A Proclamation of Personal Style
Thursday, April 2, 2009 at 9:22 AM 
Photo by Joel Ryan/WPA Pool/Getty Images
As part of a day of events scheduled around London, First Lady Mrs. O joined the spouses of world leaders attending the G-20 conference at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden this morning. Per Politico, Mrs. O wears a Jason Wu dress and an asymmetrical Junya Watanabe cardigan. We recognize the green Jimmy Choo "Glacier" pumps from the Inauguration.
To our knowledge, this is one of the first times the First Lady has publicly worn Junya Watanabe (unless he's also responsible for that tiered black ruched number? Hmm...). Watanabe is a Japanese fashion designer who began his career at Comme des Garcons. We're excited to have a new name in the First Lady's wardrobe, and more importantly - to see Mrs. O making one of her boldest fashion statements yet! Mrs. O's remarks at Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School in Islington, north London are a must see (thanks to those who linked to the video):
Jason Wu, Jimmy Choo, Junya Watanabe in Outfits
Reader Comments (330)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bonnie-fuller/michelle-obamas-first-fas_b_182362.html
The above article is a little harsh, but perhaps explains a little of my disappointment in Michelle's outfits thus far.
Loves it!
Dani,
I'm going to respectfully correct you regarding Jason Wu's nationality - he's was born and raised in Taiwan, not China, before moving to Canada and later the U.S. at age 9. Although there's a strong Chinese cultural influence in Taiwan, they are two very different environments to grow up in, and two different countries - so I don't think her outfit choice was related to relations to China.
Ugh, people who have no clue shouldn't be talking! The Junya cardigan is SUPPOSED to be assymemtrical.
@Willow, I agree. I think the First Lady uses fashion to communicate and connect with the people she's meeting--the women at the cancer center (the outfit was bright, sparkly, springy, fresh), and the girls' school (albeit the dress and pearls were for the opera crowd, the cardigan suggested independent thinking, boldness, and courage, the very message she was giving to the young women).
The designers she chooses are young, entrepreneurial and spirited, like America. I'm learning from Mrs. O that fashion is not just about design, color, and fabric. It can say so much more. "Brava!" from someone who did not personally like the Watanabe argyle cardigan.
Uhm, Michelle was speaking at a school, to teenage girls. Wow, so many people seem to have no idea what events she's actually going to. They just look at the outfits. It's called CONTEXT, LEARN IT!
Why are you all talking about Michelle? This whole post should be on how ghastly Sarah Brown looks. :x
Right Ash! I can buy your point about her outfit for the teenage girls school (although she met at the Opera house with the other G20 spouses first). But anyway, let's say it was OK to wear this type of dress to the school today. BUT, do you also think that meeting the Queen wearing a rolled-up sleeve Cardigan is also correct???? I can't even speak about the dress she was wearing under that black cardigan (again, pretty, but not good for the ocassion) because the informal cardigan took so much away from it anyway. But, if that is the case... if you think that what she wore to meet the Queen was fabulous, trendy and lively and all the other words being used to justify her outfits... then let's rest the case.... Everyone be happy!
I wish she would stick to the outfits like the J Crew sweater and mint green sheath. I also wish she would wear her belts a little lower to make her appear more long-waisted. This a-line flouncy skirt look makes her look wider than she is.
I, too, wish she had chosen something with a bit more "oomph" for her meeting with the queen. But still, she radiated charm and elegance.
Her makeup in London has looked amazing. I'm telling you, the false eyelashes do wonders for her. They should be a wardrobe staple for her.
@ QUEEN OF ISALO
Un journaliste frçs vient d'indiquer dans son billet que la presse sera logée dans le même hôtel que les Obama: au HILTON de Strasbourg ! Il ne vous reste plus qu'à taper l'adresse et le tour est joué !
The Obamass will be in Strasbourg's Hilton.
Wow this thread has exploded, Im in HK for work this week meeting with garment vendors and they all love the Obama's and think Michelle is great!! I find it interesting that Michelle's worst criticism is coming from the US..
LIke I said in the other thread I'm not feeling this cardigan in itself let alone with this dress ( would have lookoed better with jeans) but I am impressed she has added J Watanabe to her desginer list.
I'm not particularly a cardigan person but I get Mrs O's needs for them. Honestly she wears too many sleeveless dresses and she often times need a cover-up. A jacket with this kind of skirt would not work and even a jacket with a pencil skirt would look too much like a suit so I understand her wanting to break it up.
The volume of the skirt didn't bother me either.... yes she has hips and all the so called fashion gods would say no but how boring would that be to have a closet filled with pencil skirts???? She obviously likes to mix it up and I don't blame her.
but what I find a major disappointment are people's inability to say ok I might not like this outfit but some else does and leave it at that...
You have some people losing their damn minds on this blog.
Mrs O has been anything but an embarassment to the US whether you agree with her fashion choices or not.
