Beautiful Michelle Obama has impeccable style, and flaunted her taste in well plucked cardigans, A-line and pencil skirts, and flattering dresses while on a recent trip to Europe. Let’s take a look:
Michelle arrived with a splash, stepping off Air Force One in a chartreuse silk crepe Jason Wu dress and black cardigan, cinched with an Azzedine Alaïa belt. She continued her fashionable reign for a visit with Gordon and Sarah Brown in London…
… blessing the occasion in a fresh, practical J.Crew ensemble accented with her signature pearls . She kept her pearls on as an accent to her Isabel Toledo dress for a meeting with the Queen at Buckingham Palace:
…and of course let them complement her teal Jason Wu dress and Junya Watanabe asymmetrical cardigan for a G20 spouses meeting at the Royal Opera House in London:
Leaving for more fashionable pastures, Michelle opted for a Thakoon coat and floral jacquard dress for the NATO Summit Arrival Ceremony at Palais Rohan:
Then chose a dramatic Azzedine Alaïa Black Cocktail Dress, cardigan, and pumps for a cultural event in Baden-Baden :
She stayed with the classic, confident black for a stroll with Carla Bruni-Sarkozy in Strasbourg:
And finished off this Sunday in a black Michael Kors Skirt, Moschino Bow Top and Azzedine Alaïa belt:
Give your wardrobe its own stimulus package with these 16 first lady like items under $100:
*In a recent WWD article by Bridget Foley called Dressing Michelle: Major Designers Wait for First Lady’s Call, the writer asks “Where in the world are Donna, Ralph and Calvin?” and quotes designers like Oscar de la Renta who decry Madame O’s wardrobe choices, saying, “You don’t go to Buckingham Palace in a sweater” and, “I don’t object to the fact that Mrs. Obama is wearing J. Crew…But there are a lot of great designers out there. I think it’s wrong to go in one direction only.” Vera Wang adds, “I love seeing young designers and their vision…On the other hand, of course, I wish she would consider some of us, because I think we also have contributions to make.â€
You certainly can’t please everyone!
*If you want minute by minute updates on Michelle Obama’s fashion forays, check out the blog Michelle O. Style.
Source & Source
She looks stunning and I’m proud of my First Lady, – Especially when she stands next to some of these other wives, LOL, like what was up with the lady in the bluish ensemble?
And you are right! it’s great that all these designers are clamoring for a piece of the action. Really, what is she supposed to do? Make a list of every designer in America and everyday check another name off the list? That’s the only way she’s going to please everyone. But in these economic times, have some of these designers ever thought that she’s trying to be somewhat of an example and not wear three outfits, each costing $7,000, in the same day? I LOVE Oscar de la Renta, but his pieces are really a small fortune.
My two cents, great blog, btw!
I love the fact that she’s doing her!! Designers be damned. She’s a grown woman that knows what looks good on her. The audacity of these designers to WHINE like children. Hilarity…
Team Michelle!!
I couldn’t agree more with the comments already posted. Michelle sure makes me proud :)
I personally love First Lady Michelle’s fashion choices. Everyone loves her because she wears outfits that are accesible to everyone and I love her for that. Especially since this is a recession, how hypocritical would she look if the majority of her wardrobe consisted of luxury brands. Higher end designers are suffering right now because they have lost some allure of their lines due to economic conditions. Which in turn is not driving people to buy. They need to stop whining and get over it.
Keitha you took the words out of my mouth.
They are whining about the amount of press that she is giving these other designers who would be hard pressed to get the type of publicity that they are receiving presently.
When previous first ladies ONLY wore Oscar de la Renta and Carolina Herrera etc, were these high-end designers complaining about that being the only route that these first ladies took, didn’t think so.
I love Michelle and her fashion choices, risks included. She knows that she isn’t perfect and she wears what she wants, not what people think she should wear because she is the first lady. She is not defined by that tile and clothing form chains such as J Crew and other off the rack items are obviously what she wore before she was the first lady so why stop now. She is aware of the recession and how many women can actually afford to wear O de la R, C.H. and M.K. on such a regular basis.
These designers need to get over this sense of entitlement that they have, and keep dressing the celebrities that give them publicity.
If they want just that one black woman to wear their clothes then maybe they should consider including more black models and models of other ethnic backgrounds in their advertising and runway shows…just my thoughts.
Who cares? She’s amazing.
Azzedine Alaïa’s dress is so hot. I saw her in French TV, I was like move over Carla….I’m so Michelle…
I agree with the quote You don’t go to buckingham palace in a sweater” that is true. yes she looks nice but her outfits very often don’t fit the occasion. Cardigans aren’t for all occasions and enough with that belt.
I do agree that she is fab so don’t get me wrong but she needs a stylist who is familiar with how to dress when in her position. And I’m sorry but sleeveless outfits can also be very inappropriate at times. I worked at a bank and we could not wear sleeveless outfits as the first lady there is a reason for the dress code and I think she needs to air on the side of caution.
