The Garden Grows

 Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images

The students from Bancroft Elementary School were back at the White House today to help Mrs. O harvest the vegetable garden. The fruits and vegetables were then used to prepare a meal enjoyed by the group.

Mrs. O told the students: "The planting of this garden was one of the first things I wanted to do as first lady at the White House. You helped make this dream a reality.”

Style wise, Mrs. O wore a floral cardigan from Gap (last seen for her lunch with Nancy Reagan) paired with a striped camisole and bright pink pants.

Jazz at the White House

Photo by volume12 / Creative Commons

Mrs. O will kick off a new music series at the White House today. The first performance will feature members of the Marsalis family, including Ellis, Wynton (above), and Branford, who will play jazz for 150 students, according to the New York Times. More to follow!

Photo by Jewel Samad / Getty Images

Update: For the event, Mrs. O chose a white pencil skirt, pink blouse and Erickson Beamon floral brooch. The brooch, from Erickson Beamon's Victory Garden collection, was last seen during the final presidential debate last fall. Cinching the first lady's waist was the white version of her famed Alaia belt, visible here. Mrs. O finished the ensemble with her Jimmy Choo Lantern heels (which are quickly becoming Mrs. O's shoe of the season!). Meanwhile, we are very excited about Ms. Robinson's pink and navy top, far left.

A detailed view of Mrs. O's Erickson Beamon brooch:

 

We Love

 Photo by REUTERS/Richard Lewis/Crown Copyright/Handout 

Thank you to those (IVA!) who directed us to this lovely photograph of Mrs. O and Sarah Brown walking through the gardens of 10 Downing Street in London. The photo was taken on June 8, but just released today. A wonderful way to start the weekend!

Scenes from Paris

We find the White House Flickr stream to be a delight! These photos are just-in from the Os trip to Paris.

June 6:The Os visit the Centre Pompidou modern art museum in Paris. We love the dash of zebra print on Mrs. O's top.

Official White House photo by Pete Souza

June 6: Miss Sasha O lights a candle inside Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, as her sister and parents watch.

Official White House photo by Pete Souza

June 6: Mrs. O, in a white Narciso Rodriguez dress, Michael Kors coat and Givenchy belt, greets Ms. Carla Bruni-Sarkozy in Dior in Caen, France.

Official White House photo by Pete Souza

London Flower Power

Photo by Jeff Moore / Splash News 

Media outlets, particularly those overseas, have been abuzz over Mrs. O's most recent ensemble, worn as the first lady left Westminster Abbey in Central London yesterday. Mrs. O wore a sheer tunic, adorned with layers of embroidered floral trim, over a pair of slim black pants and white tank. A polka dot Sonia Rykiel belt cinched the waist, and a layered cardigan in yellow with purple trim (Hanii Y perhaps?) topped the ensemble. Mrs. O's ToyWatch in ultra violet added the final punch of color. Should anyone recognize Mrs. O's tunic, we would love an anonymous tip!

Reviews have been a bit mixed (as they usually are when the first lady makes a bold fashion move). Of the look, New York magazine said, "Michelle Obama Can't Always be Perfect," while the Daily Mail named Mrs. O, "the First Lady of Flamboyance." Our take? We like that Mrs. O has fun with her style. Her ensemble seems to project a playful, bright mood, and who can fault that? (Kat, you inspired the title for this post! Just perfect.)

To see more ensembles from Mrs. O's trip to London this week, click here. We have to say, we've felt a bit conflicted about what to cover and what not to. Technically, Mrs. O and her daugters are on a private vacation. Some of the photos feel very intrusive (peering into car windows, etc.), so we'll only feature those where Mrs. O is making a more formal, public appearance.

Today the first lady (wearing an argyle J.Crew cardigan) and her daughters braved the rain to visit Leavesdon Studios, where the Harry Potter films are made. Hope they had fun!