Mrs. O Digs In (Updated)
Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at 6:27 PM 
Photo by Martin H. Simon-Pool/Getty Images
This afternoon First Lady Mrs. O helped to plant a tree as part of a service project at the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens in Washington, D.C. The event was organized by the Student Conservation Association, an Americorp organization. The group's leader explained that the Student Conservation Association has been planting trees in the area for 5 years, and a has a relationship with the park that extends back a decade. The trees were planted to help protect the nearby Anacostia River.
As the group got to work, Mrs. O removed her navy nylon jacket, revealing a navy blouse with green ruffle front, a navy bow and navy chiffon trim. "I just want to point out that these good looking arms come in handy," President Mr. O commented. Watch a CSPAN video of the event here.
Update: Brilliant work Mrs. Oers! The top is in fact Lanvin. We've spotted a similar style here.
Today President Obama signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act that intends to more than triple the number of AmeriCorp volunteers to 250,000 over the next five years.
Reader Comments (84)
He is good-looking and loves the earth. Can't go wrong with that combo!
I loved that he mentioned how trees should be properly mulched, I can't stand it when I see mulch piled up several inches deep all the way up to the trunk of a tree.
Tricia!
Thanks for sharing that youtube video link. A lot of pics of the President and First Lady together that I hadn't seen before.
Bow-front shirt looks like Lanvin -- maybe from a recent shopping trip in Paris?
Another designer decides to give his 2 cents on Mrs. O.
www(dot)huffingtonpost(dot)com/2009/04/22/arnold-scaasi-barbara-bus_n_189731(dot)html
I don't mind his feeling that "something is amiss," we've discussed how certain outfits of Mrs. O can lack a certain "fit."
What I do mind is him bringing up Desiree's style and saying Mrs. O needs help from her. That was done to be catty. That was not done just because. He knew exactly what he was doing by mentioning his view that Desiree has a better style. And judging by the last thread's comments on Desiree, he is seeking to feed into the rift that some have, and is trying to set up a Mrs. O vs. Desiree narrative.
These people are not that clever. Ladies, let's not fall into the trap they're setting.
I just wanted to co-sign on the volunteer with the locks!! I'd plant a tree to talk to him lol.
P.S. The term dreadlocks is often considered offensive to those who wear them as it was a term coined by colonialists as a put down to those who wore them (i.e. look at those dreadful locks, why don't they cut that horrible styel off?!?!). Therefore, the more appropriate term, especially if you're talking about how much you like someone, is to refer to them as locks only, because they certainly don't think their locks are dreadful!
Just thought I'd let you guys know that tidbit of info *smile*
IVA,
I have never ever heard of that designer. I looked at the slide show on huffington post. Seems he has a talent in designing drapes and table cloths. These designers are some jealous little bitches. Yeah, I said it. And yes, he knew exactly what he was doing by dissing Michelle and praising Desiree, trying to cause a rift and make Michelle seem unworthy next to Desiree. Too bad for him no one is falling for it.
I love Mrs. O's arms AND her loooong, slim legs. They look fabulous in those slacks. Just mind your cleavage Mrs. O. I know you are so focused on the job at hand that you may not have realized you were close to a slip up.
Juust my take on a couple of topics: First of, the HOT (Yes he is) seems to be very married. Look at the ring on his left hand. And get that, he is a couples massage instuctor (wow, a multitasker!)
On another topic, I do not particularly care for Ms. Rogers, but I must admit she is a great dresser! If anything, I do believe she has a better sense of how an outfit looks in the print, TV, and Internet media, something that she can advise Mrs. O on. (After all, that is part of her job)
S. Lauren thanks for explaining the origin of "dreadlocks" I never knew or made the connection.
I'm now growing veggies and fruit in my yard, thanks to Michelle.
www.platformmag.net
I also prefer "locs" but I know that many people don't know the distinction and so I don't take "dreadlocks" personally. (I also wear my hair in a locked style and it's not dreadful!) Thanks for dropping the knowledge in a gentle way, S. Lauren.
Arnold Scaasi is a designing legend, but I would say his heyday was in the 1970s. I think that some of these designers might need to learn discretion, but, I don't think it's a surprise to learn from Wikipedia that he has recently re-entered the ready-to-wear market. He doesn't really care that much about Mrs. O or Desiree Rogers, I would imagine -- he just wants to get his name out there again. Therefore, I'm not going to waste any time or emotional energy on him.
The Student Conservation Association website has some other very nice pictures and clips. www(dot)thesca(dot)org
The designer Scaasi knew what he was doing by comparing Mrs. O's style to Desiree..trying to stir the pot which I truly hate. Since criticizing Mrs. O directly may not work, he tried pitting another woman against Mrs. O. I too think Desiree looks very stylish, but again, they are two different people. Michelle's attire is very accessible and projects an image of inclusiveness. That is the image that Michelle wants to project..how she wants the American people to feel about her and the family in the White House. Desiree is not the First Lady, so she can dress to the nines everyday if she likes, because Desiree is a multimillionaire. Michelle could as well (because she's not poor either), but she chooses not to dress up except for evening events, and I'm sure we'll hear about it in her autobiography in years to come. But I'm sure the recession and the right-wing nuts have a lot to do with it.
