Friday
Nov132009
Mrs. O Rewears, Remixes Her J.Crew
Friday, November 13, 2009 at 4:24 PM 
Photo by Kevin Lamarque / Reuters Images
First Lady Mrs. O is hosting a women's health care event at the White House today, and for the occasion, is rewearing the famed J.Crew ensemble she first debuted on the Tonight Show in October 2008.
The November 2009 rendition of the ensemble includes a cut-out statement belt - definitely a hot item in Mrs. O's wardrobe as of late - and a sleek updo. Though we assume it's a coincidence, we cannot help but observe the remarkable color coordination with the golden yellow drapes in the background.
Click here to read the first lady's remarks from the event (it seems Mrs. O has a cold!). And apologies to those who commented earlier. We somehow deleted our first version of this post!
tagged J.Crew
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Reader Comments (84)
Absolutely beautiful. Mrs Obama radiates warmth and sincerity.
Ok, I love Mrs. O's clothes and I especially love how she mixes clothing from all price points. But I am tired of the belts all the time. There is a point when it stops becoming a unique fashion forward accessory and instead a cliche.
What a beautiful picture. Love the textures of her outfit and the yummy color tones against
her skin. She's a picture of confidence. (And the drapes are nice too!)
THE FIRST ,LADY KNOW HOW TO UPDATE AN OLD LOOK LOVE THE BELT
I had grown weary of the "friday night smackdown" going on in the previous thread so thank God we have a new post of Mrs. O to review...and what exquisite perfection she is, from head to toe!
I visit this site everyday but don't feel the need to post much. I look, salivate, read, and move on. I like most all of her choices but I don't concern myself with who the designers are, or how much she spends or the "appropriateness of her choices because they are hers, and more than anything, that's what is most important to me. However, today I find myself with a real problem and I need some help.
I doubt I could afford most of her pieces, even if they were deeply discounted, but I am seriously jonesing over this belt, and the one she wore at the Mission Serve launch at GW University, and would very much like to add both of them to my wardrobe. If any of you fashionistas ever run across a good price on these two items (or even a decent knockoff version), please, please let me know......Thanks!
I'm liking the up-swept hair style Mrs O's been sporting lately...really helps to show off those wonderful cheekbones of hers. Though one can't see much of it, the patterned top she's wearing looks very beautiful, great colors, and it's nice to see that she's finally wearing shoes with a higher heal...not a big fan of kitten heals. Thanks again to Mrs. T for a fun and informative website.
Love the skirt and tops...the belt, not so much. It looks incredibly uncomfortable, almost like a brace. I can almost feel that thing digging into her ribs and tummy.
She is radiant and beautiful - a wonderful ray of sunshine on this raining day.
Once again: ugly ugly belt on her particular figure...I give up...
For reasons only she really knows, our glorious First Lady is fond of that big, Make -a-Statement, outside- the-sweater, outside- the- coat look. It's become her signautre as much as the Jackie pillbox hat. Yes, signature looks often become cliches. There will be films made of the Obama presidency in future years, and in the long shots we'll all recognize Michelle by the Big Belt. It works on some of her fashion choices (her below-the knee sheaths), and not on others - (The acqua coat at Arlington the other day, this sweater/blouse set.) The difference is Lean and Clean vs Boxy and Bunched. But so what? She is always stunning, a beautiful woman is a beautiful woman. She dares to take risks,
is her own person, has a dashing sense of color, and most importantly - her greatest accessory -
that amazing smile. Surely the most genuine smile of any FLOTUS in memory! I take time out from my busy days to sneak a peak at her latest photos. Each time, I have a sense of pride and appreciation that she's our First Lady. And I'm reminded that the exterior is just the outer expression of her inner beauty and natural grace. Brava, Michelle! I don't subscribe to the idea that your flair for fashion deflects your
your brain power and intelligence. It's a charming part of your entire classy package! And by the way,
you married great, too!
