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)
Hello anupama,
I believe that Mrs. O will look quite a bit like her mother when she is older and that in NO WAY is "haggard." Mrs. Robinson looks amazing at 72 years old!! Check out the Easter Egg Roll pictures or Essence Magazine's May cover if you haven't seen Mrs. O's mother yet. In the pics from the day with Bo, Mrs. O appeared to be tired, not haggard as you suggest. That's the way that I see it.
Correction: meant to say..."Mrs. O appeared to be a little tired, not haggard"
Love Mrs. O's outfit today. She's bold and adventurous! Gotta love it!
Definition of haggard: "having a gaunt, wasted, or exhausted appearance, as from prolonged suffering, exertion, or anxiety; worn:"
Um, I therefore respectfully suggest that Mrs Obama is about as far away from being haggard as you can get! A little jet lagged? Maybe. Tired? Possibly. Wearing black in the drizzle? Aha!
If you click on the words bee broach in Mrs. T's original post (above the picture) there is a closeup shot of Michelle wearing the broach (which is funky and fun).
It looks like she just threw on some lip gloss. Who knows, maybe she woke up late and had to just throw herself together and get out the door. We all have a "go-to" outfit in our closets that we can grab when pressed for time. It happens.
Regarding her makeup in this photo: I would guess she's probably switched to long-lasting brand of gloss like Clinique because with all that speaking your lip gloss/lipstick can wear away to nothing leaving you tired looking and pale. I've seen that happen to her and it happens to me if I don't reapply it often. I do wear clear gloss on a lot of days but depending on what I'm wearing sometimes I need to use a little lip liner with a hint of color underneath it or I just looked washed out like she does here. It's a simple fix and the color lasts all day, allowing for only a few quick touches of gloss to keep the natural look lasting through the day. I'm not talking screaming fire-engine red lips, just a touch of soft, neutral brownish color with gloss on top.
I think she should always pencil in her distinctive brows.
I have short eyeleashes, too. For an easy everyday look I use a waterproof black liner, line my upper eyelids (and also the upper and lower rims - Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero - seriously this stuff is waterproof and it will stay on ALL day), then I use a very dark brown shadow over the lined upper lid, blend and end up with a very natural look. That way the liner beneath the shadow isn't garish and yet it gives the illusion of thicker lashes. I don't even need to wear mascara when I do this. It takes only a few minutes and would work great for Mrs. O on hectic crazy mornings. She has her hands more full than most of the recent First Ladies because their children were older and more self-sufficient.
I love the purple and green she wore for this event and the fact that Michelle Obama comes across as one of us. The pictures of the family walking the dogs were precious. The two girls are so confident yet well-behaved. It's as if you took two little girls from "anywhere USA" and moved them into the White House. That's a credit to their strong mom and good upbringing.
Michelle recycled another outfit, but in comic form here!
http://greatape.tumblr.com/post/88645325/florencio-wizard-magazine-211-platinum-barack
N.Parrish
Thanks for sharing that link. Although, I am puzzled as to why a comic of Mrs. O and the President is being advertised under the "Great Ape" chronicles. I'm really hoping that wasn't intentional! Grrr....stuff like that really ticks me off.
Mrs. O is having a throw back moment. The colors teal and purple along with layering was very popular in the early 80’s. If she had worn some white twills or jeans with this look I think you guys may have like it better. Not sure why someone committed about her hair, Mr. O can run his fingers through it and is real so I think it looks good. I don’t know anything about jewelry so I guess one pin look like them all. Gold to gold/Silver to silver, they should never mix…right? I think she look good here.