Whistle-Stop Chic
Saturday, January 17, 2009 at 8:27 PM 
Image used with kind permission from photographer seannaber 
Image used with kind permission from photographer Dave Chambers
Both Mrs. O's 45th year and the upcoming week of inaugural celebrations are off to a terrifically chic start. Mrs. O was beautifully bundled up for today's historic "whistle-stop" train ride in a black wool swing coat with bracelet length sleeves and exaggerated collar. We recognized the coat from Mrs. O's mid-November dinner date with president-elect Mr. O in Chicago. A purple knit scarf and leather gloves added a punch of color to the look, while coordinating with Mrs. O's understated purple cardigan underneath. For more glimpses of our glamorous Mrs. O during the "whiste stop" tour, continue reading below.
Image used with kind permission from photographers L. and R. Gravell
Michelle Obama in Inauguration 2008, Outfits
Reader Comments (33)
I still cant believe that is our President and out Fist Lady - IT IS TRUE !
IT IS HAPPENING !
So young, so vibrant, so vital, radiating intelligence, poise and manners.
A relaxed dignity.
Are we a lucky nation or what ?
We did good.
Mrs. O has such style. The blue and purple sweater layer is a great look. When most of us would have chosen black leather gloves, she pops color with hers. Her color eye is great.
And don't Mr. & Mrs. B look gorgeous too? I love Joe's red scarf, and Jilly's pretty smile is so enchanting. I love that her scarf is purple too, but in a different shade, and the cut of her coat is lovely. I'm really hoping that she and Mrs. O embark on some joint project, so we can watch them together in the media.
I'm so excited for Tuesday! ^_^
it's time to find out if Mrs. Obama used her husband power to advance her career:
In 2002, Michelle Obama was hired by the University of Chicago Hospital as its "Executive Director for Community Affairs" at a salary of approximately $120,000.
In January of 2005, Barack Obama was sworn in as a United States Senator.
In March of 2005, Michelle Obama was promoted to "Vice President for Community and External Affairs" and her salary bumped nearly $200,000 (from $121,910 to $316,962). This position was "newly created" for Mrs. Obama.
In February of 2006, Barack Obama requested a $1 million earmark for a new hospital pavilion at the University of Chicago.
Effective 9 January 2009, Michelle Obama resigned her position at UCH.
Effective 14 January 2009, Michelle Obama's VP position was eliminated, its functions absorbed into another executive's position. This prompted writer Don Rose to ask "[If] that work can be folded into another guy’s, why was it separate in the first place?"
Excellent question. was there a quid pro quo arrangement in effect? ; pay-to-play as it were. But that seems highly unlikely given Barack Obama's high ethical standards *.
Anyone cares, or we just going to talk about her dress for the next 4 years?
Hey Hill -
You are correct - on this blog we will be " talking about her dress for the next 4 years "
To enlist a discussion regarding your concerns I suggest you go to Foxnews.com, or Rush Limbaugh's site.
Good luck !
Ohhhh...poor Hillary is what we call jealous. Great husband, wonderful children, brilliant, and an eye for fashion...Michelle would threaten any insecure woman.
But we love her here, and for the next 8 years, we're going to celebrate Michelle Obama.
I think Mrs. B deserves some props for her look today, as well.
When Michelle got off the train at Wilmington, Mr. B greeted her with a, "Happy Birthday, kid!"
These people are so freaking adorable.
I love, love, love that coat! For those that enjoy doing the "look for less" fashion thing...I spotted (and yes picked up two pair) of long leather gloves at JCPenney for the low low price of $13.19.
i LOVE LOVE LOVE the jacket (as i've said a million times before), she looked great, and damn good for 45!! and the gloves just add that extra umph! She has definitely sealed the deal with purple....her and the color purple will be very good friends the next 8 years...lol
ps: @ Hillary, really, I just LOVE that the next 8 years will be just PEACHY for you (note a hint of sarcasm)....I suggest you keep it on moving right on the Fox News as RJT says!
I know we are talking about fashion here, but I have read into her color choices just a little bit. Purple is a combination of blue and red. With Mr. Obama's hopes to unify the county; I think Mrs. O is doing her part by combining colors. She looks great in purple, so I hope she keeps it up.
Michelle looked so radiant and beautiful. Her hair looked especially pretty,is she letting it grow longer? Her whole outfit was just fierce. We are just so lucky to have this family to look at for the next four years.
I couldn't help laughing at Hillary's comments. Boy, the Republicans who gloated over W cheating Al Gore out of the presidency are certainly unhappy today, aren't they? Now they're going to pick on Mrs. O. I say, let 'em pick. Mrs. O can stand up to anyone's criticism. Bravo to both her and Barack. I love them!
Hillary, it's only American to question our leaders and demand transparency from them. Yes, it's more important than talking about fashion. THAT SAID, this is not the site to do it. This is one area where we can escape the vagaries that are politics in this nation and focus on something a little fun.
