Isn't She Lovely
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 at 8:07 PM 
Photo by Ron Sachs-Pool/Getty Images
The great Stevie Wonder is being honored with the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song at the White House this evening. The prize celebrates "the work of an artist whose career reflects lifetime achievement in promoting song as a vehicle of musical expression and cultural understanding". The event, the first in the "In Performance at the White House" series, will air Thursday night at 8PM EST on PBS. Check local listings here.
For the occasion, First Lady Mrs. O is wearing a deep v-neck, emerald green dress. Her hair is voluminous. And her wrist is sparkling with Loree Rodkin diamond bangles. We can't be certain, but we believe this dress may be a design by Stevie Wonder's wife, designer Kai Milla. An article in the New York Daily News earlier this year revealed:
Michelle Obama and Milla talked fashion at the Democratic National Convention when Stevie Wonder performed, and though Milla won't disclose the juicy details of their fashion huddle, she feels confident the two will work together at some point.
"If it doesn't happen for the inaugural I'm sure that she and I will work in the future on some level," says Milla who described Michelle as "a very genuine person."
While we don't recognize this exact design from any of Kai Milla's collections, the green, iridescent chiffon fabric does show resemblance to this dress from Milla's Spring 2008 collection.
Update: We've received confirmation that Mrs. O's emerald green, tea length, silk chiffon dress was in fact designed by Stevie Wonder's designer wife, Kai Milla. In her signature style, the black sash was the First Lady's own addition. To hear Mrs. O introduce Stevie Wonder, continue reading the rest of the post.
Reader Comments (121)
THE HAIR is amazing and I like the lashes too. The emerald green looks great on her skin, thankfully, cause she is showing alot of it.
I think the "bare arms" deserves further discussion. She is obviously heat sensitive because often all the other women are wearing sleeves or even jackets. I think sometimes it makes her outfits look incomplete without a jacket or sweater. Maybe I'm just old fashion ???
She is so much more fun than lets say boring Laura Bush. She has great taste in clothing. I coming here and seeing what she is wearing today. She is stunning as usual and seems so down to earth. That is why I like her.
Love! Love! LOVE that dress. The hair, makeup...everything is flawless. Stevie may have been right about "some [more] babies", the lady is smoldering!!!
that hair ain't nothin' but the truth. FABULOUS indeed! like i have said before, "you can't touch this!" wow.
i did not know stevie wonder's wife is such a fab designer. good job.
Wow, love the hair, and the color is wonderful on her. The cut is really flattering to that tall, fit body. I would have loved to see it in something other than silk chiffon. That left skirt seam is puckered because it's super difficult to sew - there may have been some issues with that at the bodice, too. And, she must have been sitting for a half a second because it wrinkled like crazy, as would be expected.
Nice sentimental choice, but I'd rather she choose materials appropriate not only for the occasion but for the environment and what she'll be doing in it. And at the prices I'm sure she's paying, they should be flawlessly sewn.
Michelle's hair looked awesome! The curls really soften her jawline.
Susan Marr: You are so right!
Bevi, spot on too! Someone posted this link to a picture of Jaqueline Kennedy in a SLEEEVELESS dress at the exact event at the exact Congress building 40+ years ago!
For some reason it's been ignored or overlooked (wittingly or unwittingly)...
But here it is...The link as it is won't work if you click on it as is-
Copy and paste the the entire line including the parts in brackets and open up in a different window...
http://pro.corbis.com/search/Enlargement.aspx?CID=isg&mediauid={25A7E78E-D7BC-4C30-970C-A5812B7C0601}
I know Mrs. O's dress has been described as Kai Milla's but it still reminds me of this Alexander McQueen.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff208/Obsessed-Hoopla/SAME/alexander-mcqueen.png
Regarding Dr. Biden; She looked very pretty and lovely as always even if understated...
It was Ash Wednesday a somber holy day of obligation for Catholics in observance of the start of the Lenten period.
As devout catholics, the Biden's clearly attended to their duties while mindful of the day in the church calendar...
some people are taking things too far. If the FLOTUS sat and thought about every fabric she wore for every occasion I would be very turned off.. Being a fashionista is not her job. She's not a designer, a model, tailor, or boutique owner, She's a woman who is having fun and loves clothes but they are not her first priority and shouldn't be.
Would it be great if she wore organic clothes sure... but I'm not going to put anymore expectations on her to be everything to everyone than I did Laura Bush, or Condolezza rice.
This looks like a great date night look and why not. She basically went to a Stevie Wonder concert with her husband. She should be allowed some room to look cute and flirty. She is after still a woman with a husband to keep interested. I think she looks nice. The dressing is pretty darring but she pulls it off so well. I think she is really changing the status of First Lady. I've read that apparently 40 is the new 30, so really she is dressing her age! :)
Couldn't agree with you more Dee.
If anyone watched the PBS special last night, did you notice the back of this dress. As you ladies would say, very interesting detail resembling the tails of a bow or something. I cannot get enough of our First Lady!
@ Rashad...
Yes!!! I noticed the detailing on the back of her dress as well. Very nice! I thought the dress was beautiful and very flatering. It was nice to see the First Couple there jamming to Stevie. Stevie Wonder is my husband's absolute favorite and he sang one of Stevies lesser known songs to me during our courtship and at our wedding reception. The hubby was out of town on business last night, but I TiVo'd it, so I cannot wait for us to watch it together!
When she feels good about the way she looks, it shows. She looks very happy and comfortable here. She looked the same at the concert at the Lincoln Memorial in that knockout Narciso Rodriguez camel and black ensemble. Sadly she did not look that way in the yellow Isabel Toledo on Inauguration Day. A longer version of something like this green dress would have been a splendid ball gown for that night. See the photo of her in Vogue last year - deep blue evening gown and shawl, hair pulled back. Handsome.
Well,I was pointing out that even Ms. Rogers talking about the preisdent showing in short sleeves at a state dinner shows that she agrees different events call for different dress codes, be it the President or the First Lady. It does not mean that she can never wear short sleeves, but just take account of the occasion. Or to appease all the sleeve-loving potential 2012 voters, just bring or come with a cover up on and take it off when u get to the event. This way everyone is happy and FLOTUS gets to show off her superb arms.
Oops!I meant to post that in the Desiree Rogers board discussion.
MICHELLE O LOOKS CLASSY IN EVERYTHING SHE WEARS..JUST LOVE HER TO PIECES..SHE LOOKS MODERN AND CAN WRK THE HECK OUT OF A TWEED SKIRT AND CARDIGAN..WHAT A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE WE NOW HAVE IN MICHELLE OBAMA AS OUR FIRST LADY...OF STYLE :O)
I saw this on the Presidential website - apologies if it's already been posted.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/photogallery/Stevie-Wonder-at-the-White-House/
If I'm not mistaken, I think the last picture shows Desiree Rogers in a red suit having a great time! It looks like her hair anyway, more apologies if I'm wrong about that.
What brand of wrist watch does Michelle Obama wear? I saw her picture on the front of the 3/9/09 People magazine and I love the style - want to get one too!