Wednesday
Oct072009
A Night for Star Gazing
Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at 11:30 PM 
Photo by Jim Young / Reuters
The Os hosted an event with local middle school students and astronomers to do a bit of star gazing from the South Lawn of the White House this evening. This is a rare occasion when we must say, we are not loving Mrs. O's look. We have always been a fan of her fabulous Zero + Maria Cornejo jacket (worn last fall on the campaign trail) but here, the color mix - blue, layered with patterned purple - is perhaps a bit much. Ensemble aside, the Os do look like they're having a wonderful time!
tagged Zero + Maria Cornejo
Zero + Maria Cornejo
Reader Comments (86)
Who says Mrs. T has to be "objective?" She's not a journalist. I'd love to hear more more more from you, Mrs. T! Your presence has a calming effect. :-)
To me, this layering works because everything looks like it's in the same cool tone family...I'm not sure if I'm describing that well. But purple and lavender and what seems like a cool pinkish tone all blend harmoniously, to me.
Where layering can go off the rails is if you're wearing, for example, a purple striped top under a green short sleeved jacket with visible pockets. I think that was, as Tim Gunn would say, "a lotta look."
so the jacket is purple, not blue?
I saw some pictures on Yahoo and I can see how this outfit came together (IMHO). The slacks seem to be of a textured tweed fabric that has a lilac undertone or thread in it.I think she layered her shirts for warmth as well as feel good, look good fashion. The blue jacket and belt really offsets the blue ballet flats. I know some don't like the flats, but it was a natural choice given this was a casual event and outfit.This outfit works for me...I like it. Now, having said that, I could not pull off this one. It would make me look like a line backer for The Detroit Lions (not a good look for a lady). However, Flotus has the body type and confidence to make it work. That's where the fashion inspiration comes in, you take what you like and make it your own. Fashion is supposed to make you see how things can work for you individually, even if you don't care for the way it looks on the "model". If you don't like it at all, no harm, no foul.
The jacket is definitely blue.
Actually, Mrs. T, I suspected that this may have been an intentional ploy to bring out more positive comments. Either way, it's been a good day, and the comments have been very enjoyable! :-)
By the way, Miss T, I've been wondering how you're coming along on the wedding planning. What a BIG job that is! I hope you're making it a special and fun time.
Thanks Mrs. T.
Here's a video of the event.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSgtXggeUKA
I noticed that whenever I see Mrs. O in action on video she and her clothes always look much better than the photo. I'm glad she wore trousers here. If there is one item of clothing I wish she would no longer wear in the spring and summer months it's cropped pants. They always seem to make her thighs look really thick when they probably aren't. The only time cropped pants looked casual and chic on her was when she wore a pair of loose fitting white ones with a white shirt returning from camp david and at the poetry jam, but that's only because they were loose and didn't cling to her thighs.
Thanks for asking BarbG! Well, I have the date and wedding venue set, but that's about it. I have my first dress appointments on October 30th, so I will keep you posted! The wedding is in June 2010, so I still have some time ...
Charlene in Detroit, well said!
I'm with Mrs. T.
I LOVE the fit of the pants, and I like the jacket. I don't like them together, I feel like the moods and the tones don't match. Wish she'd worn a black jacket with a red top of some sort. And this is an occasion where a sweater set would have been pitch-perfect.
I like it. Casual, smart, warm, approachable, beautifully fitting and, well... the lady shines!
I don't care for this. Pants are OK but still too tight in the crotch. And the layers of stuff are not working. All that stuff pushed up on her arms looks bunchy. Ends up looking thrown on, not planned.
A jacket that comes down to hip length, covering the crotch area, would be a better proportion on this tall woman. One sweater and one good jacket (warm, if necessary) and a handsome long scarf would have been better.
They both look vibrant and dressed for a cooler evening. Michelle's outfit is
pleasantly colorful and fits perfectly. The smiles show how engaged they are in
the evening.
It was very cool in DC last night...
There is nothing in this outfit to make a 'fashion' statement about it, just a woman dressed for a cool evening outside with some kids. Layers, a jacket and some nice fitting pants. What is there to like or dislike. I've seen her in outfits a lot less attractive. Are you loosing your impartiality as site monitor Mrs. T or are you being pressed to be more partisan. Just wondering.....
Beegee what is ur obssession with crotch area.why not say the oufit does nothing for u and leave it at it.i hate when women make comments about other women like that.it goes beyond disrespectful.egad.some people should really reread their posts before submitting it.
she looks so happy.ready for the stars.
greetings from dresden,germany.
i love her pants, she looks great in that style of trouser even if she doesn't wear pants often. i love the jacket & belt as well, but what looks like a cardigan underneath is not working for me. most of all it's just nice to have an appreciation of science back in the white house, the kids looked like they had a great time.
No obsession. There is no other way to describe that part of a pair of pants - it is a perfectly good term, with no ulterior meaning - and tightness there in pants is not attractive. That is my opinion.
This is a fashion site. Some were all over the fit, the looseness of the black shift she wore for their anniversary night out. I thought it was great. I have commented about the way the pants fit. And with pants, fit is everything.
