Sunday
Feb012009
Our First Lady in Photos
Sunday, February 1, 2009 at 2:35 PM 
Photo used with kind permission from photographer kayakbiker2000
A huge thank you to Kemba and Edwina who sent us a link to a new Mrs. O photo gallery collected and curated by the New York Daily News - one of the best we've seen to date. It features never before seen photos of Mrs. O as a young woman, as well as many familiar shots from the campaign trail and inauguration - all masterfully ordered in a way that conveys a sense of movement and best of all, our First Lady's bright spirit.
in Outfits
Outfits
Reader Comments (38)
Hello -
I am a first time visitor to the site, and I am fascinated by the controversy of who is behind this blog etc.
In case readers would like more info regarding who is running the show here - check out BBH's website - I'm sure the 'Mrs' wont mind, will they ?
http://www.bartleboglehegarty.com/
OK. Enough is enough! I don't care who is "running the show here". I am having fun, learning a lot about fashion and getting inspired! Please... let's get on with it. Stella, go back and read some of the pre-controversy input. It is much more fun!
Michelle Obama is a public figure now. One may keep a blog on her if the blog contains no libel. One may sell his or her artistic impressions of Michelle Obama--the tee shirt is the blog keeper's artistic impression of some of Michelle Obama's style. (This is 'my' answer to the question I submitted yesterday.)
To all those haters coming out of the woodwork lately- if you find this blog offensive you should find something better to do with your time instead of boring others with your negativity.
I find this site to be a respectful and well researched homage to the style of a great and inspiring woman.
I love her imaginative and prolific use of cardigans, being a big fan of them myself. Great photo gallery!
ya know, this is a public blog, and if someone wants to ask questions and point out the commercialness of it - whatever
if a comment does not interest you don't read it - easy to skip over
most of the posts are not disrespectful, just opinionated, and fussing over them just adds to the perceived negativity
nothing to getchur designer panties in a bunch about
Keep up the good work Kemba and Edwina
That 10th picture is heavenly. If that doesn't conjure up Camelot, I don't know what does.
May your readership and advertising revenues soar -- I am a devoted fan. Mrs. O deserves such a devoted fan site -- unlimited adoration!
I haven't weighed in on the "controversy" but I just want to say that one thing I can tell from the authors of this blog is that they really do love and respect Mrs. O, and that they put a lot of thought and energy in analyzing Mrs. O and what she wears. This is clearly a labor of love.
Whether there is an ad company behind things is irrelevant, on some level, since the essence of this blog has remained respect for Mrs. O and her style.
I think it's good that everyone now understands the full level of the ad company's involvement in this blog. As time passes by, people will either get over it, or stop visiting.
It would be a shame for people to leave though, since the more commenting the merrier!
Yes, thank you Kemba, Edwina - and Mrs. T - for bringing this delightful photo montage of Mrs. O to our attention. Even in photos, she exudes so many positive qualities - including being ever so genuine. Love photo 23 of Mrs. O and the girls.
The last picture is magical for me. I love how Mr. O keeps his hands on his wife. This photo montage is the best. Thanks for making it availbale.
I am back - any confusion/ misgivings I entertained yesterday are now in the past - SO LETS GET BACK TO FASHION.
The photo gallery was terrific.
What really shown for me in the photos is the evolution of Mrs Os style choices, yet the constants she has retained even as her looks have become more sophisticated and to encompass a varied range of known and under the radar designers.
She plays w/ and layers colors in knowing and visually astute combinations.
She uses accessories in her own original ways - belting, broaches, gloves etc. ( She mixed that black studded Alaia belt perfectly each time she wore it)
What really struck me is that Mrs Os fashion vocabulary has grown as her star has risen, which I find remarkable as many women in her position would most likely have begun to 'tone down' their personal style, or play it safe - colored pantsuits anyone ? - in order to appear more 'proper' and 'serious' in her new role.
Rather, Mrs Os fashion aesthetic has become even more forward, 'risk taking', original and chic.
This is what really thrills me about her.
She has no fear and is a fashion risk taker no matter how big the stage or how entrenched the expectations.
Thank you and you are welcome!
I love this blog and raced to the keyboard as soon as I saw the quality and variety of the pictures--Mrs.O is a great inspiration to me (her wonderful fashion sense is a pleasant bonus!)
Check our Mrs. Robinson's out fit in pic 33. I think it is fabulous!
This one is my favorite from the slideshow: http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/galleries/the_first_lady_michelle_obama/the_first_lady_michelle_obama.html#ph42
Just a beautiful moment. You can tell what a dedicated mom she is... I am so excited about having those two little girls in the White House!
aw! the link doesn't go through. Never mind...
It was picture 43, with Michelle standing by Sasha.
What a lovely picture- very much feeling the heels. I know Mrs. O is often snapped in her signature flats but I'm really liking the heels that elongate her legs and add a delicate femininity to her modern look.
I am so glad that Mrs. O has show that it is O.K. to wear your favorite accessory as many times as you'd like with as many outfits as you deem fit to wear it with!
Great photo gallery! If I'm not mistaken, the blue suit she wore on the Jon Stewart show (#27) is the same one she wore to the Lilly Ledbetter reception at the White House last week. She paired it with a belt in October, though, and with a white silk blouse in January.
