Robin Givhan: Dress Repeats Signal The End Of Michelle Fashion-Mania

Washington Post:

Finally, it may be that fashion enthusiasts have become accustomed to the sight of a first lady who rarely wears suits, who prefers her dresses form-fitting and who has, perhaps, never seen a brooch that she could resist.

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[GDSON]

Thanks for being normal Michelle and wearing clothes more than once. This makes me love you even more!

[IndyReader]

Maybe it's a good thing that the writers here can't be directly communicated with because Ms. Givhans really needs to be told off in no uncertain terms.

[InfosolutionWiz]

WELL SAID!!

[MikeDu]

What kind of 'popular culture' have we got where somebody being spotted wearing the same dress more than once can be considered a minor scandal? This is what REAL people do, y'know. They wear their clothes, hopefully get the laundered, them wear them again. I, for instance, am now wearing a shirt that I wore last week. I will probably wear the same shirt at some point next week too. Shocking!

[kbkw54]

Michelle Obama is not your average "real people" when she accompanies the president she is representing Americans. The clothes she wore in the last trip were embarrassing. She wore pants that were two sizes too small. Michelle looked like she had either gained a bunch of weight or was pregnant.

[graceland9]

Shall we give her a whole bunch of taxpayer money to spend on clothes, then? Please check it first with Malkelle Michelin, et al, first. Because I am sick of expensive shoe jokes at our First Lady's expense.

[weatherwaxx]

In case you haven't been watching the news, weather channel, etc... that undersized, stretched, too-tight look is apparently the height of fashion. It is not the best look for anybody--it makes even the thinnest woman look overweight. But fashions change, and hopefully women will get tired of the style soon.

[DBtv]

What is truly fanshionable about The First Lady, is her class, her substance, her intelligence, her authenticity and her inspiring humanity. She shows that real beauty is far deeper than the clothes or the skin.

[marijam]

Hummmm, I seem to recall a first lady who had on the same dress as a visitor to the White House from another country. If you never want to see her in the same thing twice, send her your money. I like it that she's practical.

[awaitingmd]

The first lady can dress however she wants and wear what ever she chooses!!! she is not a fashonist, she is just a regular educated lady. just like everyone of us, she repeats cloths, which is absolutely normal...someone commented on her backside, its beautiful.

[sophierose]

I hesitate to post this, because there is really no way of putting words to an opinion that is bound to be misunderstood. I have a multi racial family..I have always lived in "integrated" neighborhoods and attended schools with people of every color. Having said that..Michelle Obama has about as much in common with the life of the average African American woman as Laura Bush did..She has an intact family, she comes from an intact family, her husband is half white. Her parents were middle class, her father had a good paying city job that allowed her mother to stay home. She went to ivy league schools., where she was a high achiever Her home in Chicago is a mansion.. She has had high paying legal and corporate jobs..She has worn high end designer clothes for years..Her African American friends are all high achieving people as well. Much of America is very proud of her and she is a great role model for all young girls. Maybe she does "get" the life of the average African American woman, but certainly not from direct experience..She started life better off than many, and has used that basis to create a life that is wildly different from the average "sister". Whatever race you are, stop kidding yourself that she is "average" in any way.

[Knowitall]

I don't misunderstand. You don't want people to think Michelle Obama is the "average" Black woman. Why that is a concern for you, is a question only you can ponder. You are saying the average Black woman wouldn't have an "intact" family, her husband wouldn't be "half white" (for whatever that's worth?), have middle class parents, father wouldn't have a "good paying city job", that "allowed her mother to stay home". Am I misunderstanding? She wouldn't be a "high achiever" at an ivy league school.

In fact, Michelle Obama's family is like most Black families. Though a disproportionate number of Blacks are mired in poverty, most of them are somewhere in between, like Michelle's family was. Michelle and her brother were raised in a 2 bedroom apartment in a "changing" neighborhood on the south side of Chicago. Their "bedrooms" were the living room separated by a blanket. Hardly "middle class". Her parents obviously made a decision early on, to make sure that their kids wouldn't live the life they'd led. Many African American families make that decision.

