Business Chic

As part of her push for community health care, First Lady Mrs. O traveled to Bowling Green, VA for a ribbon cutting ceremony at Caroline Family Practice, a community health center that received federal economic stimulus funds.

Mrs. O combined her classics today, wearing a fitted blue sheath dress, adorned with a trio of Erickson Beamon floral brooches at the neckline. 

Update: Mrs. O is wearing a Michael Kors blue scoop neck doubleface sheath dress.

Thanks to Janelle for linking to this great video from the event: 

When in Rome (Updated)

 

Photo by Alessia Pierdomenico / Reuters

As the President and First Lady arrived in Rome, Mrs. O dazzled in a yellow sheath dress, accessorized with an oversize green brooch at her shoulder. We love that Mrs. O has mixed two of her signatures - a classic sheath and a statement brooch - while introducing a fresh play on color.

Update #1: Mrs. O wears a Jason Wu canary yellow silk faille custom sheath dress. The pin is a rare 1960s vintage piece in paper mache, purchased at Ikram.

For the afternoon, Mrs. O changed ensembles to visit the Coloseeum with her daughters, wearing a white sundress with an Erickson Beamon turquoise brooch pinned at the neckline. The brooch was first seen in August 2008, as Mrs. O opened the Democratic National Convention.

Update #2: Mrs. O wears a white cotton silk dress by Narciso Rodriguez.

 

Photo by Tiziana Fabi / Getty Images

Jazz at the White House

Photo by volume12 / Creative Commons

Mrs. O will kick off a new music series at the White House today. The first performance will feature members of the Marsalis family, including Ellis, Wynton (above), and Branford, who will play jazz for 150 students, according to the New York Times. More to follow!

Photo by Jewel Samad / Getty Images

Update: For the event, Mrs. O chose a white pencil skirt, pink blouse and Erickson Beamon floral brooch. The brooch, from Erickson Beamon's Victory Garden collection, was last seen during the final presidential debate last fall. Cinching the first lady's waist was the white version of her famed Alaia belt, visible here. Mrs. O finished the ensemble with her Jimmy Choo Lantern heels (which are quickly becoming Mrs. O's shoe of the season!). Meanwhile, we are very excited about Ms. Robinson's pink and navy top, far left.

A detailed view of Mrs. O's Erickson Beamon brooch:

 

Pleats and Pearls

White House Photo / Samantha Appleton

What a tremendously busy day for Mrs. O! It seems the First Lady also hosted Jordan's Queen Rania in the Yellow Oval Room at the White House this afternoon. First Lady Mrs. O wears a pleated taupe chiffon dress, last seen for a daytime event during the Democratic National Convention. See our earlier post here. This dress is one that eludes us. Truth be told, we've spent an embarrassing amount of time trying to identify it. We've wondered if the March issue of Vogue perhaps held a clue.

In his interview with Mrs. O, the great Andre Leon Talley wrote, "The day of our interview at the Hay-Adams, she wears a soft, silk-crepe accordion-pleat dress by 34-year-old Thakoon Panichgul." If only he had hinted at the color!

Update: The dress has been confirmed as Rodarte! The dress is from the Mulleavy sisters' Fall Winter 2007 collection. It is 100% linen, with a feather bow belt. An additional image of the dress can be seen here. Mrs. O also wears a trio of glass pearl necklaces by Erickson Beamon, from their "Peace at Last" collection. The necklaces can be seen in detail, here.

Erickson Beamon for Tar-Jay

Image used with kind permission from Target

Today marks the arrival of yet another Target collection from one of Mrs.O's signature designers: first Thakoon, now Erickson Beamon and soon Tracy Feith. (Plus Proenza Schouler, if we're being technical.) The design duo of Karen Erickson and Vicki Beamon, both natives of Detroit, have have delivered a twelve look jewelry collection for Target that features bold pendant necklaces, jewel encrusted cuffs, oversize cocktails rings and dazzling earrings.

Jewelry for a shrinking violet, this is not. Bright colors combine with charms and chains, often all mixed in a single piece. The only dissapointment is that the collection doesn't include any brooches, Mrs. O's signature accessory. Still, there are evident traces of Erickson Beamon designs for Mrs. O in this collection. We've featured the Long Flower Charm Necklace and Rose Drop Earrings, above, for their similarity to the Erickson Beamon brooches that Mrs. O wore at the Democratic National Convention in August. Mrs. O famously paired the trio of brooches, seen below, with her floral Thakoon dress. Image used with kind permission from Erickson Beamon / Showroom Seven

Yet, our favorite piece from the collection (in our mind, the most wearable) is the Jeweled White Cluster Pendant Necklace and Earrings, seen after the jump. We can imagine Mrs. O wearing the fancy gold and pearl drop earrings for a state dinner or formal event. Jewelry is one place we haven't yet seen the First Lady mix high and low designs. Perhaps this will be the start?