Wednesday
May252011
Serving in Style
Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at 8:36 AM 
Photo by Matt Dunham / AP Images
First Lady Mrs. O and Samantha Cameron started their Wednesday by serving U.S. and U.K. military families at a barbecue held at 10 Downing Street. For the event, Mrs. O chose a black and white print dress featuring a sheer top and beaded belt by House of Lavande. Fancy!
Update: Thanks to various readers who have spotted Mrs. O's dress! The First Lady wears Tracy Reese Pre-Fall 2011, seen here. For jewelry, Mrs. O wears an armload of moonstone, jasper, colored diamond and white coral bracelets all by Jordan Alexander and available at Fragments.
Reader Comments (49)
It is by Tracy Reese Pre fall 2011 http://www.style.com/fashionshows/complete/slideshow/2011PF-TREESE?event=show2202&designer=design_house582&trend=&iphoto=9
I am proud of our President and First Lady. They are a genuine, loving, selfless couple who represent our country in such a positive way in spite of....my prayers are for our First Family as well as those who have been affected by the horrific storms. I pray we come together as one nation under God.
I would like to become Mrs O personal Assistant and assist her in dressing. Even though I understand that she wears what she likes and is comfortable in, sometimes they are not always appropriaite for the occasion.
am loving mrs.o's fashion in europe. her wardrope has never been better!
Mrs O looks lovely here............well done!
I'm beginning to think that Michelle Obama gets away with her fashion choices because she is Michelle, and so comfortable with her self. I mean, most of the other ladies that she photographs with look so plainly dressed compared to her. They play it safe. But Michelle, she has on beads and bows, bold geometric patterns. I know that I could never get away with wearing a lot that Michelle wears, but seeing her joy in being who she is makes me just a little more daring with how I express myself in my clothing and accessories. THANK YOU MICHELLE!!
Wow! A great dress and our FLOTUS looks lovely in it, but isn't this too dressy for this occasion? Is she moving on to another event afterwards?
@Mrs. T, any word on those stunning earrings from last night?
The dress is Tracy Reese resort x
Diane Von Furstenberg?
She's at a bbq, for heaven's sake, not a museum!!! Wrong color...too dressy. Lighten up, Michelle
Wow she looks terrific - I love the very graphic pattern on the top. Glow Mrs. O!
LOVE this dress! Super stylish Mrs O! THIS is how you do monochrome.
Samantha looks as boring as ever - how she can make Peter Pilotto and Jonathan Saunders look dull is beyond me but she does. (And I bet this kind of occasion never happens again at No 10 while the Cameron's are in office.)
Wow she looks amazing! OK, now will my comment be posted?
I wish people would just throw away the imaginary handbook of "What the First Lady should and should not wear". If she had come to the BBQ in jeans and a t-shirt someone would have said she was too under dressed to represent us abroad. Bottom line, Michelle is ROCKING it, everyday and all day! Do you Michelle! I for one absolutely, positively LOVE it!
THANK YOU BETH--for putting into words my EXACT FEELINGS that I've had about Michelle all along!! I just never was able to express it like you just did.
First impression of this dress-- love the dress itself, but for an outdoor barbecue she could have lost the sparkly belt. Mrs. Cameron looks casual cute, but some beads around her neck would do wonders.
BBQ or not, our First Lady looks absolutely great! The colors compliments the uniforms that the soliders are wearing and speaking for myself, I have attended a lot of BBQ and I did not plan to stay all day because of other engagments and had to leave. So to all the haters about the dress being inappropriate or to dressy, being the guest of honor and how much she cares for our men, women and their families in service. She can wear whatever she damn pleases! So will you please stop putting Our First Lady" in a box". Guess what? She can pull that off, also. So sit back and enjoy another 4 years of being wowed, amazed, colorized by a confident woman who wears what she likes. End of story....By the way, just curious to know how many eyes immediately went to Samantha Cameron when you first saw the picture? Yeah, right. Just what I thought. You go First Lady, go geometric, in shear navy blue, mind you at a picnic and serve your country well and look good while doing it. Your husband loves you dearly, proud of you and so AM I.