Attend a Black family reunion--all economic strata, all races, all colors.. Some will be professionals from IVY LEAGUE colleges, others city workers, own their own businesses, sweep streets or drive buses. Some married white people and have "half white" children. Since most Black people are "mixed" It does not qualify as something out of the ordinary, special, or particularly praiseworthy--as you seem to think it is. Did I misunderstand you?

[graceland9]

Well said.

[blah2 0]

So as soon as some one makes in they are no longer "average"? So with that reasoning the norm will always be of underachievement. Michelle had no connections in life and she did wonders. Many people could too so don't give them the reason not to.

[weatherwaxx]

And despite all her advantages, the first thing her enemies see is the color of her skin. Stop kidding yourself that she is just an 'average' First Lady. She and her husband are forerunners.

[PamperedHousecat]

Mansion!? Since when is a Chicago bungalow a "mansion"? If that's the case, Chicago is "Mansion Heaven".
You say she started life off better off than many, but that can be said about a lot of people. She still had to put in a lot of hard work, and unfortunately, here in certain areas of Chicagoland , she could still be pulled over, and questioned about her activities. It is called DWB. Starting life as a middle-class African-American girl in an urban area, is a very fragile existence, and does not mean that you are immune to the problems facing the "average" sister.
Hopefully I am misunderstanding you.
No, she is NOT average, but I hesitate to put her background in the same catagory as Laura Bush. Their situations are different.

[Marimeko]

For such an intelligent, affable First Lady, her sense of style is mind-boggling!! Okay, she need not wear suits, although they would look great on her, but please---stop with the TIGHT CLOTHES--your "back side" is too large. And the wide belt sworn under the bustline are awful and also have led to much speculation about herbeing pregnant. Is that what she wants people to think??? She does. look stunning in bright colors. Get help, MIchelle, please!!!! We adore you and want to be proud of a dignified First Lady......

[coco51]

How dignified are you to tell the First Lady that her "back side is too large!" really, I mean, really? you mean that if people thought you looked pregnant you'd be outraged!! hmm..again with the priorities. Thing you've gotta realize about Mrs. Obama she really don't care what you or anybody else might think about her. Now that's having dignity and self-esteem in oneself! Oh by the way, her back side that's too large for you, seems to be loved by her husband and a helluva lotta men out there.

She needs no help!! Keep it up Mrs. Obama you are sending the right messages to young women today, love yourself, educate yourself, have pride in yourself. Couldn't ask for a better role model.

So what do your role models represent?

[pgurlatl]

It really is amazing that no matter what people want to make women of color feel bad about how they were built. From JLo to Serena Williams to Michelle Obama.

Having a rotund backside is a beautiful thing. Get over it!

[graceland9]

I love her normal, natural figure. She is lovely. And she inspired me to start working out on my arms - I know I can never look the way she does in a sleeveless dress, but hey - I've got something to aim for.

[blah2 0]

Why do so many in the mainstream have a problem with larger buttocks?

[pgurlatl]

I have no idea but it is way different than reality. Men of all races appreciate a big behind!

[faicole]

What was she supposed to do? Throw the dress away? With stories like this you'll never make it in a real journalist job!

[coco51]

faicole, it's WashPo nuff said..

[talkitreal]

She wears clothes more than once - just like the rest of us. Anyone who wants to find a problem with that is an idi ot!

[bluehand]

Robin, what is wrong with you?

[PhilipB]

She is supposed to wear a different every day?
That would be very expensive, not to mention rather wasteful.

[coco51]

I believe it's more like they think she's to be seen once a year, like Laura and the others.

[pjean]

wo freaking cares that she repeated a dress she wore ALMOST a year ago. It must be a slow news day for you Robin!

[trinidadgirl]

I am beginning to think that Americans are totally brainless! What has happened to the msm, the anchors,journalists, commenters and the like?
Shallow, trivial,puerile stuff passing for articles. Really sad!

[ReesieKitty]

I am starting to think that all the former MSM employees got jobs posting on sites like this to say how awful it is compared to MSM! Seriously, express your opinion but I am tired of seeing shills for msm everywhere!

[coco51]

It's the sign of the times...too much qwerty keyboards available for those without a constructive thought to air their mindless twitter...

[DBtv]

MSM=main stream media.

What ARE you talking about?