Friday
Oct022009
Bold Black and White
Friday, October 2, 2009 at 4:17 PM 
Photo by Mark Wilson / Getty Images
The president and first lady have returned home to the White House, and while the Olympic bid was perhaps not a success, the first couple is certainly looking more stylish than ever! First Lady Mrs. O wears a graphic black and white dress, cinched at the waist with her longtime favorite Alaia belt and topped by a cropped black cardigan.
Update #1: We thought Mrs. O's windowpane dress looked familiar, but couldn't quite put our finger on it. We're delighted to learn that it's a dress from the Liz Claiborne New York Summer 2009 collection.
Update #2: Thanks to Charlene in Detroit, we've discovered that this dress is still available and on sale, here.
tagged Alaia, Liz Claiborne
Alaia, Liz Claiborne
Reader Comments (111)
Very smart! I think the black & white, that famous belt, and the bolero look great together. Although I usually like the brooches and bows, etc., I really like this crisp, clean look without the embellishments. The strong black and white design is enough.
I want our younger members to know that, having stared at Mrs. O in her shorter lengths for some time now, I'm beginning to appreciate the attractiveness of this length. For me, the length was never about modesty, but about what I'd been trained to see as attractive -- not that I'd like to see all her clothes this length. But, you see, it is possible to re-train one's taste. ;-)
MO, is consistently knocking it out of the park!!!! I pray to GOD that I make it to the age of 45, and when I do I want to be as HEALTHY, STRONG, and SEXY as MO.
I'm not a fan of belt and cardigans together. But this? This may just change my mind? That cropped cardigan always looks nice on her and that famous belt is cinching in the dress and showing off the hourglass figure. Add the black and white and this is smashing. Very va-va-voooooom!!! LOL
I was just refreshing my computer and this picture popped up. "OOO, nice!" -- I said to the dog, who, as usual, paid little attention.
But, really, a snappy look. Nothing looks as crisp as black and white. And it looks like she packed at least a few of her white metal/clear stone bangles. Now we know she has 2 sets - one yellow metal, the other white. I sense a trend!
She is hot
This is one of the few outfits that I have ever seen her in that looks not only good on her, but appropriate for the occasion and the season. That yellow shmate with the silly little girl sweater that she had on in Copenhagen is probably what lost Chicago the bid. It provided no authority and no presence, no style and no sophistication whatsoever. It also did not fit well. I thought she looked pregnant. Once again, the pastel was wrong for the season and the weather in the location. She looked like Easter in the country rather than the first lady of a major power country. And the speech about her father was ho-hum and really irrelevant although she attempted to make it so. We deserved to lose. Next time, the President should stay home and WORK on the issues that I voted for him to tackle and send the VP and Mrs. Biden, who always looks 100% better than MO, to do this PR type work.
Trolls (floriadian lawyer)have went onto fashion sites, republicans are desperate. Don't be jealous "floridian lawyer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" SMH
@Florida Lawyer
Meow?!?
Once again Mrs O looks fabulous!!!!
i really love reading critics on these forum and their delusions.
Mrs O is about to be on the cover of another Vogue US issue and this person is talking about her lack of style.
That ship has already sailed my dear. she is already a fashion icon. just admit you are not a fan and move on. trying to discredit her impact in fashion and the fact that her approval ratings in the US is still over 70% is laughable. I guess you must be one of that 30% haters that we always hear about.
Anyways, i came here to say there is buzz on Mr O being on cover of vogue in Nov. 09 or Jan 10...EXCITED!!!
Love this outfit...perfect for travel.
Florida Lawyer, I can see YOUR true colors and they are ugly.
Florida,
There's a beautiful black woman in the White House and she can dress her behind off and her husband adores her. Oh, and he happens to be the leader of the free world, better known as the President of the United States.
Get over it, honey. Hating is a curable disease. Maybe if you had that kind of style and that kind of man in your life, you wouldn't be so nasty. But I doubt it. Later, hater.
This outfit screams.......It screams "I'm confident, I like fashion, I know what I'm doing and I'm having a blast doing it!" She looks refreshed and refreshing and probably glad to be home to see those darling little girls. If it seems that I'm gushing, well, yes I am. I am so very proud of our First Family. Michelle's choice in this outfit seems so fitting with her fashion choices, which I almost always agree with. To make a long story short, I like this one too!
Catfight!!
