In Basic Black at Ft. Bragg
Thursday, March 12, 2009 at 2:47 PM 
Photo credit: Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images First Lady Mrs. O treated a group of preschoolers at Ft. Bragg in Fayetteville, NC, to an animated rendition of Dr. Seuss's "A Cat in the Hat" this afternoon. The visit to Ft. Bragg was part of Mrs. O's first official trip out of Washington as First Lady. Earlier in the day she entered a Ft. Bragg dining facility where she had a private lunch with 20 military family members and Ft. Bragg volunteers. The First Lady was also scheduled to speak in downtown Fayetteville, NC, later in the day. (Stay tuned for more on that front.) Style wise, Mrs. O chose an understated ensemble for today's events: a french cuff white shirt underneath a black cardigan, belted at the waist and paired with black trousers. The most notable part of the look was the return of Mrs. O's black studded Azzedine Alaia belt - a gem of an accessory that was ubiquitous on the campaign trail, and one we're delighted to see back in the mix (also possibly worn by Glenn Close on last night's episode of Damages). Additional images, and a clear view of the belt can be seen here and here. P.S. We heart the lifesize Kermit hanging out behind Mrs. O.
Reader Comments (69)
Mrs O. looks beautiful as usual. The outfit is nice and approachable. I like the hair and make-up. I very much love the belted sweater look on her.
I'm going shopping for a nice belt and sweater to wear for my next job interview. It looks sharp and not over the top.
Thank you Mrs T for this blog and thank you Mrs O. for inspiring me with your unique and quirky fashion flare.
I wonder how easy it is to have a Secret Service person at your back all the time when you're in public. I find myself strangely intrigued with Tall Bald Guy (who is partially obscured in this pic.)
Tall Bald Guy gets so up in MO's personal space--you can really see it at the homeless shelter shots, and way back when in the pics with Michelle and the Mayor of D.C.--that I'm going to start making up stories about him. (smile)
I've always, always wanted to look good in a simple and comfortable way at the same time but without having to spend too much time and Mrs O is indeed an inspiration! Note to self: dig out nice cardigans and belts.
I agree with what Chicagoan said in the last thread: "Mrs O. best accessory is her compassion" and I would add her heart melting smile.
Christina, I hear you but I'm so grateful for the secret service commitment to the Obamas for the last two years. Their job is not made easy with the Obamas' popularity and the Obamas' willingness to mingle with the crowds.
I know that millions of people love the President and First Lady but crazy backward ones are still marching the earth alas!
I pray for their safety every night and I'm not even an American. They lighted a candle in the dark and even those of us from afar can enjoy its warmth.
couturecoco, that was really beautifully put!
love mrs. o always :)
Christina has a point. One time tall bald guy had his hand right on FLOTUS' waist and I thought to myself....hmmmmmm not a bad job lol. I got my EYES on you tall buddie. I'm watching you. Loving the simple clean look on FLOTUS.
Of course you are absolutely right, Ms. N. - I just tease because Mrs. O is usually so warm in these pictures, the people around her are grinning and taking pictures...and then there's Tall Bald Guy. And he does NOT look like he has a sense of humor. At all.
The BOW Poll
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/12/michelle-obama-brings-the_n_174270.html
Touche' - I love this piece.
Perhaps Mrs O will pick up an entire Alaia ensemble while she is in Paris ?!
THAT would be very fashion forward and exciting.
Never really thought about TBG (Tall Bald Guy). He looks like he's doing a good job. I pray he never has to do more than stand behind her.
Love it. And I do believe Glenn Close was wearing teh same belt last night! She teams hers with a lovely black dress and jacket. :D
I agree with Christina that Tall Bald Guy looks like he doesn't have a sense of humor at all. It reminds me of an old I Love Lucy show called "Lucy Meets the Queen" and she and Ethel are out in front of Buckingham Palace waiting for the Queen to leave and she and Ethel see a guard and Ethel tells Lucy that the guards don't speak or smile that they just stand there. So Lucy tries to make him smile by being silly and while she is trying to make the guard smile the queen leaves the palace and Ethel ends up seeing the queen leaving and comes back and says "Did you see the queen leave and Lucy says "No, I was trying to make the guard smile."
Pictures with her and millitary children. She bonds well with children.
Words can not explain the admiration I have for this lady
http://www.daylife.com/photo/0dSFgxD4kz4M0/michelle_obama
Now, that's a belt! **Way** better than that plastic belt that she is wearing on O's cover. Her outfit today looks nice, and it's appropriate for the occasion.
It's not the job of Tall Bald Guy to display a sense of humor, which I'd bet he has in his off hours. His job is to protect the First Lady at all costs, and ward off potential threats. I'm sure President Obama appreciates his service protecting his lady love.
