In Blue Velvet at the EPA
Thursday, February 26, 2009 at 12:52 PM 
Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian / White House
We can hardly keep up with Mrs. O at this rate! The morning after celebrating Stevie Wonder at the White House, Mrs. O was back to work, making the sixth stop, this time at the Environmental Protection Agency, in her tour of federal agencies. EPA administrator Lisa Jackson first introduced the First Lady as "an icon of grace, class and style" (love that she noted style). Mrs. O then went on to give a brief speech to the standing-room-only crowd:
"This new era puts the EPA at the center of President Obama's highest priorities, securing America's energy independence and securing the future of our planet by combating climate change."
"This is what it is all about: the future. And in many ways, it starts with all of you. You ensure that the water we drink is safe, that the air we breathe is clean, and that the polluted fields and abandoned factories in our neighborhoods all over this nation are cleaned up and restored."
For her appearance, Mrs. O wore a blue velvet blazer belted at the waist, paired with gray wool trousers and silver ballet flats. Additional images can be seen here and here.
Outfits
Reader Comments (109)
Amy, I don't think that's true and there's no way you could possibly validate that statement.
Right on Jenna, that's big of you. Did you notice that surrounding Jackie K. all the ladies were wearing hats, coats, suits and furs? She really stood out!
I rather liked the tone-on-tone look for Mrs. O today. And I was struck, looking at the older photo of Jackie, how women really don't wear furs these days like they used to.
Wow--I thought this was just friendly discussion about fashion--among people who mostly support the Obamas and really respect what they are trying to do for all of us.
I was one who loved the plum dress, but would not have chosen it for that event. MY thoughts were NOT based on the sleevelessness. I have a number of sleeveless dresses I wear in winter. My thoughts were based on the sheen of the silk bodice--which is a DIFFERENT kind of dressy than I would choose for that kind of event. BUT--it's not a big deal-and never was. It is just conversation about fashion. I guess there are some who don't understand fun conversation versus serious criticism.
I think this is a really fun site---but everyone really needs to get a grip and realize that it is just for fun. And that all but a few really love Michelle Obama and enjoy discussion about her clothing choices--just for fun.
I think we are all different ages here--different races--and different economic levels. That is all ok. We can learn from each other--and recognize that the views we have are not necessarily the views that everyone else has. That's what makes a site like this one fun.
Susan, I think your right but the problem was some people starting criticizing just to criticize and it was really obvious. Plus the conversation became over the top especially about something as trivial as a sleeveless dress. People went overboard saying she was breaking some kind of santity of the chambers,she shouldn't break the "rules" it went too far and that's when I for one and others got annoyed.
Anyway I think today's outfit is fine. The pants don't bother me with this jacket.. The belts...don't know yet.
Susan I agree with you. Part of the fun for me as well is extending the discussions to include history of fashion and having friendly debate. If we do sway each others opinions or stick to our guns - no matter. I think we who use this site all agree that being respectful to each other and to the Obamas is a given.
Doesn't Jackie look absolutely stunning sitting among all the others? I so wish she were still alive to visit with Michelle.
Amy's opinion is obviously the exception. Why get worked up over it? Everyone is free to say what they like!
Who is the other sleeveless woman in the Jackie pic? Jackie and the other woman look like they time travelled to sit with some old timers.
micaro,
I didn't have any problem with those who thought the sleeveless dress was inappropriate. I was interested in hearing their views. I thought they were respectful. AND, there were quite a few of them. And that's ok, too. I didn't think any of them were over the top. It's just that kind of discussion that is fascinating to me. I love to read them--until someone takes it over the top and the discussion goes haywire. There ARE some rules of fashion--and not all of them are followed anymore. Times are changing--that is for sure. Society changes---and expectations for dress along with those changes. In fact, this is a change that will be fun to watch in this forum.
Like so many others, I find Michelle's clothing choices exciting. She is fun to watch. That does NOT mean I'll like every outfit--and think all of them are well chosen. But, even when I don't like something she wears--or think it was not right for the event---it's just my opinion. And I enjoy hearing the opinions of people who don't agree with me. I can learn something from reading the thoughts of others.