I keep thinking of Chevy Chase and “European Vacation” when I hear of Obama in Europe. It would be funny if it weren’t so deadly serious. We in the States are in serious trouble and most of the public (in the States, anyway) are oblivious to it.
I love the clothes. I love that I have a first lady who wears clothes I like and can afford. Personally, I think its funny that these high end designers want Mrs. Obama wearing their clothes. They sometimes goes months and years without putting any ethnic (Asian, Black, or Hispanic) models on their runways. What’s so special about this ethnic woman wearing their clothes? And by the way the Queen was feeling on Mrs. Obama’s behind, I don’t she minded the sweater.
I thought it was interesting that the British media did not criticize Mrs. O for wearing a cardigan to Buckingham Palace – only the US media did so. That is probably because in the U.K. the cardigan enjoys a much more honored place in fashion than it does in the US. In the US a “cardy” is thought of as just a casual or throwaway piece. In the U.K. a cardy can be casual, semi-formal or formal. And I think Michelle Obama’s sparkly cardy was appropriately semi-formal. Mrs. Obama’s cardigan was also well suited to the occasion – please observe what Queen Elizabeth wore: a simple pink dress. I credit the First Lady for not overdressing for the occasion and for not outdressing her hostess. First Lady Michelle Obama was appropriately and well-dressed for the occasion. That is class.
Here here–she looks approachable and fashionable. Her eye make-up looks great too. It is a proud day!
Michelle looks fine and fab .
thank you, Sandra, for that breakdown… I also thought the First Lady was appropriately dressed (and lovely) in each picture, and I couldn’t tell you the first thing about what’s considered acceptable or fashionable in any other country… I love the fact that she doesn’t feel obligated to wear these other designers… (and as a fan of J. Crew myself, I dig that she likes it)… the NERVE of these veterans in the game to even make such remarks, SMH….
I would just love to dress like First Lady Michelle!
So elegant and classy!!! Great role model.
Oscar de la Renta and Vera Wang have some m*f***ing nerve. Where the HELL are the black, asian, and hispanic models in your shows? Your ads? So, you won’t pay a trained ethnic model to wear your clothes but you want free publicity with the first black first lady wearing ur clothes?! Get over urself! I am beyond insulted and mortified. A few months ago, I needed a dress for the Illinois inaugural ball and saw de la Renta dress for $5,000, I mean like really in this recession that’s truly a depression you’re selling items for 5Gs? And his clothing line has never showcased anything that would appeal to a woman like Michelle, to me, I think she would find those prices ridiculous even if the econmomy wasn’t so bad. Michelle is down to earth and doesn’t appreciate stuck up attitudes and over-priced fashion.
So many first ladies have stuck to a few household names, such as Oscar de la Renta. Mrs. O has chosen her favorites, and she has that right.
All those designers can kiss it! Michelle looks great and just because she isn’t drowning herself in all of their overpriced goodies, they got beef. Please! She can wear whatever she wants. She doesn’t owe ANYONE anything.
And I agree with LoudPen. I find it interested that now all of a sudden, these designers want to pay attention to the black woman in a position of power. But where was their attention on the black woman when they were casting for NY Fashion week?! If they want to make an impression, give a woman of color some work in your shows, and then MAYBE Michelle will give you all the time of day.
Caribbelle- I SO agree with everything you said. Michelle is fabulous like all the other minority/ethnic women in the world these whiny designers ignore on a regular basis. They can all suck it! They’re annoyed because when Nancy Reagan and Laura Bush wore their overpriced attire, it didn’t look good and it didn’t inspire anyone to storm the boutiques or stores like Neiman’s and Barney’s to go get any of it. Their stock didn’t go up like J. Crew’s did and now they’re mad. Vera, Oscar, Karl and the rest all have made a name for themselves and they are showing some serious petty attitudes and jealousy towards these young, up-and-coming designers. The underground designers and newbies NEED the attention and their work so far shows that they’re worthy of it.
As far as the “appropriateness” of Mrs. Obama’s outfits, it seems to be a hang-up of conservative, “style-less” fools. She has an amazing figure and if the other first ladies (and her critics) had those arms, they’d be rocking the sleeveless dresses too! She has class, elegance and knows her style better than any first lady in my lifetime (my first President was Carter) and she’s from my hometown so these designers need to sit down somewhere and continue catering to the socialite crowd. THEY can still afford that mess.
I adore Oscar and Vera, but they are just not relevant during “these times”, and they are especially inappropriate for the First Lady of a country that is in a recession. There also seems to be a sense of entitlement from their comments. Michelle Obama is a grown woman and not obligated to wear their designs just because she is the First Lady. Let the emerging designers shine. At the end of the day, every third bride will wear Vera on her wedding day and Oscar is always on somebody’s red carpet.
I know that she is an eloquent and smart lady. I noticed that she is better dressed than the other first ladies from other countries. I just wonder where she gets the money to wear designer wardrobes.