Sunday
Oct112009
Sunday Best
Sunday, October 11, 2009 at 4:33 PM 
Image by Jewel Samad / Getty Images
The first family attended a church service at St. John's Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. this morning. Following the service, the Os walked back to the White House as a family.
On a style note, First Lady Mrs. O re-wore a Moschino skirt that was first debuted for the president's address to congress in early September (thanks BeeGee, for pointing this out). Click here to see the skirt featured in an earlier post. Topping the skirt was an embellished cardigan in coordinating pink and brown, cinched at the waist with a brown ribbon bow. Pink flats completed this very lovely, cohesive look.
tagged Moschino
Moschino
Reader Comments (112)
Hey guys, please indulge me for a moment while I go off topic. If any of you (like me ) loved the necklace by Pieter Erasmus that Mrs. O wore in May to The White House Correspondents Dinner, guess what, I found an almost identical one!. Look on Anthropologie.com in necklaces. It's named Flora-In-Focus @ $198. I know some might find that a little steep, but considering the real one costs at least $450, I think it's a bargain. I compared both of them side by side on my laptop and my desktop and I was impressed. Once again, I do not work for this company nor have any stock in it, so this is strictly from one fashionista to another. Mrs. O wore this with a magenta dress by Michael Kors and she looked SMOKIN'! HAPPY SHOPPING!!!
Wow I love how this board ebbs and flows in between topics while staying above the fray and most importantly respectful of one anothers opinions. Keep the positivity going :).
For me, growing up as a child of a Trinidadian Pentecostal mother and a Jamaican Baptist father, it was quite easy to get caught up in proper Sunday Best frenzy.
Today as a Buddhist, it's refeshing to see how this family upholds the values of the human condition by simply worshipping God (whatever they conceive he, she or it to be) as they see fit, no matter what they're wearing!
@Posh Tater "let the church say Amen* LOVED your post :D, it was thoughtful, caring and sincerely appreciated!
Wow, that's a brilliant find CiD. What I love about the Anthropologie site is that it comes up in £ sterling for me! £130. I still can't afford it, but I wish a lot of happiness to those who can!
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Ohhh momonamission you are so right - and it already put some people off! I stopped going precisely because of those people. Mean spirited, unwelcoming and not quite what I had in mind for so called "Christian kindness"! The kind of people who tut at crying babies, who make disparaging comments on dress, and who think that all the wheelchairs should go at the back because they look untidy. Would they cross the road to help you in a crisis if you didn't look quite "nice"??! You bet your backside they wouldn't!
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Melcy I may have just unearned your previous kind comment (see above!) but if I haven't, thank you very much!!! I myself liked jerseygirl's comment about God being more interested in what's in your heart, not in what you are wearing. That just about sums it up for me.
Not all Ms. tater! lol
At the end of the day, it is truly the heart that matters.
@canyongal:
or they just like it there, and it's convenient for the secret service since its right across from the white house. it's the same church they attended on inauguration day, and at easter. they are still people, not everything has an agenda behind it.
i think they all looked lovely, and happy.
I agree with OpFan; Mahlia looks great. I think Mrs. T was right in saying if we can't be completely positive about the girls, then let it pass.
As far as what is proper church attire, this is 2009. It sounds like plenty of churchgoers weighed in here, and the vast majority seem to concur that going to church far outweighs what one wears to church.
Again, it's more important that the Obama girls' choices of attire are not called to question. This is an old discussion.
I think the family looks great.
I also come from a generation of church goers that wears their best on Sunday.
My generation (I think) believes that there is an overwhelming amount of photo opportunities for the President and his family. Therefore, they should make every attempt to look their best.
I feel stuck in the middle, because I agree with those who think the kids should step it up a notch and also agree that everyone looks fine compared to what I've seen otheres wear at church.
@ Barbara ..... I agree
@PoshT ........ I agree
@Mia M .......... I agree too.
I'm just agreeable today......Happy Columbus Day everyone !!!