Either way, I love to see beautiful women, no matter who they may be. I think Valerie Jarrett is very stylish and seems to have a really great personality as well. Mrs. O has said she wants the family to remain themselves now and even after the Prez no longer serves. If Michelle changes now, I would think she wanted to be Cindy McCain. Desiree is herself, and Michelle is her own woman too. Michelle is the woman that the Prez fell in love with as a community organizer--she can get down and dirty doing the work of the people and look stunning at an evening event. Not too many women can do both. These designers just want to control a woman who is already internally empowered--they can't take it.
Well, whether or not that was the designer's intent, which I doubt, we are only fueling the fire by prolonging the conversation. If anything, these responses to the comment say more about our own attitudes than about the designer. Why not view the comment as constructive criticism instead of a brewing Mrs. O vs. Mrs, Rogers catfight? The designer is looking at Mrs. O solely from a stylistic point of view and not from a humanitarian and emotional perspective as many of us do here, and he should not be berated for that. (Thibk of it as doctors talking about the surgery they just performed; that is their trade, and they are talking shop). And remember guys, Mrs. O is a public figure, when people discuss her public persona it is only one part of this mutifaceted woman. We do not need to attack people who do not view her as we do to be loyal to her. It maybe that she chooses not to dress up, and it may well be that she commits fashion faux pas. In any case, she is a big girl and she can take it. She does not need us to second guess her and assigning motives to all that she does. She is not a saint; she is HUMAN!
Just another point of view on Scaasi (and I agree, I'm not going to waste any time on him, anyway. He designs for old ladies) -- if he had said, "Mrs O needs to work with more experienced designers," it would not have made news. De la Renta has done that; old news doesn't get coverage.
If, on the other hand, he says something that the media thinks is unusual or "new" news, then they'll publish it.
It's not about him trying to start a catfight. It's about him trying to "get ink" as we say in the biz. And he did -- he's on HuffPo and we're talking about him. We also are aware he's going to launch a new RTW line. So his stunt worked. That's all it is; a stunt.
@ Christina,
Thanks for the Student Conservation Association link. I found this interesting on site...the web team for this project posted their observations of the day's event and said this about Michelle:
"5:14 p.m. First Lady Michelle Obama’s got her jacket off now, and the famed biceps are on full display. The shovel looks like a jackhammer in her hands. She’s the real deal."
..I couldn't have said it any better.
When I was just beginning to think that Mrs.O and her arms have gone into hiding, they appear...HOORAY!!! How glorious is that!
Both Mr. & Mrs.O show here, that it is indeed by their "Deeds and not Words" that they show how serious this administration is. Not to mention the fact that they look good doing it too!
FUN, PRACTICAL and SERIOUS couple...Love them!
"Why not view the comment as constructive criticism instead of a brewing Mrs. O vs. Mrs, Rogers catfight? The designer is looking at Mrs. O solely from a stylistic point of view and not from a humanitarian and emotional perspective as many of us do here, and he should not be berated for that."
I'm not looking at it like him trying to brew a catfight. But I think that it's a stretch to think that he's just offering his opinion out of the goodness of his heart. He wants PUBLICITY so he can MAKE MONEY. That's all there is to it -- that's neither good nor bad, it is what it is.
I don't feel a need to bash Scaasi, the first thing I said is that he is a designing legend. No one can take that skill from him. But I think he's a big boy, just like Michelle is a "big girl," and he doesn't need defending either.
But, since he brought up the Queen thing yet again, I have to mention that this weekend my local public TV station was running a multi-part special on the British monarchy. It offered some very interesting behind the scenes looks, I highly recommend it if you happen to come across it. ("Monarchy: The Royal Family At Work.")
Anyway, I saw people touching the queen. I saw people meeting the queen while wearing tennis shoes and jeans. I saw women curtseying or not curtseying. I saw the occasional person putting out their hand before she put out hers. I just did not get the impression that she cared at all about this. She just seemed like a nice older lady who loves her people.
It just made me think about all the consternation that we as outsiders whip up, when the truth is, some of this stuff is just not that important.
I wonder if the sleeveless top that Michelle wore to the bill signing and the tree planting was designed by Mrs. Stevie Wonder. It gives off the same feminine feeling as the green dress (by Mrs. Wonder) Michelle wore to the Stevie Wonder tribute.
I know there is someone out there who can look at this outfit and tell us all who the jacket, blouse, pants AND boots are by! Whoever's watching all this and recognizes these pieces, please...share the knowledge!
