Wednesday
Nov042009
Classical Music, Classic Style
Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at 4:45 PM 
Image by Mandel Ngan / Getty Images
Furthering her work in support of arts education, First Lady Mrs. O hosted a workshop for classical music students at the White House this afternoon.
For the event, Mrs. O chose a gray tweed suit. We particularly love the folded detail at the back of the jacket and a french twist for an extra dash of polish. We will investigate the designer and report back.
Update: Mrs. O wears a jacket and skirt by Thakoon.
tagged Thakoon
Thakoon
Reader Comments (41)
Once again an awful belt! Please stop, Mrs O!!!
Very nice - especially with that touch of silver at the waist. Sharpens up the grey and nips the jacket in beautifully. I love it!
She looks so happy ......love the detail on the back of the jacket. The look is good, nothing that pops.........not really liking the belt....
Anywho overall nice.
I think the outfit looks like a patient johnny. The belt does nothing for the lovely Mrs. O's figure.
great outfit.the woman is really creative.without the silver belt to jazz it up it would have been a boring look becuz of too much gray but Mrs O being Mrs.O completes the look with a brooch and spices it up with the belt.love it.she never dissapoints.
greetings fom gemany.looking forward to her outfit tonight.
I LOVE the mirroring of the folds in the back of the jacket with the folds in the back of her hair. Tres chic.
The suit is beautiful, and the brooch adds a great touch. I love the French twist. But the belt . . . WHY??? The jacket isn't fitted, and the belt is pulling it up so that it hangs unevenly in the back. Surely there's another way to add color or texture to an outfit, or you could just buy jackets that allow a belt to fit smoothly over them. LOVE MO, hate the belts.
I smiled upon seeing this!! Lovely photograph. Mrs. O looks fabulous. Very much a standard Mrs O look...yet, there's something quite new and fresh about it. Can't put my finger on it (the upswept hair certainly contributes to the 'newness' but there's something else).
I am so impressed with their cultural programming. It is SO refreshing to have a Presidency that celebrates and promotes knowledge, culture, excellence.
MsG, I will agree with you about the belt THIS TIME. It is definitely pulling up the jacket, maybe in this case she should have worn the belt under the jacket.
I'd have to see the whole outfit before I can make a judgement call. From what I see, it looks nice and I love the splash of silver that breaks up the grey colour. Her hair is glossy and shiny (as always) and her skin .............I wonder what her skin care regime is because her flawless complexion cannot be down to just lots of water and plenty of sleep !!
Belt position not good with this short jacket. pulled up so that you can see either skin or her blouse above the skirt waistband on one side. It appears to have been photoshopped out in this photo as it was in one that was the same pose.
The intricate sunburst tucks in the front and the tricky back make me think "Moschino".
i am sure she wears belts because she likes them.. SHE LOOKS soooo nice. Hair, skin, just a picture of good health. i love the look. love it. hope she keeps rocking those belts. and keep dressing in her own style. we have become a society of telling others what WE think looks good. why not dress yourself as to what YOU feel looks right for you. This is why I just cannot understand why the silly comments on the belts. its a belt darn it. i wish she would start wearing them around her head... LOL to drive people nuts LOL!!!
Saw a picture of this outfit straight on and close up on daylife. I like the suit and the brooch, but the blouse pattern and belt material makes it all seem much too busy. Her hair (and smile) are fabulous!!
MRS O LOOKED NICE AS ALWAYS.LOVE HER HAIR.
Classical music concert at WH live right now: http://www.whitehouse.gov/live/president-obama-and-first-lady-attend-classical-music-reception
FLOTUS looks fab!
go here now! http://www.whitehouse.gov/live/
I was really excited to hear about this event because 2 students from Detroit Public Schools' City Wide Poetry program were winners of an award there tonight! I'm sure they will have stories to tell tomorrow in the local news...talented kids. I saw our Michelle's outfit and I think that she's wearing a sweater underneath the jacket. I noticed quite a few designers are doing origami pleats on jackets and dresses in recent seasons.The belt does give the jacket a peplum style (which looks horrible on me), but she seems to be able to make it work. Maybe, I just like it when people dress up, I don't know, but this outfit works for me for HER.That brooch is one of my favorites and it adss just a little punch to keep it fresh.
Here she blows! would you call this a sweetheart neckline. Fabulous in white after Labor Day
http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/92762105
Here's a glimpse of the back of the dress - interesting
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Michelle-Obama/ss/events/pl/050108michelleobama#photoViewer=/091105/480/133aee49c62547f7a8dd9c6f4b44b967
The live performance also shows a long stole?
Gorgeous!! This is very Narsico Rodriguez to me.
http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/92762105/AFP
I'm not loving the belt either - she probably could have gotten the same punch with the belt under the jacket, so the jacket would swing the way it's supposed to. But her hair looks spectacular - shiny, healthy, enviable! And her face says it all - she is radiant.
Her white dress this evening is beautiful and fits like a dream. I'm not having any luck finding more pictures than the 2 on Getty, neither of which shows a stole. I sure would love to see THAT!
Love the color and shine of this belt, but I think it's at odds with the fold, seams, and length of the jacket. The dress from tonight looks terrific.
I came across this quote and I think it might be helpful to some posters. It's a quite a life lesson.
"If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it"
Enough with the belt comments -swallow and move on!
Amdrea,
Comments are comments, whether they're about belts or anything else. They're all just opinions, and we all know that. Our opinions aren't going to change anything, but we're still entitled to express them. We're here to discuss fashion, not each other; so when someone expresses an opinion with which you disagree, just swallow and move on.
@ BarbG - thanks for your cool head and well turned phrase. I was fuming until I read your comment, and could not have pulled it off this time.
