A Double Take Ensemble
Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at 1:48 PM Mrs. O has resumed her tour of federal agencies, visiting the Department of Homeland Security this afternoon. According to the AP, the First Lady thanked agency employees for their behind-the-scenes work, making special mention of the Secret Service and the time they spend away from their own families, working to keep the O family safe. To read the First Lady's full remarks, click here.
Mrs. O dug deep into her closet for today's appearance, re-wearing a jade green mini-trench and striped purple tee we last saw on October 2 in Detroit, MI. Today Mrs. O paired the jacket and top with slim black cuffed pants and black patent leather flats. Mrs. O embellished the jacket with a crystal bee brooch at the collar. Upon closer inspection, we noticed the visible pocket linings that hang below the bottom hem of the jacket. Surely this detail is the the work of someone with a playful design sensibility - any ideas? The same ensemble (sans bee brooch) worn in October 2008:
Photo by Flickr user Barack Obama / Creative Commons
Update: The jacket is Duro Olowu, from the designer's Spring 2008 collection.
Duro Olowu in Outfits
Reader Comments (108)
I LIKE purple and green together. I don't care for the pocket linings hanging down--a bit quirky and casual--and not well understood by others if it is supposed to be that way. I also don't mind long sleeved t-shirts under short sleeves. This outfit doesn't bother me. It's not a favorite, but is ok.
Oh. Dear. Me. I sometimes wish Mrs. Obama read these posts; I think she'd get more honest opinions here than she gets at the WH. This outfit is horrid, does nothing for her, period. Thank goodness I can't see the pants and the shoes, too. She's such a brilliant woman, this train wreck of an outfit has to be deliberate. But for what reason?
I like the purple and green together.
Trudy, I am disappointed by your comment. Everyone that uses this site regularly will tell you that I am not here to diss our first Lady. She's my role model and I admire her...Anyway, like some here even though I don't like this outfit today, it doesn't have nothing to do with the admiration and pride I have for our FLOTUS.
A little off topic...I think the Obamas are going to need the Dog Whisperer for Bo. For some reason, the pictures made it look smaller. I just watched the live footage on CNN and boy, the cameras must of startled him. He was pulling Michelle forward like she was light as a feather! LOL. I heard this breed is super energetic. If we see the First Lady losing weight, we know it was from walking Bo. The girls look so happy. Michelle has this look like, 'what have we gotten into'. I'm sure when the cameras aren't around Bo will be fine--Bo doesn't look like a puppy though! The Prez just said that Bo likes tomatoes, so Michelle has to guard her garden now. Uh oh.
This dog is going to be entertaining like Bush' Barney dog. Neither Michelle nor the Prez grew up with a dog, so the tales of Bo in the White House should be very interesting.
Oh! Too busy, too casual, too much: asymetrical jacket with a striped T-shirt. Not a good choice - in my honest opinion - for a meeting with Federal employees.
Ooops, forgot to mention that Michelle's outfit did not show today for Bo's debut. It was previously raining outside and she had on a fully belted black short trench coat on with black pants and black flats.....for those who didn't like her outfit today and wanted her to change.
Photo of 'Bo' at SIX WEEKS OLD
http://dreamdogsart.typepad.com/the_obamas_dog/2009/04/bo-obama-6-12-weeks-puppy-photo-insane-cuteness.html
Mrs. O was in black from head to toe for Bo's debut. Her trench coat flew open, and she must have changed. Her top was black. She probably knew she would get dirty from handling the dog. And Bo looks like a happy handful.
the makeup and hair is perfect as usual, but that purple strip kills the outfit. If she only had the beautiful off-green coat and black pants, it would've been very chic.
pump9, so you think Michelle Obama is the brains behind some kind of attempt to ruin our country? After the Bush years, that someone could possibly believe that it is really the Obama family that we need to fear is simply ludicrous. I doubt it is merely a coincidence that the S&L collapse happened with a Bush in the White House and that the banking collapse began with another Bush in the White House.
Unless the movie "The Obama Deception" has some good shots of Michelle Obama and you want to discuss what she is wearing, I for one have no interest in hearing anything about this piece of right-wing propagandic filth.
Thank goodness Mrs.O repeats her cloths like normal people do.
