Saturday
Sep112010
Service and a Statement Tee
Saturday, September 11, 2010 at 9:40 PM 
Image by J. Scott Applewhite / AP Images
The first lady is a fan not only of Tom Binns statement jewelry, but of his t-shirts, too, it seems. After an appearance in Pennsylvania this morning, Mrs. O marked the National Day of Service and Remembrance by volunteering at the Vinson Hall Retirement Community in McLean, Virginia. There she got to work, paintbrush in hand, wearing a Tom Binns x John Eshaya t-shirt paired with cropped black pants and Converse sneakers. Oh Mrs. O, you never cease to amaze!
The Tom Binns x John Eshaya t-shirt collaboration was announced earlier this year, pairing prints of the famed jewelry designer's "Get Real" necklaces with Mr. Eshaya's super soft rayon tees. You can see more designs from the collaboration here.
tagged Tom Binns x John Eshaya
Tom Binns x John Eshaya
Reader Comments (32)
MRS OBAMA SHIRT IS NICE BUT IS NOT FOR PANTING
Fantastic First Lady and wonderful role model...
Why would she wear such a t shirt to paint?
Come on Michelle ! Wearing WHITE SHIRT to paint ???
I am obsessed with this t-shirt, and just delighted that Mrs. O has worn it!
Maybe she is such a careful painter that she can wear a lovely t-shirt, while the rest of us would slop it all over ourselves.
I think the shirt is quite lovely... :)
Let's talk fashion. If you don't like her belts or if you salivate over her style, please know that she is a fashion-force. I was reading up the articles on Fashion Week on nytimes.com and was struck how often Mrs. O's name was mentioned about many of them. The designers. The jewelry makers. The editors/stylists/publicists. All want her.
I love the shirt! Wouldn't waste it by painting in it but still, what a pretty painter!
She can wear whatever she wants to paint. I think this short little "bell sleeve" and the cut of this t-shirt actually make her look slim and trim because it balances out her hips into a perfect hourglass.
Nic John, in answer to your question, "Come on Michelle ! Wearing WHITE SHIRT to paint ???," in the area where I live professional painters wear white to work--white shirt and white pants. Ever heard of painters pants? I've never seen a pair that weren't white. But I've also never seen a painter in an embellished shirt!
LOL! Admonishing Michelle for wearing white to paint is funny. Isn't the color painters wear? Not only that, as you can see in the photos, it was a hot day. White reflects the sunlight and helps keep you cooler. Also, as you can see, she's not just painting, but greeting and talking with the other volunteers and residents of the community. Very practical choice when you think about it.
I love it! How can I get one? How much do they cost? (I realize that to have to ask may mean I definitely can't afford it!) I followed the links, but couldn't find it. Has anyone else been more successful than I?
The National Day Of Service and Rememberance is a special event that came out of horrific set of tragic events in our nation. Do we really want to be so petty as to criticize someone's attire while they so selflessly give of themselves? To me, one of the most rewarding and best things that you can do in life is volunteer to help others. Our Michelle as well as all the other volunteers could not have looked better.
Nice t-shirt to wear and to do whatever you want to do while wearing it.
LOL, maybe she isn't concerned about the shirt so much as she is concerned about performing her community service. The shirt is cute - but its just a shirt.
Cute bejeweled look tee on Mrs. Obama! What I admire most about Mrs. Obama, and the First Family is that they just don't pose for the photos, they actually stay there and work!
@Columbia. I concur! Even growing up from childhood to adulthood, all the painters I've ever seen, especially the professionals wore white tee shirts (no confinement) and white work pants...you know the ones with the loops!
FYI: White is basically colorless and won't leave a spot when a strong solvent is applied like to a colored tee! Who wants to paint in a shirt or blouse that doesn't have much stretch or give to it when reaching up high over ones head to paint, unless it's just for a publicity shot!
To answer Kristen, I understand its a $200 T Shirt by Tom Binns and John Eshaya, which is what prompted my comment above, not the color. I usually wear things I'm tired of and no longer want when I paint. This, however, looks worth keeping. Maybe she has two of them.
http://heartymagazine.com/news/tom-binns-x-john-eshaya-tees
Well said, Patient. She's the First Lady, what was she supposed to wear, a boiler suit ?
The critics will never be pleased. I'm just proud of how both Mrs Obama & Mrs Bush did America proud over the weekend. I admire them both.
Perfect! White, a little color, and a will-do attitude for a group of people who rarely see anyone except family members and the closest of personal friends. FLOTUS - You are beautiful on the outside and inside.
I think a fancy T-shirt is the perfect thing for a First Lady to wear while painting. What do you want her to wear...rags? I think she looks perfectly appropriate here.
Personal note: Back in the 1970s, I waitressed at Vinson Hall's dining room through high school evenings/weekends & college summers!!!
It's a retirement home for military & spouses. In fact, since my dad was career Army officer, I now know of a couple residents there!
Back to fashion: It's a sweet shirt!
