A Lovely First Lady
Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 8:17 AM 
Photo credit: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images
First Lady Mrs. O looked so lovely at the grand reopening celebration of Ford's Theatre last night. And her dress! We love the girlish silhouette created by the empire waist and full skirt, and the unusual pattern (a plaid made up of mini-houndstooth). This feels unlike anything we've seen Mrs. O wear in the past. Could it be Tracy Reese? We've confirmed the dress is not designed by Tracy Reese, which leaves this somewhat of a mystery. Any ideas?
Update: Thanks to reader Alexa, who relayed that the dress is designed by Isabel Toledo (as reported by ETOnline.com) Additional images can be seen at the Huffington Post.
And as requested, here is the video from YouTube so that we can admire the dress in action:
Isabel Toledo in Outfits 
Reader Comments (127)
Gloria, you can easily find a crinoline on ebay. There are lots available; I bought a new one, but I also saw vintage.
I have to agree with some of the others, if the dress is J Crew it means it is custom made (as were the "Little Michele's" outfits at the swearing in ceremony. So this is really a big nod to J.Crew who have already admitted they are benefitting financially...and not 'off the rack' that every American can buy. In fact, J.Crew while cheaper than many of the other designers Mrs. O. wears...is not exactly a brand many can afford. So not sure what exactly the strategy is here. Would also be interested to know who is paying for all these new clothes!!!
So Mrs. T., given you open a new blog entry for pretty much everything with a mere mention of Mrs. O., how come you didn't open a new entry for the NY Times piece on Ikram Goldman? Why are you so offended by the article. It is really just facts and not much editorialising. I recall others on this site said something about the probem of ordering clothes from designers based on measurements...but then not allowing the designer to do a final fitting (like Jason Wu's white inauguration gown). It didn't fit right. If I was Mrs. O. and/or the designer i would certainly want the dress to be fitted properly given how much attention is paid. In fact, isn't it a bit disrespectfu to the deisgner? Now these are legitimate criticisms of Ms. Goldman...her role overall as advsior/stylist isn't fair game..just sour grapes by designers who are not on "the list".
Layo G, American Girl dolls are more PBS than Fox News...
But whatever...I saw a historical connection that Bevi also noted. And thought it was kind of cool that a first lady who has young daughters, was celebrating Lincoln, etc. would (could) find the same influences that makers of historical dolls found.
No need to be so unkind--probably everyone who posts on line could "get a life."
Gweilo, the whole point is that the "criticisms" of that piece, much like those in your comment, are of an incredibly arbitrary and personal nature. It is certainly not anyone's business whether Mrs. O asks designers to do final fittings. She probably has a seamstress that fits the garments to her satisfaction. And it's natural that her long-time friend who knows her style is the one she would turn to for any kind of help choosing important outfits. There really WAS no story there.
Also, Mrs. O has said in the past that she herself buys all her clothes. I imagine that she also gets truckloads of clothes sent to her for free from designers, all whom would be thrilled for her to be seen wearing them.
Regardless, she is a wealthy woman and can afford to shop wherever she wants. She IS very fond of affordable brands, like J Crew, which I love since that's all I can afford. But the well-crafted, handmade clothing that the great designers she loves are making IS expensive. Unless you were also worried about the First Lady's clothing budget when it was Laura Bush and her custom-made Oscar de la Renta suits, I would think you should cut Mrs. O a break.
So we are leaning towards jcrew? this would be good news cause they will most likely make a dress like this one for us normal girls. i want it for an occasion so bad.
OT.....how can i sign in and keep the sign in info when i return? everytime i come back i am asked to sign in again.
thanks
What is with all these ladies speculating as to who's paying for the clothes? Did we ever ask that of Laura, Hillary, etc? No, because their style was matronly and didn't excite anyone--no one wanted to look like them basically. But they were most definitely as expensive as Michelle's--Oscar and Carolina Herrera for Laura Bush at all times. Perhaps the problem is this blog. It is fun reading and addictive, but with a blog devoted solely to someone's wardrobe, you can't just expect a non-stop love fest.
No Gilda, as "matronly" as those Carolina Herrera and Oscar outfits might look,they are waaaaay much more expensive than anything Mrs. Obama's worn so far -
Oscar and Carolina Herrera are usually very expensive (even off the rack) compared to the younger designers the current first lady favors-
This is probably one of the worst outfits that I have seen the First Lady in. It is really super unflattering. It makes her looks huge, even pregnant. Also, the dress itself - as others have pointed out - is not well made. She looks like she is about to fall over, such is the hem line!