Omg u guys I was on a site called obama daily and someone mentioned the same thing about the tall bald dude? I mean he always is right behind or besidre her, I know their are other agents w/her but he stands out lol.
I love these pictures of Michelle reading to the childen, explains the need for slacks because at one point she shifts to the floor.
http://www.daylife.com/photo/05ivffN8Cr2GR/Michelle_Obama
Looks like she changed her blouse when she spoke.
\http://www.daylife.com/photo/0dHB3zH3z02ih/Michelle_Obama
O happy day, to have such a wonderful First Lady.
I know TBG isn't supposed to be displaying a sense of humor, that he's working. I was just trying to make a little joke - I think that might not have come through. (thanks for getting it, Rashad!)
I'm very aware of what the SS does, and I'm glad they do it. But I still think it would be strange to have someone that close to me all the time.
Edwina, I do believe you're right! Wonder if she got something on the first one while she was with the children. The second appears to be a long-sleeve t-shirt or something.
Christina, I actually laughed out loud at your post! It was cute!
One word: CRISP!
Lookin' good, Mrs. O!
I don't think Secret Service Agents are supposed to have a sense of humor. LOL
Did anyone notice the PerezHilton.com slammed someone for wearing a belt over a sweater? As I'm reading that, I'm thinking hey, our First Lady does it all the time. Get with the times!
Something really goofy was going on with the collar of the first shirt, in some of the photos, that Michelle was wearing earlier in the day - that is why I think she changed shirts.
http://www.daylife.com/search/photos/all/1?q=michelle+obama
She looks nice, but I feel like I have seen this look 100 times already.
Mala-
And we will probably see it 100 more times.
If President Obama is in office only one term then Michelle will have 1460 days to dress as First Lady. Two terms: 2920 days.
Christina - you're too funny! TBG!
Leah D - thanks for breaking it down. We have to keep reminding people that the First Lady is not a doll, nor is she a an old money millionaire, so we will see her dress like a normal person, in that she will have certain looks like she feels comfortable in.
I just watched Brian Williams's Nightly News on NBC and he ended the half hour about Mrs. O's trip today. What the show did was play the part of her speech where she encourages all of us to seek out military families to help them through these hard times, and at the same time the audio of her speaking played, they showed still photos of her greeting military members and their families, as well as reading to the kids.
It was incredibly heart-warming.
Mrs. T, I just saw your update and roared at your P.S. For a moment, I thought you were talking about TBG! :)
Oh, and didn't she wear this same shirt at the a cappella concert at the WH and also to the Dept. of Education? Leah D's comment about how open-collar shirts are sometimes hard to wear reminded me of that.
The pictures are really very nice and our military and military families deserve the best! They give their LIFES voluntarily for us. As far as the TBG, their duty is to protect and guard and please remember that they also have an earpiece communicating with them from different areas. They have to be alert to all security issues. It is not a fun job. Mrs. O looked lovely and very poised ~~ just nice.
Sorry -- I meant LIVES!
Oh, I thought you were talking about the tall, bald, green guy (Kermit) behind her at first.
What a nice post...especially the kermit note (he's sticking to his classic green shade)!! I, too, happen to be wearing a white shirt/black cardigan combo today! No A. Alaia belt though :(
With all the talk about TBG, it reminds me of the movie 'The Bodyguard'.
Mrs. O looked lovely as usual. She had a great hair day!
I guess the sweater look has become Mrs. O's business "uniform" like the suit was for former first ladies. She looks nice and "regular" and has basically given us nothing to talk about today (even the belt is a repeat). Oh well!
About the bodyguard: I thik he is one of the few who is tall enough to guard her efficiently, since she is quite tall herself. And speaking of hair, I hope she has a great hairdresser who takes really great care of her hair to prevent breakage and stuff, since she has to get it flatironed so often to attend many different functions.
Nice and simple in basic black. BTW, did you guys notice how some women turned up in sleeveless and feminine dresses at yesterday's event (Lisa Leslie, Dominique Dawes)? I guess they thought Mrs. O was going to wear sleeveless as well, but she surprised them!
I love the classics, and Mrs. O wears them so beautifully. The young soldier to her left in that first link is just beaming, such a cute picture, as is the one edwina directed our attention to, hugging the little girl. I so admire the role Mrs. Obama is carving out for herself; to me it seems to be just right, i.e., she's not trying to write legislation or make policy (directly), but she's out there almost every day, calling attention to important things that need it. I know I sound fawning, but I so admire her intelligence, grace and beauty.
This is just my opinion and I'm throwing it out there---but I think way too much is made of Mrs. Obama's height. Lots of women are as tall as she is--and handle it just as well as she does. Being tall is a wonderful asset. And, there is nothing wrong with towering over others. It is just not a big deal. Plenty of women are taller than some men and it's an acceptable thing. I doubt seriously that her lower heels have anything to do with her height--more likely, wearing lower heels has to do with comfort and foot health. She actually has to be on her feet a lot--and walk places.
