Election Night Style Prediction
Tuesday, November 4, 2008 at 10:25 AM 
Illustration by fabulous young designer Kaitlin Campitelli
While we love tracking Mrs. O's style, there are of course bigger things at stake today. Still, we can't help but eagerly anticipate what Mrs. O will wear to the Obama Election Night event to be held at Chicago's Grant Park tonight. Win or lose, it's going to be a historic evening.
One possibility is a yet to be worn Maria Pinto frock. In an exclusive Heard on the Runway interview with Maria Pinto, the designer indicated that Mrs. O purchased a coral-red silk crepe sheath with three-quarter sleeves, an empire waist and a high neckline with a burst of sunray pleats emanating from the collar – but has yet to wear it to a major event. See our rendition of the dress above.
We imagine a patriotic palette is more than likely for this evening and coral-red seems to fit the bill. Further, Maria Pinto has historically been Mrs. O's designer of choice for landmark campaign events. Both of which make us believe the dress above is a strong election night contender. Also of interest in the interview was Maria Pinto's commentary on the cerulean blue dress Mrs. O wore for the final presidential debate:
“It’s one of the most basic pieces in the collection – if you came to my showroom, it’s probably the last piece I would show you,” she says. “I have all these blouses and laces and fabrics that I developed. But then here’s this simple but beautifully colored sheath that all of a sudden gets this crazy attention – go figure.”
Mrs. O's taste for simplicity reminds us of a quote from Jay Mulvaney's book Jackie: The Clothes of Camelot in which Jackie Kennedy relayed direction to her favored designer of the time, Oleg Cassini:
"Even though these clothes are for official life, please don't make them too dressy, as I'm sure I can continue to dress the way I like – simple and young clothes...."
Who knows what taste and style influence Mrs. O might bring to the White House. Here's hoping, very much so, that we get to find out.
Maria Pinto in Outfits
Reader Comments (31)
That color would be amazing on her and the simple style would be chic yet understated.
I want to see what she will (hopefully) wear to the inaguration!!
hooray! to the most fashionable first lady since jackie o. xx
CONGRTULATIONS and many, many blessings to our new, beautiful, brilliant, gracious FIRST LADY!!! (I wanted to be the first to post that! ^_^). What an inspiration you are!
LOVE her - but tonight's dress? Eh, not so much
the curse of the black widow
Sure wish she'd followed your cue. Tonight's dress was just short of hideous.
What a disaster that dress was tonight at Grant Park. Someone's got to help her with her wardrobe!
Did you see the black and red frock disaster Michelle wore on election night at Grant Park? Barf! Fashion violation #1 and counting! From where, pray tell, did she drag out that fashion dreg? No style queen will she be in the White House if that was ever an indicator. Where are the fashion police when you need them?
Do you know who was the designer of what she ended up wearing? I liked it! It was very Dries Van Noten. I thought the whole family looked lovely in red and black. So happy to have them in the White House!!
Oh! my God!what a disaster.
I love MO, but that was not a good choice for a dress for that, or any night. She is sooooo much better than that!
i like that they were going for a "theme"...however Barack is the only one that looked good. his suit had a satin brush to it, liked the tie (bit christmas-y the way it looked striped but that's o.k.) The 1988 satin graphic thing Michelle was wearing was beyond hideous and the two girls looked like they were in cheap holiday dresses....I know they are just kids but I would have thought they could have put them in something a little more fitted and nice not something off the rack at sears....heck kohl's is just as inexpensive and has much more style. this is the biggest night of your daddy's life...it's a huge night for our country....and these are the pictures that will go down in history....ick
I found her dress terribly distracting, which probably says more about me than anything else. It was the one low point on an otherwise glorious evening! I like the dress above soooooo much better.
That dress was hideous! I dare say our new first lady elect will not be the fashion icon we've so eagerly awaited.
Dear Mrs. O., I am available and would be happy to assist with selection of proper, yet fashionable attire for the inaugural event. Please...call!
Fashion Police please be on duty. I am so very happy that they are going to the WH but please tell her that good looking clothes don't have to come from saks or NM J crew is great and try to wear something like Jackie O only on a budget. Electric Purple or Electric Blue and Plain.
Who was the designer anyway I think Eillen Fischer woul be great on her. and economical. Well, hope this gets to the right people.
MAYBE THE GOP SHOULD DONATE SARAH'S CLOTHES TO MICHELLE. THIS WOULD BE A WONDERFUL ACT OF CHARITY AND GESTURE OF COOPERATION - AT LEAST IT WOULD HELP THE VISUAL ARTS.
I have a feeling that dress last night looks much better in person than in pictures or on TV. She normally dresses so sharp, I think this was just a minor misstep...don't despair...I think Michelle will be a fabulously dressed First Lady!
The orange flame dress accentuated her top and the belly. Why on god's earth would any woman choose that horror. It's a bad omen. YOu can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear! No do something about that extra bony jawline and endless teeth.
It was Narciso Rodriguez, and American designer, from the spring 09 line. Excellent!
Given that she didn't wear this on Election Night, I think it would be a good choice for the Inaguration -- much more flattering than last night's chioce, certainly.
I love your blog! I have recommended it on my blog twice and I hope people check this out. It is about time that a first lady dress like a beautiful young real woman. (and I love that Mrs. O wears flats and clothing from j crew!) Jackie O was classic but not realistic. Mrs. O is both! Thank you for taking the time to track each outfit.
www.shopgirlchicago.blogspot.com
Mrs. O has proven that a $135 dress (the one she wore on the View) can look a whole lot better than the designer made fashion disaster she had on in Chicago last night. Black widow spider! And the sketch of the dress above is even worse. What an unflattering neckline--it looks like "Mormon wives in space." To compare Michele Obama's style to Jackie O must have that epitome of elegant First Ladies rolling in her grave. Jackie O had inherent style and grace. Mrs. O has none when it comes to dressing herself or her children and will have to learn it very quickly or hire someone who does. (Poor little girl dressed all in black. She looked like she was going to a funeral.) I hope that Mrs. O has the sense to go with someone like Carolina Herrera for the inaugural ball. The world will be watching.
I think she could have made a better choice. Mr. Rodriguez might be a hater.I do like the fact she chose to cover her arms. That was more lady like.That was too much,too busy for such an important affair.She will do better. She needs a personal shopper who has her best interest at heart.
I think all the people out there with something negative to say are just negative people and I love the fact that she has some fashion rather than the old frump most of the ladies in office wear. She is being herself and that is a wonderful thing we have never had in office.
i think she would look really pretty in an empire top style dress in a soft color with maybe a choker. she's lovely and tall.will she be wearing a hat?
This appears to be the dress Mrs. O is wearing for the meeting at the white house today. It it is, it looks much better on her than in the drawning.
She's wearing this dress now at the white house.
She wore it today to the White House!
http://jezebel.com/5082278/presidential-twin-sets-someones-the-cock-of-the-walk
So much more gorgeous on her than in the drawing... (sigh!)
I understand the NEED to CONNECT with the common??? woman for the "We are just the average American family" PR work but for sweet Gods sake she is our presidents elect first lady, dress correctly.Hire someone,delegate someone, but please get some kind of fashion sense for the future(election results while still in question you looked great, what happened???)you are THE FIRST LADY elect.
I actually liked the election night dress, though it was a bit bright.