Belted in McQueen
Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at 12:05 PM 
Photos by Ben Stansall / Getty Images
The First Lady is known for her Alaia belts, but less acknowledged is that several of her signature pieces are in fact from the house of Alexander McQueen. Today adds a new Alexander McQueen belt to the mix, this variety with a dash of Western appeal.
To address students from the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School at the University of Oxford, Mrs. O wore a white tunic with slim black pants belted at the waist. It appears the top is an Alexander McQueen Victorian Bustle Cotton Piquet Shirt from Spring 2011, seen here. An Alexander McQueen Double Buckle Western belt from Spring 2011, seen here, adds an exclamation point to the look.
Clearly Mrs. Obama is using this trip as an opportunity to honor several of her favorite British labels. Wonderful!
P.S. I'm sure many of you will remember how students from the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School in North London touched Mrs. O in 2009. Click here for a trip down memory lane.
Alexander McQueen 
Reader Comments (52)
I absolutely LOVE this look---this is quintessential Mrs. O to me!
She looks classy and glamorous. Way to go Mrs O!
Nice!
When you look back at the video of Mrs. Obama speaking at the school in 2009, one thing I notice is how much she has changed her makeup...today's look is so much more fresh and vibrant. She used to have more of a gray cast to her makeup, much less glowing. So whatever she is doing now for makeup/foundation to get that glow is beautiful...and much more reflective of her personality and spirit. More alive! I am also loving the fashions she is wearing for this trip abroad...fascinating to watch. Thank you Mrs. T for your great job covering these fashion highpoints!
Heh -- it's like she's saying, "I'll see your belt hate, and I'll raise you a DOUBLE BELT." I am expecting her to go out soon with five belts on at the same time. "Whatever, h8ers!" :-)
(Mrs. T, your link to the shirt is accidentally redirecting to the belt page again.)
I love the belt, it accentuates the white shirt.
Unfortunately, I was unable to see the shirt with the link given.
Beautiful !!!
Wonderful. She knows her audience, doesn't she?
Hail to my fashion forward first lady! Lets see what the fashion and appropriate intellects would say about this one...the belts is too much? The buckle should have been black? Cant wait to read the experts' "opinions".
love this shirt, but a bustle! Very few of us have a trim enough bottom to carry that one off.
That belt cost $845? Golly, the Dutchess of Cambridge could've gotten two - three entire outfits out of that kind of money.
OMG, Mrs. O was a vision in ivory last night. Tonight she is absolutely stunning in black!! Gorgeous dress, beautiful fit and a jaw-dropping stunning necklace!! WOWOWOWOWOW!! Can't wait to hear the details, Mrs. T.
I love this blouse and this look. Beautifully and elegantly casual. And Mrs. T, thanks so much for providing the link to Mrs. O's earlier talk before these incredible young girls. I was planning on hunting for it because it was so moving. It's very impressive that she cares so much about them to reconnect again.
I think the belt is available at the Alexander Mcqueen website for $845
www.alexandermcqueen.com/us/en/shop/Womenswear/Spring-Summer-11/Accessories/Belts/P-IVORY-DOUBLE-BUCKLE-WESTERN-BELT.aspox
@ meta. Can you post the link please. Thanks
I'm hearing the dress is Ralph Lauren? She looks utterly sleek and sophisticated :-)
@ Jestina (London, England) et al, check out this gorgeous black dress! http://theobamadiary.com/
I love it!
She is stunning in black tonight. Just saw a quick clip of her and the president greeting the Queen and Prince Philip
I like Mrs. O. However, I notice people are going too far with their praising. Everybody should be free to express an opinion. I loved last night's white dress but this white belt looks ugly to me.
Stunning!!! Stunning!!! The black dress, the fit, the jewelry!!!! Thanks SoccerNana for the link.
The "Queen" reigns supreme.
Another knockout gown tonight!
I really am in love with FLOTUS makeup and hair at the dinner at the Ambassador's house. Her smokey eyes are HOTT!
Loving this look. I remember watching Gianfranco Ferre reinventing the white shirt every year with GREAT panache and I don't think I've ever lost the fascination with how crisp and gorgeous they can be. I also like that it's chic and luxurious without making her unapproachable. Very important today.
The belt is, as always, an awesome choice.
@Christina, thank you for making me laugh!
Sugar Honey Iced Tea. I can't decide which gown I like more, last night's to today's. That black dress is SMOKING!!!!!! The evening eyes, the necklace, bracelet and ring are must haves. And I love the simplicity, yet elegance with her hair. Another TEN! She represents us well.
Oh, and you looking mighty 007 too Mr. President ;)
Link seems to be OK. If you are still having trouble, the white shirt is here:
http://www.alexandermcqueen.com/us/en/shop/Womenswear/Spring-Summer-11/Tops/Shirts/P-VICTORIAN-BUSTLE-COTTON-PIQUET-SHIRT.aspx
U.S. President Barack Obama (L) and first lady Michelle Obama (R) welcome Britain's Queen Elizabeth (C) to the Winfield House for dinner in London, May 25, 2011.
First Lady Dress by Ralph Laureen
http://twitpic.com/52gwf2
Mrs. T, since you have not yet posted any pic of Mrs. O in that Exquisite Black Dress, I am swooning about it here. Once of the Mrs. O bloggers mentioned this once, but she always seem to do evening much better than daytime and this definittely proves it. And Love the slicked back hair and the green accent cocktail ring, and the FABULOUS necklace. Wow!
Let's give it up for the "Not-so-Basic Black Dress"!
Thanks for the link, SoccerNana.
I just saw Michelle Obama on the news waiting for the arrival of the Queen for tonight's dinner.
