Belle of the Ball
Thursday, December 10, 2009 at 2:12 PM 
Image by Jewel Samad / Getty Images
Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton
Image by Lise Aserud / AP Photos
Image by Chris Jackson / Getty Images
Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
Dear Monsieur Alaia,
Please give us a sign if the beautiful gown and jacket the first lady is wearing are your creation. The craftsmanship is exquisite.
Best,
Mrs. T & Friends
Update #1: Please have a peek at this image from the Alaia Spring 2010 collection via Red Carpet Fashion Awards. Though there wasn't much question, this is almost certainly the work of Azzedine Alaia.
The more we admire this ensemble, the more we feel in awe. From the finely articulated ribbons of beadwork to the trademark Alaia ruching through the skirt, it is an absolute inspiration. It is the kind of craftsmanship that seems of another era.
As has been observed in the comments, the choice of silver blue, a new color for the first lady, does seem thoughtfully chosen for the Nordic locale.
A fabulous analysis from reader Mark:
"I'm speechless. She looks incredibly beautiful here! I feel like this dress and the jacket she was wearing with it are so perfect for Norway. I've never been there, but I've always had this sort of fairytale image in my mind of Norway. An ice-crystal and snow flake wonderland. Princesses living in palaces carved of ice. Clear, crisp nights with the smell of snow and ice in the air .... That dress, and the way she looks in it, is the embodiment of that image. What a fabulous look, and what a wonderful gesture to her Norwegian hosts."
Update #2: Our tremendous thanks to Jessica Michault, Online Style Editor for the International Herald Tribune, for confirming that indeed, Azzedine Alaia is the designer behind Mrs. O's dress and jacket.
Alaia
Reader Comments (165)
why is her dress so long? At one point, the toe of her shoe looked caught up in the hem (much like the inaugural). I wish someone had shortened it. Aside from that, it's quite beautiful.
I think the jacket is great. I'm with Tracy and BeeGee on the dress. While it is a beautiful color, it is very unflattering...it looks like something that belongs on some collectible dolls I used to have. Just too fussy and frou-frou. With the very detailed jacket, a much simpler dress would have worked better.
Hey Guys!
I really would like some answers to my questions. Mrs T., would you like to chime in?
I have seen the dress on Getty and other sites and in all instances the colour, fabric, design and length all look different. I love the dress, especially the way it falls and fans at the bottom. I like the fact that it DOESN'T cinch at the waist. It hangs the way it SHOULD and although Michelle is no hourglass, she is toned and solid like a brick with not a ounce of flab hanging over. Ladies, let's celebrate this. Michelle is acknowledging her body shape and sending a message to all we women that hips don't have to be hidden and waists do not have to be defined. How many times have we heard, "That doesn't look good, it should drop like this but you're too hippy or don't have a waist, that would suit a taller woman........blah blah blah." To hell with the negativity. Wear what you like, women. Do a Michelle.
She is so damned comfortable in herself, cheesing and grinning with her Prince, being wined and dined in beautiful surroundings. I wish I had her confidence.
Her hair looks stunning from behind, earrings, makeup and beautiful smile - all on point.
To each their own but for me this whole look is another home run.
Please what Red Corset dress is everyone talking about.....can someone post a link please.
I'm not too excited about the dress especially without the jacket which really reminds me of Princess Diana, i wish she had it on the whole time.
The dress was too long, i wonder what happened i remember previous posts when Barabara talked about getting advice on her wardrobe. She was labelled old fashion and out of touch. Imagine the dismay if our darling FLOTUS tripped over. Her constant holding up of the dress negates the whole ensemble
They both look very nice! I like the dres and specially the coat Stunning!
But I think the dress is a bit too long , we can see this qhe she stands for a group picture.
A funny thing: Many people express awe about Mr and Mrs Obama calling them "american royalty", but the US has abolished it a long time ago and has fought for democracy to this day. Let's find other adjectives to express admiration!
love the color but the fit is not as flattering for her as it could be
I would like to congratulate Mr Barak Obama and his wife Michelle Obama for this prestigious prize.
Mrs O looks radiant with this photo behind the window. Impeccable hairdo, fine manicure, make up well done. Pefect.
