Michelle's Cheap Chic: Do Her Bargain Clothes Look Like A Million Bucks? (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

In digging through our Obama Style archives, we came across a July 2008 video of Maria Menounos interviewing the then-Illinois-Senator and his wife about their sartorial spending habits (see video below). At the time, Michelle had been the talk of the town (and tabloids) for wearing a $148 dress from White House Black Market. And Barack remarked, "I'm baffled by this whole thing myself because I hate to shop."

Now, as First Lady, Michelle has brought her bargain hunting to the White House, sometimes incorporating budget items from J.Crew, The Gap or Target. But which, if any, of her ensembles do actually appear to be low-cost? And in which does Michelle look like a million bucks?

Skirt by J.Crew

February 18, 2009

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Comments

[Progressiveama]

01:08 PM on 10/27/2009

reThugs...­....they HAVE to be jealous, look at what they have come up with for first ladies....­.we have jacki O and MO, after all. It is disparagin­g that there is so much hatred that they have FITS that the nation's president visit other countries, yet insist on couture (like Reagan) for their first lady. One couture outfit of Nancy's probably paid for a trip or two of the Obamas.

Get a life, Thugs.....­....why do you even WANT to be here......­..can't you get along with your own in your own rooms?????­?? I gotta tell ya, the LAST place you will EVER find me, is in one of your rooms. I do see how you are drawn to us and wish you could be us........­.I DO understand that.

[katieandtom]

09:07 AM on 10/26/2009

a boucle skirt doesnt look good on a size 10 rear, it only adds width and weight making you look heavier than you are. (free advice)

[amistad]

09:53 AM on 10/26/2009

who cares what you think?

[Libby48]

01:21 PM on 10/26/2009

The same folks that don't care what you think. Got ya last!!

[ItHasToBeSaid]

03:32 PM on 10/26/2009

Spoken like an an0rexic with a pancake a$$ . . .

Boucle skirts look fine and add texture to an outfit. Whether a size 2 or size 12, if it looks good, put it on and wear it well. Period. (free advice)

[rain33]

08:52 AM on 10/26/2009

michelle should wear anything that she wants. every first lady did so why be so crucial on her outfits? this is so annoying subject!

[jennylynn]

08:51 AM on 10/26/2009

Why would you put expensive clothes on her?

[katieandtom]

08:53 AM on 10/26/2009

because they fit better.

[nicole473]

07:51 PM on 10/26/2009

why do you care?

[amistad]

09:55 AM on 10/26/2009

Why are you so jealous of the First Lady?

[nicole473]

07:53 PM on 10/26/2009

amistad, you nailed it.

[CAmbiguous]

08:50 AM on 10/26/2009

Michelle certainly doesn't appear to be, "THE WHITE GIRL", she was called by someone!.
Can you believe that! Her response is a fantastic message for our children!

http://con­cretelyamb­iguous.com­/truth-in-­video/mich­elle-obama­-got-calle­d-a-white-­girl/

[DanniD]

08:29 AM on 10/26/2009

Oh please! If she were wearing designer clothing in this economy, folks would be having fits.

Yet, had McCain been elected and his wife wore designer clothing, it would be justified as her already being rich so it's alright, even in this economy.

Like it was when she wore that awful looking dress during the election that cost more than most people will make in their lifetimes and their was no outrage. Let Michelle had tried that though.

[katieandtom]

09:04 AM on 10/26/2009

sometimes designer clothes dont look good on anyone. remember the chanel getup that oprah wore when she went through her haute couture phase? it looked awful on her. it looked like she was playing dressup. some of those clothes only look good on a size -2.

but MO looks great in michael kors. if she would wear the basics, then add her usual urban flare, she would have a home run.

i dont know why she doesnt listen to me?!! :)

[amistad]

09:57 AM on 10/26/2009

Because you are a nobody.

[mamacat]

02:59 AM on 10/26/2009

Michelle's cheap chic looks a hell of a lot better and more practical than Sarah's style of ignorance.