The picture is great just as all of there picture always are. I just think the caption should read differently like maybe "Off to Church" or "On Our Way to Sunday Service" When I see Sunday Best I'm not looking to see the girls in leggins... They look so cute in whatever they have on anyway :) so it really didn't matter. They really are like the average american family who just happens to be rich and the first family of the United States...lol
Moja31 - It just seemed a little too coincidental since there were a ton of protests by the gay community in DC this past weekend. The Episcopalian Church is well-known for being one of the most liberal denominations concerning gays officiating as religious leaders. I'm surprised the media didn't pick up on that. I believe it was indeed a "statement" from the POTUS that he's still listening to the gay community's concerns about their rights. That's just my opinion.
To get back on topic: Has anyone found out where the animal print sweater is from?
JESTINA: If you are going to post on this blog, you had better develop a thick skin. The most innocent comment on here is misconstrued and the harpies jump on it immediately. Good luck!
First, I love the length of this skirt. Second, we all grew up dressing up for church, but that went away for a lot of people in the 70s--people in jeans were then welcomed. Which is fine for spiritual life but not so fine for fashion watchers!
Hhhhmmmm...Bekks wore a dress from Old Navy to church yesterday. I hope no one called CPS.
Many of these comments seem to be a reaction to the title of my post... if I had called the post something other than "Sunday Best" I wonder what the responses would have been? I was simply choosing a phrase that related to both fashion and church. Hmmm.... Well, for my two cents, I thought the entire family looked lovely and absolutely appropriate.
@ Mrs. T
Amen
It's all good, Mrs. T. I, too, wonder if you had a different title, the discussion would've stayed focused on Mrs. O, or on the general happiness of the picture, as opposed to the kids and their leggings for Church.
I'm amazed that people say "EVEN jeans" as if Jeans are the worst and are less dressy than tights. In my opinion, tights are less dressy. I could get away with wearing Jeans to work, but if I showed up in tights, I 'm sure HR would send me home to change even from a decorum perspective. I find Jeans dressier than tights.
I think the original poster had no ill intentions and was just expressing her opinion. But this board being what it has become, the jackals would eat her alive.
I treasure the photos of Mrs. Kennedy because every one that I've seen has shown her and her children to be dressed appropriately and beautifully for each and every occasion. We have a fashion and social history in her photographs.
I fear that Mrs. Obama's photo history will have too many photographs and videos that do not depict her at her best. Although I know that , in general, clothes have become more casual, even at church...as the First Family, I'd prefer they "dress up" a bit more since, almost always, they are "in public".
Please understand that I do know that the portfolio of Mrs. Kennedy's photos are far fewer than those of the Obamas and that TIMES HAVE CHANGED....but I remain convinced that Mrs. Obama would benefit from a new stylist, fitter and protocol officer. She is NOT doing anything WRONG...just could do better.
Believe me, I love the Obamas and the Administration. That is why I wish for the highest possible standards.
Hello All!
I visit this website almost everyday and have enjoyed reading different points of views. I take no offense at all to people disagreeing with my comment about what I think of how the grils dress for church. This is America we will not all agree..
I thinks this was a good discussion to have. I was good for me to see how other people feel about this. Mrs T. , yes your title made me think about what "Sunday Best" means to me -that was not a bad thing. I am grateful for this website that allows people of different religions and from different places can share their viewpoints and share how fashion impacts their lives.
Lots of love!
@ Barbara MY OPINION
Hey she does not want to be Mrs. Kennedy period. SHE IS MICHELLE OBAMA not kennedy, not whoever else is your standard period. You get to keep your picture of the Mrs Kennedy and look at it. But Michelle is not and does not want to be Mrs. Kennedy, she is who she is and wears what she wants.
Laura was Laura, and so on... Leave her to herself and she is not somebody else and will never be the person you want her to be.
Yes Barbara times have changed, I remember one photo of Mrs Kennedy smoking while she was pregnant....times have changed indeed.
Pretty please with a cherry on top, can someone tell me what the "highest possible standard" looks like?
