Saturday
Nov232013
Gold and Glimmer
Saturday, November 23, 2013 at 8:29 PM 
First Lady Mrs. O covers the December 2013 / January 2014 issue of Ladies' Home Journal. Can you say gorgeous?!
"Christmas at the White House" [Ladies' Home Journal]
Update: The Huffington Post reports that Mrs. O wears a sleeveless, gold jacquard dress by Lela Rose.
tagged Lela Rose
Lela Rose
Reader Comments (62)
Doesn't look like her.
Lovely!
Love the glam outlay, and the meticulous make-up job, but it's too much photo-shop. (Always some complaint!!) This is the Architectural Digest version. Mrs O is beautiful in these shots. But I feel gypped. I don't need to see how photographic techniques can smooth her brow, and diminish any difference in skin tones and gloss her lips. She is beautiful without gold dust bronzing and the photos somehow don't go with baking cookies, and making dressing with her mother. Maybe, this is what the Jackie O shoots were like then, after all.
I can't wait to get my copy!
Stunning. Any word on the designer?
That dress is just perfect in every way! The fit, the color, the material, the style, I'd love to know who made it. Michelle looks absolutely stunning in these pictures.
I second your gorgeous!
Yes she looks stunning thanks to photo shopped cover photo she looks like a model! Her hair is shorter in the cover picture. Not one wrinkle, teeth look like they've been straightened and there is less hair on her forehead. What kind of message does this send to her daughters? Oh the dress is beautiful.
My goodness, FLOTUS is the epitome of style and grace. Absolutely love her.
Oh my she is so damn beautiful. I may be out of line but Mrs.O is one sexy lady. She is simple flawless, hair, dress, shoe, smile are all wonderful. I love her
WOW!
Can you say photoshopped?
She is lovely as she is - why to these magazines have to photoshop her?!?
Wow! Mrs O looks stunningly beautiful. She practically GLOWS.
Mrs O is gorgeous with a capital G. I don't know what all the fuss is about the photoshop. They did a much better job than the Vogue people. I love that she rises above all the haters and is just Miche. I'm thinking this is either Kors or Wu. They seem to be her go to guys. Maybe even Reese. I'm sure someone will take credit for this dress soon.
I agree with those who feel this is overly photo-shopped. Mrs. O is lovely and the "enhancements" are so unnecessary. Stunning dress, though. The color and texture make me think of that Naeem Khan from the first state dinner.
To all of those complaining about photoshop...assume much? Mrs O looks absolutely no different than she did during her speech at the DNC convention last year. Her skin was just as bronzed and glowing and make up just as flawless...and sorry, you can't photoshop a live speech. I think there just may be a few jealous types here who can't believe that our First Lady can be that beautiful. She is...deal with it. As the old saying goes...black don't crack.
I look at this beautiful magazine cover and I see the wonderful, beautiful, statuesque, dignified, confident Michelle Obama, the elegant, accomplished wife of the 44th president of the United States smiling back at me. I see her distinct beautiful expressive eyes, her brows, her nose, cheek-bones, lips, arms, shoulders, her hair. I see and recognize every last familiar curve and inch of the fit, healthy, well-groomed woman we know and love. She glows from this cover in much the same way she glows in any real life video we've seen of her at any occasion where she's all dressed-up. I like the bronze lipstick. It harkens back to the earlier days of the presidency and the campaign when she did more of this bronze lipstick color. These days she does a lot more of the pale pink lipgloss.
I'm aghast and amused at the anger and righteous indignation of the posters who are clearly no supporters of this First Lady. Invading this blog post to express fury at a beautiful and accurate representation of the First Lady, is the latest in their series of ODS (Obama derangement syndrome), the First Lady edition. Their anger that her image has been "photoshopped" to make her look more beautiful, is not only laughable, but reveals a disturbing level of bitterness and suggests an advanced derangement. These Tr-bloggers obviously want Mrs Obama judged by, and prefer to see her represented unflatteringly in those unposed images stealthily taken and released by ill-intentioned, agenda-driven photographers who thrive on snapping and distributing unflattering snapshots that catch her unawares, usually at the most awkward moments.
Deal with it haters, this is the disciplined, dedicated, stunningly hot and elegant United States First Lady Michelle Obama in all her literal and metaphorical golden glory (she's 50 in a few weeks folks! Wow, wow and wow! She does put many a 25 year old to shame!)
If my mother looked this hot on a mag cover at 50 years old Ann, I'd be so proud! I'd be floating on air, grinning from ear to ear, confident and hopeful that I as I too get older, if I take good care of myself and live healthily, my inherited genes will serve me well and I'll hopefully look as great as she does.
She looks wonderful in this dress. Festive!
Wow, she is just glowing. Absolutely love the dress.
