Friday
Jul242009
Beaming Brightly
Friday, July 24, 2009 at 2:36 PM 
Photo by Mary Riley / Reuters
The Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the National Design Awards today. First Lady Mrs. O, the honorary patron for the awards program, is hosting a White House ceremony and luncheon for the winners and finalists of the 2009 awards this afternoon. For the event, Mrs. O has chosen a sunny yellow jacket and skirt.
Update: Mrs. O wears a Michael Kors sun lacquered boucle four button cap sleeve jacket and matching pencil skirt
tagged Michael Kors
Michael Kors
Reader Comments (107)
Audrey
thats a beautiful jacket
go ahead and wear it
Like Willow and MsG, I'm also a summer. So for me that suit would have to come in a soft blue or cool rose to really pop like Michelle's. It's a little annoying, being in the middle of a season named after you and not being able to wear its golden summer tones. Somebody was being funny when they sorted that!
You can generally tell whether your skintone is warm or cool by looking at the color of your veins. If they look green, you're warm (spring, autumn). If they look blue, you're cool (summer, winter).
So Audrey, if you have golden undertones, you should be fine. Springs and autumns look great in yellow.
@ Strong foru -- I know she didn't cut her hair. I was curious why so many people thought she did, when we've seen her with updos before. :-)
@ the other jenna -- I wonder if it more likely that the photos that we've seen may have added a few pounds, rather than Mrs. O bouncing up and down the scale. After all, how many of us have had pictures that we thought made us look a little heavier than normal? Why would it be any different for her?
I feel like we should be a little thoughtful when talking about weight and women in the public eye. A lot of time people criticize designers and magazines for not showing "real" women, but when we see "real" women we are sometimes quick to call them fat.
Live video of the President and Mrs. O at the Marine Corps Parade: http://www.cnn.com/video/flashLive/live.html?stream=stream1
It's kind of dark but I think she's wearing something lavender.
Love it! Also, in other pix, you can see the facial expressions on the participants. This award is sort of a big deal for designers, but was ratcheted up a notch for sure! Everyone looks so happy.
PS - I had to laugh when I heard Michelle & kids had gone to Luray Caverns! I know how to pronounce it correctly (Loo-ray) 'cause I dated a guy in college from Luray. He'd worked as a summer guide in the cavern and when drunk could be persuaded to give us his spiel... Too funny. It is a cool place. I wonder if they still rent it out for parties?
Photo of Mrs. O at the Marine Corps Parade. She is wearing a turquoise dress with a lavender sweater (and no belt).
Mrs. O at Marine Corp Parade
Love this kind of "unstructured suit" ensemble and NO ONE rocks canary yellow like Michelle Obama! Great hair, great makeup....and the belt seems to have quietly died. Thank God!
Forgot to add....look at the pics on Huffington Post. I LOVE the sleeves on Mrs. O. They balance out her lower half. Absolutely a home run look!
I have noticed that when Mrs O wears an outfit that some of you like, she must have gotten a stylist. When she chooses an outfit that some do not like (cardigans, belt, full skirt) she needs a stylist.
I'm loving the yellow.
Yahoo has photos of Marine corp parade, the outfit looks very unique, lavender sweater and blue dress with a big bow. It is a cute combination.
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Michelle-Obama/ss/events/pl/050108michelleobama;_ylt=AtGI.2AvVUIpKiYft2w0hHBpaP0E#photoViewer=/090725/ids_photos_ts/r3898784779.jpg
And Getty
http://www.gettyimages.com/Search/Search.aspx?contractUrl=2&language=en-US&family=editorial&p=michelle%20obama&assetType=image&src=quick#
Ahhh, look how Mr. Prez is looking at our Mrs O.
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Michelle-Obama/ss/events/pl/050108michelleobama;_ylt=AtGI.2AvVUIpKiYft2w0hHBpaP0E/im:/090725/480/5015533281a1437e92b578bd22dcf692/
Stunning. I love how she embraces strong colors. They always look fantastic on her.
Francisco Costa of Calvin Klein won the top design award. (Robin Givhan has a nice piece in the WashingtonPost). He's done some edgy architectural silhouettes recently and I've often thought Mrs. O would really rock 'em.
It is really pretty danadevin74, thank you!
