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)
I am really appreciating some of these latest posts. The bottom line from what I am reading is that healthy debate is welcome, personal attacks on each other or Michelle Obama are not.
Ladies, please, let's just enjoy this site. I admit I identify myself in a "none of the above" category relative to what I'm guessing is the typical poster to this site, but I enjoy reading your comments. It's educational, it's fun, and it helps me gain insight to what those younger, hipper, and more Big-D Democrat in philosophy than I am are thinking. But we're talking clothes here, not politics. Keep it up.
I just stumbled on this picture. The official WH photo of Michelle:
http://www.daylife.com/photo/02XecAR7CudgW/White_House
"@ Christina
Fashion designers have already gravitated towards healthier looking models. Where have you been?"
@Alicia: Um, looking at pictures of fashion shows? Maybe we have different mental images of what "healthy" means.
Mostly though, Alicia, I was attempting to lighten the mood and change the subject since people are talking about sleeveless friggin' dresses like it's life or death. I'm leaving this battle to folks who care more.
@ Superstar
I think you should feel free to express your opinion, but it should at least be constructive. Why so angry? Why so petty? We don't discuss Michelle's teeth? What relevance do they have to what she is wearing? It just becomes disrespectful and downright rude.
Hmm, I'm not digging the velvet... Granted I can't see the whole thing, but the fabric just looks cheap compared to the other things she's worn.
Kristan
http://jbu.phuzzymath.net/
Superstar: why are you here? You obviously don't think the FLOTUS has style so why come to a site that is specifically about her fashion choices?? From your posts it seems you don't even like Mrs O, I would think then you have better things to do than to be snarky on a site devoted to Mrs O.
Susan: as you can see the comment was made, and is over the top. I agree with Audrey yes some people truly believe the dress she was to the congress address was inappropriate but some also like I've said jumped on the bashing bandwagon and it was very obvious.
And what I mean by being careful is obviously this site is getting alot of traction in the media ( that's how I found it) and I think its important keep comments respectful to Mrs O. and not give people who are ready to pounce an excuse to do just that.
Also I want to add there is a difference betweeen being fashion forward and being stylish.
I don't believe I've heard anyone call Mrs O fashion forward. But she is quickly becoming a fashionista.
She has a great mix of designers in the wardrobe, and picks clothes that flatter her and she always looks very well put-together while also subtley following trends.
I would consider coco channel fashion forward or even Carolyn Bisette Kennedy was very fashion forward in the looks she chose.
Anwyay I've gone on too long...
"Superstar", you can dig your heels in all you like, but it doesn't detract from the fact that you are an incredibly rude and obviously sad and obnoxious person.
This FUN blog is set up to discuss and celebrate Mrs Obama's style; and participants however unqualified most of us, are allowed to share what is hopefully, fashion-targeted thoughts in a civil and decent manner and without any underhanded digs at the woman herself.
The rather erroneous suggestion that anyone who doesn't like an outfit worn by the first lady is "attacked" by those who feel she can do no wrong is bogus.
Everyone has fashion "off" days including Mrs Obama - who's very human by the way and clearly has no qualms declaring that herself!
When some don't love a particular outfit, they simply don't comment; Others choose to only complement and play up whatever bits worked, while the rest simply declare their disapproval of the outfit and move on.
But there are those who choose to or are unable to politely and without "snark" convey their (rather unimportant in the larger scheme of things) impressions of the outfit of the day, and that comes across as you read their comments.
Their comments typically wander dangerously into a slam and the personal. And for any fair minded person it stings and comes across as unecessary and deliberately intended to deflate especially on a blog that was meant to celebrate the first lady's eclectic fashion.
After the undeserved beating Mrs Obama has been subjected to in public through the primaries and even now, it is no surprise then that many have become extremely sensitive protective of her. These supporters as is to be expected, make up the vast majority of visitors to a site dedicated to positively portraying and uplifting this first lady; and they will not allow a few to dampen their enthusiasm or turn them off and cause them to stop visiting, especially where few of such positive outlets exist.
Alluding to Mrs Obama's mental state is certainly not part of a healthy or robust discussion on fashion...and as much as this assertion of Superstar's can be ignored largely because it is clearly preposterous knowing that Mrs Obama is one of the most well-adjusted, even and unexcitable public persons we've been exposed to; but it only seeks to stir the pot which Superstar has clearly succeeded in doing.
For what it's worth, here's a bit of advice to "Superstar": Your crab in a barrel mindset is spilling over and terribly muddying things...stop personifying and perpetuating the ugly and awful stereotypes!