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Mrs-O.com is a blog dedicated to chronicling the fashion and style of First Lady Michelle Obama. Founded September 2008. 

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Friday
Nov072008

Behind the Scenes of Election Night

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Photos from Flickr user Barack Obama via David Katz for Obama for America // Creative Commons 

The Obama Campaign has released exclusive behind-the-scenes photos from election night. From the backstage waiting room to their grand stage at Grant Park, the images are charged with emotion. You can just feel the nervous anticipation transform to joy and excitement. If you have a few minutes, we recommend a look at the full Flickr set here.

We have to say, the more we study Mrs. O's Narciso Rodriguez dress, the more we grow to like it, particularly in the images above. Certainly it was unexpected, but perhaps we just needed a few days to settle into it, much like a new haircut. And we have to wonder if such vehement negative reactions are only a sign that it's fashion forward. Will we look back in a few months and find ourselves wearing ombre effect red and black frocks, the joke on us?

Of note, the first image above provides a good view of Mrs. O's Loree Rodkin earrings. We know Mrs. O is a devoted patron of Chicago's Ikram boutique, which conveniently carries the designer's jewelry collection.

References (3)

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    Behind the Scenes of Election Night - Home - Mrs.O - Follow the Fashion and Style of First Lady Michelle Obama
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    Behind the Scenes of Election Night - Home - Mrs.O - Follow the Fashion and Style of First Lady Michelle Obama
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    Behind the Scenes of Election Night - Home - Mrs.O - Follow the Fashion and Style of First Lady Michelle Obama

Reader Comments (43)

It's nice to see the dress closer up. I didn't see the beautiful detailing on the TV. I think Michelle has a wonderful fashion sense she's very smart about the way she puts things together, not too fussy and fiscally responsible. Great website!!!!!

Friday, November 7, 2008 at 6:40 PM | Unregistered CommenterLeslie Y. - Boulder, CO

I have moved my stance on this dress from viewing it as just plain awful, to becoming slowly intrigued by it to now absolutely loving it. I want one!!

It was indeed, "unexpected" and on initial viewing perhaps, startling. Now though, that I've had time to grow accustomed to its bold and daring face, I'm surprised at how the red glitter splatter paint meets satiny cobweb effect of Michelle's dress has taken hold of me. It's not like anything that I've usually ever liked...and yet...and yet...je t'adore!

Friday, November 7, 2008 at 7:29 PM | Unregistered CommenterDeb

Mrs. Obama looks so beautiful in her dress. I rate her outfit with 5 stars.

Friday, November 7, 2008 at 7:30 PM | Unregistered CommenterChamaine

It was love at first sight for me. The dress was a bit too fashion forward for the Joe the Plumber crowd that expect the boring, conventional, "classic" looks of Cyndi McCain. I am proud Michelle has her own fashion eye and does not rely on a stylist. I hope her pick for the inauguration is just as brave....how about a dress from RODARTE? NINA RICCI?

Friday, November 7, 2008 at 8:14 PM | Unregistered CommenterG

Initially I didn't like it either. But seeing it up close, it's beautiful. She looks lovely in red. I like her lipgloss as well.

Friday, November 7, 2008 at 8:20 PM | Unregistered CommenterAfrofashonista

oh... yeah - the dress looks like something one of the hacks on Tim Gunn's show would throw up and call 'bold'... it looks like it was made in a back room in Chinatown. Get real people and stop trying to choke on your faint praise....

Friday, November 7, 2008 at 9:43 PM | Unregistered Commentershanna B

Ugly dress. Accentuates the heavy thighs and booty. Longer length would flatter the legs and leave them less "trunk-like"

Friday, November 7, 2008 at 9:47 PM | Unregistered CommenterAnn

Initially i thought this dress was hideous when i saw it on tv. I kept staring at it because it looked so awkward but looking at it up close in photos its grown on me. It comes off better up. I give it 3 1/2 stars I like it but it could have been better.

Friday, November 7, 2008 at 10:59 PM | Unregistered CommenterChristina

Ummm, looks like a black widow spider to me! Those colors are eeerily close to the colors found on a communist flag! I think the dress is very unflattering...and no I am not jealous, not racist, not a redneck, hick backwards Joe the plumber type! Hideous!