@ Barbara, I am convinced that even if Mrs. Obama did all the things you wanted you still would not be satisfied. She will never hit the "highest possible standards" for you, because you want her to be like someone she cannot be. I am sorry that she will continue to be a source of disappointment to you, and not "do better". What do you think Bess Truman thought of Jackie Kennedy and her fashion choices and the way she raised her children? That's a serious question, anyone out there old enough to remember Bess?
Barbara,
Everytime you post I do not post my opinions on your opinions because you could be my grandmother and I definitely don't want to show any disrespect to my elders. So please know that I am not trying to disrespect you, but I have to let you know that you are way off base in my honest opinion.
I cannot fathom why you consistently choose to compare Mrs. O to Mrs. K. That was 40+ yrs ago. I know you cannot believe that time has not changed since then. I am sure you have changed since then. Mrs. K did what was right for her during THOSE times and Mrs. O is doing what she feels is right for THESE times. When I am your age and look back at pics of Lady O and the first family, I know I will have the same pride that you show for the Kennedys. I will say that I was proud of the way the Obama family represented me and America. I really feel sad for you, that your loyalty to your traditions or what you know is hindering you from fully appreciating this great family and this great moment in history.
Now back to the purpose of this site. The girls look cute, Mr. O is handsome as always, and Mrs. O looks amazing. I love the cardigan with the brown ribbon belt. Also, I love the pink flats.
Btw, I guess everyone forgot that the girls were dressed "dressy" for Easter. So I am sure they know and their mother knows the difference.
barbara give us a break.i'm not one who disparage someone to prop up another person, but thanks god michelle obama isn't mrs kennedy or else she will be called a golddigger by today standards.and president obama respects his wife and i bet on my life that mrs kennedy would have trade that in a nanosecond.you seem to think outfits make people but thannks god michelle obama thinks otherwise.
noone keeps u from living the kennedy era but me and i'm sure the majority of people on this blog prefer the michelle obama's era.so spare me ur nonsense.she is michelle not jacqueline and halleluyah for that.
i know i should have a thick-skinn by now but some people really cross the bar.
greetings from germany.
goodness gracious! they are children, NOT dolls for people to play dress up with, & i for one am thankful that their clothing reflects that. i find it wonderful that they both look like they probably picked out their own outfits; they didn't choose this life for themselves, people should let them be as normal as they possibly can.
Thanks Christen, I'm just realising that. If you aren't "oohing and aahing" over everything that Michelle wears AND dare to comment then you are torn down in here.
CHRYSTELLE: What on earth are you talking about? I realize that you do not live in the USA, but if you are going to post on this site, maybe you should brush up a bit on Obama history. Michelle could have never been accused of being a "gold-digger," (a disgusting phrase), because she was far more well-off than was Barack Obama. She was an attorney in a law firm and he was a community organizer. I have seen more than one interview wherein the Obamas laugh about what a dump President Obama's apartment was at the time of their meeting. I also certainly hope that you are not calling Jackie Kennedy a "gold-digger." Her family was wealthy in its own right, and as Jack Kennedy preferred the company of beautiful women, Jackie was certainly that as well. Please don't comment from Germany if you cannot keep your facts about US First Ladies straight. I would never presume to post the same type of comments on a German site.
My goodness, the way people tear people up on this site is soooooo unecessary
I mean refering to peoples comments as nonsense or saying that you are sad for someone all for a woman who doesn't even know that we exist as individuals but as a collective group of fans.
I would like to think that Mrs O wouldnt support all these bickering amongst us........correct me if im wrong but the median age of the people on this site would be in the 40's. We can conduct our selves in an appropriate (i'm almost scared to use that word)manner.
No disrespect to her person,but all this catfight should belong to a miley cyrus website, not because of her personality but the age group of her fans.
In as much as i dont agree with some views , i've learnt to respect it . What makes my own view superior over theirs.......nothing, same way nothing makes their view superior over mine.