As Stevie Wonder would say, "ISN'T SHE LOVELY!" Wow, she looks like she's glowing. I like how our Michelle mixes colors and textures, as she shows with this outfit. I like the belts, something that I aspire to wear with confidence, and how thay serve as an added dimension to an outfit. I've looked high and low for something similar, but to no avail. I think we'll see something comparable with the Holiday fashions in the stores now. Look on www.topshop.com, they have a vast array of them. Check out the UK side as well as the US side (click on the flag in the upper right hand corner). The UK has one similar to the one she wore at The Mission Serve launch. See item # 19L34BBLK for 22 (pounds?). HAPPY SHOPPING !!!
I love she wore a belt. She receives a lot of criticism for them but continues to wear them cause she likes them and I love that confidence.
I love this look.
As for Mrs O's belts, I have personally been wearing the large belt corset stye for about 3 years. Usually to add a bit of pizazz to an outfit or break up a color. I'm 5'2" and I love how I look in wide belts. And at 5'10" our first lady pulls it off nicely.
It was just reported on the News here that the people in Singapore was DEVASTATED when they found out that Michelle was not with The President! Sorry, their loss...our gain. I just had to chuckle. Cute enough!
@Charlene in Detroit....Thanks for the topshop tip...I'll check it out.
FIrst Lady Looks HOT and perfect figure for that belt. Love it.. wear your belts FL wear your belts.. I love her style. love it.....
And some of you " ladies" are taking her CHOICE to wear belts.. too seriously. ITS HER STYLE AND HER CHOICE... She has the perfect figure for it!
GO GIRL!! I think she looks absolutely radiant! and I love that particular belt.
MammaLu's comment about Jackie Kennedy's "signature" pillbox hats is interesting. Jackie K hated hats. But they were expected of stylish women for some occasions when she was First Lady so she acquiesced, opting for only the simple brimless pillboxes. But wore them as seldom as possible.
Man! Yellow is her color! I am so jealous that she can wear it, because it looks awful on me, but she is absolutely beautiful. I am drawn to look at this site every day as I find her mixing and matching inspirational, it is getting me interested in my own look again! Thanks Michelle and keep up the great work! She is the most fabulous First Lady in forever, since Jackie O, and I was a little girl when she was First Lady.
While Mrs. O. is a beautiful woman, statuesque, and thankfully, not rail-thin, she does NOT have the "perfect figure" for a belt of this type. Mrs. O. is very short-waisted, and the way she wears the belts only make them ride up higher. I honestly think she may believe the belts camouflage some type of "problem," but they don't. They make her look even more short-waisted and "hippy." Certainly no one needs that. I wish someone among her staff/family would tip her off. The belts have ruined SO many otherwise fabulous outfits, and this one is a prime example.
I really really love this belt. Does anybody know who designed or made it? I'm not 100% sure but I think I've seen a similar style at etsy.com. If you can't find a knockoff maybe going to etsy and make a custom request might work.
I love the colors and coordination and different textures. I read that she has a cold, I bet the colors are making her feel quite upbeat. In my experience the color of your surroundings and clothes do affect the way you feel :)
lol @ whoever said s/he gives up on the belt issue...you should have given up a long time ago! These belts are not going away, I'm jut AMAZED that with every new outfit come the "omg how could she wear that belt she needs a stylist to rescue her" comments. This woman wants to be her own person. I think ultimately that's what every woman wants. I think all these controversies over belts really illustrate the fact that women are their own ennemies. Nitpicking and picking fights over details.
I'm glad mrs. O has the self confidence to stand above all that, and is able to carry on with life. Unfortunately for many ordinary women, it's not that easy. If there's anything I'm learning from her fashion choice, it's that clothes should be fun. They don't make you. At the end of the day you can't be anybody else but yourself.