The dress itself is an avant garde, though i dont really like the gown. I hate the yellow staff she was wearing during the ceremony.
Love the dress but WITH the jacket. The upper part of the dress doesn't look quite right...too much like a leotard in my humble opinion. However, with that jacket in the ice blue she looks magnificant!
I LOVE HER DRESS AND THE JACKET IS NICE TO SHE FINNLEY DID SOMETHING WITH HER HAIR SHE PUT A PEACE ON HER HAIR VERY NICE AND OF COUSE OUR PRESIDENT LOOKED GOOD IN ANY SUITE HE WEAR.
MichelleToo, I unfortunately don't know the answers to your questions. We may need a seamstress or designer to weigh in! In my opinion, I do think the dress is a few inches too long. I know from interviewing the designers that almost always the garments are made to exact specifications provided to them, and that they don't have one-on-one fittings with the first lady. I presume it just a slight miscalculation on the length.
In terms of the Oprah dress, I will feature it on December 13th when the special airs - though I don't yet know the designer.
What a person can do with needle, thread and fabric! When I saw the First Lady, I was moved, literally. All I could say was, OMG!!! She's ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS! STUNNING (I thought to myself)!!! I call this color, ice blue, which is my favorite color in the blue family. Again, I'm usually not in awe of anyone, yet when it comes to the craftsmanship and its creative genius in the outfits which the First Lady selects and wears so well...I become awe struck. From her make-up, to her earrings, to the jacket (beautiful folded pleating), to the drop-waist gown with the silver-blue threads throughout it....I'm just speechless, now. I say, BRAVO!!!! To her selections.
Re 'adore michele's' comment about length of gown. I had 2 thoughts: 1) I noticed the length, as well. 2) Maybe she likes the length this way. It doesn't take anytime to whip stitch a hem in any garment. I, then, recalled in the classic movies of the 1930-1950's, some actresses wore formal gowns and lingerie that were a few inches below floor length on purpose. (Of course, by it being Hollywood, it was selected for them). Yet, it did look graceful when they pulled the gowns up as they walked toward their leading men. It's like the Miss Clairol slogan years ago, with this twist..."only her tailor knows for sure."
It's a little hard to fathom, that a custom-made gown is sent to the First Lady of the United States for a very important occasion. She tries it on, realizes it is too long, and nobody can personally come and make the alteration for her?!? If I were her I would demand that it be taken care of, PRONTO.
Silver and Gold. I feel a bit justified in my comments regarding fit of the gold outfit. I checked comments on the redcarpetawards website and many were critical of the fit and the way it made Mrs. O look. I think the silver/blue gown is magical. LOVE the jacket. It frames her gorgeous face and smile perfectly. It looks regal and so chic. Bravo Mrs. O!
But once again, there is an issue with the fit. It is simply too long. Now as someone mentioned, this could be due to a change in footwear. These things do happen. The wrong pair is packed, a heel breaks, or possibly she just chose to wear something more comfortable.
But, it could also be a design flaw. Why oh why, when a designer must know that Mrs. O will be photographed and her image spread around the world, would a designer & co. not make sure the fit of their design is perfection.
The gold dress creased and pulled making it look too snug and Mrs. O too big. The coat swallowed her and obscured her toned and lovely figure.
The silver/blue dress was nearly perfect except that it was so long she had to use two hands to hike it up in order to walk. This is unacceptable. She needs her hands free to shake hands, to gesture and what about dancing?? One cannot dance in a dress that is dragging the ground enough to trip you up. I'm not sure there was dancing after the banquet but it should be a consideration when designing an evening gown for the First Lady. It must be beautiful and functional. This dress only fulfilled half that requirement.
And someone mentioned Princess Diana and this dress did remind me very much of her dresses. Diana wore the fitted dropped waist design very often.
Please designers, pay attention to fit. If your work appears on our lovely First Lady the fit must be flawless.
As to her hair and makeup...perfection. The photo in the window when she is wearing the stunning silver/blue jacket over the dress is perfection. Her hair, her makeup, her smile, framed by that intricate and super chic jacket...now that's what I'm talkin about!
