Friday
Feb272009
The Official Portrait
Friday, February 27, 2009 at 12:01 PM 
Photo credit: Joyce N. Boghosian / The White House
The White House has released an official portrait of First Lady Mrs. O taken in the Blue Room of the White House. Lovely!
Update: The New York Daily News reports that the dress Mrs. O wears is from Michael Kors's Spring 2009 collection. A royal blue version of the dress can be seen here. The Michael Kors racer back gown is made from a double-bonded crepe jersey. The dress has been in stores across the country since January.
tagged Michael Kors in Outfits
Michael Kors in Outfits
Reader Comments (142)
Not a fan of the volume of the hair nor that strange line that hits at the waist. The flower is a bit annoying too but if you look past minor details it's a lovely shot.
Needed: A stylist with experience managing a full staff and an excellent knowledge of protocol, long range mix of styles and designers, accessories, and how fashion translates across the various media. Mrs O is lovely, but is making the normal near sighted mistakes that one makes when moving into the "Bigs." This whole sleeve flap is because several sleeveless projects rolled out the same week. She will learn, hopefully sooner than later, that she is over her beautifully coiffed head.
LOL...Spot on Rocky!
Like it
I think this is one of the most beautiful pictures I have seen of her yet. I agree that the whole sleeves/sleeveless thing is really silly. A portrait should be a representation of you, and this hit the mark dead on. She is a beautiful woman and is just being who/what she is.
I think the photo is lovely. And the hand being hid by the flower at all. I think it makes it look like she just finished arranging the flowers. It puts movement in the portrait.
Sorry. Meant to say that the hand being hid by the flower does not bother me at all.
Michelle you look very "ELEGANT & CLASSY"!
After all she is a 21st century First Lady. Some of you here need to realize she is not the old era, she is new. Go back and look at the other portraits of former First Ladies, Michelle looks "AWESOME".
Mrs.Obama, our "commander in sheath" looks absolutely beautiful. I know that her mother knew that her daughter would grow up to be a woman she would be proud of but I know she probably did not think that it would be of this maganitude. http://divalocity.blogspot.com/
I really want to know what her workout is. She looks fantastic and her arms are definitely the business.
I saw a few back in the days pictures of flotus and potus and her arms were not this fantastic, so kudos to her workout.
luv her.
OK - What uncomfortable and painful yoga and pilates moves do I have to do to get shoulders and arms like our lovely first lady? Madonna should take note.
Michelle fronts the cover of the NY Daily News today. Smart paper, I'll buy a copy.
French, male, and not at all a "fashionista" (is that how you call it ?), B.O. really impressed me with his speech on races in March 2008 (it was the first time in my adult life that I heard a politician talking to my intelligence as well as to my heart...)
Since then, I am a definitive fan of the Os, and in particular of your FLOTUS, as you say (that's sounds so funny to my French ears !)
This woman is truly amazing. I am not always convinced by her dress style (that is, I am not always sharing the enthusiasm often expressed here, sometimes it seems to me that what she wears is not so special, not to say questionnable) but I admire her personality, her very easy, warm, natural and self-confident way of simply being what she is. In colloquial French, we would say : "elle ne se la pète pas", which, according to French standards, is probably the best recognition of true and natural classy chic (compared to those many French celebs "qui se la pètent" !)
Your Michelle is a true "grande dame", and for me, it does not matter so much whether she is well, perfectly, bad or wrongly dressed. She dresses herself the same way as she lives, with joy. It is a great lesson that she teaches to the whole world: Enjoy your life.
edwina,
Well said!
Dom,welcome, it's a treat to have your perspective. I think you are on to something with your comments.I always find that the Hollywood stars on Oscar night don't really impress me. They are all carefully dressed by stylists in an expensive garments but I never see the joy. With Michelle, hit or miss, the exuberance and the love of fashion and the joy of looking pretty is always there.
Dom expressed what makes Michelle Obama so fascinating, its her utter comfort within her own skin. She's no great beauty in the classical sense, but few women in history worth knowing were from Cleopatra, Leonor Roosevelt, Coco Chanel to our own fashion icon, Jackie Kennedy.