I can understand Barbara's views...the comparisons to Mrs Kennedy, but that obtained in her own time and it is certainly what she's used to, don't hang her for it. If i'm not mistaken she said she is in her 70's, she has had ways set for a longer period.
Just the same way i understand all the views that were posted after Barbara's, though i didnt quite get the approach. Comments on his site have taught me that Mrs Obama is her own person, she has her own ways of doing things, perhaps not adhering to protcol and etiquette....who says it has to be a certain way. she is doing it her own way. Love it or loathe it that is who she is and i've come to realise this.
But i just feel that people should not be "crucified" for speaking their minds ...simple.
Denisegirl,
I remember Bess Truman! Not from her time in the White House (I wasn't around for that!) but from the '70s. I grew up in Independence, the Truman's hometown. One summer day in the early '70s I was walking down the sidewalk in downtown Independence when a couple of cars pulled up sharply to the curb and several men in suits hopped out to help an elderly lady out of the car and into the beauty shop. Mrs. Truman and her Secret Service detail on the sidewalk right in front of me. I said hello to her and she said, "Hello, dear." Though she grew up in an upper middle class family in Independence (in a much more well-to-do family than her husband's), I would guess she didn't think much of Mrs. Kennedy's fashion preoccupation. She was a very practical and down-to-earth Midwestern woman.
Aida that's a leetle dramatic. No-one was trying to hang Barbara for her views. Those of us who have been posting here for a long time are just getting a little sick of the constant and reliable "oh, well, it could be better but I suppose it's alright, at least she's dressed, sad that her stylist is failing her, why can't she be like Jackie O" loop of tape that Barbara (and a few others, let's be clear) is stuck on.
As has been commented on above, the site is here to celebrate Mrs O's fashion.
Ce-le-brate.
Now when you go to a funeral and you celebrate someone's life, you don't make a speech saying "well she never did as well as she could have, and she should have tried harder and she didn't really know how to do well".
You say that she was a lovely person and she liked sunyn colours and pretty skirts and you really liked what she did as a person and she had a fresh approach to fashion.
So my suggestion to Barbara is to get a fresh approach. You can say you don't like it, but you can also stop saying that Michelle Obama doesn't know what she is doing and needs "better" advice.
She doesn't need better advice. She likes what she wears. That's enough. Get over it.
Posh tater, you are still happing on the subject....why don't you let it go.....exactly why i think some people are trying to hang her, and i assumed i guess wrongly that the term would be interpreted loosely.
Barbara--I hope you do not take seriously the often illiterate comments that are in response to your always well written remarks on Mrs. Obama's clothing choices.Once again, I agree with your assessments. I think she has not found her way just yet in terms of "dressing for her public"particularly in her choices for daytime activities. Her evening wear with the exception of the flower-girl golden dress in Copenhagen, shows a much more sophisticated and flattering selection of beautiful clothes.
All the talk about how comfortable she is, how happy she looks, and how "no standards" apply are the comments of people who are just consumed with a blind admiration for their idol.
Those of us who love Mr and Mrs Obama and have nothing but respect for them use this site for its original purpose. That is to follow the fashion of Mrs Obama.So far the best I can say is that she is good for business. Most people can afford the cardigans. As the First Lady of the USA I think she can afford to dress a lot better. She must also know by now that all eyes are upon her when she steps out of her home. The cameras are always there. Does she really care? Maybe not---but that is another story.
Posh Tater,
You summed that up in a nut shell. Very well said!
The president looks outstanding.Mrs O looks horrible in that outfit. I do not like the fact of the girls wearing tights to church, but I am giving them a break because they are children. I know it is a new age, but Mrs O sometimes go over board with her styles. I know she has the right of freedom of expression. She should remember that she represents the US. Sometimes it is not a good idea to deviate from the norm,which I find she does very frequently. I love Mrs O VERY MUCH, but sometimes not what she wears.