All I can say is WOW. Another home run for sure. The dress is fitted perfectly and nips in her waist. You can clearly see that Mrs Obama works out and it motivates me to keep going to the gym after work. Her necklace, which looks very much like the work of Tom Binns really pulls the whole look together nice. Smoky eyes and slick backed hair. She is truly the picture of elegance.
Does anyone know if Michelle will be attending the G8 summit later this week ?
Tonight's black gown is very chic, very becoming. Soronen?
That slicked low side part is reminiscent of Josephine Baker.
The black dress is Ralph Lauren News reported earlier this week that Michele is NOT going on to France. Love the entire look... .. just when we thought last night was the show stopper... which it was.. now we have this.... jewels at neck and wrist, gorgeous dress... great total look Pictures on obama diary show the First Couple playing around while waiting for Queen to arrive... they never take themselves too seriously, do they http://theobamadiary.com/
Jestina I immediately thought Tom Binns as well.
wow, wow, WOW!!!!! Smokin'!!!
President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama welcome Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip for a reciprocal dinner at Winfield House
OMG!!! It's a black off the shoulder Ralph Lauren, it is SMOKIN' HOT for real, the hair, makeup, the dress = DRAMA!!! Oh Mrs. T, I can't wait for your post!!!
This bustled shirt is fabulous, and especially with the crazy belt. The students must have just loved it. The pictures tell the story: she connects with them.
I snuck a peek at the black dress for tonight's dinner. I am pretty sure I recognize that necklace as Binns's work. It will be interesting to see if the bracelet is as well. I doubt it. She rarely (ever??) wears two pieces from one designer.
The side part for her hair is great - never seen it before.
Last night she was the picture of elegance in a very appropriate way. Tonight she's just sheer American glamor.
Love it!
Jestina, I heard that she wasn't going to the G8. I'll see if I can find the story...
There are some really great - and funny - pictures of the Obamas on The Obama Diary site. The energy and banter between these two as they watch the Queen arrive is utterly charming.
MO was so smart to wear such extravagant and obviously fake jewelry for this dinner - though there is a ring on her left index finger that might be the real deal. There is no way to compete with the royal jewels and she knows it. Her look is much more about just having a good time.
New dress alert ladies, black Ralph Lauren!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i have never seen or heard of a shirt having a bustle on it. i love it! love the belt too, would like to see a red belt like that. mrs-o takes risks, thats what makes her so much fun to watch.
I think it's also about having a personality, and looking sensational AND being 100% appropriate. There seem to be a lot of people here who only have one vision for "What The First Lady SHOULD Wear", which is a bit sad. For day, A Suit. For evening A Stiff Long Dress With An Evening Jacket.
What I wish they could see, because it's really really obvious to everyone that they meet, all the press, all the fashion writers, the entire fashion industry! is that Michelle Obama is proving that you can wear what you like and be absolutely formal, absolutely appropriate and absolutely professional. I had hoped that she was moving the parameters for such constrained people. But I think they are devoted to their rules and will learn nothing.
The black dress is a stunner. It's heavily boned and very stately but its fluidity is so attractive, plus it fits way better than the last corseted dress we saw her in. The jewellery - well, it's fantastic in the true sense of the word. If I had one quibble it would be for a touch more lip colour to combat the all black dress. But other than that, it can't be beaten.
Anyone else notice that the Queen keeps smiling? That doesn't happen a lot. She really likes the Obamas I think.
@ Posh Tater
I have noticed the same smiles you have noticed. She had those smiles the first time and yesterday and today. I agree with you! The Obamas and Her Majesty seem to get along quite joyfully and famously!
I absolutely love her hair - parted - it's been at least 20 years since I did that when I have more hair! Just when you think that she cannot top herself she get more exciting. I was weeping as Oprah said goodbye then I saw MO in this dress and I couldn't stop myself. Silly isn't it, she has that effect on me. I heard a commentator on Sky News say that the Queen doesn't usually attend these dinners in her honor she usually sends Prince Charles. She obviously didn't plan to miss this banquet. Can any of our Brits comment on that?.
Love the blouse but I hate the belt.
It destroys what looks like a classy blouse but I know the belt is her signature so......
Oh well :o)
LMAO at Christina!
Love the shirt, the belt, and the woman!
Her Makeup has been looking Better and Better!
The last 5 times it gas been Amazing!! . Clean and Flawless.
Less Cake. More WOW!!! U Love MO. Still can't Get over how her hairdresser set her up in Ireland. He or She should be Ashamed! Over all she looked Beautiful and Stunning!! FAB Smokey Eye and Great Makeup overall.
Love the flowy, feminine blouse, which is all the more reason I can't stand the heavy, wide belt. It looks like one of the belts that boxers receive when they win a title. A thin, black belt would have looked lovely.
@ ladywatcher - I can concur. As a Brit, the Queen takes her role very seriously. There are times when I'm sure she'd prefer to stay in and watch telly rather than host or attend state dinners. AGAIN, you are right. As the direct heir, the Queen has sent Prince Charles to represent her on many occassions.
I can honestly, say that the Queen looks like she is enjoying herself and enjoying the Obama's. I can't remember the last time I saw so many smiles from the Royal family when greeting foreign dignataries. I believe she and Michelle have a true bond. Kinda makes me love my Queen even more. Oftentimes, she is so misunderstood but I honestly feel that her heart is in the right place.
Regardless, of what you may read about in the press, over here in the UK, we have mad love and admiration for the Obama's.
You gotta love the First Lady. We were absolutely dying to have such an amazing role model for young girls to emulate globally!!!
There's nothing like a crisp white shirt that screams classic!
LOVE IT!
I love the way Mrs. O is mixing up her outfits. I see this as a little edgy and a great choice for this gathering.