Monday
Jan182010
Serving in Style
Monday, January 18, 2010 at 9:47 PM 
Image by Jim Watson / AFP / Getty Images
The first lady made not one but two service related appearances today. This afternoon Mrs. O spoke with employees at the Disaster Operations Center of the American Red Cross in Washington, DC., wearing a purple tweed sheath dress with an asymmetrical neckline and three-quarter length sleeves.
Image by Jim Watson / AFP / Getty Images
Earlier in the day, the first family served lunch at So Others Might Eat in Washington. The soup kitchen opened in the 1970s and now serves more than 1,000 men, women and children each day. Mrs. O kept her look casual, sporting cropped pants, a blue cardigan and her purple Converse as she served lunch.
Reader Comments (29)
I really like the purple tweed dress. This is my favorite kind of dress on Mrs. Obama.
I love this dress and Michelle with mini Michelle!!
Her new haircut looks wonderful!
Must know who that dress is by. Wow, thats a great dress!
LOVE HER TWEETED DRESS TO SHE LOOKED GREAT I SEE SHE IS ALSO WEARRING HER PEARLS THAT MR O BUY FOR HER FOR THERE ANNIVERSY. THE SECOND PIS I LOVE TO SHE WEAR HER 500.00 PURPLE SNEACKERS SHE BOUGHT ON LINE LAST YEAR. SASHA WEAR JEANS THAT HER NEXT TO HER MOM GIVING OUT DRINKS TO THE HOMLESS.
susan2 I agree with you. Mrs. O really looks great in form fitting sheaths. This color and fabric is fabulous on her, and that necklace adds real interest to the dress.
I tried to find a close up of the dress, but so far have had no luck.
Michelle looked great at the Red Cross.
She looks like a doll that has come to life in this purple tweed dress. Perfection! I am just dying to know who designed it!
My Lady, I'm speechless. "This First Lady" is busy making sure things get done.
Cute outfit, iiii just love her cap. Pearl necklace, someone mentioned that she's wearing
it often. I believe a gift from POTUS mentioned in the Oprah interview. Asymmetrical
neckline, very vogue, would make a simple dress stunning at any event, once more
we're reminded no matter the occasion, we'll have the ooo's and ah's
the dress fits her perfectly and her hair looks fantastic - I'm loving the shorter hair straight or curled. It is a nice change ! I was a fan of the longer hair, but this shorter style has grown (no pun) on me.
Saw a taped clip of the First Family at the soup kitchen yesterday which really touched my heart. It showed the family serving and interacting with the individuals there. A brief segment of the clip showed President Obama, while greeting a few men, addressing them as 'Sir' which echoed my thoughts exactly. A man (and family) after my own heart! So heart-warming!
A story to share:
Some years ago, I was asked to sing and speak for at a mission, to uplift those who frequented there. I accepted. The founder's wife, accompanied me on the piano. I sang a few songs, and after my introduction, began to encourage all who were present. After the founder gave the benediction, everyone headed to the dining hall. I, instinctly, stayed to help out. After receiving my instructions, I donned an apron and began going from person to person, asking what beverage they preferred, addressing them as Sir! The faces of those men, eventually, began to brighten up!
I'm so 'grateful' that my wonderful mother instilled the spirit of volunteering into (us) her children at a very early age, and led the way as a prime example for many years. It's still an active part of me today, as well.
Thank you, Mrs. T for posting the photos.
WOMAN ON A MISSION
And the thing she is most committed to, is moving our hearts - into action. This is great!
I always admire how Mrs.O dishes up service and style together in one convincing package. I love how the asymmetrical neckline balances the knot at her waist/ hips - very endearing...
ADORE the dress, it is one of my favourites now, perfect colour/fabric, cut, sleeves and length.
Yesterday sure was a busy day for The First Family. On the local news here they broadcasted some footage of the people who were at The soup Kitchen and they said they were really appreciative of The Obama Family for taking out time for them. One lady commented on how mannerable and polite the girls were....really heartwarming.
