In Uplifting (J. Crew) Fashion
Monday, January 19, 2009 at 11:47 PM 
Photo by Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images
For tonight's "Kids' Inaugural: We Are the Future" concert, Mrs. O again dazzled in true First Lady style. The colors of the night were blue and yellow, a palette that exuded much needed optimism. Mrs. O's message? In keeping with the theme of National Service Day she told her youthful audience: "You kids are the future of this great nation. We need every American to serve their community, including our young people."
Wearing a silver blue metallic lace shell paired with a sky blue pencil skirt, Mrs. O kept her look young and fresh by adding a canary yellow cardigan into the mix. An elastic belt cinched her waist, closed by a distinctive (and familiar) enamel buckle. Again recycling accessories, Mrs. O wore a set of diamond bangle bracelets we recognized from election night; and might her drop earrings have been the work of Loree Rodkin for a second night running? For a full view of Mrs. O's outfit, click here and here. T
onight's ensemble was feminine, while full of unexpected pairings - and for both of these things, thoroughly modern. By our account, this is already an inauguration for the ages, style and otherwise. Needless to say, we look forward to tomorrow immensely.
Update: For Monday night's "Kids Inaugural" concert, Mrs. O turned to chic and affordable retailer J. Crew for her wardrobe. Mrs. O wore a classic olive cashmere cardigan over a French metallic lace shell with a deep blue wool serve pencil skirt (the shirt and shell were lined in silk charmeuse). The ensemble was specially designed for Mrs. O, but highlights will appear in the Fall 2009 J. Crew collection.
A sketch of the J. Crew design:
J.Crew, Loree Rodkin, Michelle Obama in Inauguration 2008, Outfits
Reader Comments (32)
Mrs. T, just a heads up that your first link is messed up, where it says "for a full view of Mrs. O's outfit".
Original color combos - very confident.
Some very unexpected pairings, as you say, Mrs. T--but I love the lace and cardigan combination. Also the colors--very fresh. Is that the J. Crew cardigan? It's hard to tell, but I think I recognize the rhinestone buttons?
First in the world ! Mrs.O
http://www.myspace.com/davidbouns
My initial reaction was that these colors were too pale for evening wear. But she wore the ensemble so well that it didn't matter; the textures and hues all came together.
Love the green patent pumps!
This combo was fresh and polished. I liked the combo.
Elena, thanks for the tip! The link should be fixed now. And Mrs. C, I agree, could well be a J. Crew cardigan (just saw that they’ve dedicated their homepage to the first family today). The color is so similar to the sweater worn on The Tonight Show (but details different). Could be the Jackie Cashmere Cardigan in Citron perhaps?
I love her dress/coat combination... looks like another Maria Pinto, from the gathering at the neck? Quite a lot of sparkle, too, for a morning suit, but it looks great on her!
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Michelle-Obama-Michelle-Obama-Blair-House-President-elect-Barack-Obama/ss/events/pl/050108michelleobama/im:/090120/480/3a0ce99a119448a6b75edcadbc25ebb5/;_ylt=AhiUNcUU5JWDVAY9aWqEdMRsaMYA
Eh... Actually I'm not sure I think this matches. The yellow and silver are kind of hard on the eyes, even in this great shot you've posted. And then you add the blue skirt and it's all kind of... o_O
I just like how the silver bangles/bracelet matches the silver top.
Kristan
http://jbu.phuzzymath.net
It is a yellow coat and dress combination for Mrs Obama for the oath ceremony.
Yellow, the color of hope?
there she is in a fabulous yellow ochre dress and coat. Charles Gibson just said who the designer was. She is SO classy, giving a gift to Mrs. Bush
What are you guys talking about?!!! That honey hued suit and sage patent pump combo is GORGEOUS! Especially on brown skin. It was such an unexpected choice and the RIGHT one for such an occasion. The chained bling at the neckline is the perfect added touch and the sparkle from the fabric brings warmth even in sub-zero weather. Of course her hair still has that swing even with all of that wind. It's difficult to stay warm and still look beautiful and this outfit solved all of those problems.
www.zazzle.com/mizzbella
I am sooooo proud right now. She looks gorgeous!!!the color is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!! I can't even really describe how I feel right now!! She makes me want to be a better woman!!! This is the NEW ERA of strong, sexy, smart women!!!
