Style to Suit the Times
Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at 7:35 PM 
Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images
Tonight President Mr. O will address a joint session of Congress in what will no doubt entail painting a very serious, sober picture of our country's economic state. It's often difficult to reconcile the unprecedented crisis we're living through with the vast source of inspiration and optimism that President Mr. O and First Lady Mrs. O bring. More than ever, though, we're grateful for the latter - Mrs. O's style included of course.
We imagine the First Lady's dresscode this evening will go one of two routes - modest and understated, with respect for the times (the blue Narciso Rodriguez suit worn for the Lily Ledbetter reception comes to mind), or perhaps less expected, a bolder projection of optimism (with similar effect to the lemongrass Isabel Toledo ensemble worn for the Inauguration). In just an hour or so, we'll know the answer.
While the focus tonight isn't on Mrs. O's fashion, the First Lady's style is part of this living, evolving history, and the broader narrative shaped by these times. And as bleak as things may sometimes seem, we can always look forward to celebrating Mrs. O and her fabulously chic, modern style. As several have mentioned in the post before, Mrs. O will be joined tonight by at least three special guests. Details are posted at Whitehouse.gov.
Update: Mrs. O is wearing a plum silk and wool sleeveless dress, which we're almost certain is Narciso Rodriguez. The dress first debuted during the Inauguration, paired with the long lavender Narciso Rodriguez coat worn again tonight. The dress - with a feminine, modern cut, in a flattering color that was neither solemn nor inappropriately attention grabbing - achieved a tasteful balance.
And contrary to our earlier prediction, the dress didn't seem to make a direct comment on the economy. Rather, in a regal plum, showcasing the First Lady's enviably toned arms, it was a statement of classic Mrs. O style. Additional images here and here.
Narciso Rodriguez in Outfits
Reader Comments (168)
Can't wait
Great post, Mrs. T!
What I love about our First Lady is that she is unpredictable. I tend to think she may go with a beautiful suit as she does when visiting the federal departments but then again she may go with a simple dress as she did at the National Cathedral Prayer Service. Or she may just surprise all of us!
Oh, and I wonder if the girls will be there?
They just showed Michelle and Barack leaving the White House. She had on her periwinkle overcoat but I couldn't see what she was wearing underneath. Her hair is down and I didn't get a look at her face to see her makeup.
I just caught a glimpse of the first lady in a long lavender coat.
Ooh, "long lavendar coat" sounds like the Narciso Rodriguez number worn for the Arlington Cemetary wreath laying ceremony before the Inauguration.
http://www.daylife.com/photo/0dAL4RZ9qu8oO
That looks like the color---periwinkle might be a more stylish term. I just caught a glimpse--but it is the probably the one.
This chocolate dress is gorgeous - just ever so sexy.
michelle is wearing a plum sleeveless number perhaps two pieces, but i must say hillary looks great in that pink jacket!!!
OMG, what a STUNNER!
Is that brown or deep burgundy? LOVE the soft drape around the sleeve to the shoulder. WOW!
I looooooooooooove that color on michelle
Wow... A very, very fitted high waisted black skirt with a very dark purple(?) silk blouse. She looks dazzling.
So my prediction was totally wrong! I really saw her wearing like a loose navy suit. Something serious and purposefully dowdy. But this is not that at all. It IS serious. But it is also sexy and sparkling and really shows off her body. Also she must be wearing heels because she looked like 10 feet tall!
Anyway, I loved it.
Plum...okay. The bodice is gorgeous and elegant. And I agree, Hillary is really looking good. She looks happy in her new role as well.
I love the folding detail at the sleeves/neck. Someone said it's a top with a skirt, but I thought it was a full on dress?? Can't wait to see the pictures.
I just re-wound to try to catch the top... is it a wrap blouse? It has some sort of layer effect. And the color is like a REALLLLLLY dark purple I think.
Very grown-up, body conscious look.
OMG my First Lady is HOTTTTT!!!!!
(she might turn me straight! LOL!!!!!)
Michelle looks beautiful and proud, and the dress is quite beautiful. However, I don't believe that a sleeveless dress is appropriate for this particular location on this particular night.
She is rocking the sleeveless !!!
Love the color and the whole outfit. It is appropriate yet young and feminine... loves it!!!
awwww the ILU to the POTUS was sweet!!!