I do plan to wear it before summer's out - barely a month to go now. But I'm so stuck in the grey, black, brown and white's it's so ridiculous. I'm a huge Watanabe, Rick Owens, Yamamoto, Gaultier, Ann Demeulemeester, McQueen, Prorsum nut and so my wardrobe is made up of their core basics in neutrals with lots of military style blazers; But I was so drawn to the depth, warmth and richness of this sunshiny color, though I endlessly worry about sticking out in it - (because of the *color*!) Terribly ironic and funny since I feel absolutely comfortable in unusual, even almost crazy (my little nephew contends), cuts but only in very muted colors and neutrals.
"I have noticed that when Mrs O wears an outfit that some of you like, she must have gotten a stylist. When she chooses an outfit that some do not like (cardigans, belt, full skirt) she needs a stylist."
Solid observation Boazwife; spot on!
I hope Mrs. T uses this shot for the new thread: http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/89247438/Getty-Images-News
I love seeing the President and Mrs. O together. They are such an inspiration. After my son and my dog, they're my two favorite people. :)
She looks fantastic. The yellow is just divine - she's making me think of lemonade.
@boazwife - That has been my issue with the stylist talk from the beginning. It only comes up when she's not wearing something everyone generally loves. It's as if she can't have an "off" day, because if she's off, it has to be because she's got no stylist, and can't be because she's human and sometimes you knock it out of the park, and sometimes not so much.
@Christina, thank you. I really wish this blog had a policy of not allowing discussion of Mrs. Obama's weight (or anyone else's). Weight should be irrelevant to fashion and how a woman puts herself together. It's damaging to the self-images of every one of our daughters and sisters to pick apart normal weight gain and loss. Michelle is clearly healthy, radiant, fit, busy, involved with meaningful and substantive issues, and a gracious presence everywhere she goes, not to mention absolutely adored by her husband and family. Her minor weight loss or gain is utterly irrelevant, it's petty and small-minded to discuss it, and it insults all of us to make it an issue.
MrsO looking fierce on both events.
@Boazwife and @IVA, I agree with your sentiments. I was thinking about that as I was reading the comments....LOL
A beautiful classic suit in that confident bold yellow color -- ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!
I'm happy that Mrs. O is wearing Michael Kors more. In my opinion, he does updated classic so much better than most, which is totally appropriate for a young, fashion-forward first lady. As one other poster said, it takes a lot of courage to wear that shade of yellow, and Mrs. O is working it like she invented it!
Just lovely!
Like a beaming ray of sunlight, Mrs.O looks gogeous in this ensemble, I love it!
marabout40 - I agree with you. That photo at Gettyimages would be a good one for this site.
I agree with the observation about the stylist talk.
I did notice that for the Marine Corp Parade, there is no belt. Of course, it would be difficult to wear a belt with that large bow in the dress.
Mrs Obama ROCKS!!! She is one cool, sexy woman, hot and sizzling. It is clear why the President is smitten and completely under her spell.
I totally agree with you Marabout40. They are a spectacular couple and so in sync and connected. She brings him peace and stability and it shows - She is truly his ROCK as he always says. And it's been a pretty rough week with all the contrived furor over his very honest statement by those who never did and never will support him and this presidency even as they scream about their own tunnel vision version of "patriotism" in America.
That's a really cool jacket Audrey. Pity it's sold out, I could seriously use one. Hey, maybe if you change your mind about it you could sell it to moi. I'm a size 8/10 (crossing my fingers and hoping you are too lol!)
This is gorgeous and I'm so happy she didn't add a belt.
Lavender Blue.....the new pic at Getty Images: Mrs. O does the hourglass silouhette justice. One question: Is it a dress or blouse and skirt (there seems to be a little "pouch" thing happening)
Fantastic !! simple and refreshening and class
For some reason YELLOW is now my new fav color! ;-)
The First Lady looks nice in this outfit, and the color contrasts well with her skin tone. I'm not surprised that this is a Michael Kors outfit, as she usually looks good in his designs.
Great color on her. This is definitely the summer of yellow for her.
I like the suit, but I must say that if she wore this kind of look every day there probably would not be a Mrs. O website . It's lovely and appropriate, but not exactly the kind of look we so appreciate on MO. Apart from the color, there is nothing particuarly distinctive about it. I'm amazed she did not accessorize it in some way.
That said, it's one of the best fitting garments she has had on in a long while.
Very nice. Only criticism - check the colour of the curtains before you choose your outfit.