@ janelle - first time dog ownership, not to mention in such a spotlight, will have its challenges. But the way MO has taken on every other, I'm sure she'll get the hang of this as well, especially as dogs help keep you fit! In the end I bet he becomes more her dog than anyone else's. That's how it usually goes...we got the puppy for the kids, but now it's Mom's dog.
:-)
Brook the pic you talking about from huffpost is from last year during the campaign. I was talking about the pic today, everyone behind MRS O is in business attire. You can't help but notice the difference.
@ Brook"
I do take your point that if you look at some of the pix, a few of the DHS employees are casually dressed as well. My thinking, to be honest, is that they're underdressed for the occasion as well. But I don't know who they are -- maybe they're maintenance workers, maybe they didn't expect to be photographed today; Mrs. O did.
I was reading the Post today and came across the shot of Mona Sutphen:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/04/13/PH2009041302976.html
(isn't she cute?)
This is a casual ensemble that I think would have worked just fine. For me, "dressed up" doesn't have to mean "suit." (though suits are nice too.)
Jay, my thought exactly!
You can watch the video at msnbc
The video of them with the dog I mean
This is not a good look for Mrs. O. at all. The jacket may be "playful," but it is very unflattering and I just can't stand that pocket lining hanging beneath the jacket. The combo of colors is a bit much. She'll do better tomorrow.
Most of the commentators today sound like they are PMSing, so miserable and crabby. yawn, i will check back after the flow has completed.
carry on.
oh i forgot my original thought before i read all the crap.
Mrs. O looks very cute imo. I love this crazy jacket.
I love this ensemble. Mrs. O has an incredible sense of what's happening right now. Right now, the 80's look is hot and Mrs. O has found a way to be First Lady and still pull it off. I know that some of you don't get and/or like the "wacky" color combo, but I love it. We've never had a First Lady this stylish, of the moment ,and, able to pull it off without looking crazy! Stunning! (I am starting to think that she has hired a young stylist to assist her incognito). Hmmmmm.....
Toi22, hahahaha thats funny....I admit I'm a lil cranky today perhaps it's the weather,not that fun here in NYC. OK I'll stop (smile)
For anyone that missed it - I posted a link up above (that is now out of moderation) of a photo of 'Bo' when he was a little baby.
When I saw the green and purple I immediately liked the combination. I think she looked great. (I don't care for the hanging pockets, though.)
I guess you will have to discount my comments from here on out because I loved her look today. I'd wear the jacket and the shirt, but I'd cut off the pockets hanging below and put my hanky in my pant's pockets.
@toi - lol. I hear that!
Here's the BEST link to photos of today's event with the Obama family and Bo
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Jackeens/119
Love the bumblebee and the dimensionality of it. Stunning! I am too enamored of this family to make criticism, but I do not like the jade green on MO as much as I like most other colors I have seen her wear.
On another note, my husband heard a dog trainer on a radio program - NRP i think - comment on the difficulty that can ensue when giving a dog a name that sounds like "no", as in "Bo". So in saying, "Bo, no" the dog gets confused. A friend of mine who trains dogs had told me years ago that our dog, whose name was "Dino" ( we "rescued" the dog from an owner who had given the dog that name) had a hard time when it came to training because he was confused by the use of his name and the command "no". Anyway this commentator said the Obamas would either have to change Bo's name or train him using the negative command "Stop".
My husband and I were talking about that possibility last night, and he heard this story today. Any dog people who want to comment?
Well....not liking this look too much. I think it's the Tee
that's not flowing for todays appointment. Other than that she looks great. Really, who can pull off looking 100% everyday? Think about it?
Enough talk about 'recycling' outfits. I think it is great she wears something twice.
On hair and make-up....an earlier poster had complaints with her look today. Her hair and make-up have looked fantastic lately. It would be great if WE all had to post
a photo of ourselves daily!!
@IVA - I'm a dog person; my breed is Labradors.
I personally think they should not have changed the puppy's name, at least not to something so removed from what he already knows. I also tend to agree that he might have some confusion between Bo and No.
That said, most dogs end up with nicknames and I'd be willing to bet this one will too - probably along the lines of Bobo, or BooBoo or Bo-ey.
Generally, dogs respond better to names with soft (-ee, -ie, -ey) endings.