This dress represents the oppulence , Michelle represents. Good choice of color.
She looks like ROYALTY!!!
The bodice of the dress isn't my favorite, but sometimes the whole is more than the sum of its parts, and in this case the color, jacket, and fabric of the dress, plus the magical uplighting on the Obamas' faces when they acknowledged well wishers on the hotel balcony more than makes up for anything else. The dress with the jacket ranks in my top three evening looks, together with the exquisite pumpkin Rodarte dress for Copenhagen and the gray beaded Sorenson dress for the governors' dinner early this year.
If Michelle is doing this great so early into her First Lady duties, imagine how she'll refine her look even further in the coming years. I'm so excited about what comes next.
Hi, I talked to Azzedine Alaia office in Paris and they have confirmed this cropped jacket and dress are designed by him.
Ms. M,
I totally agree with you about the length of the dress and why it's unacceptable that there's no one there to quickly hem her dress for her. This is why I am pro-stylist, even though that's a sin to say on this board. But this is the perfect example of my Mrs. O needs a stylist and stat.
That hem was so long it pools around her feet. Not only is it not cool for her to have to walk around holding her dress the entire night, but it's a disaster waiting to happen. With the length of that dress, it's a wonder that she did not take a tumble and fall on her face. I don't understand how it is possible to make a dress that's even too long for a long legged woman of 5'11. Did he think she was gonna be 6'4 in heels or something? I've said before, I am not a fan of this particular designer. I think the look of his clothes leaves a lot to be desired and I think this dress is probably the least attractive and most ill fitting thing she's ever worn.
And back to the hem and the need for a stylist, there should be someone there for her to alter the dress. A temporary hem is the most simple thing to do. Hell, someone could even have stapled it.
But I think this also goes back to Mrs. O's penchant for not picking out her dresses until the day of the event, which is not wise at all. That is why the inaugural gown was poorly fitted. She chose it the night of the balls. And I would bet that she had maybe several gowns in her luggage for this trip and just decided to wear this one right before it was time to go. That's not good and only makes for issues like having to carry a too long dress around all night. It's not elegant to be holding and fiddling around with your dress just so that you can walk.
I really hope she gets a stylist to take care of things like this. It's one thing for a dress to be unflattering. It's totally another thing for it to possibly cause a youtube moment or a wardrobe malfunction. Because had she stepped on the front of her dress hard enough, it could have been a Janet Jackson Superbowl moment as well.
Thanks guys!
Mrs. T, I appreciate you weighing in. And yes, it would be a great idea to have a designer and a seamstress provide us with a little insight.
Babs, you are right! Which is why I was thinking that perhaps she WANTED it to be that way? Like maybe she had a convo with someone from the design team who suggested that she keep the length?
I just remember being a kid and wanting a princess ball gown, just so that I could pick up my skirts! Isn't that part of the fantasy? Well, mine at least :) Lol!
Either way, I did want to point out how this ensemble is very instep with the fashion of Norway. I always think of the culture and style to be what we would call avant garde. I think that this dress, in fact everything that she wore on the trip is a nod to that sensibility.
But you guys know me....I love Michelle and ALWAYS think that she is ON POINT! So sometimes I can stand a little education in matters of length and "propriety"! That said, when she is standing, that dress does look magical pooling around her feet like that!
Thanks again all!
The First Lady of the United States of America, Mrs. Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama is rockin it!
WOW, WOW and WOW!
I'm getting a kick out of some of these posts. Here's my take: Mrs. O looks spectacular. The color and the dress are absolutely my favorites. In answer to some negative comments, it is not too young looking, it is not a prom dress, it is not too old-fashioned, it is not badly fitted, the dropped waistline is actually flattering, and she looks amazing. Some of the criticisms are ridiculous, in my opinion. The only time I don't like the way she looks is when she has one of those huge belts on that ride up under her bustline. Otherwise, she makes great choices. Besides, they are HER choices.
LOVE the jacket, the hair, the makeup, the earrings, the detailing on the dress. But the dress itself does not flatter. It's not about "showing off the hips." It's about choosing a shape and a cut that looks best on the body. This highlights the widest part of her body. No good. And who wants a dress where you have to hold it up the entire night? The opposite of effortless. Also the full-length picture here does Mrs. O no favors; many of the ones commentors have posted show her at a better angle.
