Poetry, Music and Spoken Word (Update)
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 8:19 PM 
Photo by Jason Reed / Reuters
First Lady Mrs. O is dazzling this evening, as she and President Mr. O host a poetry jam in the East Room of the White House to celebrate poetry, music and the spoken word. Mrs. O wears an off-the-shoulder top, paired with cropped white pants and silver heels.
Per the White House blog:
"This event is designed around the theme of dialogue, showing how dialogue is important in every aspect of who we are as Americans and as human beings, and demonstrating how communication is a constant throughout the ages."
The evening will include performances by Joshua Bennett, James Earl Jones, Eric Lewis, Jamaica Heolimeleikalani Osorio, Mayda Del Valle and Esperanza Spalding.
Students from American, Galludet, Georgetown and Howard universities also have the privilege of attending.
Update: Per NYMag, Mrs. O wears a top by Basso & Brooke, from the design duo's Fall Spring 2009 (thanks mlaiuppa!) collection. A similar dress can be seen here
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Basso & Brooke in Outfits
Reader Comments (162)
Mrs A, if your still on thanks! She looked so vibrant, and the poetry and song was really good. Great show
Ms. Obama's out fit was.....unusual.
And the kids (Malia and Sasha) were there, how cute
It reminds me of a chic throwback to the Flash Dance era. The styling of her hair, and the jewelry pull the look together magnificently.
http://cafefashionista.blogspot.com
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!!! Let's see how many recognize this word (Smile). Anyway, this look is so superb, fitting, and fabulous that only this word seemed good enough to describe it. I want that Shirt! I can find sinilar pants and shoes, but I am seriously craving that shirt! See, ya'll how amazing and wonderful it is when Mrs. O gets it ABSOLUTELY right! And you know what, this outfit was so perfect that it eclipsed President O in the pic of the two of them on Getty; seriously, I forgot to look at him. I probabl can't afford it but I WANT THAT TOP!
FYI - Michelle Obama visits Ferebee-Hope Community School in Washington tomorrow around 3 pm.
Mrs O is the truth, because she is so real. I could see a number of women wearing that out to a jazz club. Of course, Pres. Obama was checking her out.
Good pics on gettyimages.com
Ms. PB, thanks for the Getty tip! I really wanted to see what the outfit looked like without the podium in the way. (Answer: awesome.) Here are two nice ones:
gettyimages(dot)com/detail/87135858/Getty-Images-News
gettyimages(dot)com/detail/87135856/Getty-Images-News
And here's Jill Biden looking lovely in blue (Joe Biden's pretty adorable too):
gettyimages(dot)com/detail/87135899/Getty-Images-News
Meanwhile, Doris, your poetry is lovely. Thank you for pointing us to it.
Shoot, I just posted this but it's in moderation. Trying again:
Ms. PB, thanks for the Getty tip! I really wanted to see what the outfit looked like without the podium in the way. (Answer: awesome.) Here are two nice ones:
gettyimages(dot)com/detail/87135858/Getty-Images-News
gettyimages(dot)com/detail/87135856/Getty-Images-News
And here’s Jill Biden looking lovely in blue. (Joe Biden’s pretty adorable too.)
gettyimages(dot)com/detail/87135899/Getty-Images-News
Meanwhile, Doris, your poetry is lovely. Thank you for pointing us to it.
I love the pants cropped; they add a little flair and make the look less conservative. As someone said, they are exactly what one would wear to a poetry jam. I am also digging the earrings! Her makeup is flawless! OK, I'll stop now, I'm beginning to sound like those gushers that sometimes make me roll my eyes at the monitor.
P.S. I see there is another "Lily". May be I should change my moniker to Lilly O or something to avoid confusion.
Where on Gettyimages.com? I've searched and searched.
I'm not feeling the pants, but I love the top. That is a mix of Japanese prints, and looks like it might be pieced from kimono fabric, or at least inspired by kimono fabric.
OK, I promise this my last post about this tonite. I just wanted to give props to Jill Biden; she is seriously rocking that pleated treal dress!
http://www.gettyimages.com/Search/Search.aspx?src=quick&contractUrl=2&assetType=image&family=editorial&phrase=michelle%20obama
Elaine B, type Michelle Obama and check the box for editorial
UPDATE ON whitehouse.gov: For anybody experiencing difficulties with audio or video, check back in a day or two for full quality video recording of the event
You never get a second chance to make a first impression. When I saw Mrs. O emerge tonight, I was totally wowed by how beautiful her outfit and make up and demeanor was. Then the performers, came on and I was blown away by the talent.
