Michelle Obama At The Metropolitan Museum: Purple Reign! (PHOTOS)

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NEW YORK — First lady Michelle Obama says she and the president hope to give America's children better access to the arts and the ability to turn their artistic talents into careers.

"The arts are not just a nice thing to have," Mrs. Obama said Monday at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, where she cut the ribbon for the newly renovated American wing. "They define who we are as a people."

Attending the ceremony was a broad mix of city and state officials and members of New York's art and fashion worlds.

"The president and I want to ensure that all children have access to great works of art," she told a crowd that included students from four New York City public schools that specialize in the arts. "We want all children who believe in their talent to see a way to create a future in the arts community, either as a hobby or as a profession."

Mrs. Obama stood in the newly renovated Charles Engelhard Court in a bright purple Isaac Mizrahi sheath and coat, before a facade of an early 19th century bank branch that was originally on Wall Street.

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Michelle Obama wears a lilac Isaac Mizrahi ensemble to wield scissors at the Metropolitan Museum on Monday. Click through to read more about her visit.

She said she and the president had their first date in a museum. "After 20-odd years with a guy, you forget that your first date was at a museum. But it was, and it was wonderful. It worked."

Three of the invited children got hugs from the first lady as they stood with her for the ribbon cutting. She told them "this is your place, too."

Also attending were Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Rep. Charles Rangel, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Vogue Editor Anna Wintour, supermodel Iman and designer Ralph Lauren.

In the evening the first lady was to attend American Ballet Theatre's spring gala at the Metropolitan Opera House, where she was to address the audience along with Caroline Kennedy. The glittery event is a highlight on the city's social calendar.

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Comments

[1088]

First Lady is on the cover of TIME mag!

http://www.mrs-o.org/?p=5743#comments

[Imhotep40]

The First Lady looks m-m-m-marvelous, Yeah baby! . . . . with all due respect, Mr. President . . . . .

[KaLaPa111]

Legs for days! Wow she looks great. And those shoes are to die for.

[swan1]

Loved the color of her suit. I too wear bright colors and look great in them. She had on some fab shoes. It is not every woman that is sure enough of herself to wear the bright colors, but if you do, they make you feel so good. I wash out i eathtones and look dowdy in pastles. Go Michelle !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[coffeebaby]

loves it!! even old stanky Lauren looks nice.

[Retrofuturistic]

Too bright. Too purple. Too much.

[anghiari]

oh please...you know how many of us care what you think? close your eyes and what do you see? I suspect that's who care...beautiful color and its not purple..though both you and the person made that mistake...

[GeorgeOwells]

I am glad that Michelle Obama is our First Lady. I track every news on Mrs. Obama on http://www.trackle.com/catalog/news
Cheers
George

[cyoohoos]

http://video.libero.it/app/play?id=40612445f101817a4c07d736b6559287

[LovesMusicLikesToSing]

Very apropos ;- )

[Ms Fu]

The shoes are wonderful, but I don't like it when women wear all of one color (except for black and white). That was Hillary's look and I don't think it is very flattering. But the FL's outfit is classy none-the-less.

[jaielaw]

I think the monochromatic look works best with muted colors, but this look works on Michelle because the color is flattering. And it's nice to see her in something that can actually close at the front.

As for Hillary, she was never particularly interested in fashion and acknowledged that the "fashion gene skipped a generation" with her, but she found a comfortable look that usually works for her. I think her ultimate goal was to keep the focus on policy/platform rather than her physical appearance and so the uniform is a good thing for her.

[rsprags]

I'm so proud of our FL and her staff!

[BlueZoo]

The First Lady looks lovely in this color and the outfit was very becoming. Her message was very important and I am pleased she and her husband understand how important the arts are in our lives.

[AnnHiro]

Purple is a pretty color for Mrs Obama!

[coco51]

I have one suggestion for the photogs/editors of Huffingtonpost, no more close up pics of First Lady Obama's legs especially when she's sitting. I find it invasive even though the intent is not to objectify her.

[scorpioleidy]

Ditto! And stay out of her cleavage area, too!

[jaielaw]

Yes, they do seem to go for some questionable "money" shots. Considering this is the "style" section, you'd think they'd include photos that best showcase the look. And there are definitely better photos elsewhere of her in this outfit.

[PoliticalAmazon]

I agree. It's like MO is Britney Spears going commando and doing the 3' straddle getting out of the back seat of a car.

I can see no reason for that shot, can you? None. They can get her shoes and legs in a standing photo.

[anghiari]

Ladies, while I agree with you...they were not objectifying or going for the money shot...they saw the same thing I saw immediately. The silver strappy heels made her legs look longer. Look at the standing photo. Black shoes while stylish, show such a stark difference between leg and foot, but beige, tan, silver muted gold shoes blend better with leg color and make the legs look even longer. I hadn't even read the piece when I saw the picture and said beautiful. I love her Mizrahi outfit, he is one of my favorite designers. I used to buy his clothes when he was designing his original line. He makes the absolutely best jackets ...Loved his suits...I did buy one jeans suit from his target collection just to see what he was doing and by god, it is fabulous...haven't bought other things, but here is new pieces for Liz Clairborn are fab too. I think this dress is from his own line though....love it all. I thought she looked spectacular!

[coco51]

I agree with PoliticalAmazon, a standing closeup shot of shoe to where the skirt ends at her knee would show the contrasts just as clearly. One more thing, the color contrasts you have explained are not applicable to women of color and there in lies the problem. Photographers will have to learn about color contrasts on black women, the rules in practice really don't apply.

[BarackDaVote]

They all look GREAT!

[jl4141]

Gillibrand has cankles!

[glorialovelace]

That's the way all women's legs look when they wear flats.

Nice that you're sniping at women's looks, though. It just proves that you have poo between your ears, and a half-inch richard.

[noudidnt]

all women do not have cankles

[StopSexismNow]

I think the half-inch is a tad generous.

[jaielaw]

Is there a reason that you think it's okay to criticize people's body parts? Or is this your roundabout and malicious way of encouraging Gillibrand to adopt the pantsuit uniform?