I would be disappointed if we saw Mrs. Obama in a different outfit at every function. That would be wasteful. She strikes me as a very level headed down to earth woman--just right for being First Lady right now.
Susan, I don't believe anyone has disparaged Mrs. O's height here. If anything most of us think it's an assett that allows her to weear clothes beautifully. That is also why many of us would love to see her in heels more often,particularly for dressy occasions. I beg to disagree about Mrs. O wearing flats or low heels because "she has to be on her feet;" most events, partcularly dressy ones, she is whisked in and out and does her thing in a matter of minutes. I think it's more about her peersonal preference. And as far as wearing a different outfit, she does for the most part, but it seems like she has a liking for a variation of the same types of pieces that she keeps in her wardrobe. Again, nothing wrong with that, just her preference.
Jojo, I wasn't implying that anyone disparaged Mrs. Obama's height. That was not what I was trying to say. I was commenting about how people say she doesn't want to tower over others. I don't think that is a concern she has. I have an inkling that she doesn't want to wear high heels--and it has to be about comfort level or that they are not good for her health. By the time a woman is 40 or so, she probably knows what she prefers when it comes to heels. Yes, you are right--it's personal preference--and that is often about comfort. Most tall women LOVE being tall--and don't worry about high heels making them taller. That was my point.
I understand Susan, but thanks for the clarification. I just would like to see our FLOTUS rock some killer heels sometimes! She would look fierce!
Jojo, Thanks for letting me know you understand what I was trying to say. I agree. She would look fabulous in high heels. So would I. (LOL) But, I can't walk well in them and find them very uncomfortable. I stick with the height that Mrs. Obama favors.
I would like to see her stroll to Marine One in some cool
designer jeans. Kind of a Halle Berry look...jeans, tee &
jacket.
It is so clear that Michelle loves being with kids. And there is nothing more versatile than a nice black cardigan.
If I didn't know better, having seen photos placed here from today's event which show otherwise, I would swear from that MSNBC/NBC video that Mrs. Obama only reached out to black people. What gives with that video footage? They made her appear racially choosy, which she was not during this event.
That would be nice! Though sometimes designer jean sizing is not kind to someone who doesn't have very long, thin legs. Mrs. O definitely has the height, but she's curvy.
Now I feel like calling TBG "Kermit," just 'cause. :)
Already with the shoes!!
I think that Mrs. O's choice to wear low heels is not about height, or comfort, or foot health. I think it's about sex. Very high - 3" and up - heels are often associated with sexy party outfits; sometimes strappy sandals or open-toed shoes are known as "whore shoes" or "***k me shoes". Very high heels can look frivolous and even bimbo-ish.
Our FLOTUS presents herself as a dignified, serious, practical, down-to-earth, professional, elegant woman. She does not cultivate an image that goes with very high-heeled shoes, nor is it an image she should cultivate. IMO.
@Mara, I picked up on that too, but I was kind of looking FOR it because I had read something in the past about how at another event, the pictures or footage released to the public showed her interacting with a majority of black people. So I was sensitive to it when I watched this.
It's subtle, but you know what, it's all part of the game. Something has to be done to give haters and cynics some fodder - she's making all the right moves thus far, and Americans are loving her.
I still think that if you were just watching the piece for what it was worth, it was nice.
The men and women in the military, may have volunteered to serve their country and yet they still make the ultimate sacrifice of ensuring the freedom and democracy that some of you may take for granted. As a 20 year veteran I know how it feels to leave your children due to deployments.
Mrs. Obama is bringing the issues of the military family to the forefront where it should rightfully be and we thank her for doing so. www.divalocity.blogspot.com
Mara, I agree. I would blame the media for most of the race issues in the US. By sensationalizing News, these outlets create social divides.They want to make this a black presidency which I think it is not, it is just good presidency. End of story. We should raise these objections with MSNBC and similar outlets and put an end to this. Shame on them!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/11/michelle-obama-magazine-c_n_174080.html
VOTE FOR BEST MRS O. COVER!
SD
Mara did you make that distinction when any of our other first ladies have interacted w/ mainly white people during some of their meet and greets? I think some are looking for Mrs. to over prove that she cares for other races as much as blacks which I think comes from some people claiming she was a racist because of her college thesis and false whispers about her using the term whitey during election season. To me its clear she is open and warm to everyone and just because a media clip just so happened to showed her w/ more blacks this go around does equal the media showing a social divide.
It is a nice, warm and comfortable outfit, good for the occasion. From a fashion sense not spectular, and as someone pointed out: not that much to talk about today.