Pleated Perfection
Sunday, December 6, 2009 at 7:57 PM 
Image by Mandel Ngan / Getty Images
Image by Jonathan Ernst / Reuters
First Lady Mrs. O looks stunning in a pleated, orchid purple chiffon gown at the Kennedy Center Honors this evening. More details on the gown and necklace to follow.
Update: Mrs. O wears a corset gown by Peter Soronen and necklace by Tom Binns from the designer's Mutiny of Splendor collection (thanks Torrance!).
Per the New York Times, the evening honored five artists, including Bruce Springsteen, Robert De Niro, Mel Brooks, Gracy Bumbry and Dave Brubeck. Tonight's gala performance followed a dinner hosted by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Saturday night and a reception earlier today at the White House. We are crossing our fingers that a full-length view will surface on the White House Flickr feed. We will also have a chance to watch the event when it airs on December 29 on CBS.
Front and Back of Peter Soronen gown:
Images via Peter Soronen Studio Tom Binns necklace in detail:
Image via New York Magazine
Peter Soronen, Tom Binns
Reader Comments (139)
That chick is the epitome of glam. Yep, the Kennedys ushered in Camelot and the Obama's brought in Glamelot!
Lovely orchid color.....and NO BELT (LOL!!) Love the FLOTUS in bright jewel tones. No one wears color like she does.
She looks great! purple is a good color on her. mrs. T, did you post these pics of Mrs. O and Pres. O cheering Craig on at the basketball game this weekend>
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/oo126/theybf/Nov%2009/0e90a843.jpg
canyongal, that's the perfect description of the color! I'm borrowing it if you don't mind! :o)
I like the dress but I want to see it full on from the front. The color is fabulous and I really like the nipped in waist. And I'm feeling that necklace. Can't see the detail but it goes perfectly with her gown.
mama mia..sizzling flotus...you rock that frock....and knocked it outa the ball park again and again...
I'm feeling this entire look. Mrs. O sure knows how to do formal wear.
The belt jokes get old. The color is pretty on her skin.
c'est magnifique!
oh my god, i luv this lady.
Every day i log on to look at my favourite lady
oh my god, i luv this lady.
Every day i log on to look at my favourite lady
PERFECTION is definitely the right word!!!
They make me so proud to be an American - and she looks stunning - so chic. Long gone are the days of First Ladies attending an event in December in a red velvet dress with jacket and a Santa pin... move over ladies - this is how it is done.
She looks spectacular in this color, aptly described as orchid. Her hair and make up is flawless, oh by the way, her date is dapper as usual. Go FLOTUS and POTUS!
Absolutely stunning. Reminds me very much of the color of tropical bougainvillea flowers, such as these;
http://www.correrenelverde.it/ambienteenatura/botanica/images/BOUGAINVILLEA2.JPG
Beautiful color and she looks radiant.
But I am wondering about Jill Biden. This is the second event she has missed that Politico said she would be at. At Thursday's tree lighting he brought a granddaughter and tonight his daughter. She was at all activities for the Indian state visit. Hope she is all right.
Another gasp upon opening the website tonight!
One of her loveliest looks yet.
Like I said before, during state functions Mrs O should always be the center and wearing this glorious gown proves me right. Mrs O, we are proud to see your taste in clothes mature right in front of our eyes. I was never a fan of the black and red number you wore last November nor did I like the look you choose for going to your girl's school the day after Mr O won the presidential election but now... You do us proud by dressing the part correctly as FIRST LADY of the United States. You do us proud Lady O!!!
Beautiful shade of lilac, love the pleats. So pretty against her lovely skin and toned shoulders & arms. Wow! Love the updo and necklace too.
Ooh, I love it! so glamorous! so yummy. where is my spoon? I need a scoop or two of goodness I see but want more. LOL
Also, is that ROTUS peeking from behind? how adorable.
She looks wonderful, out President is a whipped man!
From what I can see, this dress is absolutely gorgeous on Mrs. O. I can't wait to find out the designer and learn more about it. This could have even been her inauguration gown!! I think this gown tops it ...so far.
WOW! Just yummy! What a lovely color! So fabulous on Mrs. O's wonderful skin. I love the unusual style of the dress, which is also wonderful on her. I'd like to see a better photo of the necklace, which looks very interesting, and works so well with the dress -- as do the bangles.
Mike - It's good to see a guy here. I smiled at your apt comment.
Just when I thot it couldn't get any better than the Indian State Dinner.........Here comes our first "FIRST LADY OF FASHION" absolutely breathtakingly beautiful, in this pleated purple perfection.........the purple "orchid" ( as per canyongal description) is stunning, and purple is so perfect for her.....PURPLE speaks of ROYALTY. No one does it quite like you Mrs.O YOU ROCK!!!!!