I'm still amazed by the tone of those who refer to "the stylist talk"! Correct me if I'm wrong (I know someone will), but I can't recall anyone ever saying that MO needs a stylist because she's clueless about how to dress herself. I don't believe that stylists work for people who are clueless about how to dress themselves. A stylist, as has been said NUMEROUS times in "the stylist talk," provide that extra set of eyes that ALL of us need since NONE of us can see ourselves as others do, and we can't always know how something that looks great in our own full-length mirrors will look in a still photo. A stylist can also provide suggestions and find items that a person with a busy agenda (say MO for example) doesn't have time to do for herself.
People who work in the fashion industry use stylists. If I could afford to hire one, I'd start taking resumes tomorrow--and it's not because I'm clueless about how to dress myself. Suggesting the use of a stylist is NOT an insult! It's just a practical suggestion to make a good thing even better!
I am no fashion-forward clotheshorse by any means, but I would LOVE to have a stylist when I'm not sure what to wear for a specific event. Or to create a wardrobe if I had a lot of high-profile occasions to attend. But for every day, notsomuch.
Amen, Mrs. G. But you and I both know you're gonna get shot down on this one. So, on the theory you might like a little company, I will - once again - enter the fray on this issue. It drives me crazy too.
Whether MO has a stylist who calls her/himself a stylist, or just a "coordinator" or two, I agree that a woman with her schedule and good sense - not to mention the level of international scrutiny - is not going to do all of this herself. Why would she?? There are more important tasks on her desk than putting together a week's worth of outfits to wear in Europe (4 things come immediately to mind: POTUS, Malia, Sacha and Bo). Most of that Russia, Italy, Ghana wardrobe probably got put together in April or earlier, and arrived at each destination a week or so before she did, with a list down to the last detail of what she has decided to wear, when, and with what.
I will stake a large sum that there are people working for her (working for her - not thinking for her) to choose pieces (some of which have never been seen outside the designer's workroom) to present to whomever MO has designated to be the first eyes on a garment. Since so many of the designers she wears are available thru Ikram, my money is on those first eyes having some connection to that store. She needs a kind of sartorial clearing house for all of the lines who want her attention. What makes the most sense to me is a couple of people at - or through - Ikram who are the pipeline between MO and the designers. Someone is coming to her (probably in the WH now, where she has some privacy) with ideas, samples, colorways, accessories, etc. etc. and this is where she gets involved and makes the final decisions of what she is going to wear. This is how Toledo, Wu and others were presented to her when the inaugural wardrobe was being put together. Now that she's settled into her new life, I cannot imagine why they would mess with a good thing.
I'm not saying she never shops online, but the idea of her putting this entire, huge project together alone is ludicrous.
Operafanatic,
Thanks! And I'm delighted to have you for company; now I won't have to get shot down alone. :)
You've outlined the process very well; it's certainly far more involved than my Saturday afternoon excursions through my local malls. It takes a village to dress a First Lady! So I totally agree that it makes no sense for her to tackle the entire task herself.
Let the shooting begin!
Thanks, Mrs. G. I have to leave the house for an hour or so. I just told my husband to stand back if he turns on the computer. The flames could be deadly!
LOL, Opfan!
There's no shooting (well, just me shooting off at the mouth) LOL!!. I just want to know what makes you guys think she does NOT have a stylist ALREADY. Lots of people in Hollywood have stylists and they still don't look good to ME. So, how do you know her stylist is not telling her that what she wears looks good and the fact of the matter is that you just don't like what she wears. I agree with Operafanatic when she says its crazy to think MO is just sitting in her room figuring out, I will wear this on the plane and I will wear this off the plane. Did you see how many outfits she wore on that trip, plus her kids, they changed just as much as she did. Whether or not she wants to admit she has a stylist or she wants to call the person a stylist, believe me she has someone helping her with her wardrobe. It just seems so obvious to me. She has a stylist and you don't like her outfits, and that's fine. Just don't try to justify the reason that you don't like her clothes as "she doesn't have a stylist", you don't like a particular outfit because you just don't like it.
Nyon,
I hear what you're saying, and I think you make a good point. My original remark was actually directed at those who DO seem to think she's just sitting in her room figuring all this out and who take offense at the suggestion that she either already does have or should have a little help. If even fashion experts and Hollywood people use stylists, this shouldn't be seen as a sign of weakness but rather as proof that she's smart enough to employ good help.
In this thread, I believe the stylist talk commenced when it was remarked that Mrs O's latest outfits are so fit and tailored that she must now have a stylist. Several outfits back comments were raised that Mrs O needed a stylist.