I've concluded that Michelle looks great in ANY & ALL colors she wears. I don't think she would look good in pastels, but then again she rarely wears them. These yellow tones are fabulous, so much so that I can overlook the belt and its bunching effect. I agree that her signature belts are maybe getting a little tired and overused. I would rather see a signature brooch all the time; would never tire of those!
On www.topshop.com the item # should be: 19L34VBLK. Sorry about the type-o.
This reminds m e of Princess Diana--she just keeps getting more radiant and relaxed as she settles into her role. Great to see.
Yet again the divine Mrs. O marches to her own beat and pulls it off!! You gotta love her.
Her legs look sprayed with like a sheen. Regardless she looksgood!
SPARKLING, BRILLIANT, GLOWING. NOTICE THE BACKGROUND HAS A BIT OF YELLOW GOLD DRAPES.
DOWN TO EARTH "ONE OF THE LADIES" TYPE OF LOOK.
WHAT I LOVE THE MOST ABOUT MRS O.--------------------- SHE DOES NOT MAKE A BIG
FUSS ABOUT HER HAIR, SHE'S GOT .................IT....................TOGETHER AND OH,
WHAT A GLOWING SMILE TO MATCH THE GOLDEN LADY. GO MICHELLE. THIS IS JUST THE
ICING ON THE BRILLIANT FINE CAKE INSIDE AND OUT.
Yep, she looks beautiful!! I know she has this belt in black, but when I watched it on the livestream this belt looked like it was bronze. IDK, maybe my eyes are playing tricks on
me 8 -)
I SAW THIS OUTFIT BEFORE MRS O WEAR THE SAME THING LAST YEAR BUT SHE CHANGED HER HAIR DUE AND WEAR A BELT SHE LOVES HER BELT I JUST SAW A VIDEO OF HER MAKING THE SPEECH AND SHE HAD A COLD BUT SHE WAS HAPPY ABOUT SOMETHING . MR O HAD A COLD PUT HE STILL MAKE A SPEECH AND HE WAS OK THE NEXT DAY WHEN HE GOT HOME. HE NOT HOME YET IT WAS LAST YEAR. MRS O COUGHT HER COLD FROM ONE OF HER STAFF AM GLAD IT WAS JUST A COLD AND NOT THE PIG FLU.
OK, after seeing this belt, I have come to the conclusion that Mrs. O is not only indulging her taste in belts, she's also having a bit of fun with us. I can just imagine her saying to herself, "Boy, this'll get the blogosphere going!". The Pres. relies on her to keep him apprised of what the public mood is, so I'm sure she's well aware that some people don't like her belts, esp. the larger ones.
As for the rest of the outfit, I think she looks radiant!
I think the belt works here, and Mrs O. looks great. I just smile at the thought of wearing a similar style myself - goodbye waist!
I love this out fit and this cutout belt seems to work. It's lighter and not as bulky as some of the other belts the First Lady likes to wear. I also love the combination of fabrics and textures. They all work well together with her complexion and she seems to glow in this pic.
Michelle is my all time favorite First Lady, but I am not loving the belts. I mention it because this IS a fashion website. I think it is ok for posters to comment on each and every outfit pictured here. That seems to be one of the main points of having this site.
Even though I don't like most of her outfits belted, I do think Michelle looks absolutely radiant and is a lovely woman. I think she glows from the inside. She is a wonderful representative for our country.
She looks lovely - she always does - but she'd look a whole lot better if she lost the belt.
yellow is a really beautiful color on her, i wish i could pull it off the way she does!
and i'm actually liking the belt this time, i love the cut out look even if i do wish it were just a bit narrower.
i generally wish she'd use her awesome belt collection more sparsely (not because i don't like them, but because they just lose their impact when worn daily), but here she looks fabulous.
oh and i want her shoes!
Emma44 - I had exactly the same thought. That is a wicked smile. I can almost hear her thinking "Okay, Mrs. O Fashionistas - I know you'll love the yellow, but I can't wait to hear the uproar over NOT ANOTHER BELT!"
She looks great. We should all look so good when we have a cold!
