A glimpse at the inaugural dress?
Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at 9:30 AM There’s been considerable debate over whether Mrs O should showcase her trademark jewel colours for her inauguration dress or go for a classic white gown as favoured by Nancy Reagan and most famously Jackie Kennedy. There are staunch Mrs O supporters in both camps and of course we won’t know either way until the 20th, but we can offer a glimpse of what a winter white inaugural gown might look like.
Back in May 2005, Mrs O wore this gorgeous Maria Pinto dress to attend the Legends Ball hosted by Oprah Winfrey. Stunningly simple in the cut of the bodice, the dress allows the shimmering fabric-it looks like a silk taffeta-to speak for itself. The gown is soft and relatively unstructured aside from the tiered skirt, a touch of drama added with the matching ruffled wrap-a Pinto signature.
Mrs O accessorises perfectly for the occasion with a sparkling choker and earrings and an elegant up-do. The combination of opulence and restraint means that despite the formality of the occasion, she manages to look fresh and youthful. A look at Mrs O’s previous evening wear, including this gown, gives a few intriguing hints as to what we might be able to expect on Inauguration day. I
nterestingly, given her usual vibrant hues, Mrs O has in the past often tended towards a softer palette for evening in pastel pinks and blues. She is clearly a fan of Pinto’s embellished wraps and seems to favour a less structured, more softly draped look than she chooses for daywear. She often wears her hair up in the evening, the better to showcase the statement earrings she favours for formal events and the elegant lines of her dresses. So will Mrs O stay true to form or surprise us all? Only time will tell.
Reader Comments (10)
Completely unrelated to her clothing, I LOVE how expressive her face is. Without naming names, I will say that some past first ladies have been very... guarded with their emotions and thus their faces. I think that's another reason Michelle seems so accessible: she shows you what she's feeling in addition to telling you what she's thinking.
Kristan
http://jbu.phuzzymath.net/
BOY Tom Cruise is short--ha ha.
Anyway, that was a great dress and I love the updo.
That said, I am really hoping that Michelle will wear one of her signature jewel tones, like maybe a rich turquoise or purple. I do like the idea of a simple body-fitting cut similar to this dress because that look works so well for her.
I absolutely LOVE her in the pink dress! That coral silk top she wore on the campaign trail would be a close second. I hope she goes with jewel tones... we need a little more color in our lives!
So many women I know in their 40s and 50s have no idea what to wear -- how to look youthful but not stupid, chic but not matronly. Gorgeous Mrs. O shows us how it's done. She looked quite amazing in that white gown, but I'm hoping for something dazzingly and rich in color -- maybe a dark ruby red.
I hope very much to see her in a rich and full, silky jewel tone for the balls. For daywear, I hope it's Maria Pinto all the way. P.S. A mink stole some time during the day would delight me, but I know that is just too retro for most.
I actually was not a big fan of the pink dress, but I like what I see of the blue one, can we get a full shot?
ps: @ Kristan, I agree, she looks great in this picture!!
She truly wears the clothes, not the other way around. And those cheekbones! She is stunning and her confidence is what shines, not her clothes!
I don't care what Michello Obama wears, she will be drop dead gorgeous. I've never seen her in anything that didn't look great on her. My choice would be a deeper shade of red with maybe some sequins - she's gonna' steal the show!!
BONJOUR,
Excellente Madame OBAMA première dame des États unis d'Amérique,avec tout mon respect et ma sympathie a l'en contre de votre mari veuillez recevoir mes félicitations sans oublie vos merveilleuses et adorables filles.
Je suis sincèrement désolé de vous écrire en Français car je suis très nul en anglais mais désormais je ferai un effort colossal.
Je suis un jeune d'origine Tchadienne et vie en France depuis 8ans bientôt,mon cote Africain ma été toujours un handicape jusqu'au élection de votre mari que j'ai vu venir une fierté sans précédente et je sais grâce a OBAMA rien n'est impossible; YES WE CAN
She should have worn one of Coretta King's dresses.