Sunday
Jul052009
Bon Voyage
Sunday, July 5, 2009 at 10:48 PM 
Photo by Saul Loeb / Getty Images
The Os are off to Moscow! Mrs. O wears a floral Talbots dress, last seen for her May 2009 cover of Essence, paired with a yellow Dear Cashmere cardigan and clear Sonia Rykiel belt. What a lovely looking family!
tagged Dear Cashmere, Sonia Rykiel, Talbots
Dear Cashmere, Sonia Rykiel, Talbots
Reader Comments (62)
So lovely! Marveling at the blue floral pattern paired with floral dress. And the up-do compliments the outfit to a tee. And for President Obama, he's looking equally stylish ... love, love, love the preppy blazer with tieless shirt and khakis.
America at her finest!
Please find out who designed Malia's skirt. PLEASE
That is a fun loving family enjoying themselves. They are all beautiful.
I love Mrs. Obama dress, i feel like i have seen it before but i don't know where. Nice going. Sasha and Malia beautiful but sasha is not letting go of mommy's hands. If anything the president seems happier with his family around no joke.
The dress is the one from the Essence Mothers Day cover. The sweater is the one from the O magazine cover. The belt is the the purply version of the Sonia Rykiel belt like the O cover belt, but the one she wore to the DC Cares volunteer event. Festive!
They all look comfortable and relaxed. Maybe it's because it's summer and the girls are with them but you can tell Michelle's approach to dressing for travel has become more laid back as she's settled into her role. The pearls dress up what is a decidedly informal outfit compared to what she wore to board AF1 on the first trip abroad. And while I'm not a hairstylist, I think instead of always the extra volume on top that soft bangs in an updo like this would be quite flattering on Michelle.
It's going to be an exciting couple of days that's for sure. I can't wait to see what looks she surprises with.
Sasha isn't smiling in recent pictures. I know I'm nuts, but I'm concerned about her.
Lovely photo! Everyone looks great. Can't wait to see all the fashion this week.
Thanks for getting this posted Mrs. T.!
Bon Voyage our dear Obama's,
Please be safe. I hope that the International community can come together and Help bring awareness to the emergency situation in Iran. Please please help democracy thrive in Iran and stop the killings. I urge all of you to help bring more attention to stop the senseless massacaring of innocent people who want what we all enjoyed yesterday on the 4th of July.
Sincerely,
Rebecca
Everybody looks nice in this photo. Good fashion start for the week!
The girls, especially Sasha, look great, but Mrs. O's oufit is underwhelming. It is a mismatch of colors (yellow, purple, blue, green, white) and add Black shoes and pearls to the mix, and you have a fashion miss on your hands. I am also less than thrilled about the open sweater-the- dress, plus belt combo. I hope she fairs better in subsequent outfits. But I must say, I love, love the girls. z(Is it me or little Miss Sahsa looks a little intimidated; she is so adorable. Mrs. O got a little future fashion plate on her hands.
It's rather embarrassing to say (but, I know y'all understand) that sometimes this family just makes me feel a bit verklempft (in the immortal words of Tim Gunn). I love them and today's fresh summer looks. (those children are darling, aren't they? I get such a kick out of Sasha)
Anyhoo -- that is one heckuva long plane-ride and it should be an interesting trip.
Love the outfits (the girls too), hate the title of this blog, they aren't going to Paris Ms T!!!
I'm so happy that B.O. looks at M.O. the way he does. He's damn lucky and seems to know it!
What a nice looking family - but the dress makes Michelle look bigger than she is - I would not suggest she wear this in Russia, as they do not like bright colors, it suggests a snub against the government there. It is an outfit better suited for one of the girls.
I like the print of Malia's skirt the best!
Here's a link to more photos of their departure:
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Jackeens/419
Here is the schedule for the Obamas week abroad:
Russia - July 6-8th
http://www.politico.com/politico44/perm/0509/to_russia_with_9c17510a-873d-49c0-9b7c-cb179f22d7a2.html
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090401/ap_on_re_eu/eu_obama_china
Italy - July 8-10th - President Obama will attend a Group of Eight summit in Italy.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0509/A_trip_to_Africa.html?showall
Vatican City - July 10th - (CNN) — President Barack Obama [and Mrs. Obama] will meet Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican on July 10, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs announced Wednesday.
