Fashion Critics You Got it Wrong! Not First Lady Obama.
All of the cable media chatter about what First Lady Michelle Obama is wearing, will wear, how she presents herself, what she says, and how she says it was for a moment completely silenced when she took the stage at the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Language School in London to share a personal part of herself with the ethnically and religiously diverse girls attending this school.
Her words of encouragement and tears from a woman who is a mother first, cradled the stage of participants as she held the audience of her symbolic daughters. We have a First Lady who is absolutely comfortable with being authentic; showing a level of Emotional and Spiritual Intelligence that has not ever been seen by any President's wife in History.
The British Media despite the initial wind sucking sound that permeated the U.K. when Michelle touched Her Majesty in a moment of connectedness between the two women - breaking la non toccare (the don't touch) the Queen policy was forgiven. Known to be quite cheeky and down right harsh at times, the British Tabloids called her "Mighty Michelle." She charmed all of Great Britain rising to the occasion that was shamefully under estimated by our U.S. pundits and so called experts who think they are in the know.
Huff Post Blogger Bonnie Fuller says Michelle Obama has "lost her mind and is a fashion disaster." I guess coming from a woman who has served as an award winning Editor-In-Chief to some of Nation's top fashion magazines, she of course knows more about fashion than I do. I am sure she also dresses better than me as well. However, with all due respect to BF's knowledge, expertise and fashion sense, she totally misses the point to who the First Lady really is to America and now the rest of the world. And while fashion is very important, it is also not important.
First Lady Obama's kinetic energy with the Queen who requested to "stay in touch" with Mrs. Obama is the answer to BF labeling her a Fashion Dud. Seeing the smiles, hearing the screams of excitement and listening to the inspiring testimonies by the young girls at the school about what Mrs. O means to them is more priceless than Birkin Bags by Hermes or wearing a pair of Christian Louboutin shoes.
Ms. Fuller did you pay that much attention to First Lady Laura Bush's fashion? Perhaps you did and you are an equal opportunity vitriolic critic. You of course are not alone as fashion buff detractor.
Another Huff Post vogue type writer said the First Lady looks like James Brown and among other things compared her to something much more vulgar. Even journalists like Juan Williams who really should know better about making disparaging remarks about the First Lady's as being a "Stokely Carmichael" in a dress I am sure never said anything this viscous about the former First Ladies Bush, Clinton and Bush. He took a liberty that was totally inappropriate.
First Lady Obama reminds me of Bush 41's wife Barbara. The former First Lady did not care what other people thought about what she wore or even the style of her signature white hair and white strand of pearls. Mrs. Obama cares more about how she impacts our military families who are suffering economically. She worries about youth in America who need someone to look up too. With her presence, words and deeds alone, she wants to encourage women to meet the challenges of the day to break the velvet and glass ceilings. However, most important to her are taking care of her daughters, and yes being her man's woman. BF, First Lady Obama cares about being a woman of substance, and you know you just can't dress that!
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Here's a great diary including a poll on why Oscar de la Renta is feeling miffed about Michelle Obama's "snub"... as if he was ever in contention given the horrible job he's done dressing First Ladies recently.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/4/4/173251/6509
I am personally appalled by the leverage some in the media think they have to openly insult the First Lady. Sure, Barbara Bush was dowdy, but the media didn't insult her. The late night comics, sure, but they insult everybody. I don't know if the fact that she is a black woman gives the pundits the gumption to think they can openly insult her, but the point of your article definitely isn't lost.
Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable we must change it every six months.
Oscar Wilde
The package matters more than the wrapping.
Great quote.
You might not be able to dress substance but you do not have to be tacky while being someone of substance.
Yvonne Davis: And while fashion is very important, it is also not important.
===
As a matter of fact, fashion is TOTALLY unimportant.
The obsession with what Michelle wears, how she looks, whether her arms are bare, etc. is just a sign of the sickness of our society. And HuffPo contributes to it as much as anyone.
What's really said is how said obsession TRIVIALIZES women. Really, when Bonnie Fuller et all blather on like this, why should we be surprised when the media goes apeshite over (say) Hillary showing a bit of cleavage.
It's not the media's fault. They're just feeding our society's insatiable appetite for drek.
Michelle is so much more than a fashion mannequin(although I think she does the fashion thing well)she's a person of integrity and substance that so few people have. Rich, poor or middleclass don't show the compassion and empathy for others the way MO does and she's the First Lady of the United States a position that she uses to assist others.
I'd wager a guess, if the kids, homeless, miliatary family and sick were asked what they thought of MO after meeting her not 1 would list how she dressed in their top 10.
Beautifully put and much needed observations!
Yes, CrissyPatters. Your points are on the mark.
Thank you.
