London Flower Power
Wednesday, June 10, 2009 at 4:28 PM 
Photo by Jeff Moore / Splash News
Media outlets, particularly those overseas, have been abuzz over Mrs. O's most recent ensemble, worn as the first lady left Westminster Abbey in Central London yesterday. Mrs. O wore a sheer tunic, adorned with layers of embroidered floral trim, over a pair of slim black pants and white tank. A polka dot Sonia Rykiel belt cinched the waist, and a layered cardigan in yellow with purple trim (Hanii Y perhaps?) topped the ensemble. Mrs. O's ToyWatch in ultra violet added the final punch of color. Should anyone recognize Mrs. O's tunic, we would love an anonymous tip!
Reviews have been a bit mixed (as they usually are when the first lady makes a bold fashion move). Of the look, New York magazine said, "Michelle Obama Can't Always be Perfect," while the Daily Mail named Mrs. O, "the First Lady of Flamboyance." Our take? We like that Mrs. O has fun with her style. Her ensemble seems to project a playful, bright mood, and who can fault that? (Kat, you inspired the title for this post! Just perfect.)
To see more ensembles from Mrs. O's trip to London this week, click here. We have to say, we've felt a bit conflicted about what to cover and what not to. Technically, Mrs. O and her daugters are on a private vacation. Some of the photos feel very intrusive (peering into car windows, etc.), so we'll only feature those where Mrs. O is making a more formal, public appearance.
Today the first lady (wearing an argyle J.Crew cardigan) and her daughters braved the rain to visit Leavesdon Studios, where the Harry Potter films are made. Hope they had fun!
Sonia Rykiel, ToyWatch
Reader Comments (256)
Passaggio, you are WAY out of line. Do not critique the girls!! They definitely did not ask to be the first kids and photographed every time their out with their parents. You really need to check yourself.
Posh Tater:
This is a fashion blog and people do have the right to critique Mrs. Obama's fashion.
Diane T was over the top (we can agree that was a negative comment).
This blog has people with different ideas of fashion which is not a bad thing. After all, this is a comment section for your take on Mrs. O fashions.
This is not a site where posters are not going to be honest about Mrs. O fashions and say everything is beautiful when they feel in their hearts it is not. I visit this site because for the most part the posters are courteous and not rude or mean-spirited when there is disagreement on a particular fashion choice. I stopped reading some posts on another site because the bloggers took it to another level where they were vicious and rude (on this one outfit). That is what I consider negative.
Mrs. Obama has hits and misses just like everyone on this blog (no one is exempt from their own fashion faux paus).
I am not trying to say that she has to look like she stepped out of Vogue (sometimes she exceeds Vogue), but again, this particular outfit had too much going on that one could not figure out what was what.
Instead of insulting those with varying degrees of opinions, just skip over the bloggers you shouted out previously since they always have a negative comment (in your opinion).
Y'all, don't throw yourself off a roof or check yourself into a hospital with stomach pains over this outfit. I promise she'll wear something nice again.
"No offence to US citizens in general - I have family and many friends in your beautiful country and I love visiting. But some of your tourists need ... help."
Oh, Posh Tater! Shall I tell you about my first visit to London, when I was in college? My friend and I were having dinner at a rather nice restaurant. It was July 4, 19xx. There were some fellow Americans at a nearby table, who expressed to the waiter their surprise that there seemed to be no Fourth of July celebrations! God, we just wanted to crawl under the table and pretend we were Canadians.
JRG said, Michelle's favorite TV show might be SATC, but she is neither Carrie Bradshaw nor Sarah Jessica Parker.
And that's a good thing!
@Christina, I totally agree. I'm not concerned about this outfit. I have to say I like some elements of it, but not the whole ensemble, and it would look great if tweaked a lot more, but oh well, she's already worn it. When Mrs. O wears three straight outfits that are considered typical First Lady attire or too professional-looking (like how some viewed the black congressional spouse luncheon suit), the comments on this blog are fewer, and many say she is dressing boring. It's just not worth popping a blood vessel on the few "Carrie Bradshaw/Lisa Bonet" outfits she wears from time to time. If you notice, it's mostly when she's not with the President, and I think she's testing the waters of how far she can display that experimental side of her personality that has been constrained some as First Lady. But as we know, the cameras are following her everywhere, even when just having some fun vacation time with her girls. From following the campaign, I have come to know that Mrs. O will keep it sharp for important events and try to have fun with fashion on other occasions, but if the constant critique is negative overall or polling data becomes negative to the point of hurting the image of herself or her husband, Mrs. O will change---just like during the campaign (I never felt that she should have toned down her campaign speeches, but some Americans wanted that). Until then, she views all of this as "conversation".