Some of us have observed the timing of the need a stylist conversation. It is raised when some find negatives in the fashion of Mrs O, on the contrary, when an outfit seems to garner great positive feedback there are those who exuberantly pronounce that Mrs O now has a stylist.
The stylist talk in this thread was to comment on the back and forth, to and fro, ebb and flow of Mrs O and the stylist question. Whether Mrs O utilizes the assistance of a stylist was not the concern.
I just wanted to point out the obvious in a few of the pro-stylist comments, so I reiterate: when an outfit has rave reviews, Mrs O must have a stylist. If an outfit choice is a 50/50 then Mrs O needs a stylist. I do not draw a conclusion as to why this is the case, I just find it an interesting observation.
I feel you MsG. My comment really wasn't directed towards you because I have been wanting to say this for a while, I just chose today to get it off my chest. I don't think it is a sign of weakness if she has a stylist because I know MO is woman enough to say if she will or will not wear an outfit. I mean she has said it herself, that she wears what she wants and what she feels good in. I don't know, I feel like people love MO so much and when she wears something or does something that they don't like, they feel like they have to find an excuse for why she did something that didn't meet their standards (I know that this is not the case for everyone because some people are just haters and think their really dissing her when they say she needs a stylist). I mean she's a person and she has her good days and bad days. And I think her feelings would not be hurt if someone just plainly said I didn't particularly care for your outfit today. I don't know if I am articulating my point very well, but that is what I think. I personally, could care less if she has one or not because I usually like what she wears.
Call them stylists, employees, coordinators or elves, I stand by my theory above about her having "help," and it's so nice to hear from a few people who agree. Thanks for not setting my desk on fire!
Whatever you call them, and no matter how long she's had them (I vote for mid-campaign, sometime around the purple Pinto on the night he clinched the nomination), she is putting together some great looks, establishing a real fashion personality, and she looks fantastic almost every time I see a picture of her. Even on the days I don't like an outfit, I can always find something - one element, or even just what I think is the theory behind a look - that I think totally works. E.g., I did not love the yellow suit that EVERYone else did, but I think it was a good choice for the event, particularly in a week when it probably would not have paid to have a huge amount of attention paid to her fashion choices. And the fit was superb.
(Where was that tailor when she wore that beautiful violet Mizrahi outfit to the Met Museum? That one nearly broke my heart.)
I would be surprised if she didn't have help with putting together certain looks for certain events, though I have a feeling that the person may not have the title of "stylist." I say that only because times are tough and I think it would be spun negatively in some media outlets if word got out that she has someone styling her - for some people that would come across as snobbish and high maintenance, which is something I've noticed people are trying to paint her as.
And for the record I do not believe people like operafanatic or MrsG are mean spirited in their views re: a stylist. The comment just strikes me the wrong way for similar reasons as Nyon and boazwife have stated previously. There are times when a Mrs. O outfit throws me off, too, and leaves me scratching my head. And on those occasions I usually shrug it off and patiently await her next outfit.
Ladies, I have enjoyed reading your comments this afternoon. NO flames from me! :)
I hope she has as many 'elves' as she wants! I can only imagine planning wardrobes at this level. Mrs. O and the girls. Men are easy...a few suits, ties, slacks and polo's and their good to go. Women on the other hand...a whole different matter! Many outfits scouted and sorted through. Then we have accessories, hair and make-up. Whatever she is doing is working.
MsG...I intend to get over and post on your Mrs O/Glow site. Sounds like fun. I am going to need to do inventory first.
Actually, I didn't think anyone who was negative about stylists (or whatever) was talking about either Mrs. G or me. I don't mean to speak for Mrs. G, but I will say we have both been pretty consistent in saying MO has help, and more power to her. I interpreted the earlier comment to be directed to others who have resisted the notion.
But thanks, IVA, for the kind words.
Yes, thanks from me, too, Iva.
Operafanatic, we can sleep soundly tonight knowing that our desks are not burning! :)
Ann#1, I look forward to seeing what you have to say on the "Glow" thread. We've had such "deep" discussions lately about race, politics, etc., that it sounded like fun to do something light and shallow!
operafanatic, I agreed with you on the lilac Metropolitan Museum ensemble, but was too chicken to post that it did not fit her properly. A look at Mizrahi's website revealed that the coat was styled like a fairly straight-hanging, slightly wrapped robe. It was intended for someone with no hips. Put curvy hips in it and the coat split in a strange inverted V from the bust down and the pockets, intended to be at side front, ended up like saddlebags on her hips - and toward the back at that. It was not made to fit her. A shame. That should not happen.