Saturday, November 8, 2008 at 12:34 AM | Unregistered CommenterAngie

Startling ... that was the only word I could come up with for THAT dress. The more I stared at this unflattering frock (makes her hips look a mile wide, and her legs like tree trunks) the more I saw its kinship with a black widow spider. I believe you can still wear vibrant colors and have a flashy sense of style without looking ... well ... startling. It's gonna be a long four years if that night is any indication.

Saturday, November 8, 2008 at 12:45 AM | Unregistered CommenterGeeBee

First, Mrs. McCain deserves respect. Her taste is exquisite as she is in her clothing choices. Mrs. Obama really does need a pinch of help in getting just the right wardrobe. She's lovely and graceful and could only benefit from some of the fashion experts. One does not need to spend to look gorgeous. One need to know what makes them look gorgeous with what they spend. My mother didn't have much money, but boy could she dress like a knock-out. Mrs. Obama? Again, a fashion consultant who really knows what they are doing will just push you right up there where you need to be as first lady.

Saturday, November 8, 2008 at 3:43 AM | Unregistered CommenterTutiBug

I love Michelle Obama and think she's beautiful, but I did not love this dress. It DID accentuate her weaker points (hey, we all have them!) and simply wasn't her best look. I do like that she's brave and will try something different, but this wasn't her best choice. My favorite of her outfits so far was the purple sheath, but I also love her casual outfits. I'm looking forward to her years in the White House and not just in a fashion sense. I think she'll be a remarkable First Lady and expect her to do great things along with her husband.

Saturday, November 8, 2008 at 6:43 AM | Unregistered CommenterPat K

I love the stile of Mrs.Obama, she is very simple and class, she show that you don`t need to spend big amont of money to be class !

Saturday, November 8, 2008 at 8:35 AM | Unregistered CommenterRaquel Wainer

not loving the dress-it's striking but since it's SO striking, it must be worn with similar style shoes.There has to be a general togetherness.Also, it lost that edgy look by being longer but I guess that would be inappropriate for First Lady Michelle Obama to have it too short and tight. I really liked what she was wearing at the LGBT luncheon-deconstructed,soft and feminine. Also there's another picture where she looks amazing; a red carpet night with a flowery,shirred halter dress and her hair up.Divine.

Saturday, November 8, 2008 at 9:14 AM | Unregistered Commenterisabelle

sorry but I don t like the dress but Mrs Obama looks like a really nice person. certainly not a snob type

Saturday, November 8, 2008 at 10:03 AM | Unregistered Commenterdorianne bugeja

As "heavy thighs and booty" often come with the gift of being a black woman of West African lineage, these are not the negative attributes that some might wish to cast them as. I don't doubt for a second that Michelle's husband is highly appreciative!!

The bustle of the Victorian era was an attempt at "putting a little something back there", and how to explain the appearance of panties on the European market designed with the same aim?

Also, if only I had Michelle's long "trunk like" legs!

I look forward with immense excitement to continuing to see this lady's style choices over the next 4 years, regardless of whether they're to my taste or not. We're all individuals with our own individual views and I love to watch, listen and best of all learn.

Saturday, November 8, 2008 at 10:13 AM | Unregistered CommenterDeb

I guess it's all about celebrating the points which make us unique and downplaying those which we are not, in our own bodies, comfortable with.She,to her credit, looks very at ease in her choice of clothes.The thing is First Lady Obama has hit the stratosphere and given the objective of this blog, all the world's eyes are on her.more power to her.

Saturday, November 8, 2008 at 10:45 AM | Unregistered Commenterisabelle

This is just a guy's point of view, and forgive me if I offend anyone, but please don't call Michelle Obama "Mrs O" and don't dare compare her to Jackie Kennedy Onasis, because there will never be another woman as classy, as beautiful, as graceful and as loved as our "Jackie".
t

Saturday, November 8, 2008 at 1:25 PM | Unregistered Commenterroland

The reason why it's growing on us when we see it close up is that it reads perfectly well close up, excepting the frumpy shrug. It looks terrible and unflattering at a distance, and that's how it was first seen. A strange new consideration to make for the First Lady!