A couple photos from different angles,
here
here
I've got to see a better photo of that necklace. It's incredibly interesting.
Sigh. So lovely.
Willow, thanks for the additional photos. Lovely from all angles.
She knocks another 1 out of the park, her dress and make-up are flawless...Purple is definitely her color! Kudos to the 1st Lady! Waiting for more pics, would love to see full length and close up of the necklace.
Mike, your Santa pin comment was funny. She really is a new type of First Lady.
Willow those are great photos. I love the cut of the dress; how it accentuates her curves. Ohhh la la!
I think after the state dinner dress, this is my favorite formal dress I've seen her wear thus far.
@ Stylishgurl - who's ROTUS?
I cannot even think of enough superlatives to describe her. She is absolutely breathtaking, and I am so loving this color. I may be in the middle of a brain-freeze right now, but for the life of me, I can't figure out what ROTUS stands for.
Stylishgurl...somebody...please help me.
Once again, she has me in awe! She looks stellar!
ROTUS is receptionist of the united states. she's a veteran of operation iraqi freedom and president's receptionist.
The Secret Service may have screwed up at the state dinner, but they were certainly dead on when they dubbed her "RENAISSANCE"! She is absolute PERFECTION indeed! It's so funny because every new gown she wears, we swear she can never look better, but she somehow manages to make us eat our words, time and time again. Love her!
For the ones who asked, ROTUS = Receptionist Of The U.S.
As an aside, I just saw the preview of Oprah's white house Christmas special, and Mrs. O looks breathtaking in a purple long sleeve dress adorned with pearls. I can't wait to see the special next sunday! :)
who's the gorgeous girl standing behind the first couple?
she wins! every time! THIS WOMAN KNOWS ELEGANT.
beautiful
Beautiful. Simply Beautiful. I love the color and the design is quite flattering.
Gogeous-EVERYTHING about it! What a winner!
She is so beautiful, and I am so proud of the work that Michele and Barack are doing for this country! As they say...What a country! I am so lucky to be a citizen of this place, and so proud of my leaders.
Mrs. T - thanks for the second photo. It gives quite a good view of the necklace. I LOVE it. I'm guessing it might be by the same designer who did that very sculptural, asymmetrical necklace with the large rose-colored flower, which I also loved. (I'm sorry I don't remember the occasion or the designer of the necklace or the fuchsia dress she wore that night.) I'm sure you'll find out for us and gift us with a great photo of it. Thanks.
Willow - I was thinking the same thing about the necklace, and I also forget the designer. It was a dinner, correspondents maybe? There is a similarity.
Willow, the dress you're thinking of was by Michael Kors and the necklace was by Pieter Erasmus. At one time, Anthropology carried an inspired necklace by him called Flora in Focus $198.00. It's no longer available on line, however some stores still had some in stock as late as October.
Willow, that was especially for you!
My guess is Tom Binns for the necklace, and Peter Soronen for the dress. However, I've not yet confirmed either, so we will have to wait until tomorrow to be sure.
LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT. Love the color, love the fit, love it all.
As someone said, Mrs. O really does do formal wear well.
This is a HIT out of the park!!!
Groovy - Thanks for making me feel better about not remembering.
Charlene in Detroit - Thanks for remembering! Even though I LOVE these pieces as the artistic, sculptural creations they are, I could never wear them. They would wear me! The gorgeous, statuesque Mrs. O wears them so well.
Mrs. T - Thanks so much. I can't wait to find out.
I see Mrs. T is still burning that midnight oil. I hope the book signing was everything you had hoped for. I was thinking that next year when you do your new Mrs. O book (hint, hint), we could have a Oprah kind of book club signing. Maybe we could have a travel agent or someone handle details and we meet in New York for a Mrs. T weekend. Well, we can come up with something!
P.S. Hey guys, check out Isaac Mizrahi's collection on QVC. You can see our Michelle's influence all over this collection!
I view this site everyday but this is my first time commenting. Another absolutely beautiful picture of the First Couple, especially Mrs. O. Love the dress and color. I fell in love with the gown she wore for the state dinner but this is my favorite thus far.
Mrs. T: Thanks for all the photos and events you share on this website about our First Lady. I'm 55 years old and our First Lady's fashion has inspired me to match colors and choose styles that I never thought would work for me.
I wonder if Rotus (standing behind the 1st couple) is Reggie Love's date. Because he is standing next to her, could the 1st couple be creating mini me's...lol. Just kidding guys....1st couple looks great.
Beautiful everything! The first thing I thought was MADAME GRES! It's timeless yet so of the moment because of the jewel colour. Totally approve the couture influence even if she doesn't think of it.
Stunning, just stunning! Love the dress and the necklace! She looks like she is having a great time.