Michelle Obama Wears Super Long Earrings At 2011 National Design Awards Luncheon (PHOTOS)

The news that Michelle Obama would host the Cooper Hewitt National Design Awards right in the middle of New York Fashion Week rankled a few fashion insiders.

2011 Fashion Design winner Gilles Mendel moved around the date of his showing to accomodate the awards luncheon, and FLOTUS favorites Prabal Gurung and Jason Wu, both award finalists with runway shows this past week, had to miss the event.

But the show must go on. Today FLOTUS delivered her address in the East Room of the White House to a crowd of architects, interior designers and fashion folk such as Tim Gunn.

The First Lady praised the creative types in the room for their hard work (while acknowledging some of the fashion absences):

These men and women have breathed new life into our homes and our workplaces, the clothes we wear, the products we use every day, and even the most basic ways we process information. A trip to the park is just a bit more refreshing. A book or a chart more readable. A commute to work more palatable -- unless you were stuck on the train today. (Laughter.) There are a few who didn’t make it.

To give her address, Obama showed off some creativity of her own, pairing a brown printed dress with a hint of sparkle on the skirt with dramatic, dangly earrings by Alexis Bittar that practically touched her shoulders -- a new look for the First Lady.

Check out pictures of Obama as well as Gunn below! What do you think of Michelle's look?

PHOTOS:

Comments

[CitizenKane16]

03:36 PM on 10/01/2011

Mrs. Obama looks fabulous, as usual. I am not a big fan of the earrings but she wears them well due to her long, graceful neck and they look good with the up do. Her creativity and sense of style is always evident.

[Adonijah]

01:53 PM on 09/21/2011

Two thumbs up!

[patriciacaldwell]

05:25 PM on 09/18/2011

I love this dress and the statement earrings! Creativity needs to be celebrated more often.

[SamiSam]

09:38 PM on 09/17/2011

I guess my standard for super long is longer than most. My super long earrings hit or go past my shoulders. Anyway.

[opmik75]

03:03 PM on 09/16/2011

Tim Gunn was in the pictures. "Michelle! You don't need to make it work. You ARE working it."

[eluxury2006]

03:42 AM on 09/16/2011

so many folks are so used to the 'before First Lady's" attires before Michelle Obama they can't get past the old fashioned look of those before women in the White House..Please RE-READ the title of this article and get back to me..NATIONAL DESIGN AWARDS LUNCHEON..there's also a lady in one of the pics wearing a sleeveless dress...Michelle has hits or misses when it comes to her taste of clothing...I like this look..it's not loud or over the top just subdued and very friendly clothing to wear to this event..love the earrings, nothing over the top of those also..

[DinSea]

06:39 PM on 09/15/2011

Love the dress, love the hair, not a fan of her high waist belts but she always looks fabulous. Proud to have her as a role model and representative of our great country. Mrs. O rocks!

[phillica2]

12:11 AM on 09/15/2011

Those of you that are posting horrible things about the FLOTUS may God Bless your heart. No matter on what side of the aisle we stand, we are all Americans and we should respect the Office. And please do not click on Mrs. Obama articles if you hate her that much.

[yougogirl1948]

11:06 PM on 09/14/2011

@AspenAlways:

Don't insult Mrs. Obama!

[enlightenedgirl]

06:57 PM on 09/14/2011

The First Lady looks Fabulous as usual.  She knows what she likes and what looks good on her.  Her photograph is taken everyday and she never disappoints under pressure.  I love the First Lady's Fashion sense, I love the First Lady, Period.

[demisfine]

09:34 PM on 09/14/2011

Always tasteful, stylish and modern without looking staged or fake.
Love her every time.

[ScarlettMocha]

05:31 PM on 09/14/2011

The First Lady has a beautiful long neck and can get away with wearing such long earrings. She looked beautiful as usual.

[havasuepai]

04:45 PM on 09/14/2011

Perhaps I am old fashioned but appropriate earrings in a professional environment (yes being the First Lady is a professional environment) are simple studs--big hoops or dangling earrings are not the best choice for a First Lady.

Also a sleeveless dress is inappropriate. Sleeveless dresses and blouses mark a woman as a socialite, not a woman in an official capacity. I like the dress but I would like it more with sleeves. Save the sleeveless dress for your off-time.

I expect the First Lady to be dressed impeccably and dignified. You could say 'lady like'. Perhaps its time to hire a style consultant?!

[metoo123]

04:54 PM on 09/14/2011

All your rules and regulations! And here I thought our country was based on "Freedom of Choice". She is hosting a group of very CREATIVE people and her style of dress reflects that. Thank goodness she has the good sense to dress appropriately for the situation.

BTW she is wearing American designed earrings. I LOVE long dangling earrings. I am glad to know a new jewelry designer. I looked at the designer's website and would love to purchase a pair of her earrings. I wouldn't have done that for our First Lady's introduction to those of us interested in such things.

[Lauren Paige]

05:41 PM on 09/14/2011

You are old fashioned I guess. In 2011 fashion is about having fun and being unique, at least IMO. She looks great for her age and can pull off pretty much any look at any time. I'd rather see Michelle Obama looking snazzy (and showing her perfectly toned arms) than to see her dressed like Hillary Clinton in skirt suits all the time. Yawn...boring.

[metoo123]

04:35 PM on 09/14/2011

She looks lovely! The dress is gorgeous against her skin and hair coloring and the earrings are perfect with the up swept hair style. HP, thanks for telling us who made the earrings.

[metoo123]

09:32 PM on 09/14/2011

She does look lovely! What is sad is your unkind hatred. I feel great pity for you that your haven't the capacity to be a better person. It has nothing to do with politics, it's about being good and the best one can be. You and many on this thread, don't get that. Too bad! I don't know this woman, I have nothing to base anything on but what I see in these photos. Your view however, isn't based on that at all. What happened in this country to produce such people?

[CAMEOCAT]

02:33 PM on 09/14/2011

Michelle you are OUR economy...keep looking beautiful.

[rainkitty]

07:03 PM on 09/14/2011

"Travel is fatal to bigotry, prejudice, and narrow-mindedness. Broad, wholesome, and charitable views cannot be acquired by vegetating in one tiny corner of the globe."
- Mark Twain

[grannyduggan]

02:31 PM on 09/14/2011

She looks nice,,earings have to go....like the way she has her hair..makes her look young. No I am not a dem...am a rep

[ScarlettMocha]

05:34 PM on 09/14/2011

You comment sounded sincere.

[grannyduggan]

01:04 PM on 09/18/2011

I was sincere..no reason not to be...

[SoccerNana]

03:41 PM on 09/15/2011

The earrings don't have to "go" because you don't like them; that's your taste. Michelle Obama "likes" them and she is the one wearing them.