See, that just shows you how my monitor (and/or my eyes) are wonky; I was seeing the jacket as purple-ish when it's really blue.
Also, i understand what you're saying, BeeGee, about the front area. I'm going to give Mrs. O the benefit of the doubt there because she's walking, as we can see in the picture. If the pants still gather like that when she's standing still, then yes, that's not the best fit.
MICHELLE AND HER GOOD LOOKING HUSBAND LOOKED OK NOT FEELING HER OUTFIT OBAMA IS NOT WEARRING A SUITE THIS TIME AROUND I GUESS HE HAD TIME TO CHAGE CLOTHES IT MUST BE A LITTLE CHILLI LAST NIGHT IN WASHITON BECOUSE THEY ALL HAVE SWEATERS AND JACKET ON EVEAN THE KIDS HAD WARM CLOTHES ON. THEN AGIAN IT IS OCT AND ITS GETTING COLD AGIAN FOR THEM.
I love the look of both President and First Lady Obama--relaxed, comfortable, accessible.
I liked hearing your opinion Mrs T, I didn't agree w/it, I do like this look but I like your input
My yesterday's post did not go through for some reason, I'm not sure why, so I will try again.
I really like this look. It is relaxed and easy. Considering the fact that she was hosting an event for school children, it was important to look approachable.
I love her choice of color here. I'm going for a lot of blue myself this fall.
Also, notice how long and lean she looks here. I thin it is a great look for her.
I'm with Mrs. T.
I LOVE the fit of the pants, and I like the jacket. I don't like them together, I feel like the moods and the tones don't match. Wish she'd worn a black jacket with a red top of some sort. And this is an occasion where a sweater set would have been pitch-perfect.
I appreciate the photo Boazwife referred to. Since the pants are really grey, the who thing works better. But I liked the look even when I thought the pants were more khaki colored.
Mrs T,
I must absolutely disagree with you. Mrs O's outfit looks great! The color scheme and layering does indeed work very well, even the belt! I don't see how this look is any different from the other daring, away from the norm looks that Mrs O's wears most of the time.
I love this look! I would NEVER think to put navy and lavender together, but she pulls it off beautifully!
See, I just don't see how making a remark that it looks like Mrs. O had a "laundry day" and "pulled the last thing out of her closet" is either necessary, objective, analytical, respectful, mature, or accurate.
Comments like those are meant to elicit responses and start a whole chain of events. Sorry Friends, i could not let that one go by. It's just too venal for me.
I was surprised to read Mrs T.'s negative comment. I have always appreciated this website because it reports what Mrs. Obama is wearing in a way that is supportive. Imagine how it must feel to be scrutinzed from head to toe (including manicure) every single day! Curious that you would be critical of an outfit worn while stargazing with children.
Oh Bevi, please get over it! From reading the posts above, you seeme the one trying to start something. People stated their opinions and moved on, but you just had to rehash everyone else's comments and play critique the critique. Why can't Mrs O have a "laundry day"? Isn't she human, like the rest of us? There was nothing "venal" about the comments you singled out. If anything they make Mrs O more relatable to us regular folks and that is something she has always prided herself on.
I have two responses to the negative comments about Mrs. T's post.
First, I agree with Christina that Mrs. T is not a journalist and is therefore under no obligation to remain neutral or objective in her "reporting." This is a blog site, and I believe Mrs. T has been more than usually neutral for such a site.
Second, this is not the first time that Mrs. T has expressed an opinion. She was quite outspoken about the shorts "controversy" and very firmly stated her defense of Mrs. O's deplaning from Air Force One to view the Grand Canyon with bare legs, and I don't recall anyone criticizing her for her lack of neutrality or objectivity in that situation. So if she is allowed to express her defense of the First Lady's attire, she should also be allowed to say that she's not particularly fond of a certain look--IMO.
@Ari
I agree. If that Westminister Abbey outfit didn't earn a critical review then nothing should.
I actually like this outfit. I like the full length pant instead of the cropped version Michelle often wears. I like the khaki color which helps off set the colorful sweater & jacket. I also like blue and purple worn together, plus this belt isn't too wide. Hair is good. She looks great!
Blue, purple and khaki is a great color combo. I'd wear it.
In looking at other pictures, it's possible the slacks might be grey. Either way, khaki or grey are both neutral. I still love it. Some may prefer the spelling to be GRAY. You spell it your way and I'll spell it my way. I also like the sweater on POTUS.
Her pants appear to be a color often called greige (for grey/beige). I notice that the color in the photo below leans very much toward the red/yellow end of the spectrum. Their skin is not that color! That would make the pants look more beige. This photo looks more true as to color balance.
Error: My last post on this thread was intended for the Girl Scout thread. Sorry.
Fun to read all your comments. We obviously adore the Obamas!
Question: Mrs. O wore this same outfit for her girl scout photo--was it the same day? In that photo I was distracted by the angled line of color and tried to decide it was something Girl Scoutish they made her wear!
I wouldn't have worn the outfit, but that beautiful lady can wear anything!