For those who've commented on the length of the dress, couple of thoughts.
1) Mrs. O. may have had it fitted with different shoes, i.e. with heels, then changed her mind about shoes at the last minute and went with something flatter.
2) The fabric might have stretched, if the dress were steamed when it came out of its travel case/hanging bag, or if it stretched in hanging.
3) This would not be something easy to hem at the last minute (yes, I know you can use masking tape but cold can make masking tape come unstuck.)
The jacket is blowing my mind. That and the gray dress are two of the prettiest examples of workmanship I have ever seen. Add them to the orchid gown from the Kennedy Center honors and I imagine seamstresses all over the world are standing on their chairs, cheering.
Just want to add one more comment on the jacket. It is all pleating, and the pleats are perfectly matched. Take a look at how the pleated sleeves join the bodice. Nothing is off. Then look at the treatment at the end of each sleeve and around the bottom: the pleats go from flat to pressed or possibly stitched open. The collar is a separate piece which was shaped and then attached. Princess Diana never wore anything prettier than this.
Stunning!!
Mark, you've written it beautifully and I totally agree. The color and design reminds me of a princess in an ice castle. The detail in the gown and jacket are exceptional.
The hair, makeup and earrings are perfect. She looks exquisite.
love the color, not crazy about the dress, wish she'd kept the jacket on.
wonderful representation for us in Europe - very successful trip fashion wise
She looks fantastic. I don't care for the beading around the hips...but nonetheless the color is beautiful and the coat is gorgeous. I also love her hair.
I suppose if nothing else she could have worn it with taller heels. Maybe when they originally planned it she was going to wear higher heels? Never really saw a shot of her shoes....
I did not gasp with delight at this gown as much as I did at the Naeem Khan gown Mrs. O wore at the WH's first state dinner. Still, it's very special; the jacket is an architectural wonder! Why did they make it too long? Or did Mrs. O change shoes? In a Politico video, it showed her tripping on the gown so she held it up thereafter. Too bad she had to deal with that all evening. It was wonderful to see the warm reception the Norwegians gave them. One cannot deny their international appeal. Cheers, Pres and Mrs. O!
From the (cute) dancing picture, you can see that the dress is definitely too long. She either needs to have someone tailor her gowns so the length fits or wear a bit higher heels. But still love the look, and adore the grin on the President's face :)
I love this ensemble and wish that Mrs.O would have worn the lovely bolero jacket all evening.
Michelle Too, I agree with eveything you say. I was thinking the same thing.
I don't think the cut ot this evening gown is very flattering to her; But I love what she wore to the ceremony. I adore that she wears that unusual yellow-green.
I absolutely LOVE this look WITH the jacket--she looks like an Elizabeth I renaissance portrait! Only a tall, statuesque woman like Mrs. O could wear this--it reminds me of a Viktor & Rolf ensemble--although I am not a fan of the color, she is STUNNING here !!! Love the earrings too. The dress is pretty, but a little awkward on her--just slightly--but can you imagine seeing her enter a room? Wow! THIS and her beige/black NR ensemble are unbeatable--she IS fun to watch cuz you never know what she'll choose---Alaia is a good choice for her--I loved her ruffle-teired black Alaia she wore during the summer (with the spaghetti straps). If this dress had fit her in the waist like the black one did, this look woulda been PERFECT! I look forward to more events...love her in formal gowns...
the bodice is shapeless. she needs more structure through the middle. it makes her look doughy. the photo with the jacket has impact but it looks like something out of ALIEN on closer examination - as if her head is bursting out of some sort of pod. the skirt is too long. she does well with more tailoring. i love the color and i love her.
so happy and proud to see how the crowd hung out in the Oslo cold to see them.
I agree with Ivy that the Green dress she wore designed by Stevie's wife and the CURLS are the best look she has ever had. Please go back to wearing some curls, although the hairstyle for this blue ensemble was also becoming...As for the jacket, I'm speechless!
