On the Campaign Trail
Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 7:59 PM 
Photo by Morry Gash / AP Photos
Photo by M. Spencer Green / AP Photo
Mrs. O has hit the campaign trail! The first lady began her day with a stop in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, speaking at a campaign event for Senator Russ Feingold. There she donned a pink ponte knit sleeveless dress by Talbots, accessorized with a St. Erasmus necklace, first seen at the White House Correspondents dinner in 2009.
Later this afternoon, Mrs. O traveled to her home city of Chicago, where she supported U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias at a campaign fundraiser. Mr. Giannoulias will face Republican Congressman Mark Kirk, in the November election for President Obama's former Senate seat. For her second appearance of the day, Mrs. O changed into a black top and textured skirt, worn with her signature Alaia belt at the waist.
A few articles of note:
The first lady's full speech in support of Senator Feingold {White House}
"Michelle Obama, on the trail as mom-in chief" {Washington Post}
"Michelle Obama at Giannoulias fundraiser" {Chicago Sun-Times}
Alaia, St. Erasmus, Talbots
Reader Comments (35)
Oooooh........I adore the necklace!
Adore the pink and the necklace. She is so fabulous and has surely helped these candidates with her special "shine". Go Democrats!
This woman ROCKS!!! I loooove her!
I think Mrs. O has changed her haircut. The back is now a lot longer than the frony. I am not a big fan of this style. I think it's not as chic as the previous styles. Just a personal opinion.
Our first lady is so amazing. This woman is defintely a true First Lady......Go Mrs O!
I don't like the way she has her haircut. Also, the first dress looks great on her skin tone.
I must admit I haven't been feeling the new do either. There are certain ways that she style's it that I don't like.
Anyway, I love both outfits today. Mrs. T, I don't think that is the same dress. In this pic you can see the bottom half of the dress has some kind of detail (don't know the proper name for it).
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//101013/480/urn_publicid_ap_org_
b92705c478a943f69dcf3998cba5acc4/#photoViewer=/101014/480/urn_publicid_ap_org
_bc373756683b43588e420c1ef65fbb5e
I've been swooning over Mrs.O in the last few posts. What a phenomenal First Lady. I'd do anything to keep President Obama and her for another term.
Here's discussio of MO's fashion at this link. Echoes of what has been said on this blog abound.
http://www.thelantern.com/campus/first-lady-s-fashion-to-face-scrutiny-1.1689071
Is anyone else feeling what I'm feeling? That MO is coming more and more into her own? Less Ikram more Michelle? Or is that a complete misreading?
Classic Michelle campaign wear!
Amen, Sildi! Please, all who have the opportunity, get out and vote in the next couple of weeks in support of our wonderful First Lady and her husband/our President.
I love both looks. She looks so confident and happy. Whilst I have noticed that Mrs Obama's wardrobe has evolved more and more since we first saw her on the campaign trail, one thing has never changed and that is her confidence.
Her sheer ability to work the crowds always amazes me and brings me back to the time when I first heard her speech at the DNC in 2008 - that was the moment when I became a Michelle Obama fan.
Her smile, body language and outstretched arms shows that she is open and honest. What a woman !!
The pink dress is lovely.
Looking good on the campaign trail!
Mrs. Obama is absolutely stunning in her wardrobe selections on the campaign trail!
I will probably be in the minority but I don't like that necklace with that neckline being so high. They compete, in my opinion. The first time she wore it though, I thought it was fantastic.
But I like the color of the dress and I like the necklace, just not together.
The St. Erasmus piece was great for evening, but not good for day. Just too much.
As for the black dress, Nyon is right. The skirt fabric appears to be puckered all over. The Alaia belt does not work with that.
I do believe that for convenience she is wearing wigs in various styles. The color and texture of the hair is different. We see her own hair when she is on vacation, pulled back with a little bun. In photos her own hair is lighter, like the girls, and has almost a reddish cast in some lights. She probably picked this up from Oprah who freely admits that she wears a number of wigs to rest her own hair and to give her different looks. And she couldn't get along without them when she is traveling and making personal appearances.
