A Day of Bows and Bears
Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at 8:24 PM 
Photo via Mary's Center
We were so busy celebrating Mrs. O's Vogue cover that we all but missed her very important appearance! First Lady Mrs. O spent time at Mary's Center for Maternal and Child Care today in her first official visit to a nonprofit organization. The center provides the most vulnerable families in the Washington, DC metro area with comprehensive health care, family literacy, and other social services. Mrs. O praised the center's efforts:
“Community health centers play an important role in providing for the health and well-being of millions of kids and families across the country and Mary’s Center has played a particularly important role for Washington’s Hispanic community. At a time when so many families are struggling financially, places like Mary’s Center end up doing even more, and I’m honored to be here today to learn about this incredible organization that cares for so many of our new neighbors in the DC community.”
After speaking, Mrs. O read "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" to a group of toddlers in the Center's family literacy program. As always, the First Lady was appropriately dressed for the occasion, wearing gray wool trousers and an ivory tie neck top accessorized with two green bow pins. The pins, as moja31 has noted in the comments, were last seen with the red Narciso Rodriguez dress that Mrs. O wore for the second presidential debate. Video from Politico:
Outfits
Reader Comments (25)
Very nice. She's just Fab.
Perfect outfit for sitting on the floor read to kids :)
Love, Love, Love that she got down to their level. They were so cute, one of the kids asked "where's Obama" she had to explain that he was in Florida. Too Cute. Oh and I loved the top.
Photo of the shoes:
http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x280/icebergslim1047/michelleatdcsocialservicescenter3.jpg
I encourage all parents to purchase this book for their kids. It is awesome!
Our FLOTUS is just glowing! Love her style and sense of self!
Even better link with video of Michelle reading and hugging - photos too:
http://thisweekwithbarackobama.blogspot.com/2009/02/flotus-michelle-obama-reads-to-children.html
WSJ accidentally leaked the Vogue Cover and it's on gawker.com
http://jezebel.com/5151045/michelle-obamas-vogue-cover-its-out--its-pretty-awesome
oopsie, I didn't scroll down to the next post to see that you already had the Vogue Cover
Hi Edwina! I took down the cover, because I don't think we were supposed to see it yet. But the links to others are great!
Leah, thanks for the link! I've added the video to our post as well.
I'm just loving this blog (reading it via RSS on LiveJournal). Thanks for posting this video - she is so warm and approachable, and scary smart like Barack. It's nice to feel so proud of our first family.
I don't like the brooches with that top. They take away from the neckline, not add to it.
However, she is so cute with those kids! She seems really good with kids and I like seeing her with them. The group hug was so adorable.
I absolutely adore this woman ! Thanks for the video clip.
And todays ensemble was great - pulled together and trim, Mrs O looked long and lean.
Anybody know what day Vogue is to hit the stands ?
Feb 17. She is so cool.
Overall I love this outfit - appropriate for reading to the children while sitting on the floor and impossible for any photographers to get an indiscreet shot while you're ON the floor!! Nice neutral colours too... and who couldn't like how Michelle is with children? Sweet!
I'd agree with hiatus that the bow brooches kinda clash with the tie top of the shrug. Well they do for me. Also, I really don't like that the shrug was tied so high. I think shrugs look better tied underNEATH, if you see what I'm saying! Still, M.O. looks cool and happy, and she's highighting the work of people who don't normally get a look-in, let alone a thank you. So that's all more important than my feelings about the shrug. ;-)
I love that she has such a vibrant personality and isn't afraid to show it, kind of like her fashion choices. I'm so happy she's our first lady.
The bow pins give the sweater a typical Michele twist. Mrs. O is not about staying safe and boring--she has her own style, and as a result of her public role, she is now making style for the rest of us!
Just watch--we'll see more and more Michele-inspired touches in the fashion press.
She is also a wonderful example of a mid-life lady who is fit and trim--such a change from so many of our former First Ladies!
She's just an inspiration in every way.
Great video stream and shows her warm personality. does anyone know if she's wearing a J.Crew sweater?
@ Jade, It doesn't look like a J. Crew sweater...Love the pins!
@ Cassg, thanks. Just wondering because it looks similar to a sweater that I purchased form J.Crew. Anyone know the designer? Just curious...great sweater.
Perfect, what a great way for Mrs. O to take a new generation to a new level
with this kind of ground work. I am pleased and relieved to see a mom who
everyone can see is at work being a change in hers and our world. Right
where she lives.
How sweet! I'm always surprised at how preschoolers just respond to kindness and sweetness...even when there's an army of cameras and gawking, prompting adults in the back.
Michelle spoke at Howard University today and looked AMAZING. I have not found any pictures but there is a video here: http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/02/michelle-obam-2.html
She's giving a very charming speech about the work-family balance, wearing a sleeveless, red dress and a long strand of pearls.
I don't know what on Earth she is doing to her arms but they look incredible. (I am always been really curious about her workout routine. I think she probably does a lot of repetitions with the really tiny dumbbells, which is what gives her that great definition, while not making her bulky.) Her hair looks flawless, so I think her poor hair dresser will get a break from you guys today. And, as always, her smile is the best accessory.
I would love to see more of this dress though! I hope pictures will crop up soon.
Mrs. T, I've been out for a few days but wanted to thank you for all these recent updates! I'm looking forward to catching up on my Mrs. O reading!
For anyone who wants a close-up of this sweater and how she wore the pins, see the link below. Really innovative use of jewelry, I must say!
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/rids/20090210/i/r2574960683.jpg
Love the pins, love the pose of her down with the kids. This lady obviously has experience with kids!
It's neat that she is getting out and going to all these places in the neighborhood.
Very appropriate yet still fashion forward. I had no idea that those were pins! I thought they were part of the sweater! How innovative! This is definitely hip soccer mom to the next level!
Also how great is it to see her taking such an active role in the community. Maybe I wasnt looking enough, but I dont remember Laura Bush doing stuff like this that often. I hope Mrs O keeps up with this...she is certainly an amazing role model to kids and adults alike.