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)
WOW is all I can say.. this fake sleeveless outrage is hilarious.... and I agree with someone else, some people are taking this way too far and just jumping on the bandwagon to bash the FLOTUS
its a sleeveless dress by god you would think she'd worn something woefully inappropriate judging by all these posts.
I loved the color, the sleevelessness didn't bother me at all.
Also to the person who said the dress was avant-garde?? you have no idea what avant-garde is if you think that dress in any way shape or form even resembled an avant-garde ensemble. Her dress was a classic RTW piece.
You know what? To some FLOTUS supporters, she can do no wrong, just because of the historic nature of her position as the first African American FL. And that is somewhat sad that as much as we love Mrs. O we are not supposed to disagree with some of her fashion choices. The dress style was not right, no matter how much you try to make it right. This was not a cocktail party, but an official function that pertained to serious business; thus the tone of the dress should have conveyed that. And there are no amount of excuses, blame, hot flash onset, and misplaced indignation to justify this fashion faux pas. Just put this one in the Lost column and move on. I am sure Mrs. O will dazzle us with a great occasion-appropriate oufit soon enough. And to all those who maintain that Mrs. O is allowed that much leeway with decorum, try and wear your best sundress to your next job interview and let us know how it went.
if cocktail party goers dress like that...perhaps some of you need to actually get out more often and check such parties since the 1960s.
Mrs.O might have been out of 'convention' in her sleeveless dress for our conservative perspective about 1st lady, but she looked appropriate to most who know about public life. I wish more female politicians or wives would have the confidence and class to dress like her, without coming off cheap or wannabees.
dear GS, no one in the fashion world would have a problem with Michelle Obama outfit. Your outrage and that of few here has nothing to do with fashion and more to do with how we expect our 1st ladies aught to dress in government related occasion. So, let's stick to criticism that make sense and stop all these comparison that have little connection with reality from cocktail parties to job interviews. I've actually gone on an interview in a summer dress, but that was for a fashion magazine.
Yes, she looked too elegant and liberal in this occasion, but fashion faux it was not.
Spot on Elizabeth!
My very conservative, traditional catholic church here on the west coast with our now bitter cold winters (thanks to global warming) is always graced by well-heeled women in smart sleeveless dresses.
The winter coats/wraps go off inside our well-heated church space and nobody thinks "lack of decorum"...on the contrary!
Actually, Claire posted this link - Ironically it shows Jacqueline Kennedy in, wait for it...A SLEEVELESS DRESS!!! At her husbands State of the Union Address to Congress in the...wait for it...1960's!!!
http://pro.corbis.com/search/Enlargement.aspx?CID=isg&mediauid={25A7E78E-D7BC-4C30-970C-A5812B7C0601}
But I bet even this won't shut them up...
GS: Your argument is so bogus and silly! This is not a summer dress...
In the event that you are sincere posters, could we possibly persuade you to step into the 21st century...it's really not half bad! You too Mara...
Micaro9, you are so spot on; my sentiments exactly!
What do sleeves have to do with it? I understand old trends and traditions, however, trends can be broken. Esecially when practical. That's the beauty of fashion. I live near DC and wore a sleeveless dress to a function just the other night, of course when outside I wore a coat.
What I find most amusing is anyone suggesting that this occasion was similar to that of a chuch service and that a sleeveless dress would be inappropriate in church. Have you SEEN the wedding dresses these days?? Sleeveless?! They're almost topless, even at Catholic Church wedding ceremonies (which are actually masses). And sometimes they are designed like corsets, looking very much like lingerie. Mrs. O's look is totally appropriate for the occasion. I can't help but think that there's a little bit of jealousy in the negative reactions.
Michelle needs to learn to put on some sleeves. We get it, you've got toned arms....the First Lady doesn't need to keep showing them off. I find it completely inappropriate how many events she shows up at without sleeves. There was not a single other person in that room when they panned around wearing no sleeves or even short sleeves. Her stylist should get a clue about what's appropriate in the middle of a frigid winter.
Please, a sleeveless party dress for a speech to the nation about the terrible financial situation!??? And it's not quite summer yet either!
Spot on Evelyn!
But they aren't sincere...Not even a picture of sleeveless Jacqueline Kennedy at the same event 40 plus years ago is enough to quell their (un)righteous indignation...
Sure evidence that its all feigned outrage...Anything to put the lady down - But it's not going to work!
Well.
If the only thing that so many people can find to criticise about the First Lady, is her having committed the high crime of going sleeveless in February, I can say with full confidence that she is doing A-okay!!
It seems to be pointless to expect a "reasonable" and dispassioned discussion here. The die-hard Mrs. O fan have decided that Michelle Obama will always look gorgeous, beautiful, amazing, etc. no matter what she wears and that she can do no wrong. If someone says so much as Mrs. O had a hair out of place, they resort to personal attacks. I'll just stick to Huffingtonpost and Reuters for pictures of Mrs. O's fashion. It is so boring if this just a site where everyone agree that Mrs. O is 110% "perfect," assign ulterior humanitarian and compassionate motives to her fashion choices, and have already predecided that she will NEVER ever make a fashion faux pas.
I totally agree with Z view. I think if the discussion continue to be so passionate, I will stop to come in some site. It's the first time in my adult life I put some comments in a website (I'm working with internet).
SJE: Totally unfair to project your own ocd issues on the first lady; She clearly has no problem with people touching her bare arms and all!
Well thank God!
Goodbye Z and Ma...sorry your need to bash Mrs Obama under the guise of critiquing her fashion choices weren't as well received as you might have desired.
And now leave the rest of us to wallow in our shameless and boring enjoyment and support of this most fashionable of first ladies-
Absolutely nothing lost...Goodbye!
Wow. I just read through all the posts. So much made out of no sleeves! I do not look at this as a cocktail dress at all. Michelle has indicated by her fashion choices that she dresses differently for night & day and this is another example. She selected a sedate color and minimal accessories to acknowledge the solemn occasion. I'm sure she wore a coat outside and anyway, climate issues are more personal. I'd never think to judge someone's outfit on how warm or cold I'd feel in it.
Also, if you boil down to the essence of the sleeveless thumbs-downers' comments, the sentiment is that going sleeveless in this type of occasion has never been done before which makes it somehow inappropriate, flaunting decorum, etc. There are no modern, universal rules about sleevelessness, period. Personal rules, surely. Would I wear sleeves or a jacket if Mr. Jen was speaking at Congress? I probably would, but I certainly don't fault Michelle for her choice.
Well,
I think this sleeveless thing is part of the CHANGE some of us voted for! America get use to it