Barbara, I am glad that at your age you are on the net. What amazes me is that people fail to realized the impact Michelle has on you. The fact that you watch her every move it tells me that you are interested in her. I understand how hard it is for you to put the past behind you and look into the present. Mrs Kennedy did her time, and now it is Mrs O turn. I would hate to see a woman of this time imitating someone from 50 years ago. Change is hard and many people have problem changing
@Christen - Come on now, why such a strong response to Chrystelle, she is only rather sharply expressing an opinion just like you usually do. If you are going to dish it out you are going to have to be able to take it, and she was not even addressing you directly. I know, it's not the same thing. Phew! I think that I'm going to take a break while you ladies slug it out. I'll wait for FLOTUS to wear something that I can ooh and aah about.:)
@ Columbia - Thanks for responding so forthrightly to my question. My aunt was a seamstress in the NYC Garment District during the days of Eleanor, Bess and Mamie and she absolutely abhorred Jackie's modern and too tight clothes, showing too much shoulder AND her knees when she sat down and all that, a little too show girlie (aunt Edie's words) and she though that her pill box hats were the ugliest things she had ever seen. Aunt Edie used to say, she, Jackie, may have money but she sure doesn't have Bess's class, sounds familiar? My mother wore a Jackie style outfit and hat to my father's funeral in 1968, 2 days after Jackie married Onassis and I remember the whispers, lead of course by Aunt Edie, about the merry widow (my Mom) and a sign of things to come. The more things change the more they remain the same. I can only imagine what she would say about Michelle Obama and her daughters in leggings at Sunday church. I would not want to know LO very L!!!!! Well I have a flight to catch....
I'll make one more try!!
I am NOT suggesting that Mrs. Obama emulate Mrs. Kennedy, or anyone else.
I would just like to be able to look back on photos from this Administration and say with each one, "look how wonderful Mrs. obama and her children" look for each public occasion, how beautiful and appropriate the fabrics and color choices are for the event. I do not want her to be like anyone else or boring like most First Ladies have been in the past 40 years.
I have been closely involved in the fashion industry throughout my life and have kept abreast of changes in styles and lifestyles. I'm a professional woman who has worked in large cities and large companies. I've been to many costume exhibits at major museums, and I can tell you that cut, fit, fabric are important to how the outfit looks and photographs. The most memorable exhibit was of Princess Diana's most beautiful outfits. This is why I insist that Mrs. Obama is not being well served by Ikram.
That is NOT to say, in any way, that she is not wonderful and innovative in fashion...just that there have been a significant number of "misses" that could have been avoided.
I mean NO disrespect to Mrs. Obama...I love her and her family.
Barbara,
If you take offense to my comment. Will you PLEASE let me know.
@Barbara,
I'm going to take your side with this topic and I totally agree with what you are saying about "photo ops". Some of the less impressive photos of Mrs. O will certainly be used against her in the next election. I live with a Republican, believe me they look forward to collecting the least flattering pictures. Unlike the Kennedy era.
Your points are well taken and there is always room for improvement.
I was stuck in the Jackie O comparisons for a long time but find that you really can't compare the two women; different era, different styles, different country.
@Posh T - always love your comments - even when you disagree with me.
@Mrs.T - thanks for the great site, I learn so much about people when I read
People:
It's not about the clothes! It's a family who decided to spend time together in worship. It's about a family who felt the need to go to house of worship...to fellowship...to pray...Don't you think they need that right now?
Just because your parents taught you to wear "church" clothes to church, it doesn't make everyone else who doesn't less Christian and it doesn't make you more Christian because you do. Who are we to deem what is "appropriate" or "inappropriate?"
Some of the biggest hypocrites in the church wear "church clothes!" to church and are mean and hateful to each other and to visitors in their midst.
By whose standards have we based our judgment? Matt 7:1. Is it biblical or is it "tradition." Mark 7:9
Christ came to save the lost, not their clothes! The Bible says that we are to worship God in "spirit" and in "truth." What does their clothing have to do with salvation? Matt 6:30-33
It's what's inside a person's heart that Christ is concerned about the most. John 3:16-17.