I used to think Mrs. O pays no mind to the blogosphere chatter, until I saw her speak to the children at the WH with pink argyle, the big bow blouse and the "Drop and Give Me 20" Alaia belt all at the same time right after the last Europe trip. That was her response to the negative criticism. I don't think she reads the blogs, and the President doesn't either, but did you notice in the NBC special, the West Wing staff's TVs had nothing but cable on. I'm sure Mrs. O's staff are aware of the general conversation, but she's still going to "do her" every 4th or 5th outfit she wears. I notice this isn't her look all the time. She waited for people to know her personally through magazines and TV interviews.....then she tests the waters....backs down in her dressing....and then comes back. She's experimenting and testing how far she can stay in control of what she likes as she gets used to this new position as First Lady. I wish her the best with that, considering the comments on this outfit. Many a First Lady would rather stay hidden in the East Wing with a perpetual cocktail in her hand instead of facing head-on the complexity of pleasing yourself and the public as well. I must say that I enjoy watching her figure it all out and evolve. She's one of the most interesting public figures I've ever known (hence this website), and I would love to just sit down for just a few minutes and talk with her and pick her brain....she seems fascinating to me.
To have the ability to hold captive any audience and elicit any sort of response and emotion especially from those whose mission it is to diminish and destroy you, is indeed freaking powerful!
Mrs Obama continues to conquer the world as she commands and commandeers huge amounts of attention, time and effort from so many including the JRG's, Nancy's, MrsG's, Mara's of the world.
Love it!
Mrs Obama continues to live out her incredibly great life to the fullest while they sit and bitch at a computer screen...Does the good Lord have a sense of humor or what?!
LIFE IS SO, SO FREAKING GREAT!!!
As a professional dressmaker, this is not the first outfit of Mrs. O that I have copied for myself. I LOVE THIS top (with the tank). It is fun, colorful, youthful and full of LIFE! I will wear it with white pants, white skinny jeans or white leggings. FAB-U-LOUS! I think someone is forgetting that she is not only our First Lady but also a woman and a mom. She is entitled to enjoy the hand that life has dealt her ... as are all of us. Wear what you love! And oh yeah, I did go to F.I.T.
Long-time reader/1st time poster ... had to put in my two cents!
Barbara, I love the color, and I do love the double cardigans, the pants I could do without, perhaps a light colored skirt or leggings like you said would go perfect with it. While I would never wear it, I'm intrigued by it just like I was with the argyle sweater that sent everyone into vapors.
I'ts just fashion it's supposed to be FUN! As for age why must we give up our sense of fun and adventure just to CONFORM!!! Down with conformity!!
Per Politico today:
"First lady Michelle Obama will kick off a planned White House music series next week with a jazz session featuring musicians Wynton, Branford and Ellis Marsalis teaching classes to a group of students. The students will also hear Cuban musician Paquito D'Rivera in concert at the White House.
In the summer and fall, White House events will spotlight country and classical music."
YAY! GO FLOTUS!
London was a very nice casual outfit - we here in London did not expect the FIRST LADY to wear what she might in her garden - b ut we respect that she is trying to show us ALL how to dress better than we do - Go Michelle !
Lynn Sweet reports that the ladies are back in the USofA. Obama Foodorama has a cute post equating Michelle's clothing to her food choices. Also she is not attending the CFDA Awards as planned.
http://obamafoodorama.blogspot.com/2009/06/first-lady-might-be-fashion-plate-but.html
FLOTUS is the best! The White House will be jazzing one minute and twanging to country music the next. I hope the stream it on the White House website like they did with the poetry event. Only I hope they work out the audio issues this time.
