Remembering D-Day (Updated)
Saturday, June 6, 2009 at 10:24 AM 
Photo by Yves Forestier/Getty Images
President Mr. O and First Lady Mrs. O are in Colleville-sur-mer, France this morning to mark the 65th anniversary of D-Day, honoring the Allied soldiers who gave their lives during WWII.
Mrs. O and Ms. Bruni-Sarkozy were once again stylistically in tune, both dressed in white dresses, belted at the waist. Mrs. O wears a white sheath dress, topped with a white coat of minimalist lines. Her ensemble is cinched closed with a wide, silver belt. Jimmy Choo Lantern heels complete the look.
Per the Daily Telegraph (Thank you Mara!):
The French president’s wife chose Dior again, but dropped the grey in favour of a youthfully chic and flattering cap-sleeved ivory satin sheath with a gathered neckline – just the sort of arm-revealing dress Michelle Obama has made her signature.
However, the American First Lady chose to relinquish what her husband jokingly called her “right to bare arms” for the day, choosing to put a coat by Narciso Rodriguez Michael Kors over a dress by Michael Kors Narciso Rodriguez (both New York designers), though the belt she wore was by Givenchy.
Update: In fact, the Daily Telegraph had their details backwards. Mrs. O wore a dress by Narciso Rodriguez in optic white nylon crepe, paired with a Michael Kors coat in white double face stretch wool.
And there we have it - American with just a dash of French, the latter perhaps a nod to her host nation. Mrs. O's sartorial savvy continues to delight!
Givenchy, Jimmy Choo, Michael Kors, Narciso Rodriguez in Outfits
Reader Comments (182)
They both look beautiful.
Both ladies look elegant. Love the d'orsay pumps in neutral (with matching belt) Michelle is wearing.
They both look great. Please tell me where the belt is from. It looks metallic or are my eyes fooling me? Either way, it looks nice and versatile.
I think the belt and shoes are silver. Jimmy Choo lists the color for the Lantern D'orsay Pumps as "Old Silver Mirror Leather."
They both look great. WOW.. Prez(S) Obama and Sarkozy are lucky men!!!
Beautiful! FLOTUS looks great in her white along with the metallic belt and shoes. Love, love love the belt! Both ladies hit the right notes.
Hate the belt!
They look amazing! Gorgeous women. Very stylish, too.
I like it. Did they both coordinate their outfits? I like it and fits the occassion. I like confident individuals it shows when they walk
Mrs. O has just changed to flats while to everyone about to board Marine One. I just noticed that. I think with all the walking and talking afterward, I'm sure her staff had the flats ready. I was watching the live coverage online at CNN. I believe it's her silver metallic flats.
...oops lots of typos above. While she was talking to servicemen afterward, she was in flats and when she boarded Marine One. She had a spring in her step and big smiles.
I think Mrs. Obama looks great and happy in this photo.
Two beautiful women who radiate effortless glamour.
Mrs. T, any word on the sheath and duster jacket? I think it might be Michael Kors. It reminds me of the Kors black duster she wore when coming into London that was matched with the yellow Woo dress.
white is such a great color on her; love the simplicity of this outfit, and those shoes are just fabulous.
The fabric and drape of this outfit reminds me of the purple Isaac Mizrahi outfit Michelle wore in NYC. I wonder, though, if she might be wearing a French designer?
This is, of course, a solemn and ceremonial occasion, and the goal is to be appropriate and respectful of the event. It is not a social or private event.
Both ladies look perfect, in my opinion. Michelle is a bit more polished, with the lines of the coat giving her a more classic look, while still fresh and summery. The metallic accessories match, I even like the belt! Everything is in proportion, flattering and beautifully cut. This length IMHO is the best for Michelle, cutting at the top of the knee. She is gorgeous in white.
For Ms Sarkozy I can only say Look at her TINY waist! She wears the kind of demure young girl look she has perfected and she can pull it off with her perfect figure and lovely face.
Beautiful!
Wow. Totally elegant and chic. Our Michelle is always a class act.
All I can say is....oui, tres chic!
I must say I was expecting alot of unhappy posts, but to my delight everyone is in agreement (except for the belt which is 50/50).
BTW, whatever happened to "American-n-Paris", I was looking forward to hearing what's the word on the streets (or should I say RUE) of Paris is about the Obama Families visit.
Au Revoir
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/06/michelle-obama-and-carla_n_212148.html
Definitely silver shoes and belt; great closeup of the shoes. HuffPost gets it all and gets it first, it would seem.
Two elegant and powerful beauties.
Beautiful outfit, one of my favorites looks for her. She looks flawless!!!
Wow!!!!! So chic, So Avante Garde, both ladies are absolutely a delight to look at. The metallic belt and matching shoes are "off the chains". Well done Mrs.O you always do me proud.
nonpasserat - you gave a perfect description of Ms. Sarkozy's style/look. Well said!! And you're right, her waist is so tiny!
They both look elegant and chic. I was just thinking - it must be nice for Mrs O (and incidentally Mrs Sarkozy) to spend time with another tall first lady who is mindful of towering over others so wear's a lot of flats! Not implying that Mrs O is not happy to be in her comfortable flats - I am sure she is - just that it must be nice to see another prominent woman with the same issues. Gives them something else in common and perhaps to giggle about about.
Do they coordinate their outfits? Two beautiful women.
I have several articles either stating that Sasha's birthday is on Sun or Mon. Which one is it?
