Michelle Obama. Did she make a brave and inspired fashion choice, or is she walking around in inaugural upholstery? "Oh my God, she's wearing a couch," one female observer exclaimed upon seeing her. "She's a total babe," said a male supporter.
The style merits of Obama's matching yellow lacy brocade and coat suit dress by Cuban-American Isabel Toledo are definitely debatable, but what's obvious is that Michelle has made a major statement with her outfit. She's done it before -- remember when she first visited the Bushes and the White House in a bold "I'm ready to be first lady" red dress (read my post about it). This is a woman who speaks through her clothing.
There was nothing traditional, meek or remain-in-the-background about this outfit. She deliberately DID NOT wear a tasteful "First Lady" frock. From the sunny, optimistic color to the choice of a dressy, almost evening look, she's telling us she's independent, proud, self-confident, and young.
She's not going to be stuffy, she'll remake the rules of First Lady-ness, just as she's remaking the rules of what's acceptable and stunning to wear on inauguration day. She's not afraid of controversy -- she knows we'll be debating the merits of this outfit -- she knew that not everyone would like it. But she also knows she's a striking figure, who can be an ambassadress of the American fashion industry. She's not afraid of taking up that mantle and choosing a look that is all-woman and pushes the definition of what a "career woman" can wear on a special occasion.
Like other "young" career women, she doesn't have to wear a mannish suit or even a suit at all, to be taken seriously. It's like she's an heiress of the style leadership of modern Sex & The City careerists, Carrie Bradshaw and Samantha Jones, while showing a lot less skin.
Michelle is making sure that we know with her "non-traditional" dressed up outfit that she'll be a non-traditional First Lady AND she'll be an optimistic one. Her husband made sure to tell us that there is much hard work ahead and that we all bear responsibility in turning our country around. Michelle is ensuring that we know that she and her husband believe we will get there. The present may be gray, but there are sparkles ahead.
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Michelle Obama's Inauguration Dress Designed By Isabel Toledo (POLL)
Michelle Obama looks particularly chic today in a pale yellow gown by designer Isabel Toledo. You can see more of her designs here, and read...
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I like the fact that she does her own thing and is not a slave to fashion.
first outfit seemed to be not good for the weather it was not a seasonal look.
second outfit was it winter white?? looked like a prom dress.
Michelle Obama's Inauguration dress looked like it belonged to England's late Queen Mother for a 4pm June wedding, but she forgot her hat. Inappropriate color, cut, fit, fabric and accessories. Ball dress was equally out of step but in the other direction - an immature cross of bridal and prom. Ditto for the long sparkly earrings.
Jill Biden was decent from the waist up during the day but the coat was too bright red and if she wanted to do the boots she should have worn a long skirt. Bare hose and knee boots in that setting were simply exhibitionist. At night, the red strapless gown was fine but needed a shoulder jacket or wrap. Again, too much skin, especially when already wearing look-at-me red.
I cannot say the same for Michelle’s Inaugural outfit, which, to me, looked like it was made from heavy upholstery or drapery fabric with cheap rhinestone embellishments. I’d like to say where I think it came from, but that would not be appropriate here….
I loved the fabric; I am very tactile - totally appealed to me. Loved the fact that it was pashmina lined!! What’s the use of being fashionable and freezing to death!!
Actually, the more I think about it, the more I love this dress! I’m an executive in the Fashion Industry! It reminds me of the exquisite tailoring of those impeccable 50’s & 60’s suits/dresses worn by movie stars! When you were awed at the “lines” and fabrication of a design, not asking about the label on the inside.
I think the ball gown was hideous and it did not accentuate her figure. The color was a good choice, but she should have gone with something more fitted and shorter. Her dress would have been so much better if it hadn't been so full at the bottom in my opinion. I agree with some of the other posters that it looked like she was wearing a chenille bedspread.
Well, what can you do? My favorite outfit so far is the red dress she wore when she and Barrack visited with the Bushes a few weeks ago. The camel suit was a good look too. I also like the jacket she was wearing when the family visited museum last week. She is more hit than miss at least. As I recall, most of the first ladies find themselves style wise after awhile.
Now, Jill Biden hasn't done anything wrong yet. Of course, she probably doesn't have as many cameras on her as Michelle does.
However, the dress was too long since she had to keep adjusting it...pulling it up to keep from stepping on it...or having our President step on it while doing the "old timers cool dance."
Still, the only fashion statement made all day was Aretha Franklin's hat. I thought it was going to fly away. It reminded me of late 20's fashion. Good for her for being bold.
The ball gown : absolutely fantastic. Not overly complicated, VERY feminine, extremely romantic, I swooned. What a couple these two lovers/dancers make! (I think Mr. Obama could wear a garbage bag and still look elegant and classy!)
As for Dr. Biden, the choice of colour is a bit more conventional but she looked absolutely smashing because red is so nice on a blonde. A fairly simple dress, which is what I prefer.
As for the choice of fabric...all that was missing was the addition of the drapery rod worn over the shoulders as seen in the classic Carol Burnett TV skit of Scarlet O’Hara. I kept expecting Michelle to quote Carol Burnett with “I saw it in the window and couldn’t resist”.
In my opinion Michelle is our first young and potentially glamorous First Lady since Jacqueline Kennedy. Glamorous is not a bad word nor is it a bad image to portray to the world. Frumpy on the other is! Michelle take advantage of your good looks and position and invest in a fashion stylist...please!