And does it make any sense that I don't like the tunic at all, but I love the look? :-)
Nancy: "This kind of silly, self-indulgent frippery shows me she still has a lot to learn--and is still evolving--about the role of the First Lady of this great nation. This silly getup, as "playful" and "springlike" as many of you describe it, is still an embarassment to many of her (widely-diverse) constituents. I stand by my opinion."
a bit of a reality check is needed for all of us. Its one thing to say its a major fashion MISS, which it is. Its another to use it as an opportunity for the usual cheap political shot.
Mrs. Obama does not represent us when she's on her own family vacation, no more than Laura Bush or Jackie Kennedy did when they were with their own family. Unless we've institute political role for 1st ladies, she's only obliged to stay neutral and act accordingly when on official capacity. Only difference is the stalking paparazzi who follow her everywhere and record her image and that of her own family, just like Mrs. Kennedy.
ps. she did not go to Westminister Abby with this outfit, rather she was having chips and fish @ a local English bar with her family. I can imagine if she was a walking fashionista while relaxing with her girls, some would find a way to criticize her (about how she's so camera conscious and dressing up for it).
@Janelle,
Great post! You also echo my comment (near the top on the previous page) about the day she wore the three "baddies" combined into a single outfit. That was my favorite Mrs. O day. What spirit! What gumption!
As I said in my previous post, I think this is an outfit with staying power. It makes you think about fashion in a good way.
Cyndi, she's walking out of Westminster Abbey in that photo. Later that night or some other night, I don't know, she went to have fish and chips with the girls.
Monday:
Michelle Obama introduces the White House’s music series
Tuesday:
Michelle Obama addresses the Greater D.C. Cares annual business and non-profit philanthropy summit.
Also Tuesday:
Michelle Obama will host an event focused on health and nutrition on the South Lawn of the White House.
Not my favorite . . . looks too casual, perhaps a different pair of pants (fuller leg, softer fabric)would have pulled it together a bit more. Her hair is also too severe for this outfit . . . too formal as the top is more "playful."
I'm going to take a step back and think about what I would think if this outfit were worn by Victoria Beckham/Kylie Minogue/Kate Moss/Gwen Stefani/Katie Cruise/Just about Anyone Else. You know, we'd be fine with it, because it's fun, quirky and it doesn't really matter what they wear. They're fashion icons in their own right, they each have a unique sense of style and we allow them to express themselves, whether it's something we would wear or not.
So what's different about Mrs. O? She's a fashion icon, she has a unique sense of style and she likes to express the many facets of herself through it. I guess the main difference is, some people want her to be ONLY what they see her as, rather than continuing to be her own person. They criticize more harshly the more she deviates from their idea of "First Lady."
Therein lies Michelle's sartorial brilliance. She's always mixing it up, getting us to think outside the box, making us see fashion in a completely new way. Who else does that as credibly as she?
Me, I wouldn't wear it. But do I recognize how this outfit (and all her choices) express who she is and what she stands for? Absolutely. I say, BRAVA! We should all be so confident.
We missed you, Chicagoan! :)
Missed all of you, too! :)
Yeah, Chicagoan, I was jonesin' for a remark from you for many weeks now (smile). And now I know why - what a great perspective to bring to this discussion. Thank YOU.
And why not - this is birthday celebration week for one of her girls, they are having fun, and it's a party! Kids love for you to play with them on all sorts of levels, and just maybe her fashion statement was part of that play. Geez, already.
"Silly, self-indulfent frippery"???? Makes me feel like I have a broom stuck somewhere!
Janelle, you make really good points as always, but I hope in this instance Mrs. O has disregarded that negativity and enjoyed her time with her brood in the outfit she felt like wearing.
As I said already - it's a party!
Audrey - I feel like I have to defend Mrs. G - she brings some real good stuff to the table, and I don't personally feel that she stepped over any line.
Enough from me for now. But again, welcome back Chicagoan and please don't go away like that again!
Fun and her kids probably love it... I adore Michelle and I think she did it for her kids. I would have done the same for mine! It is called" love and the kids get to dress Mommy"! Have some fumn people!!!
"Silly, self-indulGent frippery"
BSewingLady, welcome! It will be fun to hear your take on the construction of Mrs. O's outfits if you are willing to share your knowledge. I used to sew and loved creating my own outfits - so satisfying.
Paquito D'Rivera is fabulous - we have seen him in concert several times - hopefully the concert will be streamed on whitehouse.gov.
Oh. No. What was she thinking?