Africa – Accra, Ghana - July 10-11th - The President and Mrs. Obama will visit. While in Ghana, the President will discuss a range of bilateral and regional issues with Ghanaian President Mills. The President and Mrs. Obama look forward to strengthening the U.S. relationship with one of our most trusted partners in sub-Saharan Africa, and to highlighting the critical role that sound governance and civil society play in promoting lasting development.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0509/A_trip_to_Africa.html?showall
COLOR BY NUMBERS
What's so cool about this family photos, is that you can see how well Michelle & the girls coordinate. Everyone has a sample of another's colour (except the president off course). The prints are so expressive and indicative of Spring, and although I prefer Michelle's combination of this sweater and the belt with the orange shift dress (as seen on the cover of O magazine April 2009) these elements work. Thankfully she didn't wear the brown studded belt.
To be continued... next stop, dinner with the Russian President & his wife. It seems that this is to be expected as another fashion showdown between the 2 first ladies.
Here's a very detailed list of the day's schedule::
1:20PM THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY arrive in Moscow, Russia
Moscow Airport
Open Press
2:00PM THE PRESIDENT participates in a wreath-laying ceremony
Russian Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Expanded pool coverage
2:50PM THE PRESIDENT meets privately with President Dmitry Medvedev
The Kremlin
Pool spray at the top
3:25PM THE PRESIDENT and President Medvedev hold working meeting
The Kremlin
Pool spray at the top
6:30PM THE PRESIDENT and President Medvedev hold joint press conference
The Kremlin
Open Press
7:30PM THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY meet with U.S. embassy personnel
U.S. Embassy
Closed Press
8:35PM THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY have dinner with President Medvedev and Lady Svetlana Medvedeva
The Gorkiy
Closed Press
Photos are now up on Yahoo of the Obama's arrival in Moscow.
Michelle is wearing a orange'ish pink outfit with a clear belt with orange'ish pink buckle.
Sasha and Malia appear to be wearing tan colored London Fog type raincoats.
Hard to tell very much by the only two photos that are up so far.
Very nice dress!!
Photos are up on Getty Images now too.
Here's a good one: http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/88846917/AFP
I love Malia's skirt! And don't they all have cute shoes. Hope they have a great time on their trip.
They look so happy. I love that the purple in the belt makes the outfit pop.And all the Obama women in cardigans!! Ha! Take that cardigan haters!!
I saw the family get off the plane this morning in Moscow....and wow!....do they all look fantastic. Mrs. O is wearing hot pink and the girls look so darn cute!
I agree with briana--the President looks so happy to have his entire family with him on this trip. Here's some raw video of them arriving in Moscow:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8135394.stm
I just heard on CNN this morning that Mrs. O will also be visiting a Russian orphanage during their visit. Since coverage here in the US is kind of slim for this leg of the trip, I found a good Russian on-air link (in English) that just might cover Mrs. O's visit to the orphanage. They've been having nonstop coverage of everything else this morning of the President. Not sure about Mrs. O though--although I was reading an AP article that Mrs. O is more popular in Russia than the President because of her kitchen garden, which is of great interest already there. Anyway, these two links have been having live coverage, as well as looping previous coverage on and off:
http://www.russiatoday.ru/On_Air.html
www.cnn.com/live
Here's a link of Mrs. Obama with Mrs. Medvedeva. Since Michelle's dress is cut so low I wish she would have worn a necklace. In my opinion Svetlana Medvedeva wins this one.
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Michelle-Obama/ss/events/pl/050108michelleobama#photoViewer=/090706/481/6a30b659742e4220b47126c3154dd88f
Good Morning...thank you for all of the great links, especially the one posted by Leah D. The two first ladies seem to have very different styles with Mrs. Medvedeva appearing to dress in a more traditional or conservative manner (judging from these photos)....I prefer Mrs. O's salmon ensemble....
After much anticipation of what Michelle's next outfit would be on this trip, I was deflated when I saw the peach dress/duster outfit this morning. It looks wrinkled and bunched up under the ever-present belt and the hemline is a little short. She looks better with hems at her kneecap not above. I guess the whole outfit seems a little too casual for the event, especially when compared to the Russian first lady who looks fabulous. Michelle has SO MANY other outfits she could have worn, even just one of her great sheaths alone. Can't wait to see her next outfit though!