By all means, question her salary and why she received it. Also question where that information came from to assess its credibility. Then do a better job of finding a place to discuss it.
I appreciate that everyone’s doing their best to keep the conversation on course - it’s just a matter of forum, and this particular one is dedicated to Mrs. O’s fashion and style. I imagine there will be more of this, as there was immediately following the election. We should just continue to kindly ask those who bring politically charged commentary to take it elsewhere.
Also, love the comments about Mrs. B(iden)’s look yesterday. I wonder if the color coordination with Mrs. O was planned?
To Mrs T: I saw a soundbite on C-Span when Michelle met up with Jill yesterday. The two women happily squealed, "We match!". So, it was a beautifully color coordinated coincidence.
They all looked so handsome and regal together.
Oh good to know! The entire O family has been so well coordinated for big events throughout the DNC and on election night, I thought perhaps the Biden's were joining in the action...
I just read about the Obamas attending church this morning. How are they going to find a church without the church being overwhelmed? Their celebrity is a double-edged sword. More people will engage in community service this King Day than ever before, but as a family, they may never be able to participate in anything resembling a normal life again. Where can these folks go to church in DC!?
Mrs. O kills with the purple again this morning...She had on a fabulous purple knee length jacket this morning while hubby and Joe Biden laid a reath at the Memorial for the Unknown dead this morning after attending church service
she looked fab as always....if only I can find a picture, its nowhere online!
im sure Mrs. T's already on it!
Hillary,
You make SO much sense. The University of Chicago Hospital, one of the most venerated institutions in all of Illinois, is so dastardly that they gave Michelle Obama a raise and then BAM, a mere Eleven months later, Barack Obama requests funding for their cancer ward.
How scandalous! And no, you are not being at all paranoid. It makes total sense. It's not like, as the Senator from Illinois, Obama was likely to, at some point, request funding for Illinois's largest hospital. It is absolutely NOT true that Senators routinely make these kinds of requests! There MUST be some connection to the raise they gave his wife nearly a year earlier.
By the way, what does that have to do with Michelle's stunning wool coat, or perfectly coiffed hair and chic gloves? Cause that is the purpose of this site.
wreath*
@ Layo G.
Yes, purple again! Might Mrs. O make it the color of 2009 as well? Today Mrs. O wears long tailored coat in a soft lilac. Here's the only photo I've found thusfar:
http://www.daylife.com/photo/0dAL4RZ9qu8oO
...more to follow!
this is a bad video of the purple jacket, but you can catch her at 2:13
http://video.ap.org/?t=By%20Section/U.S.&g=0118dvs_obama_wreath&f=1139949
Layo G,
I agree she looked amazing in that blue outfit this morning. It's such a solemn occasion that I hate ogling her outfit...but it was a great look! This is the only picture I have been able to find:
http://i40.tinypic.com/2d9db2o.jpg
Mrs. T you're awsome....we must have posted at the same time, I knew if anyone could find a picture, it would be you!!
(and I have hit my post limit right about now!...lol)
If this is any indication of her inaugural wardrobe, I can't wait to see more!
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Joe-Biden-Barack-Obama-President-elect/photo//090118/482/c45a1c5e40ec4de39438866fdd766c45//s:/ap/inauguration_rdp#photoViewer=/090118/482/5cd32f25eeab4894ab1c7c9223ce4fa7
Dear Hill
If Mrs. O would have stayed @ the law firm for 7 years she would be making at least 600k a year. A lot of lawyers w/her education wouldn't even get out of bed for 300k.
Great day ! great President ! beautiful Michelle ! I love the new America, God bless !
http://www.myspace.com/davidbouns
db
I love me some Michelle, but you can't front that Jill Biden has been wearing some amazing clothes lately! And the two women's coordinated purple details on the whistle stop tour was sooooo cute.
I think we Mrs. O fans wouldn't mind a one-day shout-out to Mrs. Biden here and there...=)
Hi Nina, I agree! We're going to celebrate the stylish Mrs. Biden more and more.
actually, not only michelle looks good here.
i think jill biden's jacket is very nice too.
thou she is not as stylish as michelle, she dresses safe, yet nicely.
imo, jill, who is 57, that is even older cindy mccain, has a better posture and figure than michelle.
Jill looks fabulous as well! I get really positive vibes from her whenever she's shown -- she seems to adore Joe, and she also seems down to earth, much more so than Cindy McCain. In that way, she is a great match for Michelle, and look they even match clothes too!
Kristan
http://jbu.phuzzymath.net/
That train outfit is to die for, with the wonderful swing coat. Is she wearing leggings? Or slim black slacks? Or a short skirt and black tights? I haven't been able to figure it out from the photos. I love everything about Mrs. O's style, especially her flower pins and belts.
May God bless Pre. Obama and first lady Obama God loves you and so do i