I have a hunch that many here didn't see the ensemble as designed - how it was supposed to look - and how it ended up on Mrs. O. That's when someone has to say "no"....
The yellow soft suit (they used to call these "dressmaker suits" to differentiate them from the hard-edged menswear power looks) fit perfectly.
Great photo. She looks incredible. She's such a beautiful and stylish woman.
Oh... this stylist thing.
A lot of people in the public eye do have a stylist. And may look great - or not! A lot of people in the public eye don't have a stylist and look great and sometimes don't.
I believe that if you have Mrs O's resources, it's entirely possible to not need one. i.e. Ikram, friends in the trade, friends advice or tip-offs, the Internet, working two and a half days a week not five, got your mum on hand for a final "Yes" or "No", probably got a wardrobe maintenance lady/man, made connections with good designers who know what you need.
I do really object to the idea that Mrs O can't look this good without a stylist finding her stuff to wear. There is an assumption (for some) somewhere along the line that she can't look great without assistance. Why?
Does the supposed date when she started to look - according to some - really good, match with the time she started to take some leave of absence from work to concentrate more on the campaign?? When she perhaps said to Ikram "OK, you've suggested things for the life that I had, now I need things for THIS life that I have - what photographs well, what colours really suit me, do I need to have my colours done, how do I need to think about this now?"
As for the trip away - I really don't think it's that difficult to lay out a load of outfits in advance! It wouldn't have taken more than a couple of hours to put together that wardrobe for the latest European trip. Especially seeing as it's been in the calendar for a while. You make sure you've planned something appropriate for each event and have it swathed in wrapping with a note to say which accessories & shoes, also set aside in a bag on the hanger, ready (with the right bra if necessary!). You say to Ikram, "I need something for THIS particular occasion can you find it for me?"
For a week of official events, surely she'd go through her diary with her PA at the latest the Friday afternoon, confirm what's on, and then work out wardrobe? What's appropriate, what footwear, casual or suit, dress or trousers, make-up with make-artist or do it herself? I don't think that's a big deal either.
If I've had a busy fortnight in the past where I've had a lot on socially and at work and no time to sort it all out in between, plus I've had a busy weekend in the middle, I might need twenty two outfits ready in advance.... I'd sort it all out on the last free Sunday, hang it up in order, ready (with notes where necessary "BLUE SHOES NOT BLACK WITH THIS" or "PUT THESE EARRINGS WITH TUES NIGHT OUTFIT WHEN DONE"!) and just plough my way through each day as it comes. Or holidays. Don't we all do going away clothes a bit like that?
A wardrobe mistress or lady's maid must deal with the maintenance, and if she/he has good judgement then may or may not make suggestions, but it's my firm belief that Mrs O has a great eye, a natural leaning towards what works, and no need of help outside of the source she was already fully utilising.
I also have a feeling that if Mrs O had someone on staff as her stylist, she wouldn't keep them hidden. All her staff - including her hairdresser and make-up artist - are publicly acknowledged so I don't see why if she's got one, we haven't heard about it. I don't think it's Mrs O's way to not be straight about that.
I don't get what you mean Posh.
Mrs O has style ,taste and class.
Stylists help but for you to look outstandingly good you gotta have taste.
Posh, I read your post above and shuddered to remember that it was you and I who got into this issue about the second day I found the website. I had completely forgotten it was you who really let me have it back then. You scared the wits out of me! But now, on my side at least, I am a true fan of yours in so many ways (you're smart, funny, incredibly articulate and you make up killer chocolate cake recipes). So, I think we must agree to disagree.
I do want to assure you that we agree completely that MO has the final say on what she wears. Our only disagreement is on the path she takes to get to that point.
Cheers!
Mrs. Obama is ahead of the game with cardigans, belts and belted dresses. I persuade everyone to take a look at the upcoming fall trends and you will see what I am talking about, one of the clothing magazine was full of colors, belts, scarfs, jewlery to all accent the outfit. I would love to see how many belt critics will have at least one belted ensemble in their closet by January. She is ahead of the game.
You know I love the positive comments. I wish for the negative commenters that I could see what you look like, I bet we would have a few critiques for you. I read some of the ideas these individuals who think they are designers and it sounds horrible how you would destroy the outfits with shawls or boring black shoes. Thankfully, most prominent designers are groundbreaking and take chances because the naysayers on this site will be horrible designers because your creations and renovation ideas on michelle's outfits are not good.