The "O Team" as photographed by Annie Leibovitz: www.vanityfair.com/?mbid=y_obama ; kind of interesting!
Unfortunately, no Mrs. O! (yet...)
Chicagoan, I just looked back at the suit she wore to Jon Stewart and though the color is similar, they are different suits, and if I recall correctly, that was one of the suits designed for Michelle by Maria Cornejo. Here is a full-length picture. You can see how much longer the jacket is: http://letustalk.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/michelle-obama-jon-stewart-10-8-08.jpg
It also flares out slightly.
But that suit is GREAT. She has a version in black as well. It is my favorite of her suits. I love how sleek and feminine the silhouette is.
By comparison here is the suit she wore last week, with the shorter jacket:
http://www.daylife.com/photo/0b8UbRP7w8foe/Michelle_Obama
I'm trying to be objective here...but I don't really think Mrs O has gained any weight. Maybe a small amount... but did you see her arms and shoulders in that Jason Wu dress? So toned and youthful looking, especially for someone her age. Her body is very athletic.
I think that during the summer, her clothes were sleeker than they have been in recent days, and we will see her return to that look in the next months.
Grace, you are right! Thanks for making the comparison. I recognized the blue belt, but the lengths of the jackets really are quite different. Thanks for the clarification!
What a lovely photo gallery; I really enjoyed it.
As an aside, does it really matter if the First Lady has indeed gained a little weight? She's fit, healthy, toned and appears to be contented and happy; surely that should count for something!!
CarolineG, I never cease to be amazed at the negativity of your comments. It truly is a case of not so much what is said (after all everyone is entitled to their own opinion) but the way it is said!
What's with some women's unhealthy preoccupation with other women's weight?
Mrs. O spoke at the education department today. No pictures yet, though I am sure they will pop up soon! http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2009/02/michelle_obama_7.html
"Michelle Obama rallied the troops at the Education Department this afternoon, choosing public schools as the issue for her first substantive public appearance as first lady.
"I'm a product of your work," she said, noting that she attended Chicago's public schools. The new education secretary, Arne Duncan, was the CEO of that system.
"Thank you and roll up your sleeves, because we have a lot of work to do," she said.
She said that she and President Obama are committed to giving children an outstanding education and will make investments in public schools in the stimulus package going through Congress."
Ok, some photos have surfaced of her visit to the Education Department!
She is wearing one of her beloved cardigans (haha) with a white blouse that's belted at the waist over slacks. The cardigan and the slacks both seem to be dark gray. The blouse seems to have have some sort of ruffling at the collar, though it's hard to see in these first pictures. From the article, it seems she is planning a series of visits like this one to federal employees.
http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20090202/capt.6fe5b658767540b8b777516e03c405b8.mrs_obama_dcpm103.jpg?x=375&y=345&q=85&sig=qpiSzZjqUnV4YawbmTWfKg--
And one more!: http://www.daylife.com/photo/04Ix9SK4gt7JD
What a hot little blog you have!
I just love it!
You have a regular reader in me!
xo xo
I am not digging the giant rolled up cuffs very much and I think a more tailored under blouse may have looked more polished? The trim fit sweater as well as the deep V of the neckline look terrific.
She is also wearing a gold necklace ?
I wish I could see more of the trousers, but they look trim as well, don't they?
I am not seeing voluminous pant fabric from the glimpse I can perceive in the first photo.
ooh la la. This is the best picture yet since you can see her awesome metallic belt:
http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20090202/i/r1847409089.jpg?x=400&y=289&q=85&sig=C9TzYUZbtkTrNynaOq4lDw--
This is why I love her. She always adds a piece that updates a classic outfit, to go just a little bit further and use more thought. Be it an asymmetrical neckline or a wrap v-neck blouse, as we have seen in past days, it's just one little delightful detail to enliven the basic suit/dress.
I would also add that she looks quite slim and fit. Comments about her gaining weight are very strange to me.
Looks like gray metallic python - it is supreme.
Belts have always been one of Mrs O's style signatures - her wearing that Alaia belt w/ the fushia dress is still a pivotal Mrs O fashion moment for me.
Here is a very clear shot!
http://www.daylife.com/photo/07w65q9cL62qj/michelle_obama
The blouse definitely has some sort of ruffling and the belt is definitely fantastic.
Her jewelry is very cute! It's a layered series of silver chains, attached to small charms. It looks similar to a necklace she wore during the campaign. I will try to find a picture of it.
omg those pictures are amazing. they capture my hero mrs. o so much. love her. love this blog.
It is so nice to have a glamorous, fashionable, much photographed woman in the public eye who is not an 18 year old model/ actress/ popstar/ socialite.
You can have depth, intelligence, live a meaningful life and still enjoy fashion...
In the photo gallery, number 35 is great. I am hoping to see more make-up like this on Mrs. O, though I fear she'll stick with the neutral look. I love her lipstick in this photo.
Yes the lipstick makes her look like a 1940s movie star in picture 35
I'd like to point out something about a lot of those photos - the way Michelle Obama uses her hands and her arms. How many women in the US refuse to a)wear sleeveless anything an b) keep their arms at their sides all the time because they are ashamed? Yes, Michelle has amazing arms, but the sheer exuberance of her motion is inspiring!