What Will Michelle Obama Wear For Tea With the Queen? (VIDEO)

Update: Gioia Diliberto appeared on MSNBC on Tuesday to what Michelle Obama would wear

WATCH:

Will Michelle Obama wear sleeves to meet Queen Elizabeth II later this week? Flats? Perhaps a hat? Will she recycle a previously worn ensemble, as a nod to the global economy's perilous state -- which everyone blames on America -- or debut a dazzling new outfit? Does it matter?

You betcha, as Sarah Palin might say. The self styled hockey mom and Alaskan governor learned it the hard way, when she wore a $2,500 Valentino jacket for her big speech at the GOP convention. Had she chosen something more in tune with her down home rhetoric, she could have avoided an avalanche of bad press.

Clothes have great symbolic power, as every mom who's saved her kids' baby shoes knows. For someone of Mrs. Obama's stature, that power can be a social force. Because of the intense interest in the First Lady's fashion choices, the world will closely be watching what she wears on her upcoming trip with the President to London, France, Germany and Turkey. How the First Lady presents herself and how she's perceived could go far towards quelling resentment of Mr. Obama's economic policies.

First stop for the First couple is London, where Michelle is wildly popular, her every fashion decision breathlessly reported in the press, and where the headline of one newspaper recently cried, "Why doesn't the UK have a Michelle Obama?"

Sorry, Carla Bruni, Michelle is the new Diana.

According to the White House schedule, Mrs. Obama will join the President for many of his European events, including tea with Queen Elizabeth II. While Mr. Obama is busy at the G-20 economic summit, his wife will join Sarah Brown, Britain's First Lady, and the other leaders' wives on a visit to a London health facility. In Strasbourg, France, Mrs. Obama will tour a cathedral and a hospital.

At all these events, the First Lady will be standing with Carla Bruni, the 40-year-old ex-supermodel who is the third wife of French President Nicholas Sarkozy. Bruni is the kind of dazzling, professional beauty who tends to blur everyone around her. Still, it is Jackie Kennedy who is perhaps Michelle's biggest competition on this trip.

No doubt, the press will be comparing Michelle's performance and appearance to Jackie's on her triumphant European trip with President Kennedy in the spring of 1961. That visit, at the height of the Cold War, reinforced Kennedy's popularity in the free world, but the French-speaking Jackie stole the show. Kennedy was staggered by the adoring crowds who greeted his wife wherever she went and introduced himself at a news conference in France by saying, "I am the man who accompanied Jackie Kennedy to Paris."

In her simple sheaths and streamlined ball gowns, Jackie was the very image of modern elegance, "subliminally reinforcing the Kennedy administration's message of forward-thinking dynamism," according to the catalogue for the 2001 Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibition, "Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years."

Like Jackie, Michelle is married to a young, handsome, charismatic president who in his personality and accomplishments embodies the bold, optimistic spirit of America. The same can be said of Michelle's clothes, those fresh and original outfits by such U.S designers as Maria Pinto and Narciso Rodriguez, Jason Wu and Isabel Toledo.

Beautiful clothes can deceive you that the world is a better place than it is - that's why they're so intoxicating. Still, as Coco Chanel once said, "If there's no woman, there's no dress."

Michelle Obama breathes life into everything she puts on. I can't wait to see what she wears for tea with the Queen.

Comments

[MsIrisMG]

The British press is too busy being apoplectic because Mrs. Obama touched the Queen to make note of any outfit, and apparently that's against their precious "protocol". I should think the Queen knows how to say "don't touch me" if it's that big of a deal. Those Brits really gall me with their attitudes, maybe it's a cultural thing, I don't know. Maybe I shouldn't judge the people, it's the media trying to bait people.

[alagausun]

Its an interesting one Great post ,The Queen is about to meet the first Black Person who is significantly more powerful, important and Significant that she is. I am wondering how this encounter will take place.

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[Applecheeks]

I am so loving this trip! Someone call Chris Matthews, I think I am getting a little chill up my leg! ;)

[dee1984]

I love when he and Olberman try to be objective lol its like seriously your in the tank for obamas but hey so am I, Like I say Michelle is my BFF in my mind

[trudem2]

As long as she wears something not cheap, not garish, and not J Crew, she should be okay.

[jazabelz]

What difference does it make if it's J Crew? Really -- where does your ego in this regard come from? If it looks good, fits well and is comfortable -- wear it. Designer labels does not equate to self worth or worth at all!

[Gioia Diliberto - Huffpost Blogger]

Did you see her this morning in J. Crew?