I'll be the first to admit that I don't know anything about fashion, that's my wife's area of expertise. But I do know that Mrs. Obama is intelligent, tall, shapely and gorgeous. She always looks good to me because she is CONFIDENT.
Nice blog Ms. Davis.
Michelle's style is effortless, and to echo Yvonne's sentiments - there are much bigger issues going on that are more important than how Mrs. O dresses.
Bonnie Fuller -- and I disagreed vehemently with her assessment of MO's clothing choices -- is all about FASHION. Fashion is consumer oriented, and fleeting...
Michelle Obama is about STYLE. Style is when you develop a signature look that reflects or enhances who you are. Style is the jaunty way one might wear your favorite hat, or tying your scarf to your purse, or wearing straight leg pants because they flatter your shape when everyone else looks like an idiot in elephant bell bottomed jeans. (Bonnie would tell you the elephant bells are "must haves", to go along with the platform sandals and toe socks.) Style is being brave enough to wear white after Labor Day because you look great in it. Style is making the most of your best assets, style is taking risks when others play it "fashion safe." (why do you think they call it "fashion week" anyway? so you'll buy, buy buy!)
Celebrate Michelle Obama's style, not her fashions.
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Jade7243,
You are definitely more in the know about Fashion versus Style than I. I appreciate the education and also appreciate that you read my piece. Have a wonderful weekend!
Yvonne
Yvonne loved this post! Great job! Michelle has her own style and taste alot of people just dont want to accept and respect that fact. I appreciate her authenticity and the fact that she is her own person and not another fashion clone.
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DivaMomma,
This is truly the point. She has her own sense of style and people who are "dogging her out" should really just quit at this point because she has her own mind and if anything they are starting to look shrill. Thank you again.
Yvonne
Don't compare smart and stylist Michelle to dowdy Barbara Bush! Most first ladies haven't cared what folks say because it would be crazy--Mamie Eisenhower was criticized for her old fashioned dresses, and of course Eleanor Roosevelt got it constantly about her appearance in spite of all the good, relentless work they did. As long as Michelle looks like she is having a good time--and she must as such a grounded and smart woman--"dressing" for the role, all is well. Of course the Queen embraced her--how many real people get near her??
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Beckinspate,
Thank you for your post, but clearly you missed the point when I discussed Barbara Bush. The fact that you called her "dowdy" is my point. She (Mrs. Bush) really did not care what people said about her style of dress. Michelle has the same attitude - she could care less about the opinions of others and her dress.
You are so right on your point about the Queen. Thank you for reading my post. I really appreciate it.
Yvonne
Thank you so much for writing this piece, Ms. Davis. Our First Lady always looks appropriate for the occasion and classy, no matter whether meeting world leaders or serving lunch at a homeless shelter(which I believe is far more important, BTW).
BF's opinion pieces about Michelle Obama have always been mean spirited. I had never heard of her before, but after reading just a couple of columns I swore off of reading anything more by her.
Thank you again for bring the subject back to where it belongs. I look forward to reading more of your writing.
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Tilted windmill, I want to thank you for your comments. BF is not kind at all and very harsh. It is as though she has something really against the First Lady. Perhaps this is her M.O. against others or her M.O. against M.O. Either way, seemingly a very angry person.
Bonnie Fuller clearly has deep-seated issues about the First Lady that she disguises as what she probably considers "light-hearted" fashion critiques and whatnot, but at some point it always devolves into something uglier. She probably doesn't even realize when her mask starts slipping but the reader does and it's really unsettling. Then again, she's a fashion magazine editor, so catty and clothing is probably all she knows. Why that merits a HuffPo column I don't know, but she's got one, and that's the last one I'll be reading until she lays off the Haterade.
Let me add to the chorus of people who have remarked on how refreshing it is to see a post like this in a swarm of incredibly mean-spirited harping towards Michelle Obama.
Though I also think Bonnie Fuller missed the point, I also think that the biggest problem is that she was being an over-the-top, petty, rhymes with witch.
I mean, she was so full of hate that by the time her evil little post ended, she had criticized both Obamas for being tall for crap's sake! She called them "funeral directors."
I'm not sure this even expresses the level of contempt I had for Bonnie Fuller after I read that screed. Disgusting, IMO.
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Veronica,
She kind of acts like a bit of a tool for someone or something as well. I don't her, so I am not really sure, but in any event it seems she is as cold as ice.
Yes - what Michelle Obama wears means little compared to what she is, says and does. I was very moved by her speech at the girls' school in London, and by how excited the girls were by her.
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What she said was quite moving. Thank you for sharing.
Excellent piece!
No matter what First Lady Obama wears she is always authentic. Who am I to judge?
If labels and designers are so important, then we should wear our clothing inside out.
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LOL! PoliPassionate, I love your last line! You have certainly made your point. Thank you so much.
Yvonne
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