AMEN! She looks fab! I love that she didn't put on a suit.
She looks great but I agree that the no sleeves is not appropriate, just my thought
CRD- I wonder if you are right...Hmmn.... I do absolutely love the outfit, and her arms really are her best feature. But it might have been better to have at least cap sleeves, purely because of the occasion and everyone else is wearing suits.
Still, when the camera cut to her, as her husband acknowledged the First Lady, she just looked BEAUTIFUL.
I don't think I would have chosen sleeveless or the shiny fabric for the speech. But--what do I know--I'm no fashion maven. I think she looks lovely.
Michelle looks fab...but I agree with some that I don't think this look is appropriate for this occasion...a little too ostentatious.
I think the dress is fabulous. Grown and sexy. I think she's going to get some flack from the right wingers. Michelle is sexy. She likes to dress sexy and you can tell that her husband loves the way she dresses. Some people are threatened by that. So they will criticize her. All because she has a lovely body and dare show it off by wearing fitted clothes.
Michelle is many many years younger than Laura Bush and she doesn't do frumpy. People ought to get used to that.
I thought she looked spectacular, fit, sexy, and most of all, very modern.
And please, God, let me look like Michelle after I pop out two kids! LOL
I loved her outfit. I was surprised by the sleeveless outfit, but she looked great!!
I love that she owns her look and style and is never afraid of being the exact kind of woman that she is, and exhibits plenty of smarts while she's at it.
Here she is supporting People's Gardens at the USDA
http://www.obama-mamas.com/blog/?p=178
And a story about the young girl sitting with Mrs. Obama
http://www.obama-mamas.com/blog/?p=180
Text of speech, for those interested.
http://www.obama-mamas.com/blog/?p=181
I definitely understand where the people concerned about the sleeveless look are coming from, but perhaps Mrs. O's mode of thinking was along the lines of one who is accompanying her husband to a work event where the people employed at the job are a little more professional in dress than the spouses of those that accompany them?
Regardless, I'm not put off by the dress, I think she looks great. I love that sea green color on Dr. Biden as well!
Love it! Our FLOTUS does not like sleeves :-) She is a stunning woman!
Why are people so surprised about the sleeveless sheath look, I should think people will be used to Mrs. O's love for these type pieces by now
anyways, She looks very fitting for the event :-)
A little while ago they showed Jill Biden who looked lovely in her greenish suit.
I am still mulling Michelle's outfit over. I feel like if her goal was to look gorgeous and modern, she absolutely succeeded. And really, what more does Michelle want?
I think that a nice, fitted suit WOULD have been a more appropriate choice for this particular event, but I am certainly not complaining about this look. Mrs. O always dresses for herself and I love her for it.
I love the color, but think sleeveless in February and on the Hill for a state occasion is wrong, wrong, wrong. A more-formal dress or a nice suit would have been more appropriate.
Mrs. T,
Are you sure it's a dress? From the pics it looks like a skirt and blouse. Is there a link to his collection where we can see a better picture of it?
I don't think we should be that surprised by the sleeveless-ness - our First Lady has great arms! I think it's just another style "rule" that Mrs. O has challenged. I thought the dress was tasteful, appropriate and all around lovely.
Loved it, totally do not relate to the appropriateness comments but hey, different strokes as always. I thought she looked just beautiful, Michelle sets her own style standards for how of first lady should look.
America had better get used to the fact that Michelle Obama is young and beautiful and will therefore dress accordingly. What did u guys want her to wear? One of Hillary's pantsuits ? I don't think so!!!! She looked gorgeous but somber which was appropriate.
Mrs. O's dress is sleek, modern, rich in fabrication yet simple in overall presentation.
This seems highly appropriate for the wife of a president who is working extremely hard to convince Congress and the American people that we must step up and take responsibility for our present state of the Country.
We will move forward with success and recovery by being authentic and responsible. This is exactly what I see Mrs. O representing every time she steps before the camera.
More power to her.
Here is a great shot of the dress.
http://www.daylife.com/photo/06WGbdq43Wf0u
I must say, since there is a regular complaint that her clothes do not come across well on television, this dress looked AMAZING on television. I was oohing as soon as she appeared. I think the sparkle and the fit came across really well.