I'm also a long-time reader/first-time poster. As a 50-something big city lawyer, I usually admire, and sometimes love, what the First Lady wears. This outfit is definitely, as others said, a "hot mess". And no, I wouldn't have a different view if some skinny "celeb" or actress or tourist had worn it. But tourist - that's the point I want to make. Far too many tourists - American, European, from wherever - don't think about what it is they are visiting when they dress for the day's touring. The poster who pointed out that US tourists wear torn jeans, etc. to Westminster Abbey is correct, but that shouldn't be! Comfort is paramount and IMHO pants are always OK except where local custom precludes them, but when we visit a religous site or a significant cultural site, let's be considerate of the site. Westminster Abbey is the mother church of the Anglican Community throughout the world, not "just" the site of the tombs of English kings and queens, prime ministers, poets and other greats. Mrs. Obama could have set a great example to our slobby citizens with an outfit that was less "teen-agey".
@Audrey says: "Mrs Obama continues to live out her incredibly great life to the fullest while they sit and bitch at a computer screen...Does the good Lord have a sense of humor or what?!"
What a great comment! LOL
Audrey, you are brilliant & you do have a way with words!
How true that they yell at their computer screens, red in the face as they throw out words such as "inappropriate", "hot mess", "ghastly" - while the object of their scorn keeps living and enjoying her life in total oblivion...
Sorry Bevi, but some of us have since figured out that MrsG isn't all she'd have us believe she is - the words cunning, phony & alter egos come to mind.
Hi Eleroy,
I love the way Audrey calls out the nasty stuff, don't get me wrong. And I value her opinion always.
"Well, Briana, you and I will just have to agree to disagree. Yes, she is on her own personal Obama-paid vacation. But, no, she is not (nor will be) totally her own person as long as her husband is the President of the United States. If there were some way Mrs. Obama, her daughters and her mother could tour sites in London (or anywhere) without photographers, it'd be great. But that will not happen as long as she is our First Lady. That given, I reiterate that I hope she'd consider that she is not representing herself and her familyl, but the entire American nation. This kind of silly, self-indulgent frippery shows me she still has a lot to learn--and is still evolving--about the role of the First Lady of this great nation. This silly getup, as "playful" and "springlike" as many of you describe it, is still an embarassment to many of her (widely-diverse) constituents. I stand by my opinion."
I agree with Nancy. And the "to hell with what people say" attitude would be a needlessly flippant and dismissive one for the FLOTUS or her entourage to adopt. Because it does matter, and for better or for worse, her public photograph while her husband is president does in some way connect to all constituents. Someone in her entourage needs to be willing to offer Michelle honest advice in certain circumstances. I imagine it must be frustrating to have to be or feel regulated, but the title demands it.
"First Lady Returns to Music Series
By Bernie Becker
Now that First Lady Michelle Obama has returned to the United States, she plans to kick off a new music series next week, according to the White House.
The first installment, set for Monday, will feature members of the Marsalis family (father Ellis and two of his sons, Wynton and Branford), who will play jazz for about 150 students. The White House also said that country and classical events will be scheduled.
Since she moved into the White House, Mrs. Obama has placed quite an emphasis on the arts, including hosting a poetry jam in May. While in Paris recently, the Obama family went to Centre Pompidou, a modern art museum.
Mrs. Obama will also hold an event focusing on nutrition at the White House Kitchen Garden on Tuesday with students from Bancroft Elementary School, who helped plant the garden. They apparently will help prepare a meal." http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/11/first-lady-returns-to-music-series/
Oh, Eleroy...I know you have a strong spirit of protectiveness about Mrs. O, which I share. But I think it's probably better to not make assumptions about alter egos and just assume good faith until proven otherwise. I think Ms. G posts in good faith.
I don't assume that everyone who posts something critical here has been planted by Obama opponents...if that's true, the Republicans *really* need to reprioritize!
What do we think of this dress that Dr. Biden wore recently?
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Dr-Biden-We-Support-One-Another/
I think it's a little young looking, because I think all trapeze dresses look a little young and/or maternity-like. But honest to God, I think she's cute as a button! I can't help it! I love the cheerfulness of it all.
"If I didn't admire MO so much, I wouldn't give a second thought to how she presents herself; but since I do deeply admire her, I just want better for her than this."