BBQ or not, our First Lady looks absolutely great! The colors compliments the uniforms that the soliders are wearing and speaking for myself, I have attended a lot of BBQ and I did not plan to stay all day because of other engagments and had to leave. So to all the haters about the dress being inappropriate or to dressy, being the guest of honor and how much she cares for our men, women and their families in service. She can wear whatever she damn pleases! So will you please stop putting Our First Lady" in a box". Guess what? She can pull that off, also. So sit back and enjoy another 4 years of being wowed, amazed, colorized by a confident woman who wears what she likes. End of story....By the way, just curious to know how many eyes immediately went to Samantha Cameron when you first saw the picture? Yeah, right. Just what I thought. You go First Lady, go geometric, in shear navy blue, mind you at a picnic and serve your country well and look good while doing it. Your husband loves you dearly, proud of you and so AM I.
I love the dress and it is very appropriate for the First lady of the USA to wear. Another home run for me
I had stopped commenting but this trip to the UK gave me a second wind. To the "Appropriateness Activists", this is the First Lady of the US and she just came from breakfast with the Queen of England. This is not a typical barbecue in your backyard. Its at the Prime Minister's residence. Jeans or shorts and T-shirt would not do. You all need to stop.
veda tappin--
Let's suppose that you get that job of helping her dress. Then come back on here and see all the criticisms of your choices. Such seems to be the nature of fashion and may actually be the essence. Everyone has an opinion.
Agreed VT; lovely dress, but a bit fancy for serving the militaries.
Let's just assume that Mrs. O is not cooking or grilling at the BBQ but acting as co-hostess.
If that is the case, then she is dressed very nicely and formally. After all, the outside of 10 Downing
Street is not your average backyard BBQ spot.
Oooohhh @LDS your rant is so "last year" on this blog. Calling people haters because they don't care for an outfit? And "Michelle can wear what she wants" ? This whole controversy was hashed out ad nauseum over the past 2 years and 99% of us have gotten past it. Yes, it was rough going for awhile, but I think we have come to an understanding that any politely stated opinion, positive or negative, is tolerated.
It's a very cute dress. However, I find the beaded belt to be overkill. It's fighting the pattern on the bodice.
Mrs. Obama and Mrs. Cameron look lovely; no one posting on this blog has any idea of what type of morning these two ladies had; they may have had breakfast with the wives of other dignitaries or even as someone posted earlier, with the Queen; meanwhile, their husbands had other early a.m. meetings; afterward, they served lunch to the soldiers; the ladies in dresses, the President and PM Cameron removed their suit jackets and rolled up their sleeves to help serve the burgers. Were the men dressed inappropriately for serving lunch to the military as well? We are looking at pictures taken in a moment of appreciating serving the military, while having attended many other activities earlier in the day, and having additional activities to attend to later in the day. Well, that's my two cents.
I think she looks very appropriate. As Char said, she is not grilling or prepping-she is the co-hostess at a very formal location. If the headline read "co-hosts a luncheon" no one would criticize her choice of clothing.
Say what you all like but the first lady is getting more air time on the news over here than the President. EVERYONE has been commenting on her wardrobe - men and women regardless of race or political affiliation.
I am impressed that Michelle has wowed everyone here. I shudder to think what people would say if she wore anythiing less. It is out of respect that she has dressed so elegantly, after all she is serving lunch to our soldiers, men amd women that lay down their lives to make us safe. On a slightly different note, I am somewhat surprised that no one has commented on Samantha Cameron's dress which happens to be WHITE. I wonder why ??!!! Not a colour I would go for when serving food but to each their own. I happen to like both Michelle and Samantha's dresses.
A lovely choice, if (sorry to those of you who disagree) a little dressy for even a State Barbeque!
I don't 'get' Mrs. Cameron's dress sense; not just these two choices, but also the Marc Jacobs 'apron' dress she wore for the christening of her second son, Arthur, a few years ago. Perhaps I just don't do quirky - Mrs. Cameron is hardly going to lose sleep over that. And she should wear what she wants, it's just that it comes over as a little too try-hard. Mrs. O has the personality & experience in the public eye to pull off quirky with more aplomb. And by the way...I think 'quirky' is fabulous adjective. It's not some sort of back-handed compliment!
While I'm not a fashion guru, I can appreciate a simple and elegant look when I see one. Mrs. obama looks beautiful and I don't see the dress as inappropriate. Mrs. O and her hostess were serving bbq to the military families to show appreciation and support. They were celebrating what these guys stand for, it was not your regular bbq.