Such a fun few days for Mrs. O - the correspondent's dinner and now the poetry night.
Check out what her commencement appearance is doing in Cali:
www(DOT)politicsdaily(DOT)com/2009/05/12/michelle-obama-to-bring-1-1-million-in-stimulus-to-ca/
Asian prints really suit her. I just love this top.
The white cropped pants seem to have a tuxedo stripe down the side. Could Mrs O's tuxedo be cropped or are these another pair of pants?! We'll see.
Love the look.
I just read that HBO taped this show and will show it at a later date. Awesome.
Her outfit is unreal, I'm infatuated with that top. It's PERFECTION!
What I have noticed is that for these activities, there are so many special light effects in the White House that this historic place feels to me like a theater or club. I do not like that - at all! But Mrs. Obamna was in my estimation - flawless, perfect tonight! Her make-up is soft and dramatic at the same time - perfect balance.
Forgot to mention that for all the fashion lovers out there, there is a "royal" blog which is quite interesting.
Take a look at: www(dot)myroyal(dot)wordpress(dot)com
@Lilly - I remember Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!!! The perfect description of Mrs. O's outfit tonight.
Now that I've seen the photos on Getty, I like the length of the pants and the full leg. The only picture I saw before was of her standing behind the lectern and the pants didn't look right. But in the photo of her walking with her gorgeous man, the pants look very hip and edgy -- suiting that fab blouse perfectly. This was a 10!
Janelle - Thanks for the link to the article at the NYTimes Caucus. I can't wait to actually see and hear this when Whitehouse.gov gets it up.
i am LOVING this uptick in sexy on the make-up department, go ahead Mrs. O! Hair is on point as usual, I love the boho chic shirt, but I have to agree with other in saying, not a fan of the pants
ps: how adorable does Sasha look?!?!?! love those kids :-)
interesting look. i, too, fear she will get 'feedback' on the off the shoulder top. i don't care for the pants. I don't know how everyone gets all the detailed info. i am so impressed!
ps: im loving the mustard yellow jacket on desiree rogers (she gets it right usually, although I do not know what was going on that the correspondence dinner, other than that, she is usually on point)
:-)
Jill Biden's dress is freaking fantastic! I absolutely LOVE it. There is a picture of it over at Getty images. She is actually another very youthful dresser. Her dress is blue with layered accordion-esque detailing. Very unique, funky and perfect for an artsy event.
another ps:
I LOVE Jill Biden's dress!!!!
My favorite for tonight's event, besides Mrs. O, was the poet Joshua Bennett where he was speaking of his deaf sister. I was getting some audio problems in the beginning of his part and can't wait for the event to appear soon on the WH site. I had tears coming down my face hearing him express himself.
Also, it was cool to see Spike Lee there in the pictures...looks like he and his wife sat with the Bidens and they had university students there as well, not all politicians but an eclectic mix...super cool.
President Obama and First lady Michelle are one of the most glamorous people in my lifetime!!!! She is such a belle. Aren't we lucky to have them here with us, hopefully for the next eight beautiful years.
Thanks for the Getty tip, Nicole. I was sure I'd tried that!
Seeing the full shot on Getty with them walking together, I love the pants. On the earlier shots the white seemed not to best set off the top.
I want to buy tops like that! Absolutely gorgeous.
Bluefly recently posted that Michelle ordered a Margiel white tuxedo, I wonder if these are the pants from the tuxedo?
http://flypaper.bluefly.com/archives/2009/05/michelle-obama-wardrobe-stylist-ikram-goldman-recently-ordered-a-white-martin-margiela-tuxedo.html
My initial reaction when I saw Michelle was that she is dressed like a black woman. The earrings, the colors, everything was very recognizable in terms of style.
If you saw the feed on whitehouse.gov the girls were adorable when they walked in the room. Sasha's dress had tiered ruffles and she walked like a little princess.
I haven't seen a clear shot of Jill Biden yet, but the blue looked very flattering.