Another view of the pink dress:
http://www.daylife.com/photo/04OFeJ99UibxZ?q=michelle+obama
I love this Lady she rocks! I would love to hear her speak.
Found a full-length photo of the black dress. Nyon was right - not the official portrait Michael Kors. This photo is not clear enough to see the puckered fabric that showed in the pic Nyon posted:
http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/11843/slide_11843_156662_large.jpg
Here is a pic of Mrs. O early voting in Chicago.
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//101014/ids_photos_ts/r192128195.jpg/
BTW, I watched her speech at Sen. Feingold's fundraiser and it was truly a moving speech. She really got to me when she said, "remember I gave my husband to you, and you promised me you would have his back". That touched me deeply and I really realized the sacrfices the family are making in order for the President to help America. So, we really have to go out and vote, Real Talk!
Both these looks are very nice........her speeches are terrific -
she adds music to our ears and wonderful visions for our eyes.
Great First Lady and marvelous black dress
Absolutely gorgeous
BeeGee: I completely agree with you about the wig thing. I noticed it a year ago. FLOTUS is really trying to care for her hair and I completely agree with her. She does not want to end up like Naomi Campbell who has some sort of alopecia from not caring for her hair. Here's pic of Naomi's hair loss if you ladies didn't see it. http://shadesofshaune.wordpress.com/2010/07/18/hair-beaute-naomi-campbell-traction-alopecia/naomi-campbell-hair-loss/.
FLOTUS is under bright lights, running all over the country--just always in action and the stress and weather changes can damage her hair.
I also agree with you about the Alaia belt--why use it when the dress already has so much texture? However, I understand why she chose it. The dress is so black, she wanted something to lighten it up and since the Alaia belt has studs, it lightened it up somewhat, especially when you don't see the puckered bottom of the dress from the podium. I also notice that in all of these election stops, she has wisely recycled her wardrobe. She was, in my opinion, unfairly skewered for the Spain trip and is playing it safe, rather than sorry, by rewearing her wardrobe. She looks great though!
Like the pink dress. I dislike the belt on the beautiful black dress.
That's the black dress I want in my closet!
Just looked at the photo of the St. Erasmus necklace at the correspondents' dinner and it was up higher than she is wearing it here. At the base of her throat. It must be adjustable.
My opinion: Higher is better - and save it for evening.
Oh, that St. Erasmus necklace is back! It is stunning and I can envision FLOTUS wearing it someday against something that is chartruese, white, or even that powder blue sheath by Michael Kors. Even though it looked awesome the first time she wore this, I think the origami neckline on this dress competes for attention with this necklace. I like how she styles herself by shopping her closet and recycling accessories.
I wish I could see the bottom of the black dress. It looks like it has some interesting fabric with unique a texture to it. From what I see, I like. Our Michelle looks amazingly fit and healthy, which is such an inspiration to so many of us, young and old. It's refreshing to see how she wears her clothes with such ease and pride, not as if she's stuffed and stuck in something that a team of stylists thrust on her and said, "Go!"
Hey Nyon, where did you see the fundraiser for Senator Feingold? Was it televised locally or on a national channel?
The First Lady does not have reddish hair. Also, Naomi Campbell has hair loss FROM WEARING WIGS ALL THE TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't know why some of you find it so hard to realize that this woman wears her own freaking hair. There are women who know how to take care of their hair. Furthermore, Michelle travels with a hairstylist so it's not hard for her to get her hair blown out ASAP.
First Lady Michelle Obama, you are so beautiful! Your poise, position and politeness helps so many young ladies. You are classy and intelligent, and might I add-Married to the President of the United States [A very fit and handsome gentleman with two amazing daughters]. I too love Talbots! Talbots, is the best.
Mrs. O, You Go Girl. Loving that Talbots Dress.
Our first lady is gorgeous, smart and a fashion statement. I am so proud to call her Frst lady, and her husband rocks!!
CID, I saw it on C-SPAN.
Michelle always looks beautiful! Her style, her figure, and the way she carries herself.
Love the Talbot's pink dress. The necklace really makes the outfit. II think Mrs. Obama looks best in solids!
First Lady has style.