I'm running out of adjectives to describe this phenomenal woman. No, I am not pitting one first last against the other but Mrs Obama's replacement will have to fill some pretty big shoes. I almost feel like she has redefined the role of first ladies for years to come.
Beautiful.
Amen Samantha and Jestina! She looks fabulous. And, so what if the pic has a bit of photoshop. I wish all my pics could be. Happy Thanksgiving!!
And another thing, I do not normally read Ladies Home Journal, But I will purchase several copies of this issue. Go FLOTUS!!
She has totally been photoshopped. She's so beautiful, why is it necessary? The unfortunate thing is I have to believe she approved the photoshopping. Love the dress.
@Samantha. The photo is photo shopped.
Deal with it.
"....from sea to shining sea!" That's right First Lady...SHINE on
Jestina, I'm hoping we have a "First Gentleman" in the White House starting in 2017! He can start a new world of First Spouses.
Huffington Post reports the dress is Lela Rose.
Risking the label of advanced Obama derangement syndrome, I must say that in my humble opinion the excessive photo shopping of this particular photo detracts from rather than enhances the natural beauty of Michelle Obama. That hardly makes me a hater. The dress and the setting are stunning. I can't help but wish that whoever did the tweaking hadn't made her look quite so--there's no word for it but--plastic. I realize that's the fashion for covers now-a-days, but I prefer to see the person rendered more naturally. The great of photographers don't have to resort to tricks like these.
Ann, GET A LIFE will you, please? Why are you so negative? If it is photoshopped, I am certain that it did not come at the request of the First Lady. And...I am certain that she and the President has instilled far more important and indepth values within their daughters, than what a so called photoshopped covering will ever do. Some things and thoughts should not be expressed verbally.
“Christmas at the white house” and the greatest gift of all is Michelle Obama. Absolutely wow - blew me away gorgeous….. mesmerized by this awesome golden look…the entire team nailed it. Perfect articles exactly realates to Mrs. O’s inspirational and empowered example to girls and women around the world. A lesson in fashion, make-up and how to stay young and beautiful – at the same time, wife, mother and first lady.
I just “cannot” imagine another look that could be as totally captivating. The
fabric, the gold mix pattern, the neckline/bodice design, so perfect as she flaunts her curves and well toned arms. fabam!!!!
Magical narrow belt complements the perfect waistline pleated details.
Definitely in my top three favourites so far. Can't wait to extra copies for gifts.
The First Lady does it again! She effortlessly exudes the same sense of calm and ease as she does when mothering her girls, loving and supporting her husband or when encouraging young people to set high goals and standards for themselves then working hard to achieve them. This woman is AMAZING! A true role model! So maybe, just maybe that's what's at the root of the occasional negative posters knee jerk reaction to her on the cover of a magazine and cannot seem to contain their angst when they visit this site so it leads to their constant harping on the "photoshop" meme. Never mind photoshopping is standard operation procedure in the industry and ALL magazines are guilty of this transgression regardless of whether the cover is male or female. Consider that the next time you look at a magazine with Beyoncé or Angelina or Brad or Denzel on the cover or perhaps Laura or Hillary or their respective spouses. But the matter of it all is that whether photoshopped or not the First Lady's inner light always shines through. So these complainers who constantly feel the need to obsess about the First Lady's magazine covers without offering any objective, constructive insights on the fashion or occasion should be ignored. Remember, an empty can makes the loudest noise!
So very pretty.
“There is perhaps no phenomenon which contains so much destructive feeling as 'moral indignation,' which permits envy or hate to be acted out under the guise of virtue.” ― Erich Fromm
I'd made a decision to stay away from this blog because it continues to be (deliberately or not) a free-for-all arena for a myriad of spiteful anonymous people who harbor ridiculous resentment and unjustified hate, to troll by and throw out whatever insults tickle their fancy, at an insanely awesome woman just living her life!!! A woman who at no time ever asked or sought to be tagged a fashionista!!! How deeply miserable, empty and vile would a person have to be to go out of their way to click on a site dedicated to a woman they don't like, to rain spite and take issue with a stunning magazine cover (routinely finished in line with normal industry standard), that just happens to show-case the youthful, vibrant, regal majesty of this First lady of the United States???
But then I got to thinking. No, I won't!!! Besides being totally obsessed with and irreversibly in love with this irresistibly and insanely marvelous, breathtakingly awesome goddess of a woman, I cannot and will not stand by and have these hate-filled spite-warts take over, poison the air and succeed in their plan!!!
You will not have free reign to dehumanize, diminish, chip away at, or steal the well-deserved glory of this independently accomplished woman who has so generously given of herself as she brilliantly, successfully and unobtrusively navigates the many pitfalls - and gloriously thrives and excels in this her historic role; A role which has been begrudged her by so many!!!
You will have to contend with people like me if you wish to take on Mrs Obama!!! You attack or insult her, you better watch out, because I'm coming for you!!!
