Thursday
May212009
Time: The Meaning of Mrs. O
Thursday, May 21, 2009 at 9:14 AM 
Mrs. O appears on the cover of Time, accompanied by a feature article inside and a collection of photographs by Callie Shell.
"...My message to women, if anything, over the course of this, is, find your space. Find your spot. Wear what you love. Choose the careers that may have meaning to you.
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Reader Comments (140)
That cover photo is stunning!! MrsO looks magnificant! I just do not have the vocabulary to express how great that picture is. Just flawless!! I loved the casual behind the scenes photos too. My favorite has got to be the one with Carla Bruni where the caption says they were talking about MrsO touching the Queen. MrsO has an "eh, no big deal" relaxed look and MrsS is just shocked! I think that sums up our lovely FLOTUS perfectly. I cannot wait to read (and purchase) the article.
YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!
Love that photo!!!
That black and photo has got to be my favorite cover shot of her thus far---I adore the bangs! Maybe my favorite picture of her period. I'm buying this magazine for sure. It makes her look so young, well she is young. I prefered the Q&A that she gave instead of the article the reporter put together from the Q&A. It's easy to see how personal opinions and phrases can be strewn together to reflect the reporter's ideas or slant. But the Q&A was terrific. Sometimes this blog gets very sensitive when it comes to Mrs. O, and that's okay. But it's helpful to know that the First Lady "has this". She's in control. She is calm and has perspective and doesn't take things so seriously. She's aware of the craziness of the media, of politics, and of everyone with an opinion and she's still going to do her thing.
Did anyone notice in the condensed article section by the reporter, it says that the President takes regular "Michelle breaks" and goes to see her in the residence?.....well now...gosh, darn it (LOL)...good for them, and I hope it continues to keep them both happy and continue their strong relationship.
OK, in just a matter of minutes, the black and white photo was taken down.....GRRRRR...does anyone know where it went or if it will be the cover? I may not buy Time now if they don't put that B/W photo on the cover, if they want some big revenues they'd better...they're stupid if they don't because I've read the article already online.
Black and white photo here:
www(dot)time(dot)com/time/politics
....I found it, can smile again, going back to work--LOL!
Oh, they've changed the headshot for some reason. I really liked the black and white photo, classy. Equally stunning nonetheless.
Thanks for the link to the cover Janelle! That photo just made my day. So beautiful. I can't wait to read the article. Go Mrs.Obama!
Well that article was just fantastic. What a great interview. Really good questions.
I like the photos a lot. Make up, brows, lashes and all. It's just the sort of pseudo smile she has on each really (for me) detract. I wish she wouldn't smile at all or have a full smile. The tight lipped, must curve lips make it seem almost frustrated. I do like both the black and white and the coloured version facial shots on Time though.
P.S. - They keep changing the darn photos around on CNN. Now I can't find either facial photo. Although it is interesting that the J Crew. ad should feature the lime light green skirt (or a very similar skirt) that Mrs. O was wearing in Europe.
Beauty is as beauty does. Throughout my daughter's wee seventeen years, I made sure she understood this old saying. Michelle's words to her Chicago staff that they will be judged whether they know the house staff's name or not (not the other way around) speaks volumes as to the woman Michelle Obama is. These very words brought tears to my eyes. I see her beauty.....I see the beauty of her being in the White House......
I loved the interview. Michelle just seems like one of the best girl-friends you could ever have, doesn't she? She's so genuine, so down-to-earth and accessible. She's got a great sense of humor and detachment about it all -- taking seriously her opportunities to make a difference -- but remembering that if you're grounded in yourself and the decisions you've made, you can ignore all the chatter as "just conversation". Love that.
I noticed in the "Behind the Scenes" photos a couple pictures of the dress with the pilgrim collar. It looks much more "balanced" in these pictures to me. I can see there the fuller skirt, which balances the collar better than the stiffer-looking image of her in the group picture. (I'm still a little self-conscious about my strong reaction to that dress -- especially when I realized how impaired my view of it was by my old modem.) (Smile)
I'm loving Michelle in the White House. She is so natural and genuine about everything, she just makes us all feel better, doesn't she? What a great role model!
