Tea with the Queen
Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 3:11 PM 
Photo by John Stillwell /Getty Images 
Photo by Stefan Rousseau / Getty Images
For her historic meeting with the Queen, we were delighted to see First Lady Mrs. O choose an ivory and black silk crepe dress by Isabel Toledo, paired with a black satin opera coat by Jason Wu. As many will recall, Mrs. O wore ensembles from the same winning combination of designers for the Inauguration. We cannot help but think back to the morning of January 21, when both Ms. Toledo and Mr. Wu were guests on the Today Show, exuding pure joy, excitement and gratitude.
It is wonderful to see both of these American design talents, heralded for their craftsmanship and artistry, brought to the world stage once more. Mrs. O's Isabel Toledo dress features an origami-inspired bow detail at the waistline. She paired the dress with a black cashmere cardigan by Alaia and a double strand of pearls.
Alaia, Isabel Toledo, Jason Wu in Outfits
Reader Comments (159)
I am Scottish and have been really enjoying your site. May I just point out that the Queen is not the Qween of England but the Monarch of Great Britain and Ireland. Great Britain being England and Scotland. It is so sad to all Scots to call her the Queen of England. Also Sarah Brown is known very well here and is a strong supporter of charities. She has a deep interest in neonatal matters having lost her first child soon after birth. She is principally a wife and mother, though, having two young boys, one of whom has cystic fibrosis. The Queen carries a handbag as her 'house' is a palace and she may be far from her private quarters. Hope this does not seem off topic but I thought you would like to know something of the people the First Lady has met here. She was much admired for her style and empathy over here.
The black and white outfit is smashing. I disagree it was too informal; remember, this was an afternoon TEA, not a formal dinner (admittedly, as informal as one can get in the company of the Queen of England), but this was definitely a smart, sophisticated outfit. Another hit for our Mrs. O.
So I keep hearing how Mrs. O has such a fabulous style and is winning over Europe with it. So I start looking for pictures and I keep looking and looking and looking. All I can is that a lot of people need classes. Her style is not classy nor is it even a style. Michelle needs a good stylist. Someone who will help her dress to show her body to it's best advantage and since she, as wife of our President, represents the US...show the US at it's best too. I keep expecting better from her and I am constantly disappointed.
Michelle needs to cover up those arms at formal occasions. And forget the sweators. She is not 16 anymore. I am sorry , but too many times she does not at all classy-- as I would expect a first lady to look. Disappointing and not a good role model to young people when she shows up with too much skin showing, on covers of national magazines.
I would just like to say I find it very interesting that people keep talking about how Mrs. Obama needs to represent the US at it's best. Well, while we may not all agree on her fashion choices I think she is representing the US quite well, even aside from fashion. The people are completely enthralled by her, did we not see how she was mobbed by that group of girls? she knelt down to give each of them hugs. To me, that's representing the US wonderfully. I couldn't be more proud to have her as our First Lady. She represents us with more than just fashion.
OK, now I really know why I usually walk away when women start comparing each other's fashion, using terms like "faceoff, won, class, appropriate, tacky, etc." Too much useless competition all around. Hips, height, skin color, jaw, congenital bend of limb are not moral or character issues or matters of choice but WTF women are. Women are so much more than their wrappers...please do remember that when some neurosurgeon or firefighter with unkempt eyebrows and no makeup and no spanx and lots of cellulite comes to rescue you or a family member.
That said, a few random, thoughts:
Oscar de: We know the Bat Phone from the White House has not been ringing. You can unplug and return it now, as we assure you it will not be ringing in future. Ever.
Sleeveless haters: Did you know that Elizabeth II's own coronation gown was, er, sleeveless?
Buckingham Palace experts: QEII has been photographed in cardigans, headscarves, etc. Offiicial portrait with Queen Mum and Beatrice, guess what she is wearing... "Cardigan" was actually named after a British military commander who was the Earl of Cardigan.
iPod Gift Haters: The Queen hates the iPod so much that she has been photo'd wearing her old iPod while walking her beloved Corgies, and she made its industrial designer, Brit and Apple employee Jonathan Ive, a Commander of the British Empire in recognition of his work on items that millions of people touch everyday.
Worriers: Stop. Breathe. Chill. Mrs. Obama is really doing just fine.
wow the coat is stunning!!! Love the dress though wonder how it would look (better?) without the tulle underneath...I see what people mean about the structure of the cardi looking a bit casual...the Queen does look as pleased as punch to be with the Obamas and vice versa - nice vibe from photo regardless of the merits or otherwise of what Mrs O wore. I personally think she looks stunning - she's not doing a photoshoot for a magazine spread and looks normal (i.e. she pretty much chose what she wore and dressed herself and hasn't been styled to the nth degree by stylists) yet fabulous.
If anyone is interested, the brooch the Queen is wearing is called The Williamson Brooch; it's part of the famous Royal Jewels. It has quite a history, if you want to look it up.
I'm surprised no one has drawn the similarities of the Isabel Toledo black and white dress with the Apricot Oleg Cassini Day Dress Jackie O wore to visit India. Except for the neckline, the shape of the dresses, including the gathering around the waist, are very similar.
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