Mrs. O does not strike me as someone who coordinates outfits with others that are not in her family, but now its a second time in a row that these two lovely women are in sync (the bow tie coats the last time they met, now white with belts)
they both look great!!!! loves it!!!
The more I see the outfit the more I like it. I like that the First Lady used silver as an accent color with the white. White and black can be a bore. I think the silver gives it a more modern look. I like that she wore real heels and this is one outfit where the belt actually looks nice. It's not riding up and it's not making her look like she's pregnant I like the look a lot, and I'm not even really a fan of disters in general.
Looks like another version of the lilac Mizrahi coat and dress ensemble. Shorter sleeves. Separate belt.
Not coordinated. Mrs. Sarkozy's is ivory and the coat she wore with it was black.
White looks great on Michelle and i love the silver accents.
I agree that it's most likely just a coincidence. Just funny that both times the first ladies have met, there have been similarities between their ensembles.
What a treat to see these women looking to classy and enjoying themselves...YEP that White and Silver combo is Modern, with a flair.
I really like the clean lines of Michelle's outfit. Whatever it is she's doing with the belt this time, she needs to remember it, because this is the first time in a long time that she's worn a belt in that way and it's actually flattering.
I have to say, as I said the first time they met, no disrespect to Carla, but she always looks like a meek child next to Michelle, who always comes across as a powerful and dynamic woman.
And Sarah Brown was there and while she's not a fashion plate, her style has improved a lot.
I wonder given the similarity in their outfits this time and last time if they did some kind of coordination to nip in the bud this crazy fashion dueling built up by the Media!
I think Michelle looks very elegant and beautiful in this ensemble; they both look so confident and comfortable in who they are. I also dont know why people talk about the high waist belts, I think they look fine and it is used in this case to give the dress shape and add flair. I also think she wears the belts so high because he waist is high and her bottom prevents it from being pushed down any further.
OMG they look great. I think Mrs. O looks more serious and "important."
That belt of MO's is fabulous - lots going on there with what looks like a second, vertical buckle on the keeper. It's interesting to see these two fashionable women each hitting exactly the right notes for their bodies. Despite her height, Carla's bone structure is much smaller. That outfit of MO's would have swallowed her up (remember the grey Dior outfit on the earlier visit - not Carla's best look). And, while Mrs. O could certainly wear Carla's dress, she'd probably accessorize with a bolder belt. That said, I do love all the detail on Carla's dress. Dior again??
I love that we've seen Michelle's Lantern heels before, and Carla's shoes look brand new. Our FLOTUS knows how to shop her closet!
On the white outfit issue: in much of the world, white is considered a respectful alternative to black at somber occasions like this. It's not unusual to wear white to funerals, especially in warm weather. I think that's what drove these color choices.
my MRS O friends, I wish we could admire these 3 beautiful ladies ( I like Sarah Brown in soft grey ) without getting into a petty contest : which one is best and the other 2 not so good for such and such reasons...
I like the bright white on Michelle because its the ultimate contrast on darker skin and she wears it well. I also like that she went with silver instead of black to accessorize. I love the look.
I liked Carla's outfit as well though I thought the neckline (which I love) made her shoulders seem broader which in effect made her hips seem narrower.
I'm with you v.France! We should appreciate each lady as she is because they are very different from each other and there is nothing they can do about it.
This picture is interesting. It looks like Michelle Obama is striding on a catwalk, with long, fluent and beautiful strides and Carla is skipping or standing still in a pose.
Interesting as it is Carla that is te ex supermodel but from this picture, it looks like Michelle is the model.
Both outfit looks beautiful although I prefer Michelle's outfit if I have to choose.
RESPLENDENT IN WHITE
Both these women will get A+ for appropriateness of wear today. I think that they recognise the solemnity of the occasion and have chosen the ideal colour (or lack there of) to show their respect and gratitude to all those who have lost their lives to save ours . Mrs. O will get an A++ for thinking out of the box for adding her silver/ pewter belt and shoes.
I think the simple lines only seek to accentuate her figure even more and curiously makes her look slimmer! Carla Bruni's dress actually reminds me of the coral dress that Mrs. O wore to the White House after the Inauguration for their first meeting with the Bushes. The detail at the collar is VERY similar - Mrs.T do you think you can find out who the designer is?
All in all they look like 2DIVAS on the runway.
Odd choice of the color white for a ceremony honoring those who gave their lives. I think they both look great but I do question the color.
I think it's a beautiful look for memorial. Very smart and sweet and hopeful.
(In some cultures white is the color of grief & rememberance & respect.)
Love this look.. clean, classic, simple elegant..with a dash of flair :)
@ Shelly
white is considered the alternate "mourning" color in lots of places..France being one of them..especially in the spring/summer. the color was entirely appropriate for this occasion..
A slide show on La Reppublica showing the two First Ladies:
http://www.repubblica.it/2006/05/gallerie/esteri/carla-michelle/1.html
Very nice. A classic, elegant look. I like the coat over the dress.
I like how yesterday she looked like an ordinary Mom, daughter, aunt and friend just site seeing. Today very much FLOTUS.
Bruni-Sarkozy lovely too.
Great suit, but I am not down w/ the belt. I think it would have been much more elegant if she'd let the coat float, as it was likely intended to do and accessorized w/ a briich, necklace, scarf, or some combination of them.
Very nice. Can't wait to watch the news tonight so I can see how the outfit moves (I don't get CNN; too cheap to pay for anything but basic cable. LOL).