If you want to be biblical about clothing, read where it says that we are to be clothed in the righteousness of Christ!
@ Barbara - as a professional women then, why not use your posts to educate us on the technical aspects of the why and why nots of what Mrs. O is wearing, e.g. this falls this way or that should fit this way. Use your influence and write her a letter or send it to her social secretary. Somehow I think she would be open to your respectful suggestions and not just another "Lawd there she goes being inappropriate again." comment that fills these threads. We have had to fight of so ugly folks, and Mrs. T has had to delete several really nasty ones that have slipped through. So use your years of expertise to fulfill the stated objectives of this site, to celebrate Mrs. O whether you like what she is wearing or not. This is entirely possible!
DENISEGIRL: So you think it's okay that someone who is not even from the US would liken both Michelle Obama and Jackie Kennedy to "gold-diggers?" I think it's wrong and Chrystelle needs to get her facts straight if she's going to make remarks like that.
Amazing...
Michelle Obama :Princeton Grad+ Harvard Law School Grad+ partner at fancy lawfirm+once executive director and vice president of Chicago Medical Center = Priceless
FLOTUS is quite an accomplished woman in her own right; to suggest otherwise (goldigger), is downright foolish.
christen reread my post.i didn't accuse michelle obama of being a golddiger,i think you just wanted someone to jump on.i don't need to live in the united states to be informed.jackie O by today standard will be called a golddigger.she was a rich girl sure but she chooses to marry someone old enough to be her grandpa becuz he was insanelyy rich and it is a documented fact that she went shopping the day he died.
i admire betty Ford more than jackie O.she was all hype and nothing substantial.can u list her accomplishments except for the fact that she spoke french fluently and dressed well?
i bet that we get more factual infos from foreign medias about the US than what ur TV networks choose to cover.
greetings from germany.
Ulanda,
You are so pathetic with your comment about Michelle Obama. To say something is inadeqate about the way she is dressed just because you don't approve is down right out of line. Who the heck are you to say what is appropriate or not? When she dresses she is not representing the country she is representing herself. Is what she lilkes, not what USA thinks she should wear for today? Give me a break! the nerve!
As for the tights comment, you are obviously out dated; as tights are in this year in a very BIG way. I have them on right now at work with a pencil skirt and seude pumps, and I look very fashionable if I must say so myself.
Leggins are in as well, and it is quite find that the girls are wearing them--not every little girl desires to have ruffles and pigtails you know.
You my dear need to get a life, and obviously a fashion designer as well.
Sometimes I think that people in the fashion industry say disparaging things about her cough Ikram cough because THEY want to get their hands on styling Michelle. Sort of like Oscar putting down the first lady while imploring her to wear his designs. So why not tear her down bit by bit so they can put her back together again. While I do not like everything she wears....I like 90% of what she wears and how she wears it. The Fashion industry knows they can control women by making her feel inadequate, inappropriate and not proper....Michelle has fun with fashion and it will be tough for the fashion industry to get their claws into this strong woman...
A lovely, happy family! They all look wonderful.
I've read with interest the comments about dressing up for going to church.
In our area, so many people are going casual, but the African American community are the ones who look so nice on Sundays! The women and girls all wear pretty dresses and shoes, and sometimes, hats. The men always wear coats and ties to church.
When you go into a restaurant, you often see many people with jeans and pantsuits, but you do not see the African Americans dressing down. I'm so happy to share that!
I would also like to say that I have collected pictures of Mrs. Laura Bush and Mrs. Reagan, and others, and NONE of them are boring!! I think all of our First Ladies have worn very beautiful clothes.
I personally don't agree with Mrs. Clinton wearing pantsuits all the time, but at least she is very modest and what she wears is in good taste. She wears beautiful fabrics and colors.
So -- just because our FLOTUS wears cardigans and full skirts and tight belts, where the other FLOTUS's didn't ... please don't say that Mrs. Obama is the ONLY fashionable First Lady.
I AM PROUD of them ALL and I hope you are, too.