Wednesday
Oct212009
Jump, Skip, Hula
Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 2:27 PM 
Photo by Win McNamee / Getty Images
First Lady Mrs. O is taking part in the Healthy Kids Fair on the South Lawn of the White House today. The event promotes exercise and healthy eating for children, and Mrs. O is getting right in the action - jumping rope, hula hooping and running barefoot through an obstacle course. Click here to read Mrs. O's remarks from the event (including Mrs. O's confession that she has a "good relationship with french fries" - in moderation, of course!).
On the style front, Mrs. O is wearing a black dot twist front tank with eyelash trim by Jason Wu, paired with a blue cardigan belted at the waist. Slim black pants complete the look, accessorized with a set of bangle bracelets.
Reader Comments (65)
Great shot!!
Love the ensemble as a whole, but it's the lovely shirt I'm going ga-ga over... the cut, the fabric, the polka dots.
The unnecessary belt ruins what is an otherwise beautiful outfit.
This woman is just so real and down to earth in all she does, that is why we love her so.....can u imagine another First Lady running the obstacle course barefoot?! Jumping rope, and Hula hooping?
I love the blouse.........and the belt is back........
Mrs.O u are my #1 Lady........from ur #1 fan.
God bless you and your family
Mrs. O sure looks like she's having a great time and also promoting a good cause. The clothes she's wearing are a great combination, wonderful shade of blue! Once again she sports an outfit that's casual, but elegant, and compliments her great figure. Though I haven't always liked everything she wears, overall she has for me great personal style. I'm very proud to have her as our nation's First Lady. You go Mrs. O!!!
Mrs.O is such a REAL person, I can't help but love her. I understand that she can jump rope for as much as 200 jumps. I wish I could do one tenth of that. LOL!!
Cute but simple and friendly outfit for the occasion. Comfortable enough to jump rope AND run.
The fact that she can take her shoes off (as seen in other photos) at a public(ish) event, despite being FLOTUS, shows great humility.
Love her, love her, love her!!
She is so much fun, this reminds of pictures of Princess Diana running in her son's school races.
I really want that gorgeous blouse!!
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE THE FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am just so happy that she can take off her shoes and have fun with kids for a great cause....and i read that she is a great hula hooper so i cant wait for the video of the day's events....If anyone has a link please put it up! By the way, there are some great pics up on daylife.
GOD BLESS AMERICA AND THE PRESIDENTIAL FAMILY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCYJEVt89zA
this event looks like tons of fun, and the first lady looks like she's having a ball; nothing makes you look better than that. not really a fan of the belt on this occasion, but it serves a practical purpose; she can't have her blouse flying up all over the place!
Hey eveyone,
I found a video of FLOTUS hula hooping and jumping rope here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCYJEVt89zA
I love those pics too, very down to earth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love the outfit.. especially the bangles.. love bangles. picked up some pretty ones in Jordan this summer. Anyone know of the shoes she has on... LOL... please post if you do. thanks much!
Hey guys, I just saw some pictures on Getty Images and they are cute enough. Mrs. O looks wonderful and is having a good time. Her outfit is from pieces that we've seen before but it still looks fresh. She looks great. I know that some people do not care for the belts and cardigans but perhaps that's her signature. That's the beauty of fashion, you can take whatever elements of clothing and then style them to make yourself look good and feel good .....and don't we all want to feel good about ourselves?
First time poster: I HAD to comment. She looks so happy; so alive; so vibrant! I am so impressed and inspired by her. Her fashion is HER fashion. But I do like it most of the time and have even incorporated some of her styles into my wardrobe.
Hey I found another video...
http://www.necn.com/Boston/NECN-Extra/2009/10/21/Michelle-Obama-encourages/1256147855.html
I think her outfit is just awesome from head to toe. I want that polka dot shirt soooo bad. I would even break the bank for it. And I think the belt works here. Overall, this is one of those moments where it's hard to get caught up in her outfit when her message and actions are so much more compelling. The raw video from the link provided by evevictor was adorable. She really is a good sport!
Aw, so cute. I think she's about to get tangled up in that rope, though!