So, she might not please the fashionista of this world or the conventional believers all the time, but she dresses herself always with a sense of class and grace.
Love this picture, only Michael Kors can create a dress made for a woman's body, the whole composition of the photography is beautiful, without looking too formal.
Edwina, not only the joy of looking pretty - the joy of living, the joy of making your life worth to be lived. Mrs O's life has been, until now, a relatively common life. Of course, not everybody makes such brilliant studies and such a brilliant carreer, of course not every woman makes the right choice of husband and gives birth to such - until now - nice children, and to that extent, one might qualify Mrs O path of life as an "undue privilege". But I sincerely believe that these "successes" have to do with her joy of living: just enjoy the happy parts of life, this including the fun of fashion, jewels, and looking nice, and bravely cope with the less happy parts of life.
Mrs O is teaching us a great lesson: beauty, happyness and success are not "given", they are not purely chance. Optimism, hope, altruism, sincerity and self-confidence are the keys. Frankly, Mrs O is not that beautiful or fashionable - she is much more than that: she is a happy and strong soul in a very sound body. At a time where we all secretely suffer from being deprived of simple, basic authentic values, she appears as bringing us all that. Yes, she enjoys looking pretty and wearing jewels. Yes, she enjoys having such a successful and brilliant and smiling husband. Yes, she enjoys her two delightful daughters and her brave Mom. And yes, she enjoys being in a position to pay tribute to all people who make life a pleasure to live. With or without sleeves.
Wow,Dom,beautiful. And so true. This is what the Obama's inspire.
Another thing about Mrs. O that perhaps makes her such a compelling beauty is the fact that she is passionate. She has a passion for her husband, her children, her family, friends, and her country - you can tell when she speaks or when she's around her friends and family. I believe that is one factor that makes her so special. And that is why people are drawn to her.
I love it! :)
Old Hollywood Glamour!
Here's a link to a new one minute video from Politico.com regarding Michelle and her fashion style:
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1155201977/bctid14385823001
One of her best looks, ever
What an elegant classy and lovely first lady. Obama chose well.
@Kathy:
"But I think in this case that the sleeves of her dress are cut so far inwards towards her neck that it reminds me a little of gym-wear."
I've heard this dress described as having a "racer back" so I think the evocation of gym-wear is spot on, and intentional. It's a sporty version of the little black dress. I'd love to see the back!
@RickyDee:
"Needed: A stylist with experience managing a full staff and an excellent knowledge of protocol, long range mix of styles and designers, accessories, and how fashion translates across the various media."
Honestly, I hope she doesn't do what you're suggesting. This is my opinion, but she's not a Hollywood star, and it's not her job to look like one. What may be a "mistake" on Angelina Jolie is not going to be the same for Mrs. O, because their intentions in presenting themselves are different. It's fun to sit here and critique the outfits; I do it too. But I think it's worthwhile remembering that she doesn't dress for our amusement, and her public image is not (and should not be) high fashion. To hire stylists and other professionals to buff her to a perfect, unapproachable sheen...I just think that would be a mistake.
@ RickyDee
It's a thin line. Mrs. O's personality is wonderfully down-to-earth. Most female fans sense that, perhaps at a higher level than themselves, she decides what to wear as they would — by walking to her closet and selecting what feels right for the moment. This quality is not just endearing, it's politically and philosophically important. The Obamas want people to identify with them.
But I take your point. The number of photo-ops this past week -- the number of clothing and make-up changes -- were almost mind-numbing. It would be understandable if by the time she chose a look for the SOTU address, she saw it as "just one more." For me, choosing that many outfits would be a full-time job. And it's hardly the only thing on the uniquely qualified Mrs. O's plate. Compared to Jackie and to Princess Diana, fashion is far down the list for our Mrs. O.