@ Willow:
You know, it's funny -- like you, when I saw a picture of Mrs. O standing at the lectern (those darn lecterns! They're constantly impeding our view!) I thought the pants were "eh." Not bad, but not dazzling. But the pictures of her walking make the pants seem much more flattering.
I have to say, for as long as I've lived in the DC area, I've never thought of the job of president as being FUN before. Certainly some presidents were more outgoing than others - Clinton would be a good example - but the White House is becoming hipper than the hottest Georgetown nightclub. The Obamas have certainly injected a bracing infusion of "cool" into this city! I hope it lasts and people start to realize DC is a place where people live, not just a place where people work.
Now, back to the clothes -- I love the off-the-shoulder casualness of the top, and I'd really love to have it, but I'm sure it costs more than a week's salary. But, I predict within a dozen or twenty more posts we'll be scrapping over it ("it's inappropriate! Not first-ladyish!" etc.) But I don't know how many ways she and the president have to "say" it through their actions -- when it comes to matters of clothing, they really doing care what we think at all. It's kind of amazing when you think about it. They're just having a good time.
Perfect in every way! Hair, makeup, artsy outfit, jewelry--all perfectly coordinated and all so appropriate for the occasion! A+!
The whole look is fabulous. Young, hip, fashion-forward and very sexy. No wonder the President always looks so smitten. I loved how he introduced her tonight, I can't remember his exact quote (it was about her being the star of the night and her bringing poetry to him) but at the time I thought it was so sweet and loving.
This is quite the trip she is taking us on through her style. I'm thoroughly enjoying it. She has her staples but the way she mixes it up is always somewhat of a surprise. Whether you like her choices or not, I think we an agree that they are not boring.
"when it comes to matters of clothing, they really doing care what we think at all."
Ack, I mean they really DON'T care what we think at all. Michelle is such a glamourpuss compared to that subdued lady we saw standing next to Barack when he was sworn in as senator in 2004. That suit and the blouse with the bow was tragic.
Awww, Christina. I kind of liked that suit.
Did I say "tragic?" I meant, "magic!" (smile)
i love this outfit; i totally want that blouse for myself, and the cropped tuxedo pants look gorgeous in the photo where they are walking into the room.
this is not the first time she's worn an off the shoulder look, nobody cared when she wore an off the shoulder dress at her Women's History Month event, so why would they care now?
smiley back at ya! goodnight!
Here are some great pics...http://community.livejournal.com/obama_daily/222668.html
she just looks more and more gorgeous with every outfit...she perfectly captures the mood of every event with what she wears, not to mention she is just a beautiful person on the inside. what an absolutely fantastic first lady. also nice to see her with a bold lipstick to change it up, though I love her usual pale lip as well. her eyebrows do look extra-awesome, also.
OMG.... just got home from work and had to catch up on the latest Mrs. O....... Yes I am addicted. I love the outfit, it is so glamourous, chic, and yet stylish and hip. Mrs O is a breath of fresh air in Washington. We are going to have eight years of her. Yup.....I just cant wait to see how she'll evolve. I feel so sorry for the next first lady already because Mrs. O is a tough act to follow. good night( actually morning)
Inner Beauty Shines
Illuminate Forever
Light is at Her Core
....a haiku for Michelle inspired by sheer gratitude
Does anyone know the designer of the top, it was absolutely gorgeous!!!!!!!!!! I missed the girls walking in, but I'm sure they were adorable as always. Yes we must have 8 years of tis 1st lady
So lovely & fun! I simply adore this woman...
@ Mocha Dem: "My initial reaction when I saw Michelle was that she is dressed like a black woman. The earrings, the colors, everything was very recognizable in terms of style."
That was my first thought, too! And it's the first time I've had that reaction. I wonder if it might be that a "poetry jam" is such a black art event? By that I don't mean the performers or the audience but the concept of the event. I may be wrong, but I think black artists originated the idea of speaking poetry to jazz. The whole evening was such a beautiful way to introduce the country to black concepts of art and intellectuality. The Obamas are truly being themselves, in part and in whole. Even though I'd never wear it (I'm too Downtown Manhattan), I think the First Lady's outfit says "this is who we are and this is how we do." It takes almost unimaginable confidence to do that, and one can't help but be grateful for the way they inhabit their "model" role.