The belt is all wrong. It's pulling up the jacket to reveal the elastic waist of the skirt. A big "no-no"!
I must say, the suit looks more like a knit than a tweed to me.
This suit is definitely not a tweed. I have never seen a tweed that has almost no color variation, and also have never seen one in such a pale grey. If I didn't know better, I would say it was sweatshirt material. Linen, maybe? The jacket definitely should have been allowed to swing free, and yes, the belt under the jacket would have been a much better look. This outfit is crying out for a pop of color. Her hair, however, looks gorgeous. Is that the same brooch Mrs. O. wore to the World Series game? I'd love to see a closer look.
With or Without belt, i'm loving the suit.....it shows Mrs O can pull of a suit without it looking boxy.
Amdrea I couldn't agree with you more. Thank you so much. It's my belief a happy life is spent accepting what is so, and only seeking to change the things we *can* change. Whinging about Mrs O's belts day in, day out, is a fruitless exercise for those who remain disappointed by the belts, and it's pretty boring for those of us who have to read it day in day out!
Mrs O looks fabulous today, and I'm always glad to see a real woman in real clothes living a real life - especially when a jacket rucks up a bit or a cardigan is buttoned wrong. Just reminds me what a genuine woman Mrs O is. She doesn't only emerge from the depths of the White House once she's been rendered cover girl perfect, and scuttle off back again without a hair out of place having done nothing. She gets dressed, she leaps up out of her seat with her jacket slightly askew, she LIVES. Brava!
Belt: no good! It makes the jacket creep up.
Soooooooooo . . . . opinions with which you disagree are to be dismissed as mere whining; opinions with which you agree are to be applauded. Pretty much puts you at the center of things. No one HAS to read anything. What you don't like, just skip. No need to be bored by others' "whining." As the lady said, just swallow and move on.
Hyde Parker, I agree that this looks like a knit. I like knits a lot, so it will be interesting to get more information about the suit.
Why oh why oh why must EVERY thread always descend to this ? It's exhausting to read. Can't we celebrate our differences of opinion without the unnecessary back and forth ? For as long as I have blogged here, "the belt" has always been an emotive subject. Our opinions mean nothing, I am sure Michelle will continue to please herself when it comes to her wardrobe. So why can't we say what we have to say and move on.
Look, I've now seen close up pictures of Classical Night on Huffington. My opinion is that the suit is nice, the belt is a nice colour but IN MY OPINION was not necessary as it bunches up the back of the jacket, making it look slightly untidy. Hair on point, make up on point, beautiful smile on point. Am I a hater or whinger ? - absolutely not. Does it change how I feel about the great things that Michelle is doing? - Definitely not. It is nothing more than my opinion and others should be free to express there's.
@jestina,
I'm with you on this one. I used to be upset at people who complained about the belt and one of my responses created an unintended fire storm!! so I just stopped. Folks fuss about the belts and they are not going to stop. Perhaps they are hoping that Michelle herself or one of her staff will sneak a peek and get the message. I'm sure someone does but after a particularly vicious belt spat here, MO wore the ugliest belt I've ever seen with her next out fit. I almost passed out laughing. Seriously though, I don't know if anyone in the East Wing reads our posts.
There have been those who have used the belt to post their personal dislike for Mrs. O., which I find distasteful but I now leave them alone because it changes nothing. I also think that some will just do it to start something and I for one am no longer biting. Besides Mrs. T is good at stopping or deleting comments that are insulting to the First Lady.
Women get so pissed off about these things and the segment deteriorates into a nasty cat fight. We have lost some serious fashionistas with expert opinions because of the sniping (they may have changed their pseudonyms or be just lurking) I for one don't always like the belts but I LOVE her so I can overlook any fashion faux pas and don't have a problem with anyone expressing their dislike of a particular outfit if they can give a valid fashion reason why they don't. Ellen at 5:58 AM clearly states why she doesn't think it works. As someone else who doesn't like the belt emphatically said, this is a fashion blog, then this blogger proceeded to insult a fellow blogger. I completely agree that this is a 'fashion' blog but it is not a 'I hate her and her belt' blog either....and this will be my last word on the matter.
Amen to that,Julie !
Very "Vintage Barbie". Fantastic hairdo! The belt isn't too hideous...........
@ ann50
Please get over it already. It's an accessory and it's not likely to disappear. Some of us have moved on.
Bea and Posh Tater, apparently you haven't "moved on" and you continue your "whinging" against those of us who think the belts do Mrs. O. no favors for the most part. You're pretty boringly predictable, too. If I have a fashion opinion, I'll express it, thank you.
Posh, unfortunately we have to take our own advice and just admit that we cannot change the minds of the "belt dislikers" nor can we stop them from posting, so we might as well "swallow and move on"? I don't like the word swallow. I think you should do like me, LAUGH and move on!!
This is a neverending cycle and we don't really need to defend Mrs. O's CHOICE to wear belts because she does a pretty darn good job of that herself by continously wearing them. Hehehehehehehehehehehehehehe!!!!!!!
My turn now is it Christen? When I want your opinion, I'll ask for it.
This suit looks like light heather gray wool jersey.
It is Mrs. T who posts these photos and invites our opinions.
I am surprised that anyone viewing these two photos, which clearly show her belt hiking up the too-short-to-be-belted jacket, with glimpses of not only her skirt band but whatever is above it, can maintain the opinion that the belt is not spoiling her look.
Some seem to find some strange symbolism in the belt controversy. I take the position that sometimes the belt is OK and sometimes - as with this suit - it spoils the look.
I also noticed yesterday, running through a Comcast slideshow of 69 looks over the last couple of years, that in the past her belt was worn at her true waistline (not up under the bustline) and at least once was slung below her waist with a smart casual khaki pants and charcoal tee outfit.