Saturday, November 8, 2008 at 3:04 PM | Unregistered CommenterNora

I loved how the faces of the entire Obama family looked on election night. I did not particularly care for the dress, but I think if the writer of the origanal article I read to get here is correct, it will be interesting to see a mix of high end fasion and affordable outfits--as long as she likes them.
I think its great that only a few days after the election, there are web sites do discuss such things as dresses, dogs, and a great First Lady/MOM. With all the things going on in our country-- it cannot be hopeless and there is time for change and a way to do it -- if we have time to discuss such things on and off-line - and are not so pressed for time to make ends meet, that we can enjoy the "smaller picture"

Saturday, November 8, 2008 at 3:31 PM | Unregistered CommenterCathy

I can't believe a designer would design a dress that looks like it has a red bib and red apron on the front of it. Definitely not a classy look. I don't think that dress would look good on anyone regardless of their body built. Just because a dress was on a catwalk at a fashion show doesn't make it good fashion.

Saturday, November 8, 2008 at 3:33 PM | Unregistered CommenterPhoebe

gotta agree with ann and geebee...this dress only served to make her look chunky. If she had worn a brilliant red necklace to move the eye away from the hips, thighs and tree trunk legs, it might have worked better. But, I think of all the beautiful dresses out there, this was not "the one".

Saturday, November 8, 2008 at 4:45 PM | Unregistered Commenterdiana

I don't remember a word Obama said during his election night speech simply because I was mesmerized by the sight of his wife standing next to him looking like a big old red & black X-Ray in that strange designer dress. Sears & Roebuck might have served her better in this instance!

Saturday, November 8, 2008 at 8:20 PM | Unregistered CommenterMs. procrastinator

i love the backstage photos. she looks truly lovely.

Saturday, November 8, 2008 at 9:14 PM | Unregistered CommenterSeraphine

Their daughters' outfits are absolutely perfect! So sweet.

Saturday, November 8, 2008 at 10:09 PM | Unregistered CommenterAnnie

Ugly dress for her, no matter which angle you look at it. It made her hips way too wide. Not very flattering. One fashion faux pas however does not a disaster make. I have faith that Mrs. O will polish her fashion sense even more while in the White House. Her other choices were very good. Oh but pls., black for a little girl is much too severe. Even if it is an evening occasion.

Saturday, November 8, 2008 at 10:09 PM | Unregistered Commenterakosistella

The Dress made an impact alright - yet, when you look at the whole picture you will find that all 4 Obamas were wonderfuly co-ordinated . One compliments the other and says " we are all together!!! Like "all for one and one for all". May God bless you and keep you safe !!!

Saturday, November 8, 2008 at 10:35 PM | Unregistered CommenterTrudy

I didn't really notice this dress when I first saw clips from the acceptance speech. (I was busy admiring Mrs. Biden's dress--awesome!) I think Mrs. Obama's dress was ok, but it did emphasize her hips in a way that makes her look wider than I think she is. And I don't remember who said Cindy McCain had class, but, the fact that she looks like she's had one too many bad face-lifts takes away from any clothes she puts on her body. (I'll skip my comments about how much "class" she could really have...) I think the best thing about how Michelle Obama looked on Election Night is summed up in that picture of her husband looking into her eyes with obvious adoration and love. *That* is true style and class--a family that really seems to enjoy being with each other!

Sunday, November 9, 2008 at 12:52 AM | Unregistered CommenterWillow

I think for the first time in America's history we voted in an honest, honorable man to the presidency and the president's wife is honest and honorable, not to mention her intelligence that out shines other past first ladies. The woman makes the clothes, the clothes do not make the woman. Mrs. Obama shines like the brightest star in the sky!
~*~**~*~* P.S. I would get a yellow lab dog for the family, I understand the White House has a pool, the dog and the kid's would have great fun in the pool, summer is right around the corner ~**~**~*~*~

Sunday, November 9, 2008 at 2:34 AM | Unregistered CommenterAleta

First of all, the dress was hidious! What happend to one color ellegance? Her choices have not been good, forget the bold floral designs, the sparkle, just simple chic! Even a tailored Hillary pantsuit to cover up the legs would have been better. Maybe the democratic party should have sprung for a wardrobe from Nemin Marcus. And, some simple finishing school lessons in how to walk. I hope she gets help with all that so we can be proud to call her the "first lady".