[t iessa]

08:09 AM on 10/26/2009

Bless your heart. Let it go. Palin isn't even a governor anymore. She is a private citizen. Really, you'll feel better if you just let her go. LOL!!!

[amistad]

09:56 AM on 10/26/2009

Bless your heart. You are still covering for Palin. Listen to your own words: she is a private citizen and will never be anything again. LOL!!!

[jennylynn]

08:50 AM on 10/26/2009

Are you that jealous of Palin that you bring her into this discussion too? wow.

[amistad]

09:58 AM on 10/26/2009

mamacat is as jealous of Palin as you are of Michelle Obama.

[SoontobeBlueVirginia]

09:15 PM on 10/25/2009

As my sainted mother always said, wear one piece of the 'good stuff' and everything else looks fabulous!

[Deborah Paley]

09:40 PM on 10/25/2009

That works pretty well!

[learntofly]

09:57 PM on 10/25/2009

Sounds like a plan to me.

[katieandtom]

08:55 AM on 10/26/2009

pretty smart mom.

[BlackYowe]

08:55 PM on 10/25/2009

I like it she wears normal cloths not over priced designer stuff.

[Mitsy]

07:05 PM on 10/25/2009

Black and white combinatio­n looks good on her.

She looks like one of us!! Not over expensive, with all the thousands of dollars jewelry and dresses that we would like to own, but can't afford. But for all those smart fashion female shoppers out there, we all sure know how to take those target, khols, walmart outfits and let them look like a million dollars. She's got that technique down pat. And she looks classy in all of them. You go Mobama!

[katieandtom]

06:45 PM on 10/25/2009

wow, this woman can do no wrong. her choices are perfect and her fashion sense is unmistakab­le. amazing. she should be the worlds best dressed, hands down.

[katieandtom]

09:09 AM on 10/26/2009

please disregard the above statement. thank you.

[TanzaniteDiamonds]

06:42 PM on 10/25/2009

Well, good thing that blind-fold­ed "pink bunny" with the cheap Easter costume (jelly beans and all), is not here to cuss about the First Lady anymore. (Or is she?)

It is, afterall, so close to Halloween. You never know.

[NoToGOP08]

05:35 PM on 10/25/2009

No she doesn't look like a million bucks. Nor is she supposed to.

She looks like a woman of substance, in a position of power in a country that is at war and in a recession.

[happycat]

05:32 PM on 10/25/2009

Michelle's clothes are fine, but the belts are not. They look silly on her.

[superjules]

09:13 PM on 10/25/2009

In all those pictures there were only 3 belts, all of which I thought were great. I don't know if you follow fashion or know what belts are created to do on women (aside from keeping your pants from falling down), but not everyone is cut out to be a stylist. Just saying.

[happycat]

09:53 PM on 10/25/2009

I do follow fashion, and I know that belts are in style right now. However, just because something is stylish, doesn't mean it looks good. In MY opinion, Michelle is too bottom heavy to wear belts the way she does. I know a lot of stylish people who agree with that. I am in no way insulting Michelle Obama as a woman of great accomplish­ment. I am "just saying" that I like her clothers, but not her belts.

[yvonne61]

05:21 PM on 10/25/2009

If Cindy McCain was President she being wear name brand off the frame. From the earring to the shoes.One outfit cost up in the money from 1000 to whatever.

[PoliSci2008]

07:37 PM on 10/25/2009

But that's Cindy's lifestyle, she's a society lady, and always looks like a fashionist­a even in casual wear. I'm not mad at her.

I've come to accept MO is not interested in becoming a great society lady (Jackie, Nancy, Ivana, Arianna), she is comfortabl­e being a grassroots advocate and dresses accordingl­y. As for the Cheap Chic, I think she has improved in that department­, then again, it's like that song, I've grown accustomed to your... I'm like AlaskanWan­naB, as long as she is presentabl­e to the public, it won't distract from the message.

[LoveGov]

09:40 PM on 10/25/2009

Skankiesha knows everything . . .