Of Course Michelle Cannot Go Sleeveless To Have Tea With The Queen!

Anyone who thinks Michelle Obama should use tea with the Queen as an experimental fashion platform is sadly deluded. I cannot believe some of the suggestions I am reading on this site.

Bare shoulders at Buckingham Palace during the day would be seen as a tremendous insult to our monarch.

Do Americans not realize that in Britain, unlike America, to wear a wedding dress in church that does not cover one's shoulders is considered absolutely disrespectful? It was the first thing I was told when I had my wedding gown designed in London fifteen years ago. Sleeves are a must.

Imagine, then, what the Queen -- who is never sleeveless on formal occasions -- would think of Michelle Obama showing up in bare-armed sheath by some clueless modern designer, when the Queen's day uniform -- as we know -- is sleeves, hat, gloves -- and no matter how hot the weather, tights.

The Royal family is always told that they too should wear hats, sleeves and gloves to match the formal style when paying the Royal matriarch a visit -- which means, that strictly speaking, so should America's First Lady, out of respect.

Anyone British person knows that when you are invited to Buckingham Palace, you behave - and dress -- in the way Buckingham Palace suggests -- not as if you were getting ready to sashay down a Fashion Week runway.

Of course it's possible to make the Royal formal style look glamorous. No one did it better than the late Princess of Wales -- but she always dressed "correctly".

Anyone who attends Royal Ascot or Royal Regatta at Henley during London's so-called season knows that if you try to put fashion ahead of protocol -- you will be stared at and probably kicked out.

For Henley skirts must cover the knee (I once had to stop the car en route and buy a new dress since I realized the one I had on was just a fraction too short) and at Ascot hats must cover the top of the head. Sleeves are always required.

A friend who spent the week at Windsor Castle during Royal Ascot one week had to get into long evening wear for dinner every single night.

So for all those shrieking about who will look the most fashionable during the G20 summit, may I suggest you dampen the nonsensical hurly-burly of wondering who will reign in the fashion stakes. The answer is neither Sarah Brown nor Michelle Obama, nor even Carla Bruni-Sarkozy but the woman who has already set the bar -- for over fifty years: Her Majesty, the Queen.

Follow Vicky Ward on Twitter: www.twitter.com/VickyPJWard

Comments

[peoplepower1776]

This is what you, British subject, don't understand: Americans are not British. We signed a Declaration of Independence nearly 233 years ago.

Many Americans love and respect your country (I do), but , for obvious reasons (um, that 1776 thing again), we don't take your monarchy very seriously.

I would never dream of writing an article telling British guests how to behave in our country. How dare you try to Americans how to behave in yours.

By the way, if Michelle Obama's sleeves are your biggest problem, consider yourself the luckiest person in the world.

[mmonarch]

Michele Obama's sleeves must be your problem too, as you have bothered to post here. This has nothing to do with the Declaration of Independence, it is pure and simple, respecting the traditions and mores of a foreign nation and their dignitaries. Period. Manners.

[larose501]

They really do drone on about her fashionsand it is surprising how mean and cruel some folks can be. .She's real and doesn't squander the publics money
Michelle Obama could really set off her wardrobe if she finished her look with TGee Designs of Chgo.
http://stores.homestead.com/TGeeDesigns/-strse-Necklaces/Categories.bok

[preatorius]

The queen is just another person just like you and me. I don't think she even believes the hype the way you do!

[MadamRoma]

I heard the queen thought Michelle had no shoulders because she did not wear sleeveless attire. When dinner was finished the queen ask Michelle if she could see her guns, Michelle then removed her sweater and flexed her biceps, the queen was elated. Oh please stop it, the queen knows body parts, she has some herself, and yes the queen does go to the bathroom just like you and me.

[patwal]

So when Jackie Kennedy wore a sleeveless gown at a state dinner I think it was with the Queen, I take it you felt she was way out of line?

[JustMyWords]

A formal dinner is not the same as an audience with the Queen, and what is appropriate dress for one is not appropriate dress for the other.

[EvictTheObamasAlready]

She had a jacket with the sleeveless gown you speak of. Not to mention it was France where she wore it.!!!!

[mmonarch]

It was the UK, google image it.

[mmonarch]

My bad, it was France with Jackie K, sorry.

[AdvancedDegree]

I don't care about the queen. I saw a video of riding in a car waving and smiling as it drove down a segregated South Africa. If that is what the monarch is about, you can have it all to yourself. Snooty and frumpy are out. Warmth and accessibility are in. Hail The First Lady of The United States of America.

[pigeonca]

The only time I've ever encountered rules against sleevelessness was in Israel, where religious fanatics, both Muslim and Jewish, have some sort of hang up about bare arms. I don't think the Queen is a crazed theist, so...

[ReesieKitty]

People- Americans do not have to curtsy to the Queen - we are not her subjects. Also, as the wife of a World Leader, Michelle Obama is considered similar to a peer. She waited until the Queen extended her own hand ( correct, if Michelle had shook first that would have been a no-no) and then allowed the Queen to grasp her hand until Her Majesty let go first. All correct.

As for the back-pat thing- again, the Queen initiated the contact, so it was appropriate. Whether you liked her outfit or not ( I think it was fine, the top was actually pretty dressy, you just can't see the fabric weight and detailing as well in these photos) she did NOT commit any etiquette gaffes. She followed the Queen's lead, as the Queen was ruler of the country she was visiting and was an elderly grandma lady- all appropriate, all good!

[rhonda42]

Michelle Obama dressed like a lady. Getting upset b/c she was sleeveless shows 1-a too firm grip on old, moldy fashion rules & 2-envy.

[2morrowKnight]

Well, guess what Vicky, Mrs. Obama didn't go sleeveless with the Queen, but she went sleeveless on two other occasions yesterday. No matter how much people want to try and limit Michelle Obama's fashion choices, she emerges!

And with all due respect, Her Majesty did not reign in the fashion stakes. First Lady Michelle Obama did. So says the media that was on hand for her appearances. Her Majesty gets respect for her position and standing in British Society. But Michelle Obama's fashion look reigned supreme during her meeting with The Queen.

[reubidium]

Did you just actually say that Queen Elizabeth has set the worldwide femme fashion standard for the past 50 years?

Sincerely,
Cowboy from Far West Texas

[myna]

This is April Fool's joke, right?!

[CherokeeGirl]

well LA DEE DA!

[ruthinking]

ah, sleeves a must for a wedding dress in England? At last, we understand the reason for Princess Diane's balloon sleeves. Thank you, American revolutionary rebels.

[studentoflaw]

did anyone else find this article to be extremely insulting and self-righteous?

do you, Vicky Ward, not realize that there are far more significant ways of showing one's respect than following some irrelevant, outdated dress code? if this nasty article is any indication, the clear answer is 'no.'

if the First Lady shows to the queen the equivalent amount of respect that the author has shown to her in this article, the First Lady will show up in a bikini.

luckily for all involved, Michelle Obama has far more class than Vicky Ward ever will.