Saturday
Apr272013
White House Correspondents' Dinner
Saturday, April 27, 2013 at 10:26 PM 
Tonight marks the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel, hosted by Conan O'Brian. For the formal event, dubbed the "nerd prom" by the media set, Mrs. O chose a black beaded, draped chiffon goddess gown with high neckline in Chantilly lace by designer Monique Lhuillier.
More to follow and happy weekend!
Update: Mrs. O wore earrings from New York-based jewelry designer Catherine Angiel, confirmed by the designer on Twitter here.
tagged Catherine Angiel, Monique Lhuillier
Catherine Angiel, Monique Lhuillier
Reader Comments (42)
She looks lovely tonight.
Just beautiful!!
Lovely .....lovely ...lovely. like the hair stlye!
She was stunning.
gorgeous gown! and I like the updo with the bangs.
Here's a better close-up of the upper part of the dress:
http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/first-lady-michelle-obama-listens-during-the-white-house-news-photo/167679990
She's just so effortlessly breathtaking! I love her so much--
I also love that she very thoughtfully went for all black with all the loss and tragedies of the past week still fresh on everyone's mind.
It was all black that signified mourning and showed respect and remembrance - but it was also all just so incredibly stunning - just like the woman.
The hair, the dress, the jewelry -- everything beautifully struck that perfect note of being mindful of the recent tragedies and yet having to be perfect for this mandatory annual glitzy affair--
I watched the entire thing and she's really amazing and so sweet, so warm, so open, so unassuming, but best of all she wears her clothes, they do not wear her. Unlike celebrities whose clothes wear them and who always look like they're trying too hard posing in their borrowed outfits and have been mandated to be temporary walking billboards for some designer for the occasion.
Perfection
Love every part of Mrs. O's look!
hair, makeup, dress, jewels
First Lady Michelle Obama is an Icon!
Has anybody seen a picture of the entire gown? I've been looking everywhere trying to find a picture of the gown from the waist down and a back view. But I haven't come up with anything. I did, however, find two pictures that I would like to share.
Please click here to see her silver manicure and for a somewhat better view of her earrings. I wonder if those earrings are black diamonds or black spinel? :)
And please click here to see what Mrs. O. wore to the WHCD in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. She just keeps getting better each year. What a style evolution!
@Vivienne, I watched on television and briefly glimpsed much of the length of the gown when she and her husband entered the room; I also saw the back of her dress as she presented the scholarships to the recipients - Gorg! We'll just have to wait to see if more pictures surface I suppose. But why don't we both keep searching in the interim-
I agree with you ladies, I’d like to see a close up of the entire gown since the top is so smashing. Lots going in this creative design. Three in one fashion styles work well with each other.
Love the combination of sequins across the top and over into the cap sleeves. Intertwined right into the see-thru design (which is not the typical lace look) above the strapless bodice with that nice bit of ruching all over.
Although my posts never seem to make the list of messages, I will put this out there in the stratosphere in hopes that the positivity with reach Mrs. O and inspire others through osmosis if not this channel. Anywhooo, she is always a stunner in formals. She wears formals like no other. She has a certain Hollywood A-lister to her that makes her stand out from any other FLOTUS in history. Love you Mrs. O.
@ Vivienne, Good looking out! Thanks for the links, especially the montage.
@ Audrey, that's a good one! We have the best MO sleuths on here.
Last night I gasped when I saw her, just stunning! Hair + makeup = flawless.
I have not been able to locate any full shots of the dress, but will keep looking. I remember briefly seeing it glide across the dais when FLOTUS & POTUS were leaving the stage.
I thought that last night's WHCD was the best one yet. Our President was on fire!
It's hard to see in this picture, but in one on the Obama website, it looks like her hair is braided in the back. Beautiful.
Stunning! Hit it out of the park!
Thanks Audrey and Charlene in Detroit I'm glad you liked the links. Fern Gullie when I enlarged one of the pictures of M.O.'s gown, I could see that the sparkle coming from the top of that gown includes some large faceted beads/stones. There may be some sequins but it's not all sequins.
I thought I had seen just about every picture of Michelle Obama that is online [heaven knows I spend enough time online admiring her :) ] But I just ran across a picture from her pre- First lady days that I hadn't ever seen and wanted to share. I know some M.O. haters think she's just been spending tax dollars on a wardrobe since she became first lady. But we all know she was a fashionista long before she was FLOTUS.