I think this top has a matching skirt, right?
I know this is for kids and fitness but I see no reason why adults can't run jump and play. I want to hula hoop and run relay races, and jump rope like I used to do when I was a kid. Fitness as an adult is so BORING...walk one mile blah blah blah...sometimes I just want to skip and hop LOL. I think they need recess camps for adults!!
Can I just say how much I love this woman! That is one great shot! I also love the one where she's running through the obstacle course!
She certainly puts me to shame in her physical abilities and I'm only 25!!
To think I was huffing and puffing my way up 3 flight of stairs today...SMH!
FanTAStic photo! Another great outfit from Mrs O. Casual, smart, good to run around in, feminine - and just as stylish as usual. Anyone who doesn't love this woman is missing something HUGE. Like, fun, joie de vivre, happiness... how inspiring is it to children - and adults! - to have someone like Mrs O running around and laughing like this?!
Isn't this the top from one of the London outfits? (Walking with Sarah Brown in gardens near No. 10?)
OK, I do like and admire Mrs. O, I just don't always like some of her fashion choices. To me, that belt is just wrong with that outfit. I've come to the conclusion that she just doesn't like the feel (or maybe look) of loose clothes around her waist and if the fit isn't snug enough she belts it. It's cheaper and less time-consuming that having everything tailored the way she wants it. We've all got our little quirks :-).
This is a great photo of Mrs. O in action. Check out that bouncy mane! She has worn this top on several occasions, including a reception at the White House for Justice Sotomayor.
Mrs. T, I've read a couple of glowing reviews on the book. I called my favorite neighborhood brick and mortar bookstore and they don't have a release date. When will it hit the shelves?
Anyone else think Mrs. O is steadily losing weight? She looks like she's almost the size she was back at the beginning of the campaign, which she has said is her fighting weight. I wonder if she's dieting down for the big state dinner.
@That other Mimi:
My local YMCA has a fitness program called "Punk Rope." It's supposed to be like recess for adults. I think I may give it a try!
What a wonderful first lady!!!!!! This is the first time we've ever had a real person that knows how to interact with the community. The others were wonderful but distant and untouchable. Love Mrs. O!
LOVE HER OUTFIT BUT THE BELT SHE RELLY DIDNT NEED TO WEAR IT AT ALL SHE WAS RUNNING AND JUMPING SHE TOOK HER SHOE OFF MAYBE NEXT TIME HER KIDS WILL JOIAN HER AND OF COURSE HER HUSBAND. TO OUR FRIST LADY NEXT TIME WEAR SNEAKERS IF YOUR FEET WAS HURTING. BECOUSE BO MAYBE DID #2 IN THE GRASS . AND YOU DIDNT SEE IT. YUK.
oops, there was a typo in the article! It said " slim pants and black pants". I really like her outfit, its very put-together, yet casual. do we get to know who made the belt?
She's somethin' special, isn't she?
I love hula-hooping, too. It's the only piece of exercise equipment I own and I do it several times a week. Especially when I'm feeling a bit down and need a laugh. Put a record on and feel like a kid!
Love it!! And you can tell she use to double dutch back in the day because she knows how to do that little entrance dance good. If they were on solid ground instead of grass, I am sure she would have jumped for a long time.
BTW, love the outfit ;-)
Thanks Christina, I have a YMCA nearby. They have bootcamp for civilians, we need recess for adults...I want to play dodge ball again!!
That knotted-looking Jason Wu top was worn with a matching flared accordion pleated skirt when she did her walkabout with Mrs. Brown in her London Garden.
I thought that was a dress, but apparently it was a top and skirt.
PS. to the post up the line. She wore the whole outfit - blouse and matching skirt - for the Sotomayor reception.
I don't like the belt on this outfit but I understood why she did it. She doesn't want her clothes going all over the place. And she looks so exuberant. I love when she has photo opportunities to work in the garden or do physical fitness because she actually does the work!! She doesn't mime the work, she does it fully and gladly and that's what makes her amazing. She does her role with gusto and isn't self-conscious or patronizing at all.
