Five Days, Three Countries

Photos by Saul Loeb and Alex Wong / Getty Images

... and now the Obamas are home!

Update: In the second photo, Mrs. O wears a Rachel Roy Double Collar Luxury Trench.

Viva Brazil

Images by Jason Reed / Reuters, Pablo Martinez Monsivais and Silvia Izquierdo / AP Images

The first family has arrived in Brazil for a state visit. After landing, the Obamas were joined by Brazilian President Dilma Vana Rousseff to participate in an arrival ceremony at Palacio do Planalto in Brasilia. Later, First Lady Mrs. O attended cultural performances at Oca da Tribo restaurant. 

Update: Landing in Brazil, Mrs. O wore a Tracy Reese Auburn Tribal Stripes Strapless dress, available here.

For the official arrival ceremony, the First Lady wore a Rachel Roy one-shoulder dress and jacket, both in "Wall Print". Rachel Roy is certainly becoming one of Mrs. O's go-to designers. On the accessory front, Mrs. O mixed gold and rose gold horn bracelets by Alexis Bittar.

Several readers have noted that Malia Obama wears the Glanz Dress from Anthropologie, available here, while Sasha wears the Girls' print Alessandra dress from J.Crew crewcuts, available here.

Sporty O

Image by Charles Dharapak / AP Images

On Friday, Mrs. O held a "Let's Move!" street hockey event with the 2010 Stanley Cup Champions Chicago Blackhawks and area students on the South Lawn of the White House. For the appearance, the First Lady turned to a sporty zip jacket, statement necklace and slim black pants.

Update: Mrs. O wears a Rachel Roy Sable Leather Ribbed Knit Jacket, paired with a FALLON necklace.

Return to the Chic Sheath

Images by Jim Young / Reuters, Jim Watson / Getty Images

Mrs. O chose a classic, fitted sheath dress for the State of the Union address this evening. The look recalls Mrs. O's early Maria Pinto dresses circa 2008, though the designer of this dress proves to be Rachel Roy. The Rachel Roy silver silk shift dress is part of the designer's Fall 2012 collection. The First Lady kept accessories to a minimum, wearing drop earrings and a stack of lucite bangle bracelets, all by Kara Ross. Simple and chic.

Of note, Mrs. O is seated with the family of Christina Taylor Green, who was killed in the Tuscon, Arizona shootings earlier this month. The First Lady is also wearing a black and white lapel ribbon in honor or Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

Mrs. O Goes Abroad

What is it about first ladies and travel abroad that excites us so? My initial interest in Jacqueline Kennedy could be summarized by an image of the first lady dressed in an Oleg Cassini apricot silk dress during a boat ride on Lake Pichola in India during March 1962. A print of said image was taped to my dorm room wall throughout college, always offering a sense of wanderlust for a time, place and style I did not know, but felt deeply inspired by. I've wondered how many moments captured this past week, as our First Lady Mrs. O charmed and enchanted India, might also take on a lasting, iconic effect.

The Obamas' recent trip to India and Indonesia represents the highest peak of traffic to this blog since the president and first lady traveled to Europe in April 2009. Prior to this trip, it seemed that public interest in Mrs. O's style had waned to some extent. "If you're tired of hearing about Michelle Obama's style, you're not alone," began a recent BlackBook Magazine story. Though the community here remains strong, the broader public seemed tired of a story that has been told and retold in the American media, most times superficially, to no end. Yet, this past week, in India, the fervor and excitement suddenly returned.

Mrs. O's wardrobe was undoubtedly a focal point of the trip overseas. Ensembles were thoughtfully chosen to suit occasions and mood, from somber to playful, casual to the utmost formal. Designers and aesthetics honored Indian and Indonesian culture, resulting in shining moments for American designers Rachel Roy and Ranjana Khan, both of Indian heritage. A lace tee from J.Crew offered accessibility, while back to back pieces from Belgian designer Dries Van Noten delivered an element of the unexpected. And, of course, there were pride-inducing moments of high glamour, as Mrs. O once again elevated the notion of American sophistication on a global stage.

Ultimately, though, the clothes played second fiddle this time. The moments that endeared and will endure were those when Mrs. O interacted with the children of India. Ballet flats came off for hopscotch; a dress felt less important as Mrs. O danced to Bollywood music. The first lady came to life in these moments, offering a profound display of her genuine nature and ability to galvanize. The clothes tell their own rich narrative, but the real power is in the woman who wears them. This is something we already knew, but never has it been more palpable. I'll leave you with a few favorite photographs taken by White House photographer Pete Souza.

P.S. The title of this post is inspired by Mrs. Kennedy Goes Abroad, a truly magical children's book. 

Official White House Photos by Pete Souza