Susan, nice comments. Maybe we could recalibrate a little with the thought that this site, at its best, is pure, diverting fun.
It's interesting in the Jackie O picture how Michelle's hair is somewhat similiar.
That's where my opinion differs from others, I don't believe in rules for fashion or art or music. If you want to wear sleeveless in winter, who cares, white after labor day, who cares, no pantyhose, who cares but saying the FLOTUS has a mental problem because she wears sleeveless dress is over the top for me.
And like I said it seemed like people were jumping on the bandwagon once it got started.
I don't agree with everything Michelle wears either and that's ok but I think we have to be careful.
I don't recall anyone saying that Michelle Obama has a mental problem. Did I miss that?
It's ok to not believe in rules for fashion---but other people do believe in rules--and THAT is part of the discussion that many would find interesting.
On the topic of stockings. I live in Texas---in a big city---and no fashionable woman in our city wears stockings---that's been the trend for quite a while. I would be interested in knowing if this is not the trend in other locales. To me, that would be an interesting discussion also. It's fine with me either way--but the reasons for wearing them or not--are fascinating to me.
Micaro, I think everyone needs to be respectful and civil--but what do you mean by careful?
I wasn't able to access the Jackie O. photo. The link didn't work when I copied and pasted. Any other suggestions?
Dlev, Try googling, "Jackie Kennedy + state of the union", that's how I got it.
@dlev
This shortcut works for the Jackie O. photo.
http://tinyurl.com/cufeky
Talking about sleeveless, I am interested to know your opinions on showing cleavage..Is that appropriate? To me, somehow, its a no-no unless it is at a party.
I love this look. Perfect for an agency visit. And please: all I want to talk about here is fashion, not politics. If the comments turn into the equivalent of Politico or Wonkette, I'm sorry, but I will have to stop visiting.
I wonder if in a little while, fashion designers will start to respond to Mrs. O's look and display clothes on women who look healthy and strong, not painfully thin and frail. That's change I could believe in!
I don't know what all this fuss about the sleeveless dress Michelle wore for the SOTU. I think well fitted sleeveless dresses on women is very chic. Jackie looks amazing in that black dress. I met Princess Diana once, just few months before her death and she wore a beautiful sleeveless dress. She wore lot of sleeveless dresses closer to her death. I think Michelle looked amazing. This is a perspective of a man, all the guys I talk to like Michelle very much. All these women had or has well toned arms, they just like to show it off. For me she's the most interesting woman in the world at the moment.
It's been interesting to watch the "right to bare arms" drama unfold over the past few days - here and across the media. It's clearly still on many people's minds, as it seems to be surfacing in nearly every post. I, for one, wasn't surprised in the least. The First Lady has fabulous arms. If my arms looked like Mrs. O's, I'd be wearing sleeveless ensembles day and night, no matter the venue. I understand and respect the difference of opinions. Still, the attention that this is getting is a little baffling, no?
As several have noted, this is a site that's meant to be a bit of joy and fun. I've always said it's okay to disagree and criticize (in fact it often makes the conversation more dynamic and interesting) - but we should always try to be kind and respectful of others in doing so. Most here have been, so thank you.
Thanks edwina and Gerri W. for the suggestions. I can't help but think that Michelle took some cues from Jackie O. I'm also surprised that there's been so little comparison between the two in this discussing of when to bear arms.
I am of the opinion,whether one has "fabulous arms" or not, one has the right to bare them if that's their wish, same as the right to wear any colour whether it suits us or not. Over weight women and their arms were considered oh so beautiful a few centuries ago as can be seen from the paintings, the standards of beauty are just signs of the times and places and are ever changing. Just ask a bushman or a masai what he considers beautiful. Beauty is the most over rated thing today, given it is just in the eyes of the beholder. There might be some unification of beauty ideals today, thanks to us marching toward a global village, through TV and the Internet, but it still doesn't change the fact that all things are beautiful in the eyes of someone or other and certainly in the eyes of God. OK, let me get of my nice soap box ;)
hey, no link, yet moderated, could someone please clue me in?