Mrs. T., I don't know if you ever ran this photo because it is from June 2008 and I know you started this awesome blog in September 2008. Please click here to see a picture that Huffington Post ran of Mrs. O at a fundraiser held at designer Calvin Klein's home on June 17, 2008 in New York City. I love the dress (actually I can't tell if it's a dress or a skirt). She looks awesome and that statement necklace is truly one of a kind!
Oh my God Vivienne!!! Thanks for posting that photo of Mrs Obama!!! I've been searching everywhere since I first saw it in 2008 or so.
She's wearing Isabel Toledo (Isabel mentioned it at some showing she did with her husband Ruben last year. The necklace is Erickson Beamon I think!!! Smashing!!!
I'd also love to find a photograph of the halter dress she wore when she and her husband went out on a summer date night in Chicago during the first campaign in 2008. It was stunning, but Mrs Obama and her husband quickly dashed into the restaurant. I saw a short video somewhere - can't remember - but the pool reporter described it as sexy and super hot and it was!!!
I watched the WHCD from the beginning until the stations I watch stopped their broadcasts of it :0)
Mrs. O looked wonderful in that black dress.
Where are the bangs haters now? What?! You know how many young girls I've seen imitating the MO bangs? She is officially a trend setter. She's officially inspired the trifecta. Wardrobe, shoes (flats, is she not the first FLOTUS to wear flats to the inaugural ball?) and, now hair. This gorgeous black ensemble, with its intricate detail, is a 10!
I'm getting into the find pictures and videos of Mrs Obama obsession like everybody else. I especially like this one from her event today. Really, really pretty and fresh.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/getty/article/ALeqM5gOzcLGHKH5NLmMpajrC6fW55Nl4g?docId=167806443
And to think she wore it to one of her husband's debates with John McCain in 2008!!! Yes, 2008 - 5 years ago!!! And it still looks great and she is very pretty and looks incredible in it - 5 years later!!! Wow!!!
For some weird reason my posts aren't showing up immediately like they used to Mrs T. What could be the matter?
Great Post Thanks for posting that photo of Mrs Obama
Vivienne thanks. I did go back to look at the enlarged photo and yes the dazzling beaded/stones is what makes the look so striking and sensational.
Also thanks to all the committed fans who look up and try to find previous photos, links etc. which makes the blog so much more exciting and if we miss the event, we get to see it here.
Keep up the good work much appreciation. It’s a privilege to be a part of this community, Thanks to Mrs. T.
I’ve mentioned this blog to a few friends and they didn’t even know it exists and may not even have access to a computer so it’s fun to share the fashion updates etc. with them.
@Vivienne, thanks for sharing that amazing photo of Mrs Obama in the black Isabel Toledo outfit. I always loved it.
@Eleroy, I do believe the necklace is a Tom Binns and not Erickson Beamon. She's worn a lot of both designers and it's easy to get them mixed up.
@Vivienne, thanks for sharing that amazing photo of Mrs Obama in the black Isabel Toledo outfit. I always loved it.
@Eleroy, I do believe the necklace Mrs Obama wears with the black Isabel Toledo outfit is a Tom Binns and not Erickson Beamon. She's worn a lot of both designers so it's easy to get them mixed up.
Thank you too for sharing that lovely capture of Mrs Obama at the Joining Forces event from yesterday. It's so beautiful and fresh and stunning especially knowing that it's a spontaneous capture and not posed.
I wish the White House would do a better job of protecting Mrs Obama like they do the president. Images of most high profile people are subject to very tight controls and only certain pictures which pass muster are allowed for release.
Everyone takes bad pictures which is why celebrities and their P.R people are very aggressive about what gets put out there. Which is why I suppose for instance, Beyonce is banning photographers from her shows and only utilizing hers to avoid further release of any unflattering images like those from the last super bowl.
The White House I think has done a piss poor job of providing Mrs Obama the same high level protections and support afforded her husband. Every Tom, Dick and Harry can take and release any sort of picture they want without any restrictions and sometimes they do her a great disservice.
Even hollywood starlets have more control over images of themselves and what's released - which is why only a few shots ever make it from any event and the unflattering ones are quickly pulled and only those that support their preferred storylines are published.
I think the First Lady has more than earned the right to control what is put out there about her especially photographs shot at events facilitated by the White House.
She's a fantastic and genuine woman who has done amazingly well in her role as First Lady, but she deserves the same superior level of staff and media people as her husband has.
Audrey, no one (famous or not) has any control over photos of themselves that are taken and published. It's called freedom of the press! That's why the celebrity magazines are full of photos of actresses' cellulite thighs, makeup-free faces, etc. They can't get photos pulled--they only wish they could. We certainly would not want the White House trying to strong-arm the press into suppressing "unflattering" photos. Imagine the stink that would cause if they tried to tell the media what photos they could and couldn't publish, and rightly so. This isn't North Korea.