Also want to add, you can tell by people's reaction to Mrs O that she is the right person to be First lady..
The events that were arranged for her were perfect.
She has genuine warmth and charm that people are responding to. Those students were so enamored with her. I am glad that young girls have a strong, smart, confident woman to look up to.
That's the real success of the trip for her.
Spot on Micaro9...I wish there was some sort of jump button to skip over some of the more ridiculous "critics" especially those who clearly have no business critiquing stuff they can't even "pronounce"-
Having said that, I'm so impressed with this look! I love Junya Watanabe who's designs are absolutely brilliant, but clearly not for everyone-
One's absolutely got to be fashion-foward, fun, quirk,gutsy and swimming in whimsy to wear his stuff-
I'm officially doffing my cap to Mrs O! Is she too cool or what...?!!
Wonderful perspective Andrew...
this look was my least favorite fashion wise, but I love the color on her. I also understand she dressed appropriately for occasion, visiting the art school and later the opera theater were the other 1st ladies also dressed informally.
I look forward to her Parisian trip, I expect her to wow us. 1st lady seems to be too cautious about her strong style, due to the economy and its time to take it up a notch.
love the blue on her (if the dress was blue, that is - some posts say it was actually green) -
we've spoken about sarah brown's dress being one size too small for her, maybe mrs. o also could have worn that cardigan in a larger size -
it would have looked better on her if it was looser, rather than flaring out at the tummy, it would have looked like the pictutes from the watanabe collection (i.e. the way it was intended/designed to look ) - and we wouldn't be focusing so much on the mis-buttoned or not question ?
glad she wore blue, i did think she would, sometime this week - am hoping for some red/burgundy/jewel tones in paris
wish she'd worn the white-and-black coat that she wore before departing on air force one, to the tea with the queen - she looked really sophisticated in that, and it was understated and elegant enough, to not appear too 'sexy' for the queen
hurrah for her arms ! am so glad she went sleeveless ! do you think she could have worn the blue dress sleeveless to the opera and then added on the cardigan just before arriving at the school ?
Thanks Jenna, Ruby, Leah, and everyone who posted links to sites featuring Mrs. Obama's fashions -- I appreciate the info!!
I'm loving this site as well -- its great to be in the company of so many other fashionistas!!
I've seen new pics over @http://divalocity.blogspot.com/2009/04/bonjour-paris.html
Wow. That video was so moving.
Just a thought though - Secret Service guys? If you're reading this can you get some perspective please? Those were teenage GIRLS that wanted a hug from Mrs Obama, not a thousand random adults in a public place. That rush of guys to grab Michelle was heavy handed and unnecessary.
(Plus, if a girl with a sense of humour had grabbed your ties they could have pulled you off the stage in a minute. Lose the ties.)
I love the look and wish I could have a knock-off version of the sweater. It's awesome, but then I love argyle.
Hey, you either get Japanese designers like Watanabe or you don't.
I LOVE the fact that Mrs. Obama is willing to play with whimsical and irreverent pieces from conceptual designers because, frankly, SHE GETS IT. She looks charming, intriguing and sophisticated.
If you understand the Japanese designers, cool, if not, do some investigating before critiquing what you don't know -- fashion isn't only about looking 'pretty in pink'.
Go, Mrs. O !!!!
HATE IT!!!
Michelle is a mess. That outfit is awful. The shoes are a
mistaken afterthought. Someone needs to help her. Michelle looks like a cross between Medea and Maude(from the 70's TV show) Michelle is an amazon who should never wear a skirt with pleats. She embarrasses this country. Carla Bruni put her to shame.
REESE: You are as ignorant as ignorant gets.
PRIMETIMEMOM: Get a clue. I did NOT say Mrs. O. has big hips. The name of the commenter appears underneath the comment, not on top of it.
Somebody call Clinton and Stacey.
C'mon...most of you would never be seen in public wearing this god-awful ensemble. I might even suggest that her poor manners and attire were deliberate, knowing her and Obama's disdain for the Colonial British Empire.As an American, I do not appreciate my President going to Europe to apologize for us.
CLAUDIA: Just where do you get your information from re: the Obamas and the "Colonial British Empire?" Is this a new conspiracy we need to know about?
Sorry...but this outfit is so ugly, I don't even know where to begin! Yes, the skirt is too full and makes her hips look huge. If she wanted to look huge, she would not make such a point of "working out", which she does daily- that is for you guys who think she is comfortable with the "huge" hips look...she's not. Also, she could use some tips on standing up straight and keeping her legs together when walking. Her walk is very gawky because her legs are spread so far apart. So..this particular outfit was not a winner in my opinion. And whatever she wears winner or not, she needs to work on her "presentation" with regard to her posture and walking style. Thank you for letting me state my opinion.
Very interesting site, Hope it will always be alive!