The ensemble is exquisite. But someone needs to help with the length issue. A lady should never have to lift the hem in order to walk (although it's often required to ascend stairs.) She's tall and perhaps they're trying to assure that the skirt is long enough, but she's eventually going to trip, or worse, if her hem isn't adjusted upward.
I really don't want to belabor this and I know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I really don't get some of these posts. This is one of the most beautiful, artistic creations that I"ve seen in a while. That jacket is pure magic. As Hattie Carrnegie stated this is workmanship at it's finest. The dress is just as magical in the way the ruching/pleating at the waist and below makes a staement. The color was perfect and seemed to be a nod to Oslo, which if in fact that is the case, it sure was thoughtful. In some's opinion the dress is too long. I'll give you that. Perhaps it was intentional, maybe not. But our Michelle could not have been more graceful and beautiful wearing it. She really did make an extraordinary impression in Norway.
As I said early on, I don't get this.
I'm up being a nite owl so I'll make a reply to Charlene/Detroit: It looks like what you don't "get" is that a lot of other people have an opinion different from yours on this particular dress. In fact this is one of the few outfits that seem to be running 50-50 pro vs. con. And after 139 postings it appears we have succeeded in agreeing to disagree without ruffling a lot of feathers. Hooray! Is it a lovely gown-yes.
Does everybody love the way it looks on her? No.
But it's fun and interesting to hear all the DIFFERENT opinions.
PERFECTION!!!
My incredibly stunning, regal, magnificent and exquisite first lady! Such elegance and grace.
Rock on Mrs O, Rock on!!!!!
(The original and REGISTERED Camille)
Mrs. T, I love the earrings. Whose design are they? The first lady looks fabulous from head to toe.
Bravo!!
Babs, I will agree that it is fun and interesting to hear different opinions of the dress. What I don't "get" is the nastiness in Some, not All, of the different opinions.I'm not taking anything away from anyone who disagrees, it's just the way some demean and belittle that I take issue with.
I love her because she loves herself; there is a fearlessness there buttressed by a supportive and loving husband. I have a very similar body to her but I would have never worn that dress w/out being At one of my more thin-waisted moments. The fact that she continues to see her own beauty--that she even emphasizes what might be considered imperfections by others--makes me value and respect her even more.
The dress and jacket are magnificent. The dime on her arm doesn't hurt.
@ Marcelle - I love them too! No word yet, but I'll let you know when/if I hear.
The back of the First Lady's jacket is just as spectacular as the front. What beautiful needle work. I really like her diversity of style when it comes to her selections. She easily pulls off many styles from avante guarde, girly-ish, chic, classic to simply playful with colors, accessories, coordinates and various dress lengths. I, personally, like everything that I've seen her in. Eventhough, some of the styles may not work well on me (keeping adaptations in mind), yet, I like her bold, simplistic, experimental approach to her final presentations. Some women won't be seen without a hat, some a scarf, to others a pin, earrings or even make-up for that matter of fact.
All I can say is if you're in a frilly, ruffle mood, wear it. A belt mood, be-it slender or the wider the better-go for it; a pin mood, experiment with placement. What really matters is the most important aspects of life, anyway. That aspect to me is that Mrs. Obama represents women in general, mothers in particular and this country, specifically, VERY WELL!
That jacket alone gave me chills. Its a work of art. She wears regal clothes beautifully!
Mrs. T - I love the last, precious photo of the Obamas from behind. There is something very touching about these two sincere and genuine people from humble beginnings, dressed to the nines, being feted as royalty in a foreign wonderland.
I love that you highlighted Mark's poetic praise of this dress and event. I also enjoyed the delightful way he expressed his disappointment in a previous ensemble.
Mark -- not to put too much pressure on you ;-) -- but I'm looking forward to appreciating your continued contributions. I noticed that he inspired some poetic references in others' comments as well. It will be fun to see where this new inspiration may take us.
TRES ELEGANCE. Prince and Princess - again, just absolutey perfect.
Missed the blog very much. Hoping to come back soon.
This photo gives a better glimpse of the shoes she wore with this ice-blue dress, especially if you click on "All sizes" just above the photo to enlarge it.