Nice to see the community work, but I think a pair of jeans and a plain white tee shirt (like the kind you get a JC Penney's) would have looked more on par with most people. She would not look like a slob but an expensive tee shirt that might get paint on it is out of touch. I think this was a real opportunity to show that one can still be cute and not have to wear a designer tee shirt. While I am not overlooking the community service aspect, there are times when one does not need to flaunt it and I think an expensive tee for this event is wasteful.
@Eleroy and Mia Monte, I hope you understand, but I've removed your comments. I don't agree with calling those who have criticized the first lady's t-shirt "trolls". I think the criticism has been respectful and thoughtful for the most part (and that's not to say you or I have to agree). I've also had a decent bit of experience with true "trolls" on this blog, and can say confidently that no one on this thread qualifies as such. I've found the most effective method of keeping things positive is to simply "kill them with kindness". If you call others names, the conversation will devolve into petty bickering, which is just as bad. Thank you for understanding!
Sorry Mrs T., but to pretend that those who constantly attack Mrs Obama but want to laud Laura Bush on a blog dedicated to Mrs Obama have been respectful, is wierdly sad.
My post did not call names, but merely pointed out the duplicitous nature of those who relentlessly slam Mrs Obama for breathing but show up on this site to post what we know to be exaggerated praise of Laura Bush.
I also remarked that if these laura bush fans feel the need to come to a site dedicated to Mrs Obama to post their support of Mrs Bush, they might actually learn to be as gracious and generous to Mrs Obama as Mrs Obama's supporters have been of their Laura bush.
It's oddly unsettling when those who have been unyielding in their attack of Mrs Obama, suddenly show up with these kinder, softer posts that seek to elevate Laura Bush.
tom and i collaberated on this t shirt and we are over the moon on seeing it on mrs OBAMA
@ watchingitall, And if she showed up in a jc penny t-shirt and jeans as you suggest, you'll probably be one of those screaming ''innapropriate" and how she thinks so little of the people she's visiting!!
As for the "wasteful" part, wasteful for whom??? She did pay for it out of her own pocket and can do with it what she wants. But more importantly, it's really hard to imagine that anyone actually knew the cost of the t-shirt - but even then, lest it escapes you, she is still THE FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES!!!!!
:) @ Eleroy
And watchingitall, poll any third world country where citizens are living off a dollar-a-day. They would think our entire country is out of touch. You included.
Come on everyone, I used to enjoy coming to this site. Please, please keep it clean and stop this bickering and back biting. It is a tee-shirt. I can understand some people's view. But to go as far as to check the cost that is taking it a bit far.
One can assume she was dressing for both occasions, to meet the residents as well as to perform her community work. Please let us all look at the positive side, do make comments that will keep Mrs. T continuing this site and we will always have negative comments, but try not to be too personal and attack others views. Remember we are all entitled to our views. If everyone had the same views then it would be one big bore.
I know a lot of us come here for a daily dose of positive vibes so let us ensure that Mrs. T will keep it going . Thanks.
Mckinley, excellent point. Context is always appropriate.
I recently painted a room in my home. I used a very high quality paint ($50 a gallon!!) that is environmentally more friendly than most. One thing I noted and appreciated is that it did not splatter like cheaper paint. My hands were still clean when I was done. Maybe the paint they are using here is of a similar high quality. Makes money sense because it lasts much longer and stands up to tough scrubbing, unlike cheap paint.
Also, us moms with kids and dogs know that any shirt can be ruined at any time.
The usual boring criticism of a non issue from those who come here only to be negative.
Really folks, get a life and some finesse. Last time I checked, one of the most irritating things about some Americans is their ability to bang on about being The Free World at a moments notice. (Are the rest of us in prison or something?)
So IF it's a free world over there, Mrs O would be at liberty to use her cash to buy clothes that she likes, wear them wherever she pleases and whenever she feels like it. No? Or did I get that wrong? Or do you use the term Free World to denote that you like the words Free World, but you don't actually like people to have freedom of choice without your say so? Whoever you are.
My guess is that you've never actually painted. It is possible to paint an entire room and not get a speck on your clothes, but you have to do it properly and concentrate. And if you DO get something on the shirt, there's this amazing thing called a washing machine, and you put the clothes in? With detergent? And the clothes come out CLEAN at the end!!!!! I KNOW!
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This is a beautiful top from Tom Binns and John Eshaya and how pretty Mrs O looks in it. So summery and vivid. I love it.
Eek! At the back-and-forth bickering.
Yes it is possible to paint an entire room and not get paint on you, but the odds aren't in your favor.
Yes painters wear all white but they know they aren't being photographed for millions to see.
No I would not have worn such an expensive shirt that could get paint on it.
Yes there is bleach that could get it out but I agree that it could be interpreted as out-of-touch to wear a shirt most couldn't afford anyway to paint in.
Sometimes I wonder if knowing the price and designer of a particular piece contributes to this issue of is-she-or-isn't-she out-of-touch arguments and if we didn't know if that shirt was Old Navy or Tom Binns we wouldn't get into these debates.
But I'd rather know than not know so I guess it is a moot point.
I think folks criticizing folks for criticizing a look of Michelle's is time wasted. If people are being fair with their critiques then folks should move on. Yes "fair" is a subjective point, I know.