Black and white are great for transitional seasons--she looks so good in this. And to the FL lawyer--I like Jill Biden's clothes, but they are very safe, Mrs. O is much more adventurous.
Yea, I can't help but wonder if Florida Lawyer actually did not vote for Obama and is just a hater in disguise.
Florida Lawyer...if you are one!!?? Lay off the haterate, and stop projecting on MrsO. Just because you hate yourself is no reason to take it out on MrsO.
Beside, most people that post here like what she had on! except you which means You are the one with no taste and style sense.
MrsO, looks fabolous!
You got it right Florida lawyer! But just wait. There will be so many "posters" who will continue to rave about the outfits that are really child-like and inappropriate for the season and the occasion.Yes the black and white outfit on arrival back in DC was one of the few appropriate outfits AND it flattered the First Lady.Get ready for a barrage of comments on her happiness and freedom and ease with herself blah blah blah. She is not just ANYWOMAN USA She has a very special place in history.After all if Barack Obama is our 44th president Michelle is one of a similar number of First Ladies.I think that many of the ladies who write in that she can wear whatever she wants- t he ugly shorts and the sneakers and wrinkled skirts and "little cardigans" would if they knew they were the President's wife and were going to be treated like royalty and photographed at every turn would not be caught dead in such clothing.
Florida Lawyer: You voted for Obama...?!! Yea and my dad owns China!
I bet you you were one of those bloody republicans at the "Americans for Prosperity" hatefest applauding the olympics bid loss-
I do believe that in the end people like you and this country unfortunately, will pay dearly for this assault on President Obama and by extension the United States of America.
How incredibly shortsighted, meanspirited, petty, vicious your mindset and those of your ilk;
To campaign against your own country, even going as far as writing every member of the Olympic Committee to vote against Chicago and running paid ads against the effort!
This all in a bid to deny Obama any iota success...?!
The world is laughing at you America; But you don't seem to get or see why...This is not about President Obama - the world loves President Obama-
They watch your Rush Limbaugh, Glen Beck, Sean Hannity, Michele Malkin and the throngs of dumbed down zombies they inspire to hostility, sheer madness and hatred, and nobody wants any part of you or your country...
By the time people like you are done attacking, savaging and sabotaging America and the presidency, there will be nothing left to salvage-
The precedence being set by people like you Florida Lawyer, will be impossible to reverse;
Do you really think that after you guys subject the Obama's to your contrived and unprovoked derision that subsequent presidents and their wives especially from your side of the aisle, will be spared this same fate or worse..?
Just kiss the automatic respect and support that comes with being President goodbye because people like you have set the tone that all of America shall dance to from now on...
Just in case you haven't figured it out yet, the worlds loathing of America exploded in the last nine years...America steadily declined these nine years while people like you sat idly by and screamed 'patriotism' in defense of all folly, waste and deceit...
The Obama's have actually stopped a lot of the goodwill bleeding away completely - smartly starting from a place of humility and inclusiveness;
This presidency essentially just bought America a little more glory time in the eyes of the world whether you like it or not-
Very chic look. I hope they have a BEAUTIFUL ANNIVERSARY tommorrow <3
Florida lawyer: if this is your first post saying anything but over the top comments about the Obamas, get used to being attacked. This post is so predictable (the belt is too high, the belt is too low, too many brooches, readers crying when they see pictures of her etc etc) that I am going to stop reading it as it is filled with gushy, infantile remarks that make Michelle Obama out to be some sort of icon, when in fact anyone could dress the way she does with Ikram and other designers at her beck and call. Has anyone seen/remembered pictures of her before she became first lady? She looked nothing like she looks today. Her make up artists have done wonders.
Also, how great the taxpayers got to pay for Valerie Jarret and Oprah to have a great time in Denmark. Girls night out on our tax dollars!
I expect many attacks after saying all this, but I will not be reading them as this is my last time on this predictable, boring site. Mrs.T, you can't really be happy with the way this turned out, can you?
Oooooh. What a nice treat! I wasn't expecting another outfit change!
@ pinky
Meow?!?
Pinky, Florida Lawyer.....whatever you wanna call yourself! MrsO is real person, she isnt Royalty nor does she wants to be. She is THE FIRST LADY OF USA, and her 'little cardigans" are all the rage....been to a Mall near you recently!
Enjoy living in your imaginary world, MrsO and the rest of us live in the real world.
