Fashion Flashback: Jackie Kennedy's 1961 Visit To France (SLIDESHOW)

A lot of comparisons were drawn between Michelle Obama's travels through Europe last week, and Jackie Kennedy's equally fashion-forward trip to France in 1961.

And in case you've already forgotten what Michelle Obama wore last week in Europe, here's a look back. Don't forget to vote for your favorite.

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The Kennedys arrive in Paris on May 31st, 1961.

Comments

[GranE]

Ahhh! Jackie's evening dress is.... OMG.......­........it­'s sleeveless!!!!!!

[LMPE]

I still say that Michelle Obama looks more like Elizabeth Montgomery than like Jackie Kennedy.

[Venise Alstergren]

You have a point, a good one.

[jenrose]

I do like to see Jackies clothes she wore in those days. See how demure they look and dated from todays fresh look by Michelle. Jackies suits and dresses today look kind of dowdy to todays styles.

[lynnn]

Jeez this is a really crappy post. All these threads ever devolve to is a wine fest by a bunch of old people who never get their facts right.

In 40 years from now when we have a lesbian president, and an administration that exudes hope and class, I hope I won't be old and bitter and try to compare the spouse of that president to Michelle Obama.

[NCYvonne]

Totally agree. The most constant critics of Michelle are two old bitties Pupbayer and PoliticalAmazon. They're both retired and lonely and keep talking about how things used to be. They attack Michelle because she doesn't fit into their outdated sense of what's appropriate. I bet these old hags still wear corsetts and bussels.

[impatient]

jackie Kennedy was raised to the purple, even with black Jack Bouvier as her father, she had been reared as a debutante.

Her style was timeless elegance. Haute Couture. Givenchy. Cassini.

Michelle Obama was raised in a lovely middle class home, raised to achieve, and raised to get things done. She hasn't come into her own fashion sense yet, but I think haute couture is not going to be it. Let's be honest---the designers are dissing her because they are seeing an opportunity to make a bundle disappear before their very eyes.

I love Michelle Obama, but I would like to see her aim for a cross between the casual looks she's aimed for so far and the elgance of Jackie Kennedy. I predit a year from now, people will be blown away by MO.

[lynnn]

Uhm these were all state dinners, and functions (plus it was more than 40 years ago) you don't dress as formal for non state functions, oh and it was 40 years ago when people dressed more formal anyways.

[impatient]

Well yes, but meeting the queen woul dhave been the silk suit that Kennedy wore, not the way more casual outfit Michele Obama wore. Jackie was just always dressed to thenines. Michele---not so much. Endearing, true, but sometimes misses the mark.

[fuzzyhearts]

Jacqueline Kennedy was a woman of her time, and Michelle Obama is a woman of her time. To attempt to force a comparison in terms of fashion and looks between the two is ridiculous, since a woman's role in 1961 was based more on appearance than (hopefully) it is today. Therefore, when we put Michelle Obama in a categorical box as a fashion icon, when she is obviously not, we're throwing her back 45 years. That said, I vote for Jackie.

[lynnn]

And Jackie was at state dinners, there's a big difference in events so it isn't comparable. Though I still don't understand why people want to compare.

[inorbit]

Yes, everyone dressed more formally back then. I remember wearing a dress to see the doctor!

I'm glad those days are over.

[lirbro]

Ladies- We wouldn't EVEN be having this conversation if Princess Diana were alive. Remember when she broke the mold for old, stodgy clothes??

[Virginia Wai]

Thanks for the photos, elegant. Jacki Kennady set an impossibly high standard......

[ChaiKat]

You really can't appreciate the beauty of these clothes with the B&W photos. That yellow suit is lovely, and the formal dress is amazing. I would love to have seen the full effect in the photo of Jackie wearing it in color.

[NCYvonne]

Jackie and Michelle aren't even in the same ballpark. Jackie's "ballpark" was 1961. Michelle's is 2008.

Jackie's "ballpark" was being an ornament for an unfaithful husband. Michelle's "ballpark" is respected equal and partner to adoring husband.

Thank goodness Jackie's ballpark is grown over with weeds never to be revisted again!

[NCYvonne]

Look at that big ole zit on Jackie's cheek in the picture where she's looking at gold watch. Oy!

[liminal67]

Jackie was pure elegance...

http://pitchbendpost.blogspot.com/

[NALLY]

From Jackie O to Michelle O!! Beautiful women of their time.

[Sparhawk]

MO is not even in the same ballpark..

[PoliticalAmazon]

No kidding. I'm just glad the Europe trip is over.

[NCYvonne]

You're right about that. Jackie's "ballpark" was 1961. Michelle's is 2008.

Jackie's "ballpark" was hood ornament for unfaithful husband who slept with every piece of trash he could find.

Michelle's "ballpark" is respected equal and partner to adoring husband.

Thank goodness Jackie's ballpark is grown over with weeds never to be revisted again!

[juniperbug]

yea that is right, they are not in the same ballpark. jackie o was of the 60s, it is 2009! michelle IS the modern, stylish woman. someone dressed like jackie o today would be considered extremely stuffy and ostentatious.

[lynnn]

Yea bc it is almost 50 years later and Michelle was not at state functions. If you want to compare formal dresses think of that dinner at the white house right after the inauguration Michelle in that fab dress and those that to die for Tom Binns necklace.

[Ohsherri]

When it comes to fashion style, in my opinion...Jackie wins overall hands-down.

Unfortunately, her 'fashion-style' did NOTHING to help her marriage or self-respect.

It was great for magazines, but that's it...that's all. :-(

[ElsaIndy]

There is no more elegance. It ended with Jackie Kennedy.

[Ohsherri]

I don't think Jackie would have agreed with you.
Her "elegance" was good to sell magazines...
but that's just a show for the cameras.

All the designer clothes in the world can't give you a good marriage and self-esteem.

[skippyB]

Don't tempt the fates!

[Venise Alstergren]

Jackie Onassis was far more than being merely a vehicle to sell magazines. She was one of the highest paid who-es in history. Why men found that grim, vulture-like expression and the carefully cultivated little-girl whisper and delicate little laughs to be eternally sexy defeats me.
She was without heart-ask anyone who wrote a biography about her-conscience- lacking, geisha-inspired performances and a money- hungry opportunist is more than revealed in these photos.
Michelle Obama may appear to be lacking something by comparison with Jackie Onassis. She does, however, streak ahead in this contest. Michelle Obama, is demonstratively a human being. Throughout all the writings about the Onassis woman, not once has a biographer ever testified to Jackies humanity.

[PoliticalAmazon]

Why is it that posters feel they must heap their own personal interpretation of Jackie BKO's marriage into a discussion about what MO and Jackie BKO wear/wore?

Here's a clue: what a woman wears in official functions is separate from who she is as an individual and person. What she wears in ANY function is seperate from who she is as an individual and person.

As far as the shrewish comment about JBKO's marriage and self-esteem, the one thing JBKO did not lack was self-esteem. As far as her marriage is concerned, that is her business and no one's else, just as what goes on in the marriage of the Obamas is their business.

JBKO's elegance was not limited to magazines. She always dressed with elegance. No one ever laughed at her outfits.

Money and cost has nothing to do with elegance. It has to do with what you do with your clothing budget, and the choices you make to wear.

[Melissa]

There is no comparison. She was always elegant.

[lynnn]

Well, if you believe that, than you have to say the boomers killed it! But I don't think you want to say that do you?