Celebrating a Kennedy
Sunday, March 8, 2009 at 9:26 PM 
Photo credit: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images
Just back from a weekend at Camp David, First Lady Mrs. O and President Mr. O appeared at the Kennedy Center on Sunday evening to honor the 77th birthday of Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy. As part of the evening, the senator was honored with the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage award. The evening's entertainment included several of Senator Kennedy's favorite performers - James Taylor, Bill Cosby, Bernadette Peters and Lauren Bacall.
For the event, Mrs. O wore a tiered and ruched black dress last seen at the Obama Staff Ball, paired with a standout statement necklace with yellow and blue stones that we believe has been confirmed to be Tom Binns. As several have noted in the comments, the necklace shows resemblance to that worn for the Vogue/Calvin Klein fundraiser last June. Per usual, The Huffington Post has fantastic images, here.
Reader Comments (41)
That necklace is funky, I really like it.
Is it just me or does it look like Mrs. O has lost weight??
Thanks for sharing this Mrs. T...
My neighbor, a renowned mezzo soprano performed at this event. She took with her a choir of low income kids from a catholic school she volunteers with...
Its very exciting to see indeed!
It seems everyone is having a great time! Just a comment: how can anyone tell with these pictures if Mr. O has lost or gained weight! I also think that a softer, rose based make-up looks much better than the darker color lipstick she is using.
Dee: I do believe she's lost some weight...It is very stressful times for many and I think the Obama's are very mindful of the immense responsibilities they've been charged with -
Lets pray for and support them as much as we can!
I wonder if the necklace is a gift from a "fan". It's very bold and lovely. I am sure Mrs. T is on the case!
Mrs. O's looking fabulous as usual..nice manicure too!
The first lady is so effortlessly lovely and so untraditionally cool...I love it!
I wonder if she's wearing heels. I wasn't a fan of the dress with boots. Anyway, she looks lovely as usual.
These photos change moment to moment, but right now there are several of the Obamas and Kennedys having a very good time. It's a great pleasure to see Teddy enjoying himself so. There are also a few pictures of the Obamas arriving back home from Camp David. Sasha is really growing very tall!
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Michelle-Obama/ss/events/pl/050108michelleobama#photoViewer=/090309/ids_photos_ts/r2523151518.jpg
Amazing how she knows she's going to be looked at, yet she wears a black dress during the day, then the same dress at an evening function. I love the way she wears her clothes more than once in a season, the way most of us do. I love this makeup the best on her, especially her deep red lipstick. She looks glamorous to me with this makeup, but especially the lipstick. She and the president dances in the box. I am so loving their wonderful example of a good marriage.
The last time she wore this was also an evening event. Gloria, I think you may be thinking of a ruched skirt that she wore during the day. But yes, how fun to see her re-inventing outfits! This really is a novelty as far as First Ladies go. Anyway, I love the dark lipstick. She always looks like a 40's movie star when she wears that kind of color scheme.
Oh...Ted Kennedy. He looks so thin. I really hope we will have him around for a lot longer.
The energy of this couple is astounding!!
God bless Teddy Kennedy, glad that is he being celebrated while he is here to enjoy it.
The dress has alot of detaling and the necklace is quite bold, and a bit whimsical but somehow it works...
Check this pic http://cm1.theinsider.com/media/0/90/28/michelleobama-1.0.0.0x0.399x654.jpeg
I can totally imagine her getting ready after settling the girls from their evening away at Camp David, wondering what she's going to wear to the Kennedy event. It's not something honoring her husband, so she doesn't need to really go for it.
So - black on black with some fresh make-up, bold jewelry and her best accessory, Mr. O. It is warmer here...probably around 50 degrees, so she doesn't need to be wearing the boots she normally wore with that shirt. I hope she's wearing some cute kitten, pointy toe heels.
I am just so glad that the family gets the opportunity to get away to rest and enjoy themselves together for family time. I love this family and continue to be proud of them each and every day. Love to Malia and Sasha, they are good examples for my granddaughters. Best wishes to them all
Very chic in black, the necklace is perfect. Happy birthday to Senator Kennedy.
Is it one necklace or two? Seems like there is a filligree one that looks like a lace collar with a short yellow tie, and then a long pendant? Love to know what this really is -- it's great!