Hi suji, I honestly do not know why this continues to happen - the moderation is all automated. I just manually approved your comment, so it should appear now. I will spend time tomorrow / this weekend to try to correct this.
I'm not loving the belt with the velvet blazer.
Also, the reason behind why designers use rail thin models is because the model is basically a walking hanger. The runway is about the clothes, not the person.
suji and Mrs. T -
I think one of the reasons some comments get moderated, when there is NO link, is when someone adds a smiley face at the end of a sentence. I have notice that that has happened to me in the past.
This is a test comment with no link, but a smiley face added. I am sure it will go directly into moderation. :( ;)
I do think that the dress (or ensemble) Mrs O wears for the State of the nation address was inappropriate (sleeveless dress). The dress for the wondder's evening was beautiful but I didn't like the black belt with this green dress. I appreciated particularly the wonder's evening outfit because she was well heeled. I didn't like the flat shoes she put for the prayer. This is my opinion on Mrs O 's outfit and I agree that someone else may have different taste and views. I didn't like the picture in the vogue for the dress (the color) and her arm in foreground.For me the photograph doesn't capture well the essence of the beauty of Mrs O.
I like the EPA outfit. Something that us "normal people" could also usefully wear. The color scheme looks good on her. Amy's suggestions I very much resent.
And ZL et al now reign as self-appointed arbiters of protocol standard setters and enforcers-
And being "black" women seems they assume, to afford them the necessary cover and/or gravitas to make sweeping and categorical pronouncements regarding the "suitability" and "appropriateness" or lack thereof, of the first lady's clothing choices, and all without reproach of course!
Mrs T, I've read this blog since you started it - It's lovely and well-intentioned and it's been a great and fun outlet from the stress from work, life and being generally.
But what a shame that what started as a lighthearted,fun and fashioned focused chat blog about Mrs Obama is slowly degenerating into a venue for some under any number of guises, to bash the first lady for whatever reasons the anonymous nature of internet posts fail to reveal-
Prefacing a snarky, meanspirited post laced with subtle and not so subtle personal attacks on the first lady with "I adore Michelle Obama..." and the ubiquituous "I'm a black woman and Obama supporter..." is so intelectually dishonest and manipulative and does not succeed in it's bid to deceive.
By all means offer any constructive fashion criticism (as unqualified as most are I suspect to offer them by the way);
But do so without the subtle and not so subtle denigration, insults, disrespect and general disregard of this very lovely woman who is now the first lady of this country and entitled to every respect that office and title is due and confers.
There is a bit of danger in pretending or assuming such familiarity with Mrs Obama and falsely assuming this role of power even if pseudo, in proferring unsolicited fashion advice and dissecting her every style.
And it is now clear as the old saying goes, that if not contained, this is looking like it's quickly descending into the familiarity breeds contempt arena...
And it's not only very sad, but extremely disconcerting!
Yes Susan, some poster signed in as "Superstar" on one of the chat topics suggested the first lady had "mental problems" after slamming the first lady's constant choice of sleeveless dresses-
I think the "mental problem" referred to MrsO liking her arms and doing gym work to keep them nice. A completely over-the-top reaction, IMHO.
I too have been watching the hoo-rah about the plum dress with absolute jaw-dropped amazement! I'm a Left-Coaster, early 60's, and have never heard such a bunch of stuff about something being "inappropriate for ritual space" or whatever it was! Really makes me wonder about the social and geographic conditions of the folks who are SO concerned about the appropriateness. My husband has reacted the same way (as myself), and he's 10 yrs younger and Canadian!
Those sort of "rules" feel so very old-fashioned. Kind of like the DAR in the 50's, fer heaven's sake!