Linda, Naomi, Christy, Cindy, and Claudia...welcome Mrs. O to your ranks!
That pompadour, the higher heels, and her dramatically cinched waist are screaming for a runway.
Michelle...you better work!
Lol McKinley! She's simply fabulous isn't she - Fun, practical, sensible, hot, cool, sexy - the complete package!! Rock on Mrs O, rock on !
The blouse looks interesting.
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Michelle-Obama/ss/events/pl/050108michelleobama#photoViewer=/091113/480/456216a8701a457e8dddfc9857ca7d62
I love this outfit! The colors are beautiful; and as others have said, I wish I could wear yellow so well!!
I love Mrs. O's belt collection. She has some really beautiful ones, and this is one of my favorites. I just don't understand the WAY she wears them. Most belted cardigans and coats are long, fitted, and buttoned. The belt then acts as an accessory to break it up and add punch. Cinching a belt around something that is short and wants to hang freely and having the belt bunch it up in an unsightly way--and in this case cover half of it--is the part that I just don't understand.
I also like the updos lately, and I never tire of seeing that famous glow. Someone mentioned her legs, and I agree that they always have such a sheen. I do wonder if she uses some product to make them look like that, and if so, I want that product--although my legs would probably still not look THAT good!
Mrs. O looks great!! Im loving this color on her.
I like that a belt has become her signature..after all, why let her waist get lost in fabric? god knows she probably works out hard enough to maintain one..(a waist, that is) and I hesitate to criticize because she really is impeccable, but that updo is WAY too frumpy for her hot self!
I adore that sweater and skirt -am jealous - I could never wear that color. The shoes are a hit too.
It's pretty evident that Mrs. O likes to insert a metallic component into lots of her looks.
She really does not care what we think!!
Hi Asereht:
I just wanted to let you know if you want to find some of the pieces that Mrs. O wears at discount price, you could actually look for sales on JCrew. Their prices sometimes become reasonable wen they have sales. Also, heck sites like SmartBargains and Overstock. I've actually found a couple of Mrs. O attires lookalike attires (her date night anniversary dress, the floral ruche outfit to meet the fallen soldier's parents at the WH, etc.) that I loved at reasonable prices. I may not like everything about her style, but when she knocks it out of the park and is on point fashionwise she definitely is an inspiration.
@ Emma 44
"she's also having a bit of fun with us." Same thought crossed my mind.
@ Lota
I agree. The complete package.
love the shoes, a hip fitting chain belt would have looked much better, but MO is obsessed with those wide belts that fit over her short waist right now and there is no tearing them away from her.
@Emma44 - I agree with you in that I firmly believe that Mrs. O is wearing the belts to 1) please herself (as she should) and 2) waitng to see when the banter about the belts would stop.
For the most though, I have no issue with her belts. The only time I couldn't deal with it was with the teal dress and turquoise coat. BUT, if she liked it, who am I. If I had her money and power I would probably do the same, just to hear about the babble.
I don't comment about the belts because I know Mrs O likes them and she's gonna do what she wants, and I know they aren't going anywhere, so I just observe.
This is my interpretation of the belts, I think she wears them to hide her tummy, or try to. We know Mrs. O has a lil belly in the front. I guess she gets tired of people asking 'is she pregnant', so thats why i think she wears the belts to hide her stomach because she's a lil self-conscious of her belly , Im guessing.
In the Glamour mag I noticed she was posing with her arms in front of her stomach, obviously trying to block it out of the picture.
It doesn't matter to me if Mrs. Obama is reading our comments or not. I just prefer to call it like I see it. I'm certainly no fashion expert, but do have an opinion about which ensembles are perfection--and which look a bit off. She can certainly wear what she pleases--as can all of us. But, I see this site as an opportunity to observe and comment.
I don't think she is trying to hide anything---I think she just likes the look. We are all different in what we like. I don't like the look of the wide belts over cardigans and coats---she does. It's ok.