O-Mazing!

Photo by Timothy A. Clary / AFP / Getty Images

This is too much for us! Mrs. O made an appearance this evening at the American Ballet Opening Night Spring Gala, wearing a metallic black sleeveless dress. The corseted top and full, sculptural hip (what we can make out of it), appear to have an Elizabethan influence. We are dying to know who made this dress.

Update: The Associated Press reports that Mrs. O's dress is Azzedine Alaia.

An anonymous tipster reveals Mrs. O has owned this Alaia dress for two years, and decided to pull it out of her closet for last night's event. The First Lady accessorized with Loree Rodkin earrings and diamond bangle bracelets, the same worn on election night. We must say, Jill Biden looks equally O-mazing, in a Spring 2009 Reem Acra dress. These are seriously chic Americans.

Photo used with kind permission from our anonymous friend

A Saturday Evening Stroll

Photo by Jim Watson / AFP / Getty Images

President Mr. O and First Lady Mrs. O were out on the town for a dinner date at Citronelle this evening. Upon their return, the couple took a stroll on the South Lawn of the White House at sunset. For the evening, Mrs. O dressed in a crisp white shirt, worn with the collar up and neck open, projecting nonchalent elegance. A slight train and long ties laced at the back added extra flair to the non-basic basic.

The First Lady paired her blouse with cropped black pants and sandals, adding a punch of color with an azure blue clutch. (The shoes, we believe, are Jimmy Choo.) For those who watched Larry King Live on Thursday, we were struck by Patti Davis's observation that the Obamas have helped to highlight (perhaps unintentionally) the beauty of the White House property. With a glance at the photo above, the observation rings quite true. We have to say, all appears well and good at the White House this evening.

Update: We are just back from the New York Times Sunday with the Magazine event, which featured fashion critic Cathy Horyn, designers Narciso Rodriguez, Maria Cornejo and Thakoon Panichgul in a panel discussion. Cathy Horyn referenced the ensemble above, noting that Mrs. O was wearing Alaia. We found a similar Alaia blouse, with the same fish tail effect, pictured here.

On another note, we were delighted to meet up with LayoG and Kaitlin at the event! More to follow on that front later.

The Week in Review

Photo by Stefan Rousseau / Getty Images

We honestly don't know how our President and First Lady survived this whirlwind of a week. Six days, four countries, and for Mrs. O , ten (10!) thoughtfully, often symbolically, selected ensembles. Let's recap:

Tuesday (Washington D.C., London) #1 Ivory tulle tweed coat with grosgrain trim by Thakoon worn over a black Michael Kors dress and paired with an oversize rose jewel brooch #2 Chartreuse Jason Wu cocktail dress, paired with a black Michael Kors duster and studded Alaia belt

Wednesday (London) #3 J.Crew Constellation sweater in ivory with beading and sequins paired with Dazzling dots mint green pencil skirt #4 Ivory and black silk crepe dress by Isabel Toledo, paired with a black Azzedine Alaia cardigan, and black satin opera coat by Jason Wu

Thursday (London) #5 Junya Watanabe argyle, asymmetric cardigan, paired with a full-skirted teal dress by Jason Wu and Jimmy Choo "Glacier" pumps

Friday (Strasbourg, Baden Baden) #6 Floral silk jacquard dress with black mesh trim and coordinating, reverse print coat, both by Thakoon #7 Black knit and ruched dress worn with black bolero jacket, both by Azzedine Alaia

Saturday (Strasbourg, Prague) #8 Cropped, double-breasted black jacket with leather detailing at the seams by Azzedine Alaia, paired with black trousers; floral Etro top and white blouse worn underneath #9 Fitted Narciso Rodriguez black knit dress paired with Azzedine Alaia black bolero jacket and black kitten heels

Sunday (Prague) #10 Oversize white bow blouse by Moschino, worn with a black pencil skirt by Michael Kors, black cardigan and studded belt, both by Azzedine Alaia

The genuine multiplicity that exists in Mrs. O's wardrobe was on full display this week. We saw her style oscillate between demure and daring, restrained and whimsical, vintage-inspired and avant garde.  Though already described as a style icon, which she undoubtedly is, we imagine Mrs. O's fashion sense will be known for many things, rather than one iconic image that perfectly encapsulates her style. 

She is a multi-dimensional woman, with a multi-dimensional wardrobe to suit. There was much speculation with regard to what the week would bring style wise. Would Mrs. O embrace a French designer as Jackie Kennedy had in 1961 when she famously wore Givenchy? Mrs. O would, wearing a dress and coat by Azzedine Alaia while in Strasbourg, France (as well as a cardigan and belt by the designer throughout the week).

Would she continue to champion her favorite American designers? Indeed, as ensembles from Jason Wu, Thakoon and Isabel Toledo were all sartorial stand-outs. Would there be any "high-low" mixing? While not exactly "low", more reasonable options from J.Crew again entered the mix, and more than held their own with chic sparkle. Might Mrs. O play it safe? We need not say more than Junya Wantanabe (though we are still practicing the pronunciation). The image at the top of this post, in which Mrs. O wears a black satin opera coat by Jason Wu as she walks into Buckingham Palance, represents our favorite look of the week - radiating a romantic, effortless chic from start to finish. We would love to hear your favorites please.

A Statement Bow

Photo by Attila Kisbenedek/AFP/Getty Images

First Lady Mrs. O visited St. Vitus Cathedral at Hradcany Square in Prague today, wearing an oversize bow blouse by Moschino, a Michael Kors black pencil skirt and her signature Azzedine Alaia belt. The bow blouse, certainly the focal point of the ensemble, is from Moschino's Spring 2009 collection, seen here.

We've seen several sides to the First Lady's wardrobe this week - at times showing grown-up restraint, and at others, modern femininity. We love, then, that one of her final sartorial notes projects a delightfully fun and playful spirit. For the full graphic effect of the bow blouse with black overcoat, click here.

Two Ladies Out on the Town

Photo by Nigel Treblin/AFP/Getty Images Mrs. O and Ms. Carla Bruni-Sarkozy have ventured out this morning, visiting Rohan Palace, as well as the nearby Notre Dame Cathedral in Strasbourg, France. Mrs. O wears a double breasted cropped black jacket with leather detail at the shoulder and front seams, paired with black trousers and signature flats. And is that a purple floral cardigan we see peeking out? An anonymous tip from our favorite anonymous tipster:

"Michelle Obama’s jacket was designed by Azzedine Alaia, the incredible French designer. While he is known for amazing dresses, like the black knitted one that was worn by the First Lady last night, he is an expert tailor. The cut of this jacket with its punched and woven leather seam details and curved lapels is a signature Alaia style. Alaia is one of the last great couture trained designers in France. His clothes are not easy to find, he doesn’t really do runway shows anymore and the quality is incomparable. He is a legend."

There has clearly been a level of wardrobe planning this week akin to, if not surpassing, the Inauguration. Mrs. O has continued to champion her favorite American designers and brands - Thakoon Panichgul, Jason Wu, Isabel Toledo and J.Crew - while also incorporating pieces from Junya Watanabe and Azzedine Alaia, designers from Japan and France respectively.

The First Lady's choice of an Alaia knit, ruched dress last night and tailored jacket today is a thoughtful sartorial gesture, undoubtedly made to show respect for her host nation and its legendary designer. "Has there been too much attention paid to Mrs. O's wardrobe?" is a question increasingly asked the past few days. But in the way clothes can speak without words, our First Lady's wardrobe has said volumes. Not only have her ensembles been lovely in the aesthetic sense, they bring nuanced meaning - projecting the strength, intelligence and gracious nature of the woman wearing them.