Following on from chimene's excellent post, I'm 41, English and married with 5 chickens. Sleeveless is fine so long as the person is comfortable. I don't think the anti-sleeveless contingent is the Taliban, I just have it that they are working to maintain a standard that doesn't exist any more. (No malice intended in there, OK, it's just my opinion.)
There's another issue here, re: appropriateness... It is rarely high-street level consumers that dictate fashion. It is those in a position to create a market for a certain look, i.e. celebrity, the famous, the powerful, those in the public eye, call it what you will.
Therefore, if a well-known person appears in something that has not, hitherto, been "appropriate", then that person changes what is "appropriate". That's the evolution of style. Once upon a time, I was told that if I wore trousers to work once more, I would lose my job. Once upon a time, there was a steward outside the Royal Enclosure at Ascot to ensure that ladies didn't wear skirts shorter than the knee! Now, there isn't.
If Jackie O and Mrs O choose to wear sleeveless, that therefore becomes acceptable.
Shift dresses are sleeveless and acceptable in the office. Cocktail dresses are usually sleeveless and acceptable for quite formal evening events. Black tie for men can mean sleeveless, even strapless for women. Brides wear strapless dresses for church ceremonies.
The only constant, is change.
I have GOT to stop going off on one.....!!! I came to say that I love the blue jacket and top from the EPA talk. I don't love it with the grey trousers and before I even read any posts here I was hoping it was teamed with blue velvet trousers or a skirt, so, interesting that so many went in that direction too! If it had been blue trousers that would have been fantabulous. I am adoring the silver ballet flats. Partly out of jealousy as I have legs like a rugby player and would look ludicrous in 'em.
What's the next event for Michelle? I'm anxious to move on to the next look.
It's clear there are as many opinions on Michelle's fashion choices as there are posters. I notice that Michelle wears her belt high, and I think it is because she is high-waisted. That is where the belts naturally sit on her body.
For me, Michelle the person enhances Michelle's clothes. She is graceful and unassuming, and her clothes reflect those character traits. I do think she looks to Jackie for fashion antecedents, and I am surprised, as a previous blogger stated, that the mass media has not picked up that connection.
This in the Huff: Michelle O. and Jackie O.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bonnie-fuller/its-official-michelle-o-i_b_159511.html
I think that we should all make an effort to keep our comments factual and decent,we are not here to disgree and disparage each other that is why I love this site.Both Michelle O and Jackie O start and started trends that set standards in fashion and how we women see ourselves.Ithink that some male commentators may have a prroblem with Mrs Obama because she clearly loves fashion but is her own woman who thinks for herself and does not follow trends,I for one think she is great because of what she does not what she wears.
Jenna, you said:
I really wish we had had that picture a few days ago when the whole sleeveless frenzy began! NOT because “If Jackie does it then it must be great”, but rather because if both Mrs. O and Jackie break the same “rule” then you know it must be a very stupid rule!
I say: That is the stupidest thing I have EVER heard! If Jackie and Michelle did it, then it must be a stupid rule? Huh?
@ Christina -
Fashion designers have already gravitated towards healthier looking models. Where have you been?
This conversation is degenerating. Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy, Coco Chanel, Diana Vreeland, Diane Von Furstenberg all had SIGNATURE looks that they returned to again and again while they pushed frontiers in other directions. "Fashion Forward Fashionista" means what? For many women, the key to being fashionable is working with some basic wardrobe pieces highlighted with various accessories. Mrs. O is showing us by her example that she uses that strategy in her dressing. Maybe she is fashion forward by showing women that she practices that strategy and we can therefore feel more comfortable about doing the same.
As someone astutely pointed out, being a fashion trend setter is probably not on the top of her list as how she sees herself having an impact in her role as a first lady.
And the idea that she has a mental problem because she focuses on her arms is over the top. Most women I know play up their best features, be it their hair, lips, neck, bust, legs or whatever. She does not wear sleeveless at EVERY single opportunity, by the way. That's an exaggeration.
suji, I've been thinking for some time now that the cleavage thing has gotten "out of hand." I don't really understand why a woman would want that much boob showing. Maybe I'm jealous? Anyway, it seems too sexually suggestive to me.
