Dress like Mrs. O (circa 2007)
Saturday, November 28, 2009 at 9:56 PM 
Mrs. O pictured with Angela Vallot and Judy Byrd Blaylock in 2007; Image via New York Historical Society
It was during the Democratic National Convention in August 2008 that many (including us) first associated Thakoon with Mrs. O's repertoire of favorite designers. A look back at campaign events in 2007 and early 2008, however, would show that Mrs. O had worn several pieces from Thakoon before the abstract floral, reverse-kimono frock debuted.
One such piece is an embroidered ivory jacket, hailing from Thakoon's Spring 2007 collection. Mrs. O wore the jacket for a "Women in Public Lives" speaking engagement at the New York Historial Society's annual Strawberry Festival in June 2007. Supporting women's issues, Michelle Obama echoed a now familiar platform, saying: "Society, community, and family are only as strong as the health of their women."
In 2006, Thakoon Panichgul had been named the runner-up for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Prize (won this year by another Mrs. O favorite, Sophie Theallet). The flowers the designer received for his nomination served as the inspiration for his Spring 2007 collection, which used "weighty fabrics like taffeta and organza to create form, and employed ruffles and pleats to make delicate petal sleeves and layered rosebud miniskirts," wrote Style.com.
We were excited to discover a similar Thakoon dress, cut in ivory silk, with the same floral embroidery, pop up on eBay recently, and wanted to share. If nothing else, it jogged our memory about the jacket above. But perhaps one lucky Mrs-O.org reader will snag the dress? Details on the eBay auction: Size 4, "Excellent pre-owned condition", starting bid at $270, auction ending 8 days from now. Click here for more.
P.S. There is a great little exhibit on at the New York Historical Society at the moment, "Lincoln and New York". It's worth a quick visit, capped by a snack at the Shake Shack around the corner.
Image via ebay user ClosetCompass
Thakoon
Reader Comments (13)
I don't remember seeing Mrs O wear this jacket but I love it. So light and feminine.
Thanks for posting that, Mrs T. If the dress were my size then I would have put in a bid but........
You know, I had also noticed that she was wearing Thakoon on multiple occasions when the campaign began two years ago as I looked at photos during that time. I think this is a photo of the actual Thakoon jacket she is wearing above on the runway. She also wore a blue and white tie-dye like cardigan by him a few times seen here on the runway . It's funny to see how just a few seasons ago Thakoon had very little color in his collections and now he's known for his bold use of color. I have to say I'm glad he did change his aesthetic. I don't particularly like the jacket she is wearing here. I saw a full length shot of her this outfit once and it seemed a bit "little girl-ish". Like it would have been cute on one of her daughters, but not very flattering on her. However that blue and white cardigan was very nice, and she often wore it in such a casual way I would have never known it was by a designer like Thakoon. I believe she also wore this green top with a tie front here during the campaign and the Easter Egg roll earlier this year.
Ari, interesting about the green tie top during the Easter Egg Roll - I had missed that, but believe you're right!
Here is the tie-dye cardigan you mentioned, worn in Oregon in May 2008. (Of particular interest because that piece was replicated in Thakoon's collection for Target)
Mrs. O also wore a black version of the Thakoon reverse-kimono dress in 2007, here.
Mrs.T, here's a photo of her wearing the green Thakoon top during the campaign and again at the Easter egg roll here . I really liked this top because the tie front almost looks like the sleeves of a sweater tied around the neck. Very clever design by Mr. Panichgul.
I love it too!
ARI,
Thanks for the actual picture of the above Thakoon jacket. I would like to see
the pic. from head to toe if possible. Anyway, looking at the jacket on the runway
model shows it clearly. I love it. Its a jacket that can be worn with different outfits.
I clicked on "LINCOLN AND NEW YORK" but nothing came up on my computer????
Mrs. O spoke that same day in June 07 in Harlem, on 125th Street, after the NYHS lunch. It was really hot in the community center room, and she came in without the jacket you show here. The underdress was sleeveless and black. Here is a link to a YouTube video of the event (the dress, with the pearls, first appears at the :18 second mark):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8n6wea0otY
Dear Cathy, Thank you for this wonderful perspective!
I was more than a little surprised when I saw these pics from 2007. I had forgotten how pale Mrs. O's eyebrows were then, and how little makeup she wore. She has really stepped up her hair and makeup routine since then, and her eyebrows look so much better in the recent "now" photos. Her hair's longer length is such an improvement. What a wonderful "makeover!"
The dress is fantastic. It's on my Christmas list...
Thanks for the link!
REMINISCE...
@Ari/ Cathy - Wow! You guys are seriously good.
You have me going into my own library of magazines, photos, events, downloaded youtube videos... Putting the pieces together of this amazing puzzle that reveals the person of Michelle Obama. It's like playing connect the dots, I love it!!!
I LOVE THIS DRESS I HAVE THE SAME ONE SO I WOULDNT PUT A BID ON IT . BUT MRS O DIDNT WEAR THIS DRESS WITH A JACKET BUT IF SHE DID I LOVE TO SEE IT IN HERE.
"I am married to the answer", WHOA, what a powerful statement. Now thats what I call standing by your man. I know I was supposed to be looking at the outfit, but I forgot about that once she started speaking.
Thanks, Cathy, I had never seen this video (and I have seen alot).