Michelle has worn this (part of this or a similar one before..You can see it in the huffingtonpost slideshow Michelle Obama: All Dolled Up. The caption says Beautiful in black with an extravagant necklace to dress it up on June 18th, 2008 in New York
Mrs Obama looks absolutel darling...
Young, fresh and simply chic-
I've just looked at the complete set of pictures again and can't help marveling at that necklace...It is beautiful!
Its amazing how a magnificent piece of jewelry could easily transform an outfit!
How suitable and beautifully done...great job First lady Obama!
She just looks so FRESH all the time! I wonder what her secret to the good sleep at Camp David is (wink wink)?
The necklace is really neat, can we get a closeup shot of it somehow?
Isn't this the necklace Mrs O wore for the Vogue fundraiser, pre-election? With black tunic and palazzo pants? She looks very happy here, and very healthy. Lovely hair, too. No sign of weight loss, just a beautiful slim lady out having a great time.
(I broke my arm at the weekend so my regular fellow contributors here will be pleased to note that six weeks of left-handed, one-fingered typing will mean shorter posts!!!) LOL! PTx
This is kind of cool. An illustrated version of Michelle is on the cover of the New Yorker fashion issue. Quite an improvement from the infamous fist bump Angela Davis cover from the primaries.
http://thepage.time.com/2009/03/09/fashionable-flotus/
I've compared the photos side by side and don't believe it's the same necklace. The necklace worn for the Vogue fundraiser was just a bit shorter, and didn't include the prominent yellow stone. Certainly the effect, worn with an all black ensemble, is very similar.
Mrs. O looks lovely as usual! They look like they are having
a fun evening.
Desiree also looks very nice.
I agree with Dee, I would not wear the necklace, but I love the fact that its so funky!!! love it love!
I want to see the entire outfit before I comment on it, but I like what I see so far, in that it looks very fashion forward!
Suji, the photo you posted isn't from the same event, is it? I'm confused because isn't this ruched dress knee-length?
I don't like the necklace at all. But it's very on-trend, I'll give her that!
That New Yorker cover is ADORABLE! They even got her hair right and included a shout-out to that great Maria Pinto dress from the Convention Speech. I really look forward to getting this issue in the mail!
The best thing about these pictures is the fact that she looks so happy. She is having a great time and looking and probably feeling great doing it. Sometimes a smile can be our best accessory.
My favorite accessory that Mrs. Obama wears is her warm smile. With that, she can win anyone over. She doesn't need high fashion, fashion forward, standout jewelry or anything else. I think many of us like her for herself. It IS fun to see what she wears--but it's jut a parlor game--and nothing of real substance. I hope she is enjoying her new role. She is going to be a great First Lady and the President if fortunate to have her as his wife.
the president was really cute singing happy birthday to teddy on stage, and michelle looks lovely as usual.
This is the first time I've seen her in deep red lipstick, and I LOVE it on her!
A close up of the necklace on Huffpo
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/09/michelle-obama-wears-big_n_172942.html
The New Yorker has a great one-pager on page 89 with a good photo of Jason Wu and Thakoon. There is some interesting analysis of those "bare arms" and the best take on their "meaning" that I have heard or read.
To sum it up - it all boils down to self-confidence. Check it out online if you can.
I love the look of simple pieces with standout jewelry, but I am not in love with the yellow stone. This almost looks as if it is two different necklaces. If so, I would have worn the longer necklace only with larger, statement earrings. I was very impressed with the similar look Mrs. O. displayed back in June.
The pictures are great! Mrs. O always looks so happy. Is Camp David rustic? She looks a little drained returning from the weekend away. And she does look like she is losing weight. I hope she doesn't get too thin to the point it affects how great she looks.
Hmm. Thanks for that closeup view Edwina. Maybe I would have liked just the long one with some sexy neck showing....but hey if anyone can do this it's Michelle.
Actually, she is has the ULTIMATE ACCESSORY for most any night out - Barack Obama!!
Check out this view of the outfit shown in a slide show on Huffington Post. I think the Obamas are fabulous, and we do need to keep them in our prayers.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/09/michelle-obama-wears-big_n_172942.html
Bonnie Fuller cuts wimpy David Brooks to size in defense of the arms - check huffingtonpost
No photos of Caroline anywhere that I could find... I would be interested to see what she wore.
I still think it's the same necklace, and it looks to me like a yello feather brooch has been attached - to the top? - to make a real pop of colour. Whatever ... it's stunning.