I wanted to comment on the language that even Mrs. O's supporters use when they describe her: "sexy babe!" and "Hollywood A-lister" and "supermodel." She's a Princeton graduate, a lawyer, the First Lady of the United States, a mother, an experienced professional executive. She's not a "sexy babe!" and I don't see it as a compliment to compare her to a Hollywood chick. She's a beautiful REAL woman with an appeal far more meaningful and genuine than that of an overprocessed Hollywood actress.
In the ongoing quest to find some still shots of the full length and/or the back of Mrs. O's WHCD 2013 gown, I ran across this one. It's not what I would call a good one, but it's something and enough to keep me inspired to continue the search. I'm willing to go as far as writing to Pete Souza, the official White House photographer, and/or Mrs. O's personal assistant if necessary :)
Please click here to see the picture that was on the White House Correspondent's Association (WHCA) website.
Here's another still shot. It's not full length but we get to see a little more of the front/something below the bustline. Please click here to see this picture that was also on the WHCA's website!
Here is some video where you can get a few good glimpses of the back of Mrs. O's gown if you didn't watch the live coverage of the WHCD. After you start the video, you'll want to skip to the section where Mrs. O. is hugging each scholarship recipient. That occurs during the 25 minutes through 32 minutes time line of the video. So just slide the bar at the bottom of the video until you see that time range. The best view is probably at the end. But there are several points within that part of the video where you see the sheer, beaded back (not as close up as I would like/but it's something). Please click here to see the CSPAN video coverage!
@ Vivienne, good looking out! I just love how our little community gets the job done........keep it up guys!
@Vivienne, thanks for the links. May I be the first to say that I do think there ought to be boundaries. I know that Katy Perry campaigned at some point towards the end for the president, but come on, that pose is not only too familiar, but she has her back turned to the First Lady like she didn't even want her in the photo! Mrs Obama looks like she was practically intruding.
These photos are taken behind the scenes after the traditional meet and greet with the president AND First Lady and there's got to be some sort of respect for both I think.
Katy Perry has already been rewarded for her support with premium seats at the inauguration and invites to the private party at the White House afterwards. At what point does the statue of limitation kick in?
Familiarity really does breed contempt and Mrs Obama is an infinitely better and more tolerant woman than I'll ever be.
Sorry but at some point some of these things have to be rethought.
Statute of limitations -
(Sorry I was writing too fast in fury.)
And loosely used here not in the legal sense but only to suggest a cut off date at some point for being grateful for support, or extended time for accomodating and allowing for continued overstepping of boundaries and impropriety by celebrity supporters.
Ok, had to de-lurk just for this. This made me mad as hell. Who thinks that this picture of Katy Perry with POTUS is acceptable?? Come on, Where is the respect?? Taking liberties with the POTUS with zero regard or respect for the FLOTUS. Who does that?? There's POTUS grinning widely like a cheshire cat in this totally inappropriate picture. Katy Perry has no respect and I blame POTUS for allowing this disrespect. Why would he allow this??And why would FLOTUS stand for it too?? Katy Perry is probably going to crop out FLOTUS from the picture. By the looks of it, she really didn't want her in it. So why did Katy Perry stand in line to take a picture with the first couple? This is what happens when celebrities think they got your husband elected and now own your husband.
Enough already with this nonsense with these hollywood people who don't seem to understand restraint or respect and are rapidly bringing down this president and first lady. Sheesh.
Honestly Audrey and Lota, POTUS and Katy were almost oblivious to me. I was just that focused on FLOTUS's gown. I did think about cropping them out. But only because I was doing the post while taking a 'mental health break' from work did I not crop that picture, put it on my own blog and link it from there.
I believe there's some truth to what both of you are saying. But honestly when I am here I am just focused on the fashion and style of Mrs. O. I come here to escape from all the rest.
"Images of most high-profile people" are subject to no controls in the USA, nor should they be. It's called our Constitutional freedom of the press! That's why you can see photos of celebrities and their cellulite thighs, makeup-free faces, and so on. Imagine the stink if the White House tried to tell the media which photos they could or could not publish of the Obamas! This isn't North Korea.
I also wanted to comment on the words people use even on this forum to describe Mrs. Obama: "Hollywood A-lister," "supermodel," even "sexy babe." I was shocked at that one. She's a Princeton graduate, a lawyer, a mother, the First Lady of the United States, an experienced professional administrator. She's not a "sexy babe"! Nor should she be! She is so much more, and she is real. Her intelligence and genuineness are far more appealing than the plastic prettiness of "supermodels" and "babes." Why do we enthuse over "sexiness" in someone who obviously has far more substantial qualities to offer? Think about it… are you complimenting what you value most?