Perhaps she may need a middle way between the amateur and the professional fashion approach you propose? As I see it, Ikram Goldman has a business to run and may not have time or skills to attend to every detail. I wonder if there could be an assistant in the Social Secretary's office who could help Ikram and Michelle? Mrs. O's days of "just walking to her closet" may be over, but she will need to find an approach that feels comfortable, that feels like "who she is" -- the down-to-earth woman who is winning the nation's heart.
Personally, I prefer offshoulders to sleeves cut too inward which to me look a bit too masculine. That said, I love this photo.
It has all been done long before Mrs.O or Jackie
Sleeveless Grace Coolidge 1923-1929
plunging neckline - Dolley Madison - 1809-1817
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lindsay-mannering/name-the-foxy-first-lady_b_164604.html
@ SeanaLyn, Jen, and C. Terra,
I agree about the photo. It is credited to Joyce N. Boghosian, a White House events photographer. She receives credit for shoots of Mrs. O's agency speaking tour. But a portrait is not an event and calls for different talents. I'd love to see this amazing new administration better served.
@ Kathy
Thanks for your analysis of the dress's fabric. It explained why the dress stood high at the shoulders. But I do think the reference to gym-wear in the sleeves' cut is intentional, since one of Mrs. O's projects is "healthy living." This use of her arms seems most appropriate, given the incredibly high rate of obesity in the United States. I objected to the combination of plunging neckline and sleeveless at the SOTU address, where other issues were in play. But she has earned the right to be proud of her arms!
She looks sassy, very modern, and elegant. I love the outfit and the pearls, and I'm glad she likes showing off her arms. Why not? It's tasteful, and they look great. I wish, though, that flower weren't covering her hand!
I think she looks really elegant and lovely. I am proud to have such a stylish First Lady and can't wait to see what she will come up with next. Personally, I love the "casual" attire that President Obama and his family seem to be sporting in the White House. To me it indicates that they are approachable and ready to roll up their sleeves and get the job done.
http://www.squidoo.com/perfect-locks
I love this portrait. Really elegant and beautiful. Very Michelle. Gorgeous.
I do think she was in the spotlight a bit too much this week. People cover, first official portrait, and then all those events. I hope she does get some time to also settle in and spend time with the girls.
love it...
I love that she blows that model right out of the water!
Beautiful. It's really hard to look natural for a portrait like that and she's just stunning. The photographer has caught her absolutely as herself: open, friendly, elegant, beautiful, timeless, stylish, real, positive. I love it.
(Sleeveless debate? Yawn.)
She looks absolutely stunning. Self-assured, beautiful, intelligent, kind....the sort of person you can have as both a role model and a friend. I just love Michelle Obama and am thrilled to call her my First Lady.
What a delight to see such a confident and beautiful lady who is an inspiration-this is the best Michelle site and I enjoy reading all your comments. It is a little sad that there is so much negativity around her sleeveless choice of clothing.
The beauty secret most women lack is confidence. It's what turns heads. It's what commands attention as one enters a room. It's what Michelle Obama exudes. It's why I am so proud that she is representing our country. I hope she inspires women across America to embrace their unique personal beauty (every one of us is beautiful) and take care of themselves. Watch the divorce rate drop if more women learned to respect themselves.
Michelle Obama is a perfect role model for American women of all ages and ethnicities.
Sleeves, no sleeves...heels, flats...hair down, hair up...dress, pants...nicely arched brows, too arched brows...pink lipstick, brown lipstick... it doesnt matter. She's beautiful!
This is a First Lady I can believe in!!!
She looks positively lovely. Radiant, confident and elegant.
Here's my thing about the arms. It's not that it's racy or risque - it's that it's winter. Cold winter. Did you see the picture of the White House snowed in on this site? Isn't she cold? As warm and lovely as she is I look at those arms and feel chilly for her. I saw her show up at the speech the Prez gave to Congress last week in that sleeveless, plum Narcisco Rodriguez dress - and I know that building's drafty. Hey, I'm just one of those people who's chilly and wears sleeves until it's about 80 degrees or more outside.
The neckline, the fit, no sleeves, pearls...tres Jackie, to a great effect!