Yes, we are free to our opinion, but we dont have to be impolite and come across like Mrs. Obama can't do anything right. She earned the right to be the first lady and should be accorded her due respect.
Excellent point Jestina!
Unfortunately, the people who think she was too dressy are actually wrong in their opinion. Sorry.
And here is why...
Did anyone of you bother to look at how the SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN WERE DRESSED? That would be no. Her dress was very appropriate based upon what they were wearing. The Prime Minister and the President were wearing ties and collared shirts. Her dress was very, very appropriate based upon what ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE WERE WEARING! And yet, you criticize here based on the title of the event, which, by the way, NONE of you received an invitation for so you have no idea what you are talking about.
But go ahead, criticize Michelle Obama for being dressed up at a barbeque when her husband was wearing a suit and the military was dressed in their semi formal uniforms.
Ridiculous!
it doesn't seem to occur to people that perhaps they are having multiple events and not just the BBQ, so they have to dress for many function. its not like they actually cooked the food. the men are wearing ties, for heavens sake. so it she didn't dress for a picnic.
by the way, the eobamadiary.com/ is showing mrs-o in a lovely black evening gown for a reciprocal dinner tor the queen.
The first lady looks lovely here again very nice indeed. Some of you commenting on the first lady style about appropiate and not appropiate should hush your months. This the first lady for godsake! She did us proud yesterday and stunning again today in that black evening wear gown and fab accessories. Well done Mrs O, these two evening gowns show you are THE BEST DRESSED FIRST LADY EVER!
Love both Obamas! Voted for him and will do it again. Love Mrs. O's feminine yet athletic natural figure!
Her wardrobe is indeed spectacular.
Yet, half the time it is not appropriate for the occasion, usually leaning to being much overdressed.
This dress and, indeed, several other outfits she wore on this trip, were too over the top. Of course, she can pull it off like no one else, but just because you can, does not mean you must do it.
Mrs. Obama is highly intelligent woman, she doesn't need anyone to "dress" her to the point of ridiculous.
*sigh* Obviously this is too complicated for some. Let's take it slowly.
Mrs Obama and Mrs Cameron are hosting a lunch for military personnel at Downing Street.
Point 1. Downing Street is NOT The People's House and cannot be made to look friendly or relaxed. It is a street of houses with a rather pokey garden at the back, not designed to be seen, ever. It is a very formal residence.
Point 2. All the personnel present are in full uniform. It would be inappropriate in the extreme for Mrs O to turn up in a Tshirt and chinos to serve people in full uniform IF SHE IS THEIR HOSTESS. It would be rude to dress casually when the guests have to be stiff and formal. Although it is a bbq, it's not exactly an informal event. (A catered buffet lunch would have been better and more in keeping with all the uniforms but hey, they chose to do a bbq.)
SO. Given that there are military personnel in full uniform it is perfect that she is in a nice dress, and respectful to dress up nicely for your guests and allies.
Plus I bet you it sold out in ten minutes.
Where were all you lily livered misery mongers last week? I've won bets on how you would all slime back in as of Monday. Thanks for that at least.
The comment on appropriateness is that this is visibly an evening dress worn in the daytime. Sheer and sparkly do not belong in the daytime or at ANY barbecue. And for those saying she had other events, there are many other outfits that would have worked for a BBQ and a more formal social engagement afterward.
Go Posh Tater - Mrs O is wearing an entirely appropriate dress for this occasion and it's a shame that people come to this blog to make veiled criticisms based on their own warped perspective - enough said.
Many of the servicemen and women present at this 'BBQ' were awarded medals for bravery and gallantry at a very formal function just prior to the lunch (it would have been worded as 'luncheon' on the invite). My understanding (based on the Australian news reports this morning) is that President and Mrs Obama were present to congratulate and talk to the recipients and their families. Hence a more formal dress than what I (and most Americans) would wear if we had invited a few friends around for a weekend BBQ. This is not the same thing at all.
I am just blown away by Mrs O's style and grace during her visit to Europe. Her evening gowns have been spectacular - in particular the Ralph Lauren. She has been right on the money when it comes to her clothes and I am so pleased to see her shine.
@babs 99% got over so obviously, you are the 1% who did not.