A lot of thoughtful comments about the sleeveless -- both pro and con. I don't believe Michelle must dress like a frump to be occasion-appropriate. She has all the tools available to her. That dress she wore for their first visit to the WH, with the long sleeves, was a stunner. It could be called "sexy," as well. I just don't think every public event must be used to ratchet up the discussion about how "sexy" she is. She represents all Americans as the #1 Lady of our Nation. In that role, decorum has a place.
The Sunday night thing? Completely different story. Yes, that was the place and time. She hit it waaay out of the park.
Tonight? On national TV for a serious SOTU-type speech? No. I think a dress with any type of sleeve would have been appropriate. She doesn't have to conform herself into a stiff suit, or anything stiff for that matter, to be dressed appropriately. The majority of the viewers don't realize that she recycled a very recent ensemble for tonight. (VERY much appreciated by those of us who do it every day.) They didn't see her exit the WH with the coat. Some things look great together as an outfit and don't hold up as well in pieces. I am a 6'2" tall 52-year-old woman who is enjoying having a Tall Girl in the WH. I am watching her very closely. I am hoping that our clothing industry for taller women will benefit from her influence. So, while ALL of her clothes are just beautiful (and, she in them), I don't always think that her decisions -- according to the place and the occasion -- are spot on. I think it's a bit of a learning curve, and she will master it quickly.
urck! why does the TV never let you see the details!! I thought it was a dress too, but pictures online show its a 2 piece look
I LOVE IT MUCH BETTER AFTER SEEING IT UP CLOSE!
She looks like a model!!
ps: again, Im expressing surprise at the people who are not used to the first lady's sleeveless looks (who exactly wrote the rule that you MUST wear sleeves in the winter, inside a very warm room, with hundreds of people standing about you?!?!)
hello, what makes her stand out as a style icon compared to other first ladies is that she is a TREND SETTER! she does not follow the rules, she makes them (evidence, the mrs. o inspired looks all over new york fashion week!)
enough said!
S. Lauren - I believe these were custom pieces created for the Inauguration. The very reputable Cathy Horyn of the New York Times referred to tonight's look as a dress in late January, so I'm going with that assessment.
http://runway.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/20/the-inaugural-with-spice/
I know nothing about makeup but i thought Mrs. O's makeup looking great tonight.
1. Can anyone direct me to a picture of tonight's dress with the coat?
2. A sleeveless top is not appropriate for Congress, especially in the dead middle of winter. She loves little cardigans. Why not pair this up with one?
3. She is FLOTUS and can do no wrong... technically, everyone else was over-dressed!
A little off topic...BUT...I usually like what Jill Biden wears...not so much tonight
Love the dress - it's beautiful and she looks gorgeous. I do think this was a business occasion, however, and that a dressy suit would probably have been a better choice. This dress is for a social occasion, IMO.
I do see how this could be two pieces... I will double check so that we feel 100% settled on this detail.
I really do like that Michelle stands apart from everyone else. Her outfit looks like it could be the pieces to a suit, but she opted to leave the jacket at home.
I agree with CRD. I love the outfit and I love the way she looks in it. But sleeveless? Mmm, I don't know. I wouldn't have gone in that direction.
My mom agreed -- I was teasing her, though, and said "if you want sleeves, how about that Tracy Feith dress?"
(Mom and I had a true mother-daughter disagreement there; she thought the Tracy Feith was WAAAAY too casual, I thought it was okay (but if truth be told, Mom's probably right) )
Why do so many find sleeveless dresses threatening somehow.
She looked great. Where do these strange rules come from, that this occasion only warrants some type of suit. I find it weird somehow. It was entirely appropriate. It is refreshing to see the way she dresses. She again stole the show. You are supposed to play up your best features and her arms are fantastic and should be seen.
I just don't get the inappropriate talk. Wearing sleeveless for this occasion is perfectly fine. This is an evening event and it's not a business occassion. Her dress and perspective on clothing is very modern and maybe that's why some have a problem with it. It's fashion forward. Michelle is fashion forward.
Michelle received a huge ovation tonight. I think people appreciate her style and her work ethic. She earns her right to dress for herself. I do feel that she seeks out fashion antecedents, so I would be curious to know how her mind worked when she chose this dress for this event. I like the way she shows off her arms.