And Mrs. T. would you please allow JUST ONE of my comments to go through?? If you can permit rants about Katy Perry, can't you permit something complimentary to Mrs. O?
@ Lota & Audrey, I must respectfully disagree with you. I am not bothered by this pic as much as some seems to be. There's an article on Huffpo (I think) regarding this very issue that has some like-minded comments. I can see where Katy Perry may seem too familiar, perhaps she is, but our Michele KNOWS who POTUS comes home with. She knows that she and those daughters holds the key to his heart.
When I see some photos like this my thought is usually, "how are the Repubs going to spin or tear apart this momentary glimpse in time". I remember seeing Sarah Palin on some news broadcast calling TWHCD "prom for nerds" or some such. Whatever!
Like it or not, we are in a celebrity driven culture. The Obamas did not create that culture or climate, rather they have been masterful at making it work in their favor. The younger generation is more energized and excited about the political landscape like never before. Even though little ones who are too young to vote and cannot tell a Democrat from a Republican seem to have an educated opinion about the world they live in.
I am not saying that it is only due to celebrities or The President but it is indeed a fragment of it. The younger generation relates to these folks, just as our generation related to those of our time. Technology assures us that what happens now is newsworthy to so many in an instant. There was a joke that POTUS made at the dinner that likened about something to being trapped in a bad Taylor Swift album, Gov Chris Christie looked disdusted and shook his head as if to say, shame, shame. Yet when Taylor was asked about it she said she was not hurt but took it in stride & thought POTUS was funny.
So when I see celebs cozying up to The Obamas I think of them as fans, not so much as "owners" of the President's election. Most of these folks are not close friends of Barack & Michelle, we know it, they know it. Very few of them will probably ever be more to them than catalysts for causes, quid pro quo, so to speak.
The real friends are the ones that we see and don't know them from Adam, the ones that get go back to The White House after events, they have pictures that we never see, folks that call them Barack and Meesh. just look how long it took for us to see that photo from Valerie Garrett's daughter's wedding. It took a minute before she allowed Pete Soza to release that.
As for The President "grinning like a Cheshire cat", well there are several ways that can be interpreted, I respect your interpretation. But I do not believe that anyone could pay him all the tea in China to disrespect his wife. Katy Perry stood in line to take a pic, just like others in that room, and The Obamas graciously obliged. The fact that Twitter, Facebook and all of the other social media outlets (?) makes these once private moments now instantly public can make for a double edged sword.
I guess it's the price that POTUS & FLOTUS has to pay.
@Dressmaker, you'll only find embarrassing snap shots of celebrities and "their cellulite thighs and makeup-free faces" in the Enquirer, Star, Globe and other such rags - NEVER, ever in mainstream, credible magazines or media who actually do work well and will often coordinate with the P.R reps for these celebrities.
The same can't be said about the way some of these so-called credible, mainstream media cover Mrs Obama. They've been known to pick and use the worst possible shots for news stories. And that's where a good media team comes in. They develop good working relationships with these media organizations to ensure that this is not the case. They could even work with the assigned White House photographer to pool and swap pictures. The WH photographer assigned to the First Lady can and should also release his snapshots from the event to counter the negative images put out by other non-affiliated sources.
Heads of State and their First Ladies should have savvy media teams that are constantly looking out for them. Their public image is half the story and it matters. Prince Charles' media points man who now looks out for Catherine, is notorious for strong-arming the press and trading favors to ensure the best possible coverage for his charges.
I see no value in releasing unflattering photos of the First Lady that have nothing to do with the event being covered. For instance, where's the value in releasing a photo gotten by zooming in so close to the First Lady while she's on vacation with the president and their daughters? Specifically one so close and invasive, it traces the lines of her undergarments? Why would a photographer from a credible news agency release such a photo that degrades the subject especially when he's got so many other shots to choose from? Of what value is that literal cheap shot to his wider audience besides whipping up mischief?
Mrs Obama is not a celebrity, she is the First Lady and a historic one at that. Her years as First Lady will be part of our national archives and she deserves to professionally and respectfully covered. The photographers from these news organizations have to be above gunning for these gossipy, silly, gimmicky, sensationalist garbage they put out to whip up the hate-mongers.
I also think the First lady just like her husband the president, deserves to be assigned a White House photographer who knows her to some extent and will cover her with the respect and dedication the documenting of this time calls for. When a photographer likes, respects and is passionate about their subject, it shows.
