NATO Spouses in Chicago

  

 

As NATO leaders gathered in Chicago, Illinois yesterday, the First Lady hosted spouses for a special event at the Gary Comer Youth Center on the South Side. For the event, Mrs. O wore a cream hued dress with pleat and seam detailing at the neckline. For her photo with Anne-Mette Rasmussen, wife of NATO Secretary General Fogh Rasmussen, Mrs. O donned a coordinating jacket.

Earlier in the weekend, as the President and First Lady arrived in Chicago on Saturday evening, the couple was greeted by Mayor Rahm Emanuel and his wife Amy Rule. For travel, Mrs. O wore an olive hued wrap top paired with a printed skirt.

Update: For the Gary Comer Youth Center event, Mrs. O wore a Zac Posen dress and jacket, confirmed by the designer via Twitter. Miguel Ases earrings completed the look. Arriving in Chicago, Mrs. O wore a Rachel Roy Runway to Green Stencil skirt, also confirmed by the designer via Twitter.

A Most Lovely Hostess

While G8 meetings are being held at Camp David, the First Lady has invited the G8 spouses to the White House for a tour guided by White House Curator Bill Allman, as well as a special lunch prepared by Chef José Andrés using produce from the White House kitchen garden.

Above, Mrs. O stands with Hitomi Noda, wife of Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, and Valerie Trierweiler, partner of French President Francois Hollande during the White House tour. For the occasion, the First Lady has debuted a purple v-neck frock with cut-out detailing near the hem. An iris pin by Alexis Bittar completes the look.

Tomorrow the group will travel to Chicago, where Mrs. O will host the spouses at the Gary Comer Youth Center on the South Side of Chicago, followed by dinner at the Art Institute of Chicago. 

A note to readers: I will be traveling over the next 24 hours, but will do my best to update the blog in a timely fashion. Thank you for your understanding. x Mrs. T

Must Read: Designing Woman

I enjoyed this Washington Post piece on designer Katie Ermilio and thought you might too. In 2008, the then 22-year-old submitted a sketch for Mrs. O's inaugural ball gown to a Washington Post reader contest. Robin Givhan, the former Washington Post fashion critic, declared Ermilio's design the winner. Since then, Ermilio has developed as a young designer, launching her eponymous line, Katie Ermilio, which has received early praise from Marie Claire and Lucky magazines. She is certainly one to watch in the fashion sphere, with an interesting tie to Mrs. O's style story no less. A contender for January 2013 perhaps? Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend!

"Designing Woman: Katie Ermilio" [Washington Post]

Honoring US Army Specialist Sabo

The President and First Lady shared a moment with Rose Mary Sabo-Brown following a ceremony to posthumously honor her late husband, US Army Specialist Leslie H. Sabo, Jr., with the Medal of Honor on Wednesday. For the occasion, Mrs. O wore a crimson pleated georgette crewneck dress by Michael Kors, previously seen here, paired with a red belt at the waist.

"Ellwood City solider Sabo receives posthumous Medal of Honor" [Pittsburgh Post Gazette]

P.S. Another touching moment and the White House photo of the day.

Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Back to Basics

It's been a sport-centric week for the First Lady thus far. Yesterday, Mrs. O addressed athletes from Team USA at a press conference held in Dallas, Texas. Today, she was back to the White House to host a Let's Move event honoring the LA Galaxy.

On the style front, black and white appears to be the palette du jour. Mrs. O paired an oversized flower pin with a striped top, blazer and white trousers (not shown) in Dallas. For today's White House event, Mrs. O wore her signature Alaia belt in white with a Moschino bow blouse and black trousers.

Update: Reader Elizabeth identifies Mrs. O's blazer as Moschino, available here.