The boots Michelle wore to plant the tree are the same ones she wore on the first day of the White House Kitchen Garden project when they dug up the dirt - some folks are referring to them as her 'motorcycle boots'.
Here is a sentence that I found on another blog regarding the boots on the WH Kitchen garden day:
"The boots were black patent leather with an oval gold plate on the back that appeared to read "Jimmy Choo."
I don't know if that is correct or not, but it is someone's observation.
A friend of mine just sent me this link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29493093
Apparently there is a vote sponsored by MSNBC on how the President is doing so far. My friend says some groups are flooding the website to give him an "F".
Frankly, I hate this sort of thing, but I also hate the fact that the results seem so negatively skewed and I'd like to help change it. My friend asked me to forward the information to anyone I thought might like the job the President is doing. I immediately thought of all of you!
beauty, elegance and intelligence.All in one!
Scaasi cloths are more suited to much older women. After all he's been dressing women since Eisenhower days. His comments are a bit out of place mostly, but the fact he's getting attention by merely mentioning 1st lady Obama, shows the power of her fashion influence. Some of these old guard know Michelle Obama can make a designer, if not bring millions of women shoppers to them.
Anyway, I love this gardening outfit and I think the top is Lanvin as another person pointed it out.
The boots and pants are fine, but Mrs. Obama's top has got to go. Not cute, nor is it appropriate gardening attire. She should leave the big bows alone, as they don't flatter her.
However, I like how Mrs. Obama was actually working at this event. President Obama, not so much (has he used a shovel before?) LOL. The guy with the dreads looks very nice :).
I wonder if FLOTUS will start wearing far more foreign designers. She would look fantastic in a Lanvin dress. I also loved her in a suit by Alexander McQueen. However, due to our current U.S. economy, I certainly hope she continues to support American designers.
Mara,
I have to disagree with you on that one.
I watched the 30+ minute video on C-Span and President Obama used the pick-ax and the shovel and did most of the work to plant the tree on his team.
As far as the top Michelle was wearing - I like it.
The reason she was wearing that particular top was because before the tree planting event she attended the National Service bill signing... she had the top on under a purple suit jacket which she removed before arriving at the tree planting site.
Somebody give Jill Biden a prize for those way cute pink boots!
Outfit = love. Who can ignore a good ruffle every now and then?
http://cafefashionista.blogspot.com
The top is certainly Lanvin...
But I've got to laugh out loud at how some keep insisting that Mrs Obama work with "more experienced" designers, "hire a stylist" and the other much unsolicited pearls of "wisdom" constantly thrown out-
This woman is no dummy and indeed could snap her fingers and have any of these at her beck and call; and yet she chooses not to and for good reason too!
Does it even occur to any of these know it all's, that Mrs Obama simply has a mind of her own and will not go the way most would typically?
There are many women who having being elevated to this role might have in all their excitement and new found drunken power, exploited every advantage and opportunity offered and simply gotten carried away; Even controlled, manipulated and held hostage by those who purport to know...and they indeed abound!
The first lady has clearly shown that she is not easily carried away, will not be controlled or manipulated and is most certainly her own person - like it or not-
But most importantly, she has wisely limited access and therefore potential for fall-out from these same loose-lipped folks who seem to lack discretion and revel in shocking pettiness and much vindictiveness-
Can you imagine any of these whiners having access and potentially losing said access?! Imagine the bruised egos and hurt feelings and subsequent gossip news items...?!
They'd have a field day making up and divulging unsolicited stuff about the first family...as it is, they have it all summed up now even though they've never even met her!
The first lady appears to be not only a very level-headed person, but indeed an extremely wise woman too who continues to look out for the best interest of her husband; understanding that there are a ton of not very well-meaning people out there who could potentially do her family harm...
She recognizes that as fun as fashion is, it certainly isn't worth introducing every manner of person into ones life even superficially, just to meet fickle standards and expectations of random folks who still wouldn't even ever be unanimous in their opinion of her and her choices-
In all her interviews, she insists that the most important thing for her in this journey her family has embarked upon is that they all come out at the end of it “INTACT” & “WHOLE”…
And I say good for her!
Lanvin is nice. Its so interesting to me that in many cases including this one: the clothes look much better on Mrs. O than they do on the model, in my opinion.
Looking forward to Mrs. O's big day Thursday...
C, You have very eloquently expressed some of my thoughts on this whole matter. Thanks and I agree with you 110%
Cheers!
Ahhhh Lanvin. So maybe I won't order one. Sigh!
You know what? All this lusting after beautiful clothes is making me think that I should go back to making my own. I used to make a lot of stuff.
Well, I've sorted out my own garden this morning - lots of potting on and planting out, so I need a bath and a cup of tea!
I had wanted that Lanvin shell so badly...but not enough to pay $326 for it. Sigh.
Instead of the expensive Lanvin shell, I think it would have been great if Mrs. O. had worn a tee with a clever Earth Day message. She could have even popped it on over the shell.