Southern Belle

The First Lady was in Louisiana this past week, where she delivered remarks on childhood obesity at the annual meeting of the National Council of La Raza, the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States. As part of the trip, Mrs. O visited Sterling Farms Grocery Store in Marrero, Louisiana, seen above, which opened this past year as part of the "Alliance For A Healthier Generation."

For the trip, Mrs. O wore a Jason Wu custom black printed silk chiffon dress most recently seen during her trip to Africa in early July, here.

Comments

[Fern Gullie]

I fell in love with the dress when I saw it. Black and white is always a great choice and goes with other colours easily. I saw this as one of her new dresses worn during her trip, enjoyed commenting on the different styles and colours for the occasions in those countries (and I felt “this” dress will be great for functions at home).

So wearing it here in the U.S., for the first time (we don’t know that for sure – maybe not all photos are shown to the public – for all repeats etc.). Notice - most of her ensembles worn on the trip, would not be suitable for this event, different time different place. I’m sure we can relate to this.

I can see why she would wear it again – lightweight fabric for a summery day, the flowiness and soft movement makes the dress comfortable….change the shoe or add accessories. Not sure if she’s wearing a belt with a bow at the back or a part of the waist band?? Certainly the up-do hairstyle is so stunning, feminine, showing off her beautiful cheekbones and pretty features not to mention the dainty little earings that completes the look.

[almablanca@msn.com]

Lovely appearance. Has a simple elegant look.

[Eleroy]

Great dress and totally worth wearing again!!! It's safe to say that Jason Wu has earned a permanent special place as far as the First Lady is concerned, and deservedly so!!! He's such a talented, cool, discreet, trustworthy and respectful guy!!! The sort of very decent person (and professional) anybody would want to know and do business with - particularly when you're in a visible, sensitive and high-profile position like that of the First Lady!!!

I find it interesting that so many people want to tell this First Lady what and who to wear, and insist that it is her "duty" to promote American designers and the fashion industry. Yet oddly enough, as has been discussed here by others, no other First Lady before has been required or commanded to do any such thing!!! All first ladies before Mrs Obama have each picked their preferred designer and stuck with him with no complaints, back-lash or demands to "spread the love" from other designers, the CFDA or roving/trolling self-proclaimed fashion critics!!!
It's particularly galling when after all the demands they make of Mrs Obama, these designers then turn around and suck-up to other first ladies who never ever even bothered to support them or to wear their clothes!!!
Exhibit A: Michael Kors, who Mrs Obama has continuously promoted and even wore in her first official photograph as First Lady and for other very important milestones throughout this presidency!!! Mr. Kors for the first time cooks up an award and decides to present it to Mrs Clinton!!! Let's hope he at least gets Hillary for the first time to to wear one of his creations as opposed to Oscar de la Renta, at the award ceremony!!!

I'm sure Mrs Obama hasn't noticed these odd moves and responses, and if she has, thinks nothing of it and probably doesn't care, but suffice it to say that I just don't want to ever hear anybody yelling at Mrs Obama ever again demanding she "support" the "industry" or to wear this designer or the other, since it's now obvious that not ever wearing these designers as opposed to wearing, supporting and promoting them, is actually what seems to work best in the end!!!

[SoccerNana]

Today in Florida at the DAV Conference:

http://theobamadiary.com/

http://theobamadiary.com/

[Philly]

Eleroy, you're right. No other First Lady before has been required or commanded to do any such thing. But no other First Lady was blessed/cursed with the phenomenon of social media and the Internet. What people used to say only went as far as their own little coffee circle. Times have changed. Now the whole world is a twitter with their twaddle.

[THC]

She looked wonderful and summery. Her speech was very moving.