[PoliticalAmazon]

They mentioned Palin's $2500 Val coat.

A $2500 Val coat for MO seems quite appropriate to me. A classic jacket, suit, pants, whatever can be worn forever.

The French have it right: they buy a few really quaity pieces and accessorize. It is not unusual for them to wear the same jacket twice or three times during the week.

[dee1984]

yeah but she didn't wear it well and just because it Valentino doesn't mean its good, I like a lot of his designs but mot that jacket

[hw]

Michelle Obama is an original in her own right.
She'll look great whatever she wears.

But I think it's her inner beauty and natural style and that people are responding to.
It's so refreshing.

[TruthHurts2]

It's "above my paygrade" to speak about fashion "do's and don'ts" but I WILL offer one prediction relating to Barack Obama.....­I recently saw the movie "The Queen". I'm pretty sure that THIS President will not WINK at Queen Elizabeth as Dubya did. After seeing how much "formality" is valued at Buckingham; I imagine that the Monarchy was insulted with THAT crude example of "cowboy diplomacy".

[dillydawg]

With so much bad news, this article brings a little lightness to the day. It's a fun read. thanks

[polo2020]

She will wear some clothes I hope...but who really cares, people are losing their houses and jobs ...The Obamas are rich and so is the Queen of England

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[Tom Bultman]

not only that but our constitution and bill of rights are being degraded by the O'bama regime

[JoeBrady]

I am not a fashion person generally, but this is big and will be important in a larger, gestalt view of this trip. I sense that Americans are just realizing what's coming this week. A new America is arriving in the Old World with a brilliant, prepared, and charismatic speaking for our nation; with his equally brilliant, prepared, and charismatic wife at his side speaking for our nation in her thoughtful ways!!

Sooooo....­..I think its gonna be about the hat!! The British LOVE hats!! It's worth noting that Michelle's own background involving Sunday-go-­to-meeting clothes has given her appreciation of a lovingly chosen hat. I expect designers have been considering this for months, especially given the fact it must look right from toe to tip. But mark my word! The Hat will cause a global twitter (including the now old meanings of the word!) unlike any ever seen!

[GoodNews]

Hi Gioia!
I'm hoping Michelle goes all Maria Pinto on the world. I've loved every Pinto outfit Michelle has worn. I think she is the designer who "gets" Michelle.

[Gioia Diliberto - Huffpost Blogger]

I love Maria Pinto's clothes, too!

[klondiker]

Not gonna lie - I too am looking forward to see what Michelle wears! I'm sure though that she will be lovely and elegant as always! But, two things:

1. Is it just me who finds the Diana comparison more than a little morbid??

2. I also find the comparison to Jackie Kennedy a little insulting. Yes, Michelle is also married to a young, charismatic president, as you point out. And, yes, her fashion and elegance are often compared to Jackie Kennedy. But, the comparisons stop there. The reason why Michelle is so beloved is not because of how she dresses, but because of the warm, open, generous person that she is. Moreover, she is smart, educated, intelligent and accomplished in her own right. She is inspiring on her own, and not just because of her husband.

[Gioia Diliberto - Huffpost Blogger]

I didn't mean to imply that Michelle is a clothes horse like Jackie. In fact, as I pointed out in a previous blog (Secretary of Fashion), she is anything but. Clothes were central to Jackie's life, they are not to Michelle's. That being said, Michelle's fashion influence is comparable to Jackie's.

[klondiker]

Fair point :)

[dee1984]

true true

[dee1984]

I hate the kennedy comparisons, all the what would Jackie have done, um hello this is 2009 were comparing her to a woman who was first lady before she was born.

And Lady Di, I liked her but can we stop comparing them w/ people who were killed, same w/ President Obama and JFK, gives me the heebe Jeebes for a lack of a better term

[garry472]

I find this rather interesting. The Queen is about to meet the first Black Person who is significantly more powerful, important and Significant that she is. I am wondering how this encounter will take place.

[dillydawg]

Like two important women with class. How else?

[tyrdofwaitin]

As usual, First Lady Michelle will be drop-dead gorgeous! Tea with the Queen will never be the same again ---- just watch the Queen EYE Michelle!

[InfosolutionWiz]

HAHAHA! SO TRUE!!

[PippiLongstocking]

You got that right...

[CynAnne]

Since it's tea, a most likely ensemble will comprise a jacket with calf-length dress (maybe in a muted shade of lilac - perfect for the season and lovely against Michelle's skin), and perhaps a small hat, maybe even gloves. That's along the lines of the outfit I would chosen for her, anyways..! ;) ...