Very nice picture but those eyebrows have GOT to go!! Terrible. She looks so menacing with them arched so high. It detracts from her attractiveness.
P.S. Michelle is a completely original breath of fresh air that has just blown all the stuffiness out of the White House. It's become a place filled with life, and for the first time, truly open to all of us. She's succeeding beautifully.
Wow, every time I think I couldn't admire her more, she proves herself to be even awesomer than I imagined. LOVE the interview. She is so right-on in all of her answers. My girl crush shows no signs of diminishing.:)
I noticed the photos of the pilgrim-collar dress too. This one shows it looking more like I thought it would from the podium shots than it did in that one group shot outside. I like it way more here, with the skirt really holding its shape -- so modern and interesting:
time(dot)com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1899976_1889174,00.html
I never got to see the black and white photo you guys were talking about! (Janelle, the link you posted now goes to the color shot.) Alas.
@rachel,
The link is right, but I just figured out what's happening. Press F5 to refresh our screen or wait a minute or two. The Time site seems to be toggling from the black and white photo to the color photo. Try that---it keeps changing for me when I refresh and wait. Maybe we should all do an email blast to the editor and tell them to keep the black/white photo for the cover or we won't buy it---hehe.
This quote by MrsO from the Q&A section really stood out to me because it reminded me of all of the back and forth we go through here about what is appropriate, what she should wear where, etc. She was responding to a commet about her "sleeve-gate". This, more than what she wears or how she does her hair or make up is why I love her so!!
No, well, that's part of the process. But does that change what I do, who I am? No. The one thing that I said in one of the interviews, which is one of my personal philosophies and it didn't come from this experience, it just came over life, is that in life you've got to make choices that make sense for you, because there's always going to be somebody who'll think you should do something differently.
So you might as well start with what you like, and what you care about, what your passions are, what makes sense. That's my message to women, if anything, over the course of this, is, find your space. Find your spot. Wear what you love. Choose the careers that may have meaning to you, because there's always somebody who will say, I wouldn't have worn that color, or why didn't you work at that job.
But if you're comfortable in the choice and it resonates with you, then all that other stuff ... it's just conversation. People have the right to have conversations. But I think that's one thing we as women sometimes do; we don't make choices that have meaning to us. And then when those things fall apart, you have to have yourself to fall back on. You have to own the choices that you make, and hopefully they're yours to begin with.
There's a fantastic picture of that Alaia dress she wore to the ballet in the slideshow. What a magnificient dress!
This issue of Time will definitely go in my box of magazines I will never part with.
I keep forgetting to ask: am I right that the First Lady was sporting red toenails with those wonderful open-toed shoes she wore with her violet dress at the museum the other day?
i love that she has this knowing look in the cover photo, like she's just slightly amused by it all. my favorite photo is of the "girls' night" with her staff in the movie theater, it just looks like they're having so much fun; plus they're eating Pop Rocks which just adds to the awesomeness.
Love, love the interview, so many questions and this woman cannot be more real. I just love her
I just wasted about an hour reading the article, then the interview, and vieweing the pics. I just love our First Lady!!!! So beautiful, inside and out.
You know, I just finished reading the article "The Meaning of Michelle Obama" and I'm half way through the Q&A section of the interview but I have to comment on just how smart and balanced this woman is. The way she talks about how she deals with her new role and keeping her daughters normal as well as how she deals with her husbands new role is just astounding and I have so much respect for her. People are complaining that she is not "advancing her career" right now or "momifying" herself to seem less threatening, but this interview really shows that she is just being herself and being realistic about the new responsibilities she has been given now. I want to be like her when I grow up! LOL!
For those who haven't seen the gorgeous black and white Time photo of Mrs. O yet, go to www(dot)realitychex(dot)com, and scroll down the third column. Goodness knows I would buy 50 copies if the B/W picture was the cover.
You're surely blessed to have such inspirational, down-to-earth, intellect, fashion savvy, hip, and the list goes on and on... First Family in the White House. Mrs. O truly rocks! The world can learn one thing or two of this Fantastic First Family. God Bless them richly and keep them save of all harms.