Sunday, November 9, 2008 at 11:26 AM | Unregistered CommenterNorma

Why would anyone have to wait a few days to 'get used' to an optical illusion dress? The optical illusion is standard and for her frame and build, made her appear to be carrying a large pregnant belly. Before designers go public, the designers should at least read about the effects of design. Her optical illusion I presume was to cause her to fade into the backgroung instead of creating the illusion of a large and obstrusive belly.

Sunday, November 9, 2008 at 2:27 PM | Unregistered Commenterlil

I hate the dress! It's cheap looking & Mrs. O doesn't have the figure for the lines of the dress. It accentuates her small breasts & highlights her wide hips. It reminds me of a Halloween custome, to be blunt. To be brutally honest, I don't know who would look presentable in that dress. That said, I have seen her look splendid in other attire. Perhaps she should have followed Palin when looking for a wardrobe, lol

Sunday, November 9, 2008 at 2:41 PM | Unregistered Commentermarco

Michelle:
Love you and Barak. Your clothes are gorgeous. All of them.
Tanya

Sunday, November 9, 2008 at 2:49 PM | Unregistered Commentertanya stanfield

I'm glad that so many people think small breasts and wide hips are negative attributes.

Sunday, November 9, 2008 at 8:44 PM | Unregistered CommenterGloria

I didn't like that dress. It looked like one small blob of red on top and a much larger blob of red on the bottom. I don't understand why anyone would want to wear that dress.
What did that red mean to Michelle Obama? That is whay I'd like to know. It represented some kind of statement by her to me.

Monday, November 10, 2008 at 1:04 AM | Unregistered CommenterCarolyn

The dress was horrible and definitely not deserving of a "Presidential Night Premiere". This is the First Lady of our country and her dress looked cheap and very unflattering. And the dangling earings??? Who was her stylist? They should be fired!! There are so many gorgeous colors/shades and beautiful styles that could and should have been chosen for both her and her daughters. The black and red theme was a poor choice.

Monday, November 10, 2008 at 9:18 AM | Unregistered CommenterSusan

What a great dress! I loved it--some red in it so it looked patriotic but in a modern way mixed with black, not prissy like Nancy's Reagan little fussy red suits. And the daughters' color coordinating with Mom & with Dad's tie is a charming idea. Michelle always looks great & she'll give Carla Bruni a run for her money! Just hope she stays modern under pressure instead of going fuddy-duddy like most first ladies. There are a lot of people in this country who just don't get fashion so I don't think they should make comments about it.

Monday, November 10, 2008 at 12:22 PM | Unregistered Commenterkarol

I think that the people who are disparaging Michelle's body are ridiculous. Her legs, hips, breasts and the rest that you have so harshly criticized are perfect. She is a beautiful woman with a great body. I'm certain that the jerks sitting at home making these comments are nothing less than supermodels, but really, get a life!

Monday, November 10, 2008 at 6:06 PM | Unregistered CommenterLisa

Michelle is a beautiful woman and certainly has worn some very lovely and flattering outfits in the past; however, I have to agree with many that the red and black dress was a bad choice. Very unflattering (I, too, thought she looked pregnant!) not in colors, but in design.

Monday, November 10, 2008 at 9:31 PM | Unregistered CommenterRebecca

Nope, no matter how much I love her, or how many angles I see this dress from, I cannot bring myself to love it. I do like the dramatic color choice, but the shape is not flattering.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at 9:28 AM | Unregistered Commenterbarbara

The dress had immediate and lasting impact for me. The colour contrast is stunning. The coordination with Barack + the girls is perfect.
Michelle looked terrific; she looked at ease... and all these comments simply serve to say say that she will continue to impress us, one way or the other!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at 11:48 AM | Unregistered Commenterfletcher

The dress fitted Mrs. Obama, What everyone needs to understand is that Mrs. Obama is Black American. Our sense of style and dress is very different. People on this blog talking about she has to much "hip and booty" looks like jealousy to me. It probably would not have mattered what she came out in people were going to comment anyway. For the people who said the dress looked cheap you probably couldn't have afforded a dress of anykind anyway. Most of the negative people writing a comment must have VOTED FOR MCCAIN. OBAMA FAMILY WELL DRESSED!! May God continue to Bless the Entire Family. Ignore the Haters.

Saturday, November 15, 2008 at 12:42 AM | Unregistered CommenterDani

Women have it hard enough without being dressed in what looks like a bib and apron on TV. Hope that never happens again.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at 9:39 PM | Unregistered CommenterPat

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