Perfectly Suited
Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at 7:13 PM 
Photo used with kind permission from Sumi-e Artist Drue Kataoka at blog ValleyZen.com
We recently tracked down a Mrs. O ensemble from a private campaign event in Chicago earlier this month, which we felt merited comment even after the fact. The pantsuit hasn’t always had great press in this campaign, which seems a little unfair. As every professional woman knows, it can be a godsend in the office, bypassing tricky issues around hemlines and hosiery. Cut badly, of course, it can get overly masculine and severe. The rare, perfectly cut suit however is a thing of beauty and it’s no surprise at all that Mrs. O has uncovered one such gem. At a recent Women for Obama event in Chicago Mrs. O wore a black wool suit that beautifully combined professional poise and feminine flair.
In the past Mrs. O has favored 1960s-inspired three-quarter sleeve jackets, often cinched with a belt at the waist. This 1940s-inspired cut however was curved in all the right places, nipped in the waist and flaring softly at the hips. The softly curved collar and slightly puffed sleeves added further feminine touches while the sober color palette and slim black pants kept things sleek. Against this neutral background, Mrs. O’s companion added a fabulous splash of patriotic color in a Catherine Malandrino designed flag-print dress. Mrs. O accessorized with a string of black pearls that perfectly married elegance and edge - a master class in strong femininity.
Date: October 10, 2008
Venue: Women for Obama, DNC Women's Leadership Forum
Designer: Sonia Rykiel
Sonia Rykiel in Outfits
Reader Comments (4)
Both outfits are outstanding. Mrs O black outfit is pleasing particularily with the understated pearl necklace.
awesome photo! mrs. o looks very stylish
Mrs. O's look is stunning, as is Ms. K's. Even more stunning is the powerful, self-possessed serenity of these two awesome professional women.
this mrs. o outfit is a professional showstopper! so sexy and feminine and business all at once. my first thought was "mine!mine!mine!!!" she looks absolutely flawless!