First Lady Mrs. O is dazzling in a black party frock to attend 'A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement' event at the White House this evening. Tres chic!
Update #1: Reader Miss R has brought something quite interesting to our attention. The first lady may, in fact, be wearing a high waisted skirt paired with a sheer blouse. Mrs. O was seen wearing a similar skirt in December 2007, here.
Update #2: 'A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement' will air tonight, February 11th, on PBS at 8pm EST. Of note, performer Jennifer Hudson wore a Mrs. O favorite for the event - a custom cocktail dress with sequin sleeves by Peter Soronen!
Photo by Frank Mullin via Flickr user Barack Obama / Creative Commons
Image by Jason Reed / Reuters
Image by Jim Young / Reuters
The world has lost a tremendous creative talent in Alexander McQueen today. Above we pay tribute to his work by sharing a few of the Alexander McQueen ensembles that the first lady has worn over the past several years.
Ikram Goldman, owner of ikram in Chicago (and almost certainly the source of Mrs. O's fabulous collection of tailored Alexander McQueen pieces) told the Wall Street Journal:
“He was one of the important designers that really gave you a real show in Paris. His shows were rejuvenating. He was a force and I think this is a very sad day for so many people, not just fashion people but for creative people, too.”
Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue, has also released a statement:
"We are devastated to learn of the death of Alexander McQueen, one of the greatest talents of his generation. He brought a uniquely British sense of daring and aesthetic fearlessness to the global stage of fashion. In such a short career, Alexander McQueen's influence was astonishing—from street style to music culture and the world's museums. His passing marks an insurmountable loss."
For more on the designer's passing, Eric Wilson of the New York Times has a report, here. Cathy Horyn weighs in here. And the always insightful Robin Givhan writes here.
While not directly Mrs. O related, I thought some of you might enjoy Robin Givhan's recent commentary on Katie Couric's interview and photo spread for the March 2010 issue of Harper's Bazaar (on newsstands next week). A short excerpt from Givhan's piece for the Washington Post follows:
"...The most striking aspects of the glossy feature are the images by photographer Francois Dischinger. They are an audacious celebration of a powerful woman as a boldly sexy one, too.
There's nothing reserved or hesitant in the sex appeal on display in the four-page story about Couric. The images are a full-throated, even exaggerated, rebuke of the notion that a woman must dress in a prescribed manner -- Suze Orman suits, full-coverage blouses, sensible heels -- to protect her IQ, her résumé and her place in a male-dominated work culture.
Is Couric dressed in a manner appropriate for a network anchor? These images demand that viewers define -- or redefine -- their terms.
Robin Givhan is a master of unlocking fashion's underlying messages, cultural context and nuances, which she's brilliantly accomplished here. As an admirer of the first lady's style -- which so harmoniously unites strength and femininity -- I took particular interest in this piece on Katie Couric, in great part, I suppose, because I see a degree of similarity between Ms. Couric and Mrs. O. Both women are challenging notions for how they are "supposed to dress" in their respective roles, and doing so in a way that feels very 2010.
You can find the full article here. Would love to hear your thoughts!
The first lady appeared on Larry King Live Tuesday evening, answering a series of questions on her new initiative to combat childhood obesity, health care reform and Sarah Palin.
Mrs. O wore a black cap sleeve dress with pink inset detail at the collar by Narciso Rodriguez. This is the same frock that the first lady wore for her March 2009 interview and photoshoot for Vogue, seen below.
Mrs. Obama's East Wing said she will be "joined by members of the president's cabinet, as well as media, sports, entertainment, and business leaders," plus mayors, member of the medical community and others at the White House event. On Tuesday evening, Mrs. Obama will sit down with CNN's Larry King for an interview about obesity and her first year as first lady. She will take questions from viewers.
Additionally, Mrs. O will appear on Good Morning America,a first peek of which we have here:
On a style note, the first lady is wearing an ivory double face wool sheath dress and jacket from Talbots for her interview with Robin Roberts. Mrs. O first wore the dress in November for a White House classical music event, seen here. Completing the ensemble is a pair of knee high boots in camel.
Update #1: Mrs. O's Super Tuesday is off and running! This morning the president signed a memorandum as part of Mrs. O's campaign to combat childhood obesity. The president and first lady were joined by Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar in the Oval Office of the White House.
For the signing, Mrs. O wore a teal dress with printed top, paired wtih a coordinating teal cardigan. A statement brooch by Erickson Beamon completed look. See photo above.
Update #2: The first lady has just unveiled a new website for her campaign against childhood obesity, Let's Move. In the email introducing the website, Mrs. O writes:
"The problem is clear. Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in this country have tripled. Today, obesity and excess weight threaten the health of one out of three American children. It’s time for us to act. That's why I’m asking you to be part of Let's Move! -- a nationwide effort to solve the obesity epidemic within one generation."
The site also includes this video from Mrs. O (wearing a J.Crew cardigan for the seated interview):
Thursday, February 11, 2010 at 6:19 PM 