This was wonderful footage of the family and Bo on the BBC--the audio is really great. You could tell that Sasha is very timid, and Michelle does look like a first time dog owner. But if they need help, I'm sure they'll be able to find a good trainer.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7999241.stm
Thanks a lot for the link to the Bo pics Leah D! Mrs. O seems a little stressed by the dog, but Mr. O looks so at ease. BTW, it's offcicial' I am majorly crushing on the President! He is just AMAZING!
What was she thinking today? short sleeve on top of a long sleeve T shirt! hmmmm
In the photos of her visiting the Dept. Of Homeland Security, she doesn't have much makeup on. I like to see her eyes with the eyeliner and eyelashes. Otherwise, she can look tired. Yes, the Bee Broach is really beautiful. I hope she is getting enough sleep.
I don't like this outfit. The color combo is weird, the long sleeves with that short jacket is weird. The purple striped tee should've stayed in her closet.
The pants and shoes look fine.
SCARY SCARY SCARY!!!
Oh Michelle, WHAT were you THINKING?!?!?!?!
she does look tired, a little sad too - hope everything's ok
love each piece individually, but i don't like them all together - her hair's an absolute mess, though
I'm mystified as to how you could determine how her hair looks, anupama. To me, it's hidden in the photograph.
My feeling is that MO should give more thought to how her clothes will look as she moves. This outfit might have been OK in front of the mirror (although I'm not wild about those pockets), but, when she raises her arms, she looks like she's coming apart. Some things that she wore on the Euro trip had this problem too.
Mrs O needed a long sleeved black sheath to go with this jacket and that lovely brooch. Add the black heels she wore in Europe with her knit Azzedine Alaia dress and this jacket would look fantastic.
Cleo, you are right on the money, except that the black sheath should be sleeveless and the hanging "chads" should be cut off!
I love Mrs O but I'm not feeling that outfit at all - definite miss.
Hmm. Yep, not getting that Tshirt. Purple and green together are fabulous if they are similar tones. My feeling is that this would work if the purple was as zingy as the green. But the purple is dull compared to the jade so it doesn't sit right. I think I'd have put on a long jade T and stone trousers with that jacket.
Looking at the pocket detail on the mini trench, it's not Moschino or someone is it? That's the kind of thing they'd do.
Dee, I think Mrs O was just in casual clothes for a day at home with her girls. Walking a dog doesn't get you dirty. Rolling around in mud might, but just holding a lead and running round the garden is clean enough. Speaking of which, I ought to take my excitable little Westie out for a long drag.
Snerk -- hanging "chads." Hilarious!
ok its a new day. hope everybody is in a better mood.
this set of pics of megan fox reminds me of this jacket mrs. o is wearing. i guess its the same crazy way the flaps protrude that reminds me of mrs. o's jacket inside out pockets. i am really love this quirky style. so cute.
http://justjared.buzznet.com/gallery/photos.php?yr=2009&mon=04&evt=megan-surf&pic=megan-fox-vals-surf-shop-03.jpg
Mrs. O must be exhausted after the European Trip and maybe it is starting to show.
Today's outfit is not her best and has left me a little confused how she can have such fantastic good days and then days like today, when it seems so suburban.
No offense to those from the suburbs.
Seems like this First Lady position has endless responsilbities and I'm glad she's taking the job seriously. So, I guess she deserves luke warm fashion days.
Maybe Bo will chew on this jacket so we don't have to see it again.
With that striped tee on underneath, the green jacket looks like the uniforms the checkers wear at my supermarket.
I love that she doesnt wear those "first lady" clothes that make any first lady look like its the 50s. Even Jacki O looked like a museum sometimes. Mrs. O looks great and modern!
Thanks, Christina! I'm so glad that someone appreciates my sense of humor.
I love Michelle, I think she is beautiful, elegant and chic. Having said that, I think this outfit is way to casual for the event and it looks a little bit to young for her age, I think is the stripes. She would have looked more better with one of those pencil skirt dresses she wears.
I still love her and her style though...;-)
JRG - I wrote that just after seeing the pics and slideshow, of the family with the dog - and posted on the wrong thread, apparently - didn't realise until I saw your comment - there is one pic from the slideshow with Bo where she looks positively haggard, and a little pensive too - you suddenly get a glimpse of how Mrs. O might look many years from now (NO offense meant)