@ Nyon: I thought the same thing about the double dutch. Mrs. Obama did the little, forward-with-the-beat-of the -rope double dutch entrance dance. FLOTUS turned some rope or jumped as a child. I couldn't jump double-dutch to save my life as a child but I knew how to turn that rope.
This is why I heart Michelle Obama. I know this is a fashion site, but it was her heart that shined today. I love my First Lady to pieces!
Oh! My local YMCA has the Punk Rope class and I took it with a girlfriend - very fun AND it kicked my booty! Mrs. O looks fantastic and can we all agree that it's a breath of fresh air to see a First Lady jumping rope on the South Lawn?! And I love the belt. It's a signature thing for her, and it works.
I would expect nothing less from the mother of 2 young children like myself. She is the picture of health and fitness, isn't she? She obviously knows how to control those french fries!!!!
Didn't she catch a lot of flak for wearing this blouse with a flower pin....people said it was too low cut for the occasion because the pin dragged it down and showed her cleavage? It was at that reception they held for Sonia Sotomayor, remember? She wore it with a robin's egg blue cardigan?
I seriously wish someone would sneak into her closet and hide all of her belts.
OOPS, my bad. What she wore that day was a wrap dress. Sure looks similar, though.
This woman is simply amazing, she exudes so much warmth and love
Her family and friends are so so lucky to have her!
I love this site. I love Michelle's effervescence and vibrancy. No matter what type of day I'm having, I know that I can log on to Mrs O and feel instantly rejuventated.
I do not know of any First Lady in my lifetime who has been so optimistic, so OUT there, so giving and positive. She looks healthy and happy. Her belts ? No comment required, no comment necessary. They are her signature style and she wears them well. It's so refereshing to see them being used for other purposes than holding up trousers or jeans.
I keep saying this but the next first lady will really have her work cut out because Michelle is REALLY setting an example.
Yes Tracy, I noticed her weight tends to fluctuate or maybe its her outfits. You can see that Michelle is a well balanced person. She clearly enjoys her food and why not when she has date nights in Paris and Broadway and has a White House Chef at her disposal. Good on you, Michelle. Enjoy your food and your life and if maintaining optimum weight is important to you then get out the hoop and work off those pounds as and when.
She is such an inspiration, such a sweet, sweet, honest, thoroughly humble, beautiful, intelligent smart young woman. I en
Michelle, I salute you !!!
Here's a good photo:
http://www.people.com/people/gallery/0,,20314553,00.html
It would have been a hundred times better without the belt!!
Awesome First Lady! Even better seeing the bouncing mane in the video. She is really fit, didnt even break a sweat! I love seeing her in blue and think the belt works here because it keeps the whole outfit in place and maintains the air of elegance around her. It helped her avoid looking messy even after running and jumping rope.
Christen, the belt is used to hold her blouse in place. Can you imagine the First Lady with her blouse flying up, stomach, bra, etc.... exposed. Not a good look. I happen to like the First Ladies sense of style. FLOTUS dresses for the occassion.
OK, so it is the same blouse from the Sotomayor reception. Glad to know I'm not losing my mind! Thanks, y'all!
The closer I look at this image the more navy blue these pants appear to be. I like the bright blue sweater. I have to say the last few times I've seen her in black I just want to see her in brights again. She can rock the jewel tones like nobody's business!
Wow.......now in the photo Ellen referenced (in People) the pants she's got on here look like a dark charcoal flannel or denim! It's so weird how one outfit can look so different in so many pictures!
@Canyongirl
I think you were right the first time. The outfit she wore at the Sotomayor event was this top and its matching skirt. But I thought it was a dress too, the first time I saw it.
There's video of the First Lady working her hula hoop at DailyBeast.com ("Video Cheat Sheet, First Lady of Hula"), then it switches to video of her from this summer discussing the White House luau...check out the President's reaction to her spontaneous mini hula.
great energy coming from this photo.
She is really getting into it.
I don't understand the belt, I guess that is why I'm not wearing it.
I do hope that one day, someone will ask if she was advised to add belts to almost every outfit or if this is her own idea of the belt around the ribs.
Love her regardless !!!!