Andre Leon Talley: Michelle Obama Is Not A Fashion Plate

Time Out New York:

So how do you keep that perspective working at Vogue? Aren't the Vogue offices kind of a mecca of skinniness?
You make the world your office. You branch out and give back. The way that people are now shopping and mixing clothes up--Topshop to Prada to Michael Kors--you have to live your life that way. You have to mix the high and the low. The Vogue offices are full of what I call very annnnnnnngular women wearing stilettos, and maybe that's just the consciousness--that people think that they need this look when they work at Vogue. But Grace Coddington does not fit that mold and she's elegant. Look at Michelle Obama, she's the most fashionable woman in America. But she's not a fashion plate.

Read the whole story: Time Out New York

Comments

[rsprags]

01:28 AM on 09/11/2009

Andre and many of you losers are pure a**hol*!
LOL, at the tragic whining and ranting about the FL style, etc....You see losers she got the man and the babies, career, education, and she is in the resident upstairs at the WH AND PBO does not look like he is missing anything at all. It is his desire for his attached at the hip as one of you losers stated wife is the ONLY one he wants so put your jealousy, cattiness, and hormones in check. PBO has the HOTs for MO get over it.
Andre is an old man that look like he smells and think too highly of his outdated self.

[Callyson]

05:04 PM on 08/29/2009

Actually, if you go to the link this is what he said about Michelle:
"Look at Michelle Obama, she’s the most fashionabl­e woman in America. But she’s not a fashion plate."
Sounds like a compliment­--and an accurate descriptio­n--to me,

[epiphany1234]

04:07 PM on 08/29/2009

He's right -- she's NOT!

[rsprags]

01:18 AM on 09/11/2009

WOW, more speaking PWT!

[nerakami]

09:13 AM on 08/29/2009

Isn't this the man who put Jennifer Hudson in that horrid gold bolero jacket some time back??? Besides, I still have yet to hear Michelle Obama claim to be anything of a fashion icon or plate or whatever they want to call it... they wish she would put as much emphasis on the clothes she wears, like they do...

[Cynth]

07:33 PM on 08/29/2009

Yes, poor Jennifer. That bolero is minor compared to the fashion atrocities he commits on himself. Ironic that he's considered an arbiter of taste in fashion.

[Jackie228]

03:37 PM on 08/31/2009

Honestly, I was thinking the same thing. That was about the ugliest jacket I ever saw and it ruined Jennifer Hudson's dress. Michelle Obama is not an entertaine­r and she should never strive to be on the "cutting edge" of fashion. It sends the wrong message, plus most "edgy" clothes are hideous.

[jeun28]

08:41 AM on 08/29/2009

I don't know why some women on here are so hung out on "oh she is not the most fashionabl­e person blah blah" She never told you she was in the first place. You and your media decided to do that, she wears what she wants whether you like it or not. As long as she is spending her money, she can wear what she wants. She did not come to this life to please you. Get on with your own life.

She likes what she likes. With all due respect, the rest of the first ladies wore what they wanted. If you want to dress to compliment your husband that is your business. Her mother did not give birth to her to come dress to compliment her husband. Apparently Her husband loves her just the way she is.

Leon is right she wears what she wants regardless of the general public. Good for her. Live the best and let the haters fester in their continuous hate.

[yellowdoggie]

08:29 PM on 08/28/2009

Depending on the source of informatio­n, a "fashion plate" is someone who is overly concerned about his or her appearance­, a person who regularly dresses in fashionabl­e clothes, or a picture of a fashion. I think we can rule out the third definition­. So what this guy is saying is that although Michelle Obama is the most fashionabl­e woman in America, she is not overly concerned about fashion and/or she does not always appear in fashionabl­e clothes.

Okay? Okay.

[kannita]

09:03 AM on 08/29/2009

After reading his piece, I agree. Mrs Obama is not trying to start fashion but to be herself, THANK GOD! Maybe he could have titled the piece better...t­he title bothered me and still does.

[nilotic]

12:07 AM on 09/11/2009

I think calling any woman the most fasionable woman in America is silly.....­.

[Seaglass]

09:46 AM on 08/28/2009

So at first I was in high dudgeon about MO getting dissed by a walking parody. Then I commented on the walking parody. Then I realized what a joke the whole thing really is, laughed at myself, and now I'm going to get a much-neede­d cup of coffee with my reality check.

[newTheory]

05:07 PM on 08/28/2009

Did you figure out what a 'fashion plate' is ?

[NALLY]

08:26 AM on 08/28/2009

Everyone please forgive, but I love her figure, she can wear a potato sack with a belt around the waist if she likes. Going forward, I'll keep my comments on a more adult level!

[samandally]

07:53 AM on 08/28/2009

If that is considered the most fashionabl­e thing in America today, we are in real trouble.

[yellowdoggie]

08:23 PM on 08/28/2009

You may be in trouble, but don't speak for the rest of us, okay?

[skippyB]

01:02 AM on 08/28/2009

She just looks like one.

[Lozange]

09:12 PM on 08/27/2009

At least someone is candid. What MO doesn't have in fashion sense, she has in common sense. That's what utterly refreshing and hence, fashionabl­e!

[LoveGuv]

12:28 AM on 08/28/2009

So . . . you didn't read the actual quote, I see.

[KinkyGirl]

08:33 PM on 08/27/2009

Honestly, and I say this very respectful­ly, MO is NOT the most fashionabl­e woman in America.

[PoliSci2008]

08:53 PM on 08/27/2009

I've been saying the same thing since the compaign trails. Now FASHION God Andre has spoken as flashes of thunder and lightening bolt across your screen !!!!/\/\/\­/\/\/\/\/\

What Happened to Couples Compliment­ing Each Other on their Clothing?

The President, Commander-­in-Chief, in light cotten slacks and ready for any camera shots, and then there's his join-at-th­e hip wife in bermuda shorts, that are too colorful, too many patches for any ampled-ars­e. The chief has a stubborn kind of fella in his ranks. Those lovely white capri pants would have been ideal for a bike ride.

[Pema]

10:56 AM on 08/28/2009

I understand what you mean, looking like your going to the same place as your husband is important! i too think white capris would have gotten too dirty, but some navy ones would look nice. but flats dont flatter a tall woman i am tall, flats with capris just make my ankles look strange. i do love the non pattenrned dresses she has been wearing of late.

[tandrmcdonald]

10:39 PM on 08/27/2009

Thank God.

[mikefina]

08:04 PM on 08/27/2009

Alt. Headline:

FLOTUS a fashion plate, but no hot dish...

[tandrmcdonald]

06:31 PM on 08/27/2009

Andre Leon Tally: "Michelle Obama is not a fashion plate."
Hey Andre, guess what? You are not a fashion plate! And what is with that haircut? Good gravy, spend five bucks and get a decent do, will ya?

[annis]

07:39 PM on 08/27/2009

Absolutely­!

[katieandtom]

10:23 PM on 08/27/2009

No but truly he is the fashion "God".

[tandrmcdonald]

10:30 PM on 08/27/2009

Note to katieandto­m;
In his own precious little mind. Right?

[mamapower]

04:39 PM on 08/27/2009

Andre is right!

[Seaglass]

09:43 AM on 08/28/2009

If that hot mess of a guy is right, then I'm happy to remain wrong.