Inauguration day ensemble is Isabel Toledo.I am sure we'll get the closeups later!
The suit she is wearing for the swearing in is not at all up to my expectations. I hate the length and style of that outer coat. I hope what's inside is better and I hope the ball gown is not by the same designer!! :(
O.K. so please excuse the above comment because I was referring to her inaugural swearing-in garment- how embarrassing[sheepish grin].
And I STILL love this ensemble as well!
Thanks for the update on the designer! I didn't realize it until she came out of church, but the "gathering" I thought I saw at the neck is actually a cardigan on top of the dress, under her coat. Can't wait to see more of it!
Hmmm. Big Booty and Bow-Leggs.
Wow. Mrs. O looks amaaaaazing! I haven't found any close-up pictures yet, but the color is so buttery yellow, but shimmery, the material looked quite light, some sort of brocade, and the cape has crisp white lining. Just perfect, lovely and beautiful. She looks like a queen.
I am amazed by how relatively calm they both look. This day is so astounding to me. I almost can't believe it's here.
Gerbie, the First Lady (as in about 2 hours she will be) has both a fabulous booty and fabulous long legs.
Thank you jenna!!!! We can all start commenting on the gold outfit on the newest Entry
Funny, I was on Isabel Toledo's website last night as she was one of my short-list. I love love love this choice because it is so unexpected, fun and festive. It's a "People's Inaugural" outfit, too, because the fabric will reflect the sun and she'll dazzle the crowd. Go, Mrs. O!!!!!!!!
I totally love this outfit from the concert - it is dressed-up sporty, truly American style at its finest. If I start now, can I lose enough weight to wear a pencil skirt and that fantastic shell by the time it appears in the Fall catalog? I've already got some great cashmere cardies . . .
I wish she would stop wearing the cardigans!! She looks like an old woman. The dress and coat today were fabulous...cardigan...NO!!! It completely made the dress look awful. She looked like she was wearing an old woman's bedspread to the balls. Bad choice!! Not classy. She had trouble walking in the dress and kept adjusting it all night.
@mommamae
The cardigans aren't bad and look good on her.
She really likes belts, but they do not do her justice. They accentuate her high waist and makes her upper torso look shorter.
She has a killer figure and needs to dress accordingly. I hope that she does not conform to what people assume how a "First Lady" should dress and continue with her youthful appearance, and not become "matronly".
Mrs. O needs a fashion coordinator desperately!
Her choices are horrible. She is not 22, but 45, she needs to drop the J crew layered look. Modern tailored suits with fitted mid-calf skirts. Belts are fine but she wears them too high up on her chest.
Young untested designers are not serving her well. She is my First Lady I want her to look fashionable and elegant.
There is NOTHING age-inappropriate about Michelle Obama's choices. She looks exactly as she should--feminine, glamorous, approachable and brilliant. I shudder at the thought of her in a "modern tailored suit with fitted mid-calf skirt." She isn't Sarah Palin. Thank God.
The red carpet gown, the Goddess, was just lovely. That she went all Hollywood in White was also lovely, if unexpected. This is the only thing I have ever liked. She needs to stop looking like one outfit came from several best friends' closets. Please, someone help Mrs. 0 dress fashionably. xo
Let us not Hate the Lady is beautiful. The couple is beautiful. She is going to do it her way. I am so proud of My first Lady
Welcome First Lady O to the "White House"...
Michelle was just beautiful with her choices, and I look forward towards viewing her style when ever we see her...
I love the dress she was waring at the early morning prayer service. Having twins also born in 1964, and being a lady of fashion myself, I've also carried my own style, and seeing the impact received from others, it's like reliving the beauty of fashion all over again with Michelle...
Prior to Tuesday, Michelle displayed great chooses in her look. Pairing high end with general store pieces was brillant. Her bold colors and smart accessories played off her tall fit figure. However, her inauguration selections are way off- Too much detail and lack of functionality, it doesn't work. Why wear a gown that you step on. She needs crisp sharp colors not fluff and beading. I hope she gets a new stylist.