I'm glad that pantyhose have dropped off the must-have list. About 30 years ago I was working in a high-end department store and was told I had to wear pantyhose. I asked why. I was told that it made one's legs look better. I was in my late teens at the time, tanned, and my legs were without any flaws. I pointed that out and big surprise it didn't sway my fashion jailer even a little bit.
Well, the decades since have changed the "without any flaws" look, but I still don't like pantyhose.
good lord, why are people dragging this pointless debate over sleeveless look? 1st lady is one of those rare position were each woman brings her flair and personal style to it. Hence, why women like Jackio and Michelle end up having fashion sites and media attention, rightly or wrongly.
Mrs. Obama has her own unique conventional breaking rule, like the belts, pooches and sleeveless look. I wouldn't bother following her style, if I did not think she stands out in a fascinating way.
Let's stick to each topic as it is, instead of attacking each other. I love the velvet top, the gray pants is 2 wide for her.
SuperStar, you need to give it up. Stick to the fashion critique and throwing 'I'm a black woman' to justify your bizarre criticism says more about your mental state than the 1st lady.
love the J. Crew top look, hate the pants.
Mrs. O's style is sheath dresses and cardigans? Really?
Gee, then how does her bold pinstripe suit fit in there? Or how about the Tracy Feith dress, with it's quarter sleeves and flared waist? And I guess that black and silver dress she wore to the Kennedy Center is something that just anyone could have predicted.
If you look at the range and variety of clothing that Mrs. O wears, even in just one week, it is a very dynamic style. FAR beyond the typical tailored suits worn by First Ladies past. And it certainly is far more than cardigans and sheath dresses.
I apologize to all posters and readers of this site for adding my honest opinion to the discussion. I thought that earnestly identifying myself with Mrs. Obama's background (and I truly really do admire her) would offer a different perspective.) The furthest thing from my mind was to say anything snarky, mean-spirited or to personally insult, denigrate, or disrespect the first lady. I went back over my posts, and they do not seem contain anything mean or negative toward the first lady, only my personal little opinion about a style I did not like. Perhaps I did not express myself well, and for that, I am sorry. But please believe me when I say that I was not in anyway trying to manipulate or monopolize the conversation. I also know that in the grand scheme of things, my opinion ultimately does not matter in how Mrs. O dresses, and I am fine with that. I am guessing that Mrs. T is the site moderator; if I broke any posting rules by disclosing my background, I did so unknowingly. Also, this is a great site, but I don't think I will keep posting. I cannot understand that some people assign sinister motives to comments different from their own. In my case, the comment was just that: a comment. No ulterior motive, no manipulation, no lie. Thank you
ZL, I don't think anyone has a problem with your opinion, you are NOT the person who went insane about 'mental health'.
Rather, expressing your fashion point of view without psycho-babbling your way out of some dislike for the 1st lady is where we think is problematic.
Let's keep our diverse point of view here, I love to hear from everyone.
Superstar you seem very bitter and maybe a little jealous of Mrs Obama,I am shocked that you would attest showing her arms with mental issues maybe that is what you suffer from,I have to just point out that I too am black and find your comments demeaning to yourself as it is you who shows no class.Mrs Obama is in the spotlight for all the right reasons,she acts with grace, dignity and class maybe you should try and do the same or find a new site.
ZL, I appreciate your honest opinion! I hope you keep posting as I have enjoyed your perspective.
ZL:
Please do not let people chase you off of this board.
I also appreciate the honesty in your posts.
Some posters take offense if you don't agree with every fashion choice that Mrs. Obama wears.
I usually like what she wears. I have stated frequently that she has a short waist and belts truncate her upper torso.
Superstar:
Your comment was just rude. We can agree to disagree without resorting to name calling. Please show respect for our FLOTUS as I believe that she is doing a fantastic job of reaching out to the masses in DC.