@Leah D,
Thanks for your Yahoo link. They always seem to post photos quicker than anyone else. Getty can be super slow. I think both women have their own style and look great for the dress of their respective countries. Also, Russian political wives are more conservative and lowkey in their dress. But I have to say, I can't keep my eyes off Mrs. O because of the great salmon pink color of her ensemble. Her neckline is lower without a necklace, but the color just pops! At the wreath-laying ceremony earlier, she just stood out like no one else. I couldn't keep my eyes off of her because of the color alone---I didn't even notice any other accessories she had on, including her shoes! But I can't compare, because both women look very elegant and nice, one with pearls and a flower pin, and the other with a fashion forward look and a great ensemble color.
Mrs. O was wearing pearls with her Talbots dress on her way to Moscow, but chose not to wear them this morning. It may be intentional to look less "out there". Not sure, but I just saw an AP video about how this is to be a lowkey political trip, that the Kremlin is saying that this is not a "star" coming to Moscow but Obama is there to show respect--every country has their media spin. AP also said that Russian political wives are expected to be seen very little and not heard and Mrs. O is viewed very well but Russia is trying to get used to how US wives are more out there in public. Mrs. O may have chosen to scale back an accessory or two and let Mrs. Medvedev do it up--I guess we'll never know. I do know that Mrs. O loves accessories and isn't scared of them, so I wonder if it was intentional Leah D.....hmmm
She looks sensational in the photo with Mrs. Medvedev. Classy, gorgeous, approachable and totally appropriate.
I don't think her neckline is too low, The color is vibrant and very pretty. Could have went without the belt.
I really like Michelle in the peach colored ensemble. I don't think the neckline is particularly low--and it looks great without a necklace. Adding a necklace might have been too much. You know that old adage---get dressed and then take off one accessory.
The Russian First lady looks wonderful in the white. While she is dressed more formally than Mrs. Obama, I think Mrs. Obama's outfit is very appropriate also. Both of them look great!
@leah d
Its NOT a competition.
Is that salmon pink? I thought it was more of a coral? Regardless, I think it looks absolutely beautiful on her complexion. I am the same complexion and it just makes me want to run out and go buy something in that color.
What a beautiful family!
I LOVE the "salmon/coral" color of Mrs. O's dress. Yes, I think the belt is too high and I don't like the flats and she looks pregnant (to me).
Same old, same old...
Eh, they both look nice but I think Mrs. Medvedeva's dress is too old-fashioned and "mother of the bride." Yawn. Mrs. O looks fresh and interesting by comparison, so I'd say SHE "wins this one."
Why the flats? Wearing flats does not make one look tall (I know, I'm the same height), but it does draw attention to one's height instead. And flats are not flattering to the leg, ankle, or foot.
Color is nice, especially in what we assume is dreary Russian light. Mrs. Medvedev looks lovely and composed.
For all the people that are raggin' on me ...
1) I never said that Michelle's top was 'too' low I only said that it was cut low and in my opinion the look would have been better with a necklace.
2) If ya'll don't think that people are comparing the two First Ladies then you are naive.
3) For those that sent me thanks for the link -- You're welcome ;)
p.s. Folks on this website seem to be much more thin-skinned/touchy than they were several months ago ;)
I'm not a great fan of this Talbots dress. Mrs O looks sweet in it, but I don't like it. Does that make sense? The whole family look adorable though. How exciting for the girls to be going to Russia - there will be amazing memories from this trip I think.
J'adore how they are all sporting bright, fun colors! :)
I think she is pregnant...
Why the belt and the flats again? Other than that, the color is nice.
Janelle you are right.. I actually read an article to that effect, that the russians do want this to be a star coming to their nation. I hope she down plays and just wear what she wants, this is about getting some deal from the Russian. And great news i just got from the press conference is russia hosting a submit this year for the mideast peace deal.
She looks ok for me, interesting color pic. I think she will be ultra conservative and ultra below the radar during this trip in my view.
MO may have worn flats in part because President M is not a tall man. She may have done it as a gesture of respect, as she's probably got 3 inches on him. Also, she apparently went from the plane to tea with Mrs. M, and may be going straight on to another stop where she's going to be picking up children, etc. I think we need to remember this isn't a fashion show - it's a business trip.
What an orchestra of colors!! Mrs O looks splendid...
"Sasha isn't smiling in recent pictures. I know I'm nuts, but I'm concerned about her."
She might just be shy about having all the cameras and photographers around. I've seen her grinning up a storm when it's not clear to her that she's being watched/photographed.
I love the casual, bright look of all these outfits. They look excited to be setting out on this trip.
Need to find out where Malia got her skirt. I just saw a news that this is very expensive skirt. If it is true, it may not be so good for her dad.
Why is that, Georgee?