OperaFanatic I had it that it was cinnamon but yes, they are painted in A. N. Other Colour, not neutral. Very sharp!
poshness, couldn't disagree with you more. I love the highly arched eyebrows. They are fabulous with the contours of Michelle's wonderful face. If they were just arc's I think they would be a bit boring.
Did anyone else check out the photo selection on this page entitled When Michelle Met Hillary? It dates back to the DNC and Michelle is wearing that fab golden beige pleated dress. In these pics, she's turned the belt round so that the feather detail is out of sight from the front, and she's wearing an ecru cardigan. I don't love this way of wearing the dress, but it's another great example of Mrs O playing with her clothes and exacting another great look.
OMG i love her!! i want a hug from her lol :D.
what a wonderful interview...no words can describe how much i admire this woman. i'm so glad to able to witness this moment of having michelle obama in the white house :).
Thank you JANELLE! I had not seen the B/W photo. I am with you. I like this photo much better too.
The behind the scenes photos are great. I love the ones where she is in the holding/keeping room before she comes out. So genuine looking. Whether you thought the black dress
was appropriate or not...you have to admit she looked Hot in it.
the black and white picture of the First Lady at http://www.realitychex.com/ is utterly,utterly spectacular. Scroll down it is on the right.
i LOVE this picture, its funny how I like this picture a lot more than the vogue cover (i means i know its does not show her clothes), but the vogue cover was so boring, and this picture, even with just her face, is so facinating!!! love it!!!
Beautiful!
I love this. It's very mod. She looks gorgeous! :)
http://cafefashionista.blogspot.com
Posh Tater: Yes! Those pictures of her with HRC are great. I saw that belt off to her left side pretty much in the back and thought WOW! I loved it. There was a moment when I wondered if it could have slid around there by accident. But then I thought, No, she'd have caught that. I think it's pure MO tweaking the norm. It looks great.
video of the 'jam' at the White House is now at whitehouse.gov
FL Michelle looks even more spectacular in video, watch http://www.whitehouse.gov/video/President-and-Mrs-Obama-Open-White-House-Poetry-Jam-1-of-9/
simply stunning!
GREEDILY read every single word. gorgeous piece. and i agree, the black and white should be on the cover its a lot more refined although the colour one looks more like her.
@the other jenna,
Thanks for the reminder to check back. Part 4 with James Earl Jones' Othello is up now. He's too good.
Janelle -- Thx for the link to Realitychek/B&W photo.
I think this photo should replace all others on the credenza behind the president's desk in the Oval...except the girls', of course.
*!* I just copied to photo to my pictures folder; pop-up upon opening my c:drive.
It's very 'Crisp'...
Now that I've had time to study the photos, I like the B/W one best as well. I agree with the person above who said that it was more "refined". I think so, too. LOVE IT.
Other than that picture that was in a some french magazine, I think this is the best picture of our FLOTUS ever. It captures her inner as well as outward beauty. look at those big brown eyes.
I am so glad I have a subscription to Time. I have recently been regretting my Time and Newsweek subscription.
i just viewed the bw pic you guys are raving about. stunning!!!!!!
A great article about a truly amazing and inspiring woman...and yes, it's a great picture too!
Her eyes look so innocent in the cover shot. Very cute picture of her.
Mrs O is beautiful inside and out. Her persona shines in this article.
That Black and White photo of her is really gorgeous!!!
"You have to own the choices that you make, and hopefully they’re yours to begin with.”
Fantastic! Pretty much sums it all up...
I adore this woman!
"WEAR WHAT YOU LOVE." Right on! I've made that point about Mrs. O in another thread. She dresses not for other people, or to look alluring to men, but for herself. She loves clothes, whether beautiful, quirky, popping with an amazing color, embellished, interestingly constructed, fashion-forward, outrageously expensive, bargain, whatever. I love her for this!
I read the article online (today at work) and it was awesome! Mrs. O is just being herself, but in doing so, is radicalizing American women as each day passes! God bless her.
From Politico dot com:
Joining POTUS in Ghana
First lady Michelle Obama will travel with her husband to Accra, Ghana, from July 10 to July 11. Details are still being worked out in the East Wing as to whether she will accompany the president to Moscow and Italy for the G-8 summit there.