This dress is not the best I've seen Mrs. Obama wear. The cut and pattern does not flatter her. But she'll get a high five from me for having courage to wear a dress like this, not everyone can do so. Mrs. Obama usually look very good in my opinion, but this is maybe the dress I like the least.
I think the pattern is fine, but I do agree that the cut does not flatter her. It is definitely a "little girl" dress, and she is most assuredly a woman of substance. If the skirt had a flowy, rather than stiff, silhouette to it, the dress would have been a real winner.
me no likey the dressy....
don't care for the full skirt. maybe the angle of the pic has something to do with it.
tomorrow is another day...
I think the dress would look better on Malia.
I think it's fine to disagree with some of Madame O's fashion choices. She thinks it's fine too! However, to disrespect her by calling her classless is way out of line on this site. The purpose is to praise and critique what she is wearing. Calling Madame O classless is oxymoronic as far as I'm concerned.
Well I'm kind of amused. After what feels like YEARS of watching Mrs O and loving everything she's been seen in, I don't like this one. I'm gutted. I WANNA LOVE EVERYTHING!!! It's cool tho'. We can't all like everything all of the time.
I think it's the empire line with the big skirt. Amy commented that it looked like a maternity dress and I agree. The tiny waisted jackets and dresses look far better on her. But that's my opinion and I'm not saying that anyone who loves it is wrong.
Go, Mrs O!
j'aime tous ce que font les Obama, ils sont tellement réflechi le couple.
je leur souhaite plein succès dans toutes leur entreprises.
super Ma soeur, permettez moi de l'appeler, continue dans la même foulée, et toute l'amé&rique sera fière de toi
Chris your AMERICAN GIRL comments are hilarious ....do you do stand up comedy? I would travel to see you perform and bring a supply of rotten tomoatoes for the audience. Do you perform outside your trailor park?
So many comments! I'll have to catch up later. But just a note to say that, while I don't think the empire waist + full skirt combo is very flattering, an interesting look is always 1000% better than a a dull, safe one! Looking forward to watching that video when I'm not at work to see if I start to like the dress more...
I love her hair! It looks really healthy and shiny. I bet a wind gust doesnt disturb this do!
sailorgirl: Isn't saying "classless" a way of critiquing?
My good Lord, you cannot be serious. That dress is hideous. Would have been alright if the bottom part wasn't so exagerate. Besides, it's obvious Mrs O has back problems and her posture is deficient...so that dress is really not the most appropriate for someone who needs training in how to stand up properly!
DT, You have blamed me for the WRONG quote. I said: "I think the dress would look better on Malia." I LOVE Michelle! She is the epitome of class (even if I don't like what she is wearing).
Oh, uh... ew. Actually I think this dress is terrible on her, the skirt poofs too much. It's like Little Bo Peep-meets-maternity clothing... Blech.
One of Michelle's few unfortunate choices.
Kristan
http://jbu.phuzzymath.net/
i love MO. love all her clothes but this dress no and i just wish the vogue cover was a bit more glam. i mean it's so natural that i wish someone other than lebowitz did the photo. some big fashion photographer and michelle looked glamerous in it rather than stately. i know im gonna get blasted for saying this. but glamours, funky, stylized. it to me should have been the best vogue cover ever!!!
The material is quite nice. I would prefer to have seen it used differently. Love this site and discussing fashion. Our First Lady is fabulous.
This dress just doesn't do it for me....it would have worked as a plain simple sheath. She is 45 - forget the "girlish sillouhette". This has the effect of a sundress on a toddler....not the image she wanted to convey, I'm sure.
Anyone with hips and a booty needs to stay far away from the circle skirt. It just makes things look wider than they already are. She is so statuesque, but probably if she balanced out her top half with a cute sweater or light jacket with pouffy little cap sleeves.....sure her arms are toned to the max but you have to balance the whole figure to make an outfit work.
Not my favorite color on her. Love her in bold brights.
What part of style does this woman not understand??? You do not wear sleeveless dresses in January & February let alone to her husband's speech before Congress. And that dress she wore to the first state dinner looked like her hips were a bulldozer. No style what so ever!