Hope you have a good weekend!
@Audrey I could not agree with you more..
I don't think the America public understands that the rest of the world is moving ahead and that they are watching America like a bad reality show. The rest of the world is moving ahead, but America is still stuck in this weird place where politics is religion and the good of the nation is secondary. From the reaction of certain segments of the society I would not be surprised if they cheered a catastrophe in their own country. Its a train wreck. Just sad at its core. This is what Patriotism is to them, I guess when patriotism is measured in wearing flag pins, one ought to expect this.
My extended family can't believe its America that they see, it's a shock to them as well as me. Just shake my head seriously. I have made a deal with myself to just shake my head because like you said "they think they will be able to reverse course by stalling." Shaking my head, got nothing to say. I have seen a side of America that is just disgusting and rotten.
Now back to fashion, go First Lady, she looks good.
@Nyon, Yes! I hope they do too, I couldn't remember if it was the 3rd or the 4th, I remember the pictures of him buying her flowers last year on the campaign and her already knowing cause she had seen him buying them on tv lol
I've always been a fan of this cropped cardigan and the Azzedine Alaia belt. So seeing the two together is very pleasing. I think people are more tolerable of the belt and cardigan together in this case because she has not put the belt over an open cardigan. The cardigan is too short and is above where the belt starts.
Like this look. Must be the angle of the pic because her hips look wider.
I am with Florida Lawyer on everything she said. MO needs a stylist that is up to date on fashion.
Maybe she is a "real person" but she is not a fashion icon!
Love the bolero cardi. She has worn this before to good effect. Does anyone know what designer?
"I like Jill Biden's clothes, but they are very safe, Mrs. O is much more adventurous."
This is a great comment. Michelle Obama makes bolder choices. I think that's great. And with her height, she can do things a lot of us cannot. Bolder choices, bigger risks. So, she has some misses. But her bolder choices make it all the more fun to watch - see what color or shape or accessory she'll show us next. Not boring at all. Brava, Mrs Obama, Brava.
@Florida lawyer,Pinky, and all other various and sundry trolls
You are perfectly entitled to your own opinion about Mrs. O's fashion although I totally disagree with your overall assessment. However, the real problem I have is that you give your true motives away with your tone and choice of words. Clearly, you do not realize that the participants in this blogging experience are a very thoughtful and intelligent group of people from diverse backgrounds who are truly interested in following Mrs. O's fashion choices because there is something to follow. If she wore cookie cutter fashions by the same ultra expensive designers as her predecessors did, she might make some people happy, but she would not have the uniqueness that makes her who she is and makes her someone that a lot of women in the US and around the world can relate to. She has had some fashion missteps, and so do we all, but, all in all, any honest person would say she has represented us well. She certainly is having a big influence on fashion by the proliferation of belts, brooches, cardigans, bows, sheaths, etc. that I see on the market and on people.
So, get a life, and while you are at it, find another website to "patroll".
Florida Lawyer..or troll from HuffPo...writing and thoughts seem familiar.
NICE DRESS LOVE THE BLACK AND WHITE DRESS AND SHE WEAR HER KITTEN HEELS AGIAN. THEY LOST THE BID BUT THEY ARE STILL IN LOVE SWEET.
Hey Danica
I heard that same thing about the first lady going to be on the cover of vogue again! What website did u go on?
I really like this outfit on her. But Im glad to see her with a smile on her face, still keepin her head high..even though she probably was hurt by the loss..I know I was, I really felt bad after I found out chicago didnt get it since she was so passionate about it.
Im glad their anniversary is 2morrow, something to keep her mind off it..Happy Anniversary!
I like the dress and ... wait for it...wait for it... I LIKE THE BELT. It's not too high and not over the cardigan. This is a much better look and I hope she does it more often.
To bad about the Olympics, but I'm so happy they tried. As the President said, "sometime you can play a great game and still not win".
Florida Lawyer & Pinky:
You know I think you guys are right! You know what would be fun to follow? A woman that wears boxy pant suits in a whole range of colors. I mean seriously lets not even go there if we want to start talking about prior first ladies and dullness that they usually brought with them. I love that she takes chances in her fashion. Whether you agree with every choice or not, that is a lesson all women should take from the First Lady. Fashion is fun so lighten up.
God bless the President and the First Lady. They gave a valiant effort to bring the Olympics back to the U.S. and they looked mighty stylish in the process. Especially, Mrs. Obama.