Which is why I wish they'd get someone like Scout Tufankjian to cover the First Lady. Her photographs are always sublime and tell a story. She doesn't just take photographs for the heck of it. She skillfully uses her craft to capture moments and to tell stories that will endure for generations to come. No fuss, no muss. She usually works for the president's campaign and she took these two famous photos:
http://www.scouttufankjian.com/#/singles/GLES-14
http://www.scouttufankjian.com/#/singles/GLES-30
@Charlene, I think that there are people who just don't know how to handle the rare and awesome access they get to powerful figures. The utter disregard and the inability to respect boundaries, says a lot about Katy Perry and what she is. Very basic home training is all one really needs to know and do better under these circumstances. Immature "supporters" and hangers-on add no value, they only subtract and detract.
There's a reason I respect George Clooney. He raised the most money for the president both times and is easily the only Hollywood type that has a friendship that goes back a while.
But he is incredibly mindful and respectful of the Obamas. His support is not hinged on a desire to be included in their social circle, nor does he ever ask anything of the president besides action on behalf of the people of Darfur, Sudan.
He didn't even show up at either of the two inaugurations, asked for no tickets to either, nor does he ever intrude upon the president and first lady, flaunt or talk about his connections to them or demand access.
George Clooney stays out of the spotlight, makes no demands of the president, and very rarely if ever shows up at the White House or at White House related events. He doesn't belong to any of the president's "committees" and has no need to be seen to have the in with the administration.
That's a model celebrity supporter. That's a man who gave his support for all the right reasons. Not these silly types, some of whom probably nurse crushes on the president and thus respond negatively to the First Lady.
I still insist that this has to be nipped in the bud and as you pointed out, there are those constantly looking to exploit these things. The gossip rags have a field day with these things and photographs like this only fuel the fire and mostly at Mrs Obama's expense.
If the continued support of these Hollywood types hinges on insinuating themselves into the president's life, intruding upon his family, demanding time with him when he hardly has any even for his own family and generally disrespecting his wife in any manner, then it's time to sever these associations. They just aren't worth it.
Someone needs to get a grip. I'm dead serious.
@suzie, I totally agree, although it can be entertaining.
Strange that #Dressmaker has a problem with FLOTUS described as sexy, supermodel, but in all the time I've read this blog, never once have I seen #Dressmaker complain about the rude and offensive comments that set out to take down the FLOTUS. Sexy is something many women hope they are particularly to their better half. It's a compliment that takes nothing away from her professional accomplishments and is a far cry from the personal insults I've read posted here. Now I can return to lurking. Still think Katy Perry behaved inappropriately and took liberties #Suzie.
Ladies, I seem to be coming up empty handed in trying to find full length still shots of the front and/or back of the gown FLOTUS wore to the 2013 WHCD :( Today I saw the tweet that the designer sent about how delighted she was that Mrs. O was wearing her. So I sent a reply tweet that we want pics. If you are on Twitter, please click here to see my response to the designer's tweet. I'll let you know if she answers my S.O.S. :)
Even if we only get to see a model in the gown (they never look as good as Mrs. O.) it would be better than not seeing the full length view at all :) :(
Ladies, I seem to be coming up empty handed in trying to find full length still shots of the front and/or back of the gown FLOTUS wore to the 2013 WHCD :( Today I saw the tweet that the designer sent about how delighted she was that Mrs. O was wearing her. So I sent a reply tweet that we want pics. If you are on Twitter, please click here to see my response to the designer's tweet. I'll let you know if she answers my S.O.S. :)
Even if we only get to see a model in the gown (they never look as good as Mrs. O.) it would be better than not seeing the full length view at all :) :(
I agree with some of what Audrey and Lota are saying. We're living in an American Idol, facebook world. So many ppl want to be a star. We gotta nip certain things in the bud or others may say how did that person get away with that. I'm not on facebook don't like it.
I too agree with the sentiments expressed re: Katy Perry!!! This attempt at dominance display, not kosher!!!
It's rare that you'll see this sort of behavior directed towards a president and first lady even within the confines of a close personal friendship and even then - not in a public setting. This exhibition of over-familiarity, interpersonal space intrusions and "bonding-rapport behavior" is excessive to say the very least and such violations as exhibited by Katy Perry, of the shared personal space between husband and wife, and in this case the president and first lady, can quickly destroy any rapport she'd hoped to continue to build. As it very well should!!!
Agree with Audrey, familiarity does indeed breed contempt and must indeed be nipped in the bud!!!