In the interim, as Byron Katie says, It’s not your job to like her, it’s hers!!! The icing on the cake here being that we LOVE her!!!
Rock On Mrs Obama, Rock On!!!
“Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.
I think she looks lovely. The dress is fabulous and I really like the softer hairstyle. I don't think anyone is trying to diminish her by saying this looks photoshopped. It does. And I think it isn't necessary - at least not to the extent that they took it. Michelle Obama is a beautiful woman. I would have preferred to see a more natural (and therefor more beautiful) version of the pictures.
"....from sea to shining sea!" - Shine on First Lady!
Wow. What a stunning look.
She looks gorgeous. The dress is by designer Lela Rose.
A USA Today article about the Ladies Home Journal article says the dress is by Lela Rose.
those shoulders - they are perfect! its not fair that this women just gets better looking by the day!
Well put, Kathie, especially your last sentence!
Fabulous....this might be my favorite cover yet! Not only a stellar First Lady, an inspiration for women beyond 40....how fabulous!!! She's someone I've looked up to for years and hope to continue admiring for many decades. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!
BRAVA ELEROY!!!!
You hit the nail square on it's head, I agree with all your comments and observations. We know there are some sick puppies out there to whom the name "Obama" truly sends them over the deep end, but that's to be expected from this crowd. For them, nothing this First Lady or her husband does elicits any worthy acknowledgement or praise. So the fume and hiss and when given the opportunity, such as with this blog, vent their true hostility anonymously. This has been the case since January 20, 2009,12:01 pm EST. What I've learned since then is that we cannot allow their nastiness to go unchallenged because it only makes them more brazen. Like all bullies, they have to be confronted forthwith and called out for the bigots they are, for it takes a lot of effort to take the time to go on a blog created to highlight the achievements and style of a woman you cannot stand in order to denigrate her in the most transparent way. This defines a mental health condition, an ODS (Obama Derangement Syndrome) so to speak, but the good news is that this pre-existing condition is fully covered by the ACA (Obamacare). They should avail themselves of this benefit under the new health care reform! But there is also another group that needs to be address in this discussion. There are some posters who claim to like and admire the First Lady yet anytime the issue of photoshopping comes up they willingly join the negative chorus opining on their preference of a more "natural look" for the First Lady or that "it doesn't look like her so I don't like it". Like you Eleroy, I wonder...are these people so uninformed that they really don't know that photoshopping is an industry-wide practice, that it occurs on every magazine cover? Or their outrage is only selective, reserved for one Michelle Obama? The folks must not read or buy magazines anymore because you'll have to be truly blind or stupid not to realize that the covers with Beyoncé, Angelina, Brad, George or Denzel, and yes, even politicos and their spouses, have been "doctored" in one form or another. So let's be real here and stop the fake poutrages! The bottom line is this, Michelle Obama is one beautiful, fit, accomplished, outgoing, compassionate, inclusive and engaging woman (I could go on and on) who happens to be the First Lady of the United States of America. Will there be some who dislike her and everything she represents? Will they incessantly try to convince others to join their chorus? Of course, that's their goal, we see this daily in the orchestrated dance of the GOP and MSM as they constantly attack her husband even on the most trivial level. The idea is that if they cannot attack you for who you are, they then attack you for what you do. But it's now clear that as far as The Obamas are concerned the haters attack them BOTH for who they are and what they do. So like you, Eleroy, I will continue to defend this first lady any and every time she is attacked by these vipers. I refuse to turn the other cheek, take the higher ground or any other such euphemism used to describe how we should address others who constantly attack you. Whether on this site or elsewhere, these cowards have to be confronted because a bully only remains a bully when she (or he) is not stopped in her tracks. This cyber bullying has to stop on this site!
Here's a nice link to more Christmas news from the W.H. Lovely! Mrs. O, the 2 pups, the lovely young ladies that the first daughters have grown into (Sasha, I love your shoes!!) http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/white-house-christmas-tree-arrives-carriage-article-1.1532757
I saw this on a newsstand today and did a double-take. She looks sensational, and unmistakeably Michelle. It's a gorgeous cover!
Eleroy you rock! Our FLOTUS is an amazing woman. There's nothing a hater says or does that will ever diminish her.
I love mrs. O. But this doesn't look like her. Why photoshopping is done to this extent still baffles me. Just fix what needs to be fixed and don't add or subtract. Same thing they did with Kerry Washington on a magazine cover.
Photoshopped or not she really does look stunning, and that dress... Lovely :0)
@mszonian52-your comment about ODS being a pre-existing condition and covered under Obamacare is a funny one. It's just to bad Obamacare is turning out to be such a disaster.
As I have read the comments you have entered over a period of time, I am struck by the unkind comments made about some of the postings. We have free speech in this country and it would be nice if that was respected.