Good RIDDANCE to "Good Riddens". Glad to see you are gone. R.I.P.
Vogue, Vanity Fair, InStyle, Harper's Bazaar, Council of Fashion Designers, WWD Azzedine Allaia, Tim Gunn, Anna Wintour, Andre Leon Talley and Michael Kors, just to name a few, believe Michelle is a fashion icon. Looks like you're not in the best company, kimber418.
@ Florida Lawyer, Pinky and Good bye, good riddens
Wow. Why do you guys even bother coming to this site? I feel bad that the three of you wasted time out of your life to be so negative like a bunch of coward punks behind a computer screen. There are plenty of other Obama hating sites where you can express your wack Obama hating bull crap. The majority of us here actually like Mrs.Obama and critique her sartorial style, but we love her whether she's a hit or miss because she is a good woman. Do not spend your time denigrating others. Trust me, all that bad energy will come back to you.
Anyways, Mrs.O looks so cute with the Prez in this picture. I actually bought a cropped sweater kind of like that today and it looks so cute with my dresses. I wonder who designed that dress? Probably Jason Wu.
HONEYMOONERS
...is exactly what these two are looking like. Indeed a picture does tell a thousand words - walking hand in hand smiling, relaxed and in deep conversation about God knows what...They seem to be totally oblivious of the cameras and the paparazzi.
Nevertheless Mrs.O is in true geometric fashion here, I always love me some black & white with a little edge, and this is just the right amount of serving...
Happy 17th Anniversary Mr. & Mrs.O!!!
Florida Lawyer: I am from the Caribbean and as such should hold no allegiance to FLOTUS or POTUS or even the USA but I and so many others around the world have appreciated what this BEAUTIFUL couple has done and is doing for YOUR country. YOU should be ashamed to issue that type of response. I would not say it is un-American. I would say it is UN- human and that is what I mean. I do not wish to say inhumane. You sound pathetic AND disgusting and should go to the site for HATERS.
A beautiful and wonderful 17th wedding anniversary to our amazing President and First lady. God bless them and many, many, many more happy, healthy, successful, beautiful, loving years. Hip, hip, hip hooray! Hip, hip, hip hooray!
Audrey, you bring such brilliance and insight to the conversation as usual. Thank you. These hatemongers and their instigators have no clue how their blinded and unprovoked hate, spiteful and malicious behavior is not only undermining the U.S but slowly and surely destroying the very fabric that holds this diverse and once blessed country together. They are very shortsighted like you say, because they do not realize that they cannot reinstate all the privileges they have denied President and Mrs Obama or rescind the new rules they made to "contain" this president when one of their preferred people eventually weasels their way into office someday. They really have no idea what longterm damage they are wreaking on this country. But they will find out in time.
So certain people here are mad because they can't come here and spout nasty rhetoric and get away with it? How pathetic.
How much of a loser does one have to be to hate someone as much as they do the President and First Lady, yet spend all their waking hours obsessing about these people they hate, going to every website about them, even this little fashion site, just to write hateful post? That's pretty damn huge on the loser scale! LOL
I just love that so many of you are board-certified psychiatrists that can always tell immediately when someone is full of self-hatred, has low self-esteem, is negative, yadda, yadda, yadda.....
as a casual reader of this blog and a long time democrat who voted for obama, i find mrs o's fashion to be interesting and distinctive - whether it is disputedly her own or ikram goldman's. in general, I am a fan and have even bought a few mrs. o designers.
nevertheless, i see certain outfits, like the gold dress in copenhagen, as a little unflattering for her and in general just unflattering on anyone. no one doubts that she takes risks and makes choices that are not easy and safe. in any case, it should be ok for her to do that just as it should be ok for people to disagree with and criticize her choice. i find it a little unsettling and disappointing that people who do not support her fashion decisions are disparaged as trolls by the majority of readers.
Now THIS is a great use of the belt! With the bolero cardigan, the belt below it at her true waist and the black and white, this is a truly classy outfit.
Wish she had worn this one for the IOC presentation.
My earlier post may have been confusing. Let me restate:
Earlier I posted that: The cardigan is too short and is above where the belt starts.
I meant to say the cardigan is cropped and above where the belt starts, so it is not over an open cardigan, making her still look crisp. Love this! I am more of a classic dresser without too many fussy details and so I like this a lot.!