On the fashion front, this dress is simply chic. It reminds me of a Maria Pinto sheath dress. Love the asymetry with the tweed fabric. The detail at the waist just gives it that extra 'something' that makes it more interesting. Those pearls always reminds me of the Barbara Bush pearls that I love. This is a good look on our Michelle. Love the hair!
I love the purple tweed dress. She definitely rocks the form fitting sheaths the best.
How cute is Michelle and her mini me? Those girls are going to grow up to be very compassionate women.
BTW, looks like you can be the flyest first lady ever and still get caught wearing floods.LOL!!! ;-)
LOL Nyon! I noticed the same thing!
Like the dress but still not loving the hair like this when it is styled straight. Also not a fan of the size and length of these pearls. Looks too Barbara Bush to me. her daytime outfits must be really censored these days because she has been playing it quite safe. Too safe even. Seriously, the pearls and dress together reminds me of an outfit that Laura Bush would wear.
The pearls weren't a gift from POTUS. The pin she was wearing on the string of pearls were the anniversary gift.
Well . . . *thinking* . . . the pearls probably were a gift at some point. But the item he was teasing her about during the Oprah interview was the pin. :o)
Love the tweed dress, and the pearls are just the right length for that neckline. Not a big fan of the highwaters, however.
Mrs. O looks fab in the dress!
Love the dress, too. Any lucking finding out whose it is? I'm fantasizing that it might be from a place I can afford! Thanks for all your work on the blog! I love checking it.
seriously not sure about the hair...seriously.
Ms.M. - Wow where do I begin. Thank yu so very much for your comments.
I really want to get my point accross to you here. First of all beautiful story.
I love singing too (but i need some voice lessons for a crowd).
Mrs. O actually said during the campaign "Reach Down and Pull someone else up".
I saw an article about raising today's kids (mine are grown up now), they mentioned
teach kids to do more for others, instead of them being paid to do every job. Give of
themselves more, so rewarding.
I have also looked at your comments, and I see respect (which means thoughtful),
caring how others feel. If you see a situation getting out of hand or going off the
"deep end", you bring folks back to reality. "Referee qualities' explaining what a
comment could mean, or just enlightening us on a topic, at the same time giving us
an outlet, an option, know what I mean.
But this site is not for 'one on one' comments so I'll finish what I have to say by your
last comment.
I love comments from other bloggers too. I have learned so much here - and some of the above qualities apply to many of you as well. Everyone brings something different to the table.
KNOW What I love the most, we have come together from all walks of life, & race &
cultures & countries and "we are FANS of Mrs. O" - no matter what (smile) That's it.
The dress looks like Maria Pinto based on the collar cut, fit and detail at the waist. It definitely reminds me of the red sheath that Mrs. Obama wore to the white house last November. Hope that helps.
Love the dress but hate the necklace with it. I am really picky about necklines so I would never put a necklace with a high neckline, especially one that cuts the necklace off halfway round. it looks kind of cluttered somehow. But the two events are both wonderful. Great to acknowledge the Red Cross, and FAB to volunteer at So Others Might Eat.
Michelle has the perfect shape for sheath dresses - she's long limbed, lean, toned, flat tummy, nippy waist.........
I must get to the gym tonight !!!!
GLAMMIE, Thanks for answering my question.
I think the fact that she wore highwaters shows that she could care less about fashion when she is at a soup kitchen. It's about the people you serve, not how you look doing it.
I feel that she is one of the best first lady's ever. She is always in the public eye and represents her self, her family, and all black women that will be grow up to admire her.
Mrs. T, I really want to know how this purple dress is by. So I went on the Bergdoff website to see if I could find this dress. Though I didn't (because I think its custom) I was looking for work similar.
I happened upon two dresses that are pretty close. This may be one of two designers. Jason Wu or Lavin (and I checked, Ikram does carry Lavin).