Michelle Obama Dons Target Dress In Phoenix

When Michelle Obama stepped off the plane in Phoenix on August 16 in a black and beige printed dress and Sacai studded belt, she was ready to beat the heat -- but she was also ready to beat style skeptics who claim you can't dress well on a dime. The first lady's new summer garment was by Merona for national chain Target, a line that typically retails for under $40.

This isn't the first time Michelle has worn the style of the masses. In June she donned a $10 Gap t-shirt during lunch with Nancy Reagan and in April she sported a J. Crew cardigan and skirt to 10 Downing Street.

Follow HuffPost Style on Twitter and become a fan of HuffPost Style on Facebook!

Comments

[Sharon McCAlop]

love it

[impatient]

Me too. I think she looks great in that AND I think the press ought to be nice enough to always photograph her from that angle. She looks fabulous.

[Sharon McCAlop]

She wears(you said) $400 tennis shoes to a shelter, you complained..she walks the dog...the dog and you complained that she should've wore something more befitting the FL.....she takes her daugther for a burger and she gets complained about that....now she wears a dress from a store we all shop at and still you complain.....what is she to wear, eat, sit, talk and breathe that you won't find fault with????
The first lady of France...who you all just love, was on vacation, photo'd in a two piece, skinny as a rail and loved it....I don't know what to think of my fellow american's here....we're showing the world what we think of our leader......how can you fix your mouth to bit*h about other leaders, when you should little to no respect for your own....take the plank out of your own eye(s) before you attempt to take the splinter from mine...

[DotCalm]

i live in a pretty affluent community. you can't buy a tee shirt in one of our upscale boutiques for less than 70 bucks.

that's just stupid. i look at some of these moms raping their childrens' college funds because have to have the correct label scratching the back of their neck.

take a merona dress, swap out the label for one that says tory burch and watch the imbeciles line up to pay 300 dollars for it.

you rock michelle!

[Debbie1996]

I'm sure some WH staffer trolls these boards - pls I'm begging you taker all of Mrs Obama's belts and burn them - they truly do not flatter her - It draws the eye exactly where it shouldn't be.

[ritz]

I disagree. I like the belts. I think it's an original look, and women who are similarly high-waisted are breathing a sign of relief!

[MakersMark]

I love the belts and they look darn good on her. Michelle has a very nice shape. Thick and just right!

[stunned51]

I like many of Michelle's outfits but honestly sometime's she looks like she's going to the grocery store and doesn't come close to looking like a "First Lady".

[LoveGuv]

What does a "first lady" look like? I guess you forgot that Hillary and Rosalynn often looked like they were going to the grocery store.

[mollybeejay]

And let's not forget Barbara Bush who looked like the old woman who lived in the shoe. She frequently wore cheap house dresses out in public.

[ToniaB]

Oh Please!

[susierr]

I love Michelle and so proud and happy she is our First Lady. Obama rocks.
What a lucky country we finally are with Obamas in the White House.

HuffPost:
When is spell checker going to accept Obama as not being misspelled???

[Pema]

once agian it isnt about money, she looks lovely in this dress.

[PoliSci2008]

Boy! Did anyone see CNN Showbiz? They raked MO over hot coals for wearing her shorts. Although, I don't have an issue with her shorts b/c she was on vacation, I do think the WH staff will play a more proactive role on what she wears in public being that The President's approval rating his down.

Also, does anyone notice that when MO is dressed less casual than the President, he doesn't hold her hands nor walk side by side with her?

[LoveGuv]

I noticed you're still as tore up as ever.

[t iessa]

I notice you still don't know which verb tense to use.

[KnowzyRowzy]

: )

[NakedMoleRat]

"Also, does anyone notice that when MO is dressed less casual than the President, he doesn't hold her hands nor walk side by side with her?"

No, just you making petty assumptions.

[t iessa]

That's not really an assumption, it is an observation. I've not noticed it but I will certainly make an effort to do so. Maybe he's right and maybe he isn't. We'll see.

[Lahonda]

Push, push.

[45Caliber]

I think it is fantastic that the First Lady can look good wearing a Narcisco Rodriguez dress or a dress of the rack in Targets! I am sure Targets is not complaining, they probably won't be able to keep that item stocked in their stores.

People will continue to critique her style of dress no matter what. Just like they complained about her wearing shorts to the Grand Canyon, I guess they would have preferred her to be in a dress with stockings and heels, something that Nancy Regan or Barbara Bush would have done. That makes alot of sense to going hiking in the canyon in that. I think not!
I surely didn't see anything wrong with that. She was not wearing 'daisy dukes' and a bikini top. Michelle is keeping it real, this is how she dressed when she was a Senators wife/partner in her Law Firm in Chicago, so why change?
Clothes do not make the woman! She is an intelligent , beautiful woman and to be quite honest, I am sure she could not care less what people think about what she wears. Also, we should remember she is only in her early 40's unlike the past 3 First Ladies we haven't had a young First Lady since the days of Jackie Kennedy she can wear sleeveless dresses and shorts she has the physique for it all!
.45Caliber

[sharkie62]

She is a woman every woman should hope to be like: educated, dedicated, lovely, charming and graceful. I think she looks great.

[sophierose]

This dress looks great. Isn't it amazing what a $400 belt can do for a Target dress? Really makes a case for picking up a few snappy little accessories, so you can look all "regular" and everything..

[ToniaB]

You sound like a real hater!

[wendynyc]

Michelle Obama is trying to stay connected to the people. She is not a model? Why are her clothes analyzed so much.

We need to focus a little more on her accomplishments in the White House and give the First Lady a break on her outfits.

[sophierose]

If she ever actually accomplishes anything in the White House, rest assured, it will be well publicized. One of her 25 staff members will make sure we hear about it.

[ToniaB]

She have already accomplished quite a lot but I guess that you can't see that because you are too busy finding fault!

[sophierose]

Exactly, now what have her accomplishments been ? Oh I forgot, reading to school children a few times, and a couple photo ops of the garden.. I guess supervising the largest staff ever for a first lady is a full time job.. I mean Grandma's watching the kids, sooo, let's see, tell me again about the "accomplishments" ...guess they must be top secret stuff for the CIA or something.

[LoveGuv]

Laura had 24 staffers. Michelle has 25.

Laura read to school children and it was covered in the news section. Michelle speaks to returning troops and it's covered in the style section.

Punka$$skankho.

[NoFooling]

I'd love to see the First Lady dress in indie designer clothes, like emerging designers like you see on Project Runway and other talented fashion entrepreneurs who are trying to create a small business. I'd rather see her support American small business than imports from Target & other major chains.

[houstondemocrat]

She is so fantastically wonderful. I just love her!

[duchesscourt]

Michelle should never wear a belt.