I very much agree with this sentiment.
She is a elegant lady,but I dont get this outfit at all. when you become first lady theres a certain kind of dress that goes with the territory.I think she could have got something from my closet that would have looked better.All in all she's awsome!!!!!!!!!!
I don't understand why posters who don't like a particular look (such as this one) have to apologize or preface their comments by saying that they usually like Mrs. O's style or make some other comment about how wonderful she is. Most of us regulars on this blog already KNOW what an amazing human being Mrs. O is ( and if we don't by now, we should), it should not even matter what our political views are; if we like an outfit, we like it, and we don't we say so and move on.
I, for myself love fashion, admire Mrs. O, and adore the blog and the interaction that occurs on the board. It woukd indeed be pretty boring if all of us agreed all the time; there would be no point in coming on this blog. Variety is the spice of life (as Mrs. O herself would surely advise us, and I suspect that is one one of the reasons she wore that ghastly outfit). So let us be true to ourselves, file this one inn the MISS column, and hope and seriously PRAY that Mrs. O never has such a huge off day again.
@Christina:
"Y'all, don't throw yourself off a roof or check yourself into a hospital with stomach pains over this outfit. I promise she'll wear something nice again."
LOL, and here you thought I was exaggerating when I said people were on the verge of having aneurysms b/c they felt 'embarrassed' by Mrs. Obama's bright colors. I see even yourself realized the excessive foolishness of these posters' reactions. These comments go beyond basic opinions.
I just want to say that even though I thoroughly enjoyed Audrey's turn of phrase above, I wasn't directing that enjoyment at anyone in particular, even though Audrey named some people. It's just such a great turn on those who sit at their computers criticizing Michelle while Michelle is out enjoying her life.
For that matter, it applies to those of us who sit here admiring her, too, while she's out living.
So fun.
What a wonderful post, Audrey!!!! So true!
Awesome and love TOYWATCH. I love people who dress in their own way. :) She really knows how to work a belt. She is like my sister :)
I never understand critizing way someone dresses?? i just dont get it. We all have our styles right! I just dont get it. Anyway, admire her for being MICHELLE ROBINSON OBAMA :)
Well, Audrey, we cannot all be FLOTUS, can we? And there is no point in us feeling crappy about living vicariously through her, since that is all our limited means can afford.
LOVE IT AUDREY LOVE IT
After reading this last page and seeing my name mentioned so frequently, I really don’t understand how I’ve gotten lumped in with the trouble makers. The language in my comment was not nearly as graphic as many. I never used the terms “hideous,” “ghastly,” “hot mess,” “frippery,” or any of the many others that have been used to describe this outfit . I’m not criticizing those who did use those terms; I’m just saying that I don’t know why my comments would be singled out from among so many others that are even stronger than mine. I also did not attack Mrs. O personally (nor would I ever!), as some others have done. And it seems to me that since the love/hates on this outfit have been running about half and half, my comment is right in line with around half of the other posters; so why would it be singled out?
I come here because I enjoy the conversation, not to make trouble. I am always careful about how I express myself, and it’s never been my intention to offend anyone—not Mrs. O or any of my fellow posters.
Honestly where people this testy when other presidents went on their PERSONAL vacations? Because president or not this is her PERSONAL and private vacation. What Mrs. Obama wears on her own private time is private....when do we let this woman have fun, recharge and enjoy time with her children. I dont get this 24/7 perfection mandate that we expect from a woman on her own VACATION!!! must everything be torn and picked apart.
Save the outrage for behavior not fashion. Hate the dress but please stop placing judgement on a woman on vacation....what will we do when she is at a beach and we dont approve of her swimsuit. Two Tears in a BUCKET!!....
MsG, I have always enjoyed your comments and found them to be very respectful, and I would not have lumped you in with some who are more critical than you.
I just found Audrey's turn of phrase to be so apt, not only for those who criticize, but for those of us admirers who live vicariously through Mrs. O.
Oh Christina...absolutely no assumptions here - only certainty.
As for assuming "Republican plants" - nah...I do believe some here need no prompting; they come up with all the hate and snark all by themselves-
A great article on fashionistas shopping at Good Will.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/11/fashion/11goodwill.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=all
Audrey, you are too, too funny and so right!