Tuesday
May012012
Colorblocking: The Patchwork Edition
Tuesday, May 1, 2012 at 11:45 AM 
The First Lady attended the opening ceremony for the Warrior Games at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado yesterday. On the style front, Mrs. O turned to one of her classic shilouettes, the sheath dress, updated for spring in a colorblock meets patchwork pattern. Blue heels completed the look, which practically projects fun and cheer!
Update: While the designer has not yet been confirmed, reader Charlene in Detroit observes similarity to the pastel pixel print featured in the Preen Spring 2012 collection, seen here. Red Carpet Fashion Awards also credits the dress as Preen.
tagged Preen
Preen
Reader Comments (48)
Too much going on in this outfit.
Very spiffy dress. She looks lovely, full of energy and verve!
who is this by? i LOVE this dress!
First of all, this dress rocks
(I'm a teen and this might sound stupid)
though i'm in awe of the First Lady's fashion ( i learn a lot of new styles and designers almost everyday).....is it bad that i prefer the pre first lady michelle obama ( not so much fashion wse but natural beauty wise)
i'm confused... i guess what i'm trying to say is that sometimes i really like seeing the first lady casual in a pants and a top , less made up,hair down
A very happy spring look!
I like this dress. Sure, it's a bold dress, but we are priviledged to have a bold First Lady. (No granny suits here). The lower half of the dress reminds me of a beautiful mural in downtown Philadelphia at the corners of 13th Street and Pine Street.
Hey Strong Foru, I know the mural you speak of, I also hail from the Philly area. Although I would be bashful to wear a dress such as this....the First Lady has the sparkle to pull it off.
This is a different kind of look for her at far as pattern! But I LOVE IT!
FLOTUS has changed the fashion outlook world wide. News anchors, talk show hosts, news commentators etc.,the one who we would see every day wearing a jacket, how many of these people do we see dressed in jackets. More power to you Michele.
Lovely dress, and the shoe is very complimentary
Love this look so much! If anyone can pull it off, she can!
The dress is DEFINITELY Preen. I saw it in a Sunday supplement very recently. I love both the dress and the owner. It won't be to everyone's taste but I love bright prints so this is right up my street.
not my fave. the shoes rock, though.
I am in an absoute swoon over his dress and look! I'll be making this one real soon. Very fresh, clean and spring-like!
Love, love this dress and the shoes are spot on! I can certainly see myself wearing this complete outfit.. NICE!
I love the first lady's fashion statement, always so elegant in whatever she wears this dres. This occassion is no exception it's simply gorgeous. I am trying to find it for mother's day weekend. Can anyone tell me where I can get this dress pleaaaasssseeee? These are our colors for women's day....You are wearing that dress sister
LOVE it! She looks fabulous from head to toe!
Waiting for a confirmation on the dress designer...!
Ugh, I really dislike this dress :( Sorry, I love to see her in bold prints and different stuff, but I find this dress more appropriate for the circus or the beach.
Love the dress and LOVE the SHOES! I'm a Philadelphian too, and you're right... reminds of the mural at 13th and Pine!
She looks GREAT!!!!!
It dawned on me why this dress is a little hard on the eyes, it is the bright red squares that don't mesh well with the other colored squares. Love the shoes tho.
Love: the color of the shoes
Meh: the dress--too 70s purse or something.
Love the dress, shoes and hairstyle! The colors are all fabulous - so Spring and fresh.
Slumpy shoulders again though.
Agree with Lou--too much going on. The colorway shown by Preen is much more tasteful. This would make a great mural but would not want to wear this disjointed look.
Interesting patterning. Love the look with the shoes to make it more bold. She is always a standout whether by dress, actions or work ethic.
FLOTUS is working it! She loves color and it looks good on her!
I agree with Lou and Cleo. Just one question: why? Why would anyone wear this dress when there are so many, many beautiful spring dresses out there?
This dress is for the bold and not for the faint-at-heart. Is there a better description of our Michelle? I tend to like her in bold, expressive and fashionable pieces, you can see her personality. Like she says, "wear what you love".
She looks like a breath of fresh air....and quite darling at that!
AMEN Charlene!
I love this dress and went online looking to see where I could find Preen. Way more than I can spend for a dress but I LOVE THIS DRESS.
I'm SOOOOOOOOOOOO HAPPY Mrs. O is grown and chooses what she wants to wear!!!! I'm also SO HAPPY that I'm grown and choose what I want to wear!! Isn't it great ladies?!! To be able to wake up in the morning and choose the outfit that you want to wear and think to yourself, "fu.....forget what others think, I am going to rock the hell out of this today!" I LOVE IT!!! ;-)
@hello, I understand what you mean about her being dressed down. But you know what I really love about her, is whether she has on a Naeem Khan gown rubbing elbows with diplomats or she has on a target sweater and converses digging in the garden with kids, she is the same Michelle. That is priceless!!
What's up Inspector CID!!!! LOL, you're our resident detective around here :-)
Love the dress! Its brightness and the bold pattern. But I want to give a bit of praise and a word of thanks to the amazing wounded veteran next to the First Lady She may be the most beautiful thing in the picture!
Nyon...you are correct, beauty is in the eye of the beholder;)
The dress looks similar to a Ferragamo outfit I saw not too long ago except the colors here are brighter. I like that she's pushing styles forward and not trying to be a clone of former first ladies. She has a look of her own and doesn't fall back on big hair with blue or red buttoned up suit and a scarf. It's refreshing.
To me this is a fashion faux pas. As a top only or as a skirt it may work. But she gets extra points for a bold attempt : )
This design is not color-blocking at its best.
@Christen - you ask a very good question. Why this dress?
This does have a circus look to it; but it is fun, anyway.
Check out the turquoise dress on obamadiary worn for campaigning today. Very plain but a lovely color. Mrs. O likes to change-it-up!
Char
I love it!
Some awesome photos of FLOTUS with POTUS on their 2012 "Official Campaign Kickoff" visits to Ohio and Virginia yesterday (5/5/2012) at http://www.daylife.com/photo/08cW2f77UIfV9?__site=daylife&q=Michelle+Obama. Looks like FLOTUS did a refreshed reprisal of her DNC 2008 look sans sleeves. I believe she's chosen the same pin. And love that beautiful fresh turquoise blue hue on her. For those of you who are in love with POTUS-FLOTUS pda's (as I am!), there are several wonderful pics of the 1st couple enjoying each other's company throughout the campaign sweep.
Can't wait to here y'all's feedback! OBAMA 2012!! And most of all- MRS. O 2012!! ;-)
@ Holly -- how right you are!
I love this dress and it inspired me to bid on this color blocking sweater by Sigrid Olsen on ebay, and I just won it for $6.00!
http://thumbs.ebaystatic.com/pict/130689357241_1.jpg
Thanks Michelle for once again inspiring me!
I can answer why this dress...Because SHE liked it.
I love this dress, so when I saw this color blocking sweater by Sigrid Olsen on ebay I couldn't resist and won it for $6!
http://thumbs.ebaystatic.com/pict/130689357241.jpg
Once again Michelle has inspired me.
@ Louise, well that's impressive! I like that sweater and I looove that price. You did good!
As you said, "Once again Michelle inspires". She's great that way!
Enjoy your ebay find!
Yeah for you Louise!
Sorry for the double post.
Y'all should check out Mrs O in today's Obamadiary post! She is flawless in gray and yellow and I love the picture of her cupping the young white house visitor's face.
She is looking very pretty in this dress.And also taking with someone.