was a long day of sad memories. The evening program, Concert for Hope, called for a statement piece. The big bow was excellent--I saw it as an affirmation of all that is fun and joyful about this country. I loved it!! While SLD may wnt to nitpick, Mrs Obama is a young women, dynamic and loving--her clothing selections are her choice.
Wow, that is an exuberant bow. I do like Dr. Biden's dress.
I love my First Lady, but HATE this blouse! I think it takes over her look. I see the blouse before I see her. A blouse is suppose to compliment the outfit-not dominate!
SLD, Maria Pinto is not jobless. Get your facts straight.
I cannot fathom a person who doesn't see whimsy and joy in this blouse. Back from a much needed break, Mrs. O is back to color outside the lines. Lovin' it.
Mrs. O hosted a design awards ceremony at the White House. The dress she wore resembles the ikat print dress she wore in India, but it is sleeveless and hits at the knee. Did she rework the floor length dress?
CNNlive! showed their arrival and it did not seem to me that the bow looked as big there as it does in this picture. Kennedy Center was redone to resemble The National Cathedral (unusable because of the earthquake) so it had more the feel of a church affair rather than theater. Based on that I'd say Jill Biden was a bit overdressed--just a bit.
I like this version of her updo. It held up very well throughout the day and she looked great everywhere.
At the design awards, what stood out were her earrings. Very appropriate for the occasion.
Hispanic Caucus Gala on Wednesday night.
Oh, dear. Her blouse has exploded all over her chest!
Jill, on the other hand, looks fabulous.
Oh Hyde...(eye roll)
Last time I checked there are no blogs dedicated to the fashion worn by Dr. Biden (Although many on this blog thinks she dresses just fine).
I would have saved the blouse for a different event.
But, I admire Mrs.O for daring to be different and sometimes providing us with the unexpected.
Thank goodness, she is her own woman and doesn't have to follow the tradion choices for anything, especially her clothes.
@SLD, I think yhour time on the farm has expired ... you can come to the city now, but leave your 19070's fashion advice and incorrect facts with the goats and chickens.
I like this blouse. I think it's chic. Not everyone can pull this off but doesn't mean it's not appropriate.
@ River Rush........ that's a good one. I'm going to have to borrow that sometime in the near future.
Ok, onto fashion, as quite a few of you have stated, this is not a blouse any woman can pull off. You must have the stature and confidence to go with this, it's a big look. While it may not be my favorite I will say it looks good on our Michelle. It seemed to be a sweet conclusion to such a stressful day, or rather week.
she's back........................ this page is like my daily prescription i love seeing the way she dreses we need to see more of the kids tho!!!!!! sasha and malia