Excuse me, may I "politely add" that the reason I did not post in 2 years because it took you and obviously some others longer to get over it. Two years and you dare to comment about my rants? The last time I checked this blog was still open to all and not a select few who think they have all the right answers. What it all boils down to is, "politely stated" is just a nice way of hating and I would venture to say confused. What I was trying to convey was that Our First Lady says to me in her style of dressing is where what you like. The nickpicking about inappropriate dressed for a BBQ just touched a nerve. I thank you Posh Tater for breaking it down for us. I got it. I hope the 99% got it as well. I am sorry that I missed you last week, but I had two sick kids to look after. I am reading how well you positioned yourself. You always do with class and grace.
Ok...so I'm confused.....
She wears shorts to go on a hike in a park then boards AF1 and she is a disgrace.
She wears a cardigan to meet the Queen and she is ignorant and backwards, and De La Renta is horrified.
She wears a silk skirt, pearls and cardigan and once again she has no idea how to dress up.
She wears a cardigan to Ted Kennedy's funeral and she is maligned cause she should have worn something more structured.
AND YET.....she wears a chiffon dress in the midst of military uniforms and she is overdressed? Hmmm...
She wears a brooch and a beautiful silk dress to meet the Queen again and she is an overdressed, pathetic older woman because the dress would have looked better on Malia or Sasha.
Again....I am sensing a trend. Some of you need to get your stories straight! I think that no matter what she does, she will never please SOME people and they will always find a way to talk about the woman as though she were an ignorant, simp of a human being who couldn't find class in a school!
@babs 99% got over so obviously, you are the 1% who did not.
Excuse me, may I "politely add" that the reason I did not post in 2 years because it took you and obviously some others longer to get over it. Two years and you dare to comment about my rants? The last time I checked this blog was still open to all and not a select few who think they have all the right answers. What it all boils down to is, "politely stated" is just a nice way of hating and I would venture to say confused. What I was trying to convey was that Our First Lady says to me in her style of dressing is where what you like. The nickpicking about inappropriate dressed for a BBQ just touched a nerve. I thank you Posh Tater for breaking it down for us. I got it. I hope the 99% got it as well. I am sorry that I missed you last week, but I had two sick kids to look after. I am reading how well you positioned yourself. You always do with class and grace.
I think R. Kelly said it best, "haters gonna hate, ballers gonna ball, rollers gonna roll." LOL!! That pretty much sums it up people!! So, LDS rant all you want. You have that right just like the others who post their "criticisms".
And when everyone gets finished talking about whether it was appropriate or not, Mrs. Obama still looked adorable!! ;-)
Posh, how much have you won? LOL!!
This is a great dress that would have been very appropriate for a more formal, indoor party or reception. Mrs. Cameron got it just right.
AMEN Mrs. P!!!
If you look it at this video, you will see Mrs. O was dress more than appropriately. Most women out there had on nice dresses(others had on their uniforms). I really don't have to prove Mrs. O was right, but some people get on my nerves so much I just had to make them look silly. However, I'm sure they won't watch because ignorance is bliss.
http://theobamadiary.com/2011/05/25/london-wednesday/
Scroll down the page and you will see a video that says "President flips burgers" or something like that.
........."lily livered misery mongers". I can't stop laughing, Posh that was a good one!
I read on Huffington Post that our Michelle had just come from an event with The Queen only moments before she got here. To some nothing that she does or wears will ever be enough. Then there's the majority who feel her fashion sense is unique (whether we like it or not) and appreciates how she boldly goes for it.
Both women style themselves in a way that's comfortable for them. While Samantha Cameron's understated fashion sense may not be my cup of tea, I like that the clothes that she wears seem to suit her personality. As women we have sooooo many choices unlike men who are relegated to just pants, shirt and jackets.
How fun is that!
As the daughter of a Ret. USAF Major General who attended many a military event in her lifetime, I can tell you emphatically that the dress code is set by the degree of formality dictated by the military event as evidenced in their uniform attire. So hopefully that will help some who are concerned with Mrs. O's fashion choice to understand that she was following dress protocol dictated to her. Since she has been working with military families since Day 1 of the Obama administration, it would be nice to give her some credit for having just a teeny bit of insight as to how she should dress for various military functions. I would imagine she is meticulous in her considerations so as not to offend. Posh, I really understand how frustrating it is to have knowledge and have it go ignored in the name of "we all have our opinions and are entitled to them" *best whiny whine*.
Go, go, go Bevi!
the dress is available at nordstroms
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/tracy-reese-tablecloth-embroidered-dress/3195978?origin=category&resultback=1002