Pleats and Pearls
Thursday, April 23, 2009 at 9:42 PM 
White House Photo / Samantha Appleton
What a tremendously busy day for Mrs. O! It seems the First Lady also hosted Jordan's Queen Rania in the Yellow Oval Room at the White House this afternoon. First Lady Mrs. O wears a pleated taupe chiffon dress, last seen for a daytime event during the Democratic National Convention. See our earlier post here. This dress is one that eludes us. Truth be told, we've spent an embarrassing amount of time trying to identify it. We've wondered if the March issue of Vogue perhaps held a clue.
In his interview with Mrs. O, the great Andre Leon Talley wrote, "The day of our interview at the Hay-Adams, she wears a soft, silk-crepe accordion-pleat dress by 34-year-old Thakoon Panichgul." If only he had hinted at the color!
Update: The dress has been confirmed as Rodarte! The dress is from the Mulleavy sisters' Fall Winter 2007 collection. It is 100% linen, with a feather bow belt. An additional image of the dress can be seen here. Mrs. O also wears a trio of glass pearl necklaces by Erickson Beamon, from their "Peace at Last" collection. The necklaces can be seen in detail, here.
Erickson Beamon, Rodarte in Outfits
Reader Comments (171)
It's interesting to note how many times on this site people comment that everyone is entitled to a personal opinion and then how many times in the same post people are chastised for exercising that entitlement. No, there is no fashion Bible and no commandments that one sins by violating. The only principle here is "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." When someone offers a polite negative comment on a certain choice, she's only saying that she doesn't personally find the look aesthetically pleasing. Even with my own dear daughter, whom I love with all my heart, I sometimes have to say, "Honey, that outfit just doesn't flatter you as much as some others I've seen you wear." Since I have no trouble separating my daughter from her clothes, she knows that I am only disliking the clothes and not her. If some people could do a better job of separating Mrs. O from her fashion choices, I think they wouldn't take it so personally when others don't share their aesthetic.
Just some thoughts!
Ms. G -
I don't think the issue is that people are offended if others find some of MO's fashion choices objectionable - the issue is the way in which people express their opinions. If we take the "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" principle and apply it to the written word, that may be the key. What some may consider polite negative comments others may find distasteful and mean-spirited. It depends on various people's tolerance for criticism - that is true - but there is also an element of what sounds like critical thinking and what sounds like venality.
It's true that some people on this site are all out MO lovers, and I count myself among them. Speaking for myself only, I am totally in agreement that we all are entitled to express our opinions. But again, I think the gist of this stream is not the criticism per se, but the way in which it is expressed.
You telling your daughter that an outfit is not as great as some she wears is very polite and still upbeat, and I completely relate to that example! But some of the comments are not as pro-active and positive, or even neutral for that matter - and I think that is what some of us are simply saying.
Wow! Mrs. O will be honoring Sojourner Truth? Now that's amazing! Thanks for the heads up, IVA. I look forward to hearing what she and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have to say.....very exciting!
I wonder if Sojourner Truth has ever been honored on such a level before?
Bevi,
I understand and completely agree with what you're saying. I'd just like to add that, although your comments are always very polite and upbeat, some others are not. Sometimes the rebuttal is as rude and mean-spirited as the original comment and sometimes more so. I'd like to see more civility on both sides.
I just want to add this to the conversion...
Sometimes people do write their dislikes and then later in the thread others label them as 'haters'. I have never seen an original poster say 'I hate this or I hate that..' but in the responses to the original comment the word 'hate' has been used - much more than once on this website since I've been coming here and it really bother me.
I think we should try our best to eliminate using the words 'hate' and 'haters' all together.
Anyway that's just my opinion.
Typo above:
conversion = conversation
Amen, Leah D!
Just want to let everyone know that the event tomorrow with Mrs. O and Hillary Clinton will air live at cnn(dot)com/live tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. EST. I like to watch the full event and just hate the little 10-second soundbites they give in the evening.
Speaker Pelosi will be there as well...lots of fashionable, powerful women in one room, which is always good to see.
@ Leah D, I enjoyed that slide so thanks.
I would love to see that election night dress without the cardigan! anyone else wanna see that?
Glad the FL will be appearing tomorrow. It's time for a 'new topic'. Something positive! There has been enough talk about trolls, haters, meanness and evil people. If you look for negativity you will find it.
Not to beat a dead horse, but as Bevi said - it is sometimes about the tone of the criticism...not the criticism itself. Either way, I think people should say what they like, but they should be prepared to be called out for their comments.
On another note, there is a new website by Lynn Sweet, who is a columnist from the Chicago Post, who knows the Obamas well from covering them in Chicago. She will focus on Mrs. O's activities. Hopefully it stays factual.
www(dot)politicsdaily(dot)com/2009/04/27/daily-flotus-how-michelle-obama-will-spend-her-100th-day/
I LOVE these photos!
The First Couple, The First 100 Days, 50 Images
http://journals(dot)democraticunderground(dot)com/Jackeens/189
I really tried not to comment because I just enjoy reading the well written and intelligent remarks about Mrs. O's fashion style. But what I enjoy most is that whatever FLOTUS wears, I feel that I can pull that off, too. Her style is practical, workable, effortless and she glows. Even if I don't particularly care for an outfit, it seems as though she feels comfortable and with a great body it works. It is her inside beauty that makes the outside comes together. So I just enjoy Michelle enjoying who she is and who is she becoming. She definitely had great role models and I am grateful to her Mom and Dad for instilling all of that love and confidence. Happy Mothers' Day to all you mothers.
I really tried not to comment because I just enjoy reading the well written and intelligent remarks about Mrs. O's fashion style. But what I enjoy most is that whatever FLOTUS wears, I feel that I can pull that off, too. Her style is practical, workable, effortless and she glows. Even if I don't particularly care for an outfit, it seems as though she feels comfortable and with a great body it works. It is her inside beauty that makes the outside comes together. So I just enjoy Michelle enjoying who she is and who is she becoming. She definitely had great role models and I am grateful to her Mom and Dad for instilling all of that love and confidence. Happy Mothers' Day to all you mothers.
IVA,
Thank you for posting that Lynn Sweet link.
I bookmarked it so I wouldn't lose it.
Sometimes she has some good stuff, but I wonder how long she will be able to keep finding out the 'inside scoop' now that the Obamas are in D.C. and she is still in Chicago.
Here's a little bit more info on who will be speaking tomorrow at the bust unveiling:
A bust of Sojourner Truth becomes a permanent fixture in the Capitol Visitor Center’s Emancipation Hall on Tuesday.
The memorial to the former slave, abolitionist and women’s rights advocate is getting a rare, star-studded unveiling featuring a number of Washington’s top political women.
At the 11 a.m. ceremony, first lady Michelle Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will all give remarks. Also speaking will be House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas). (From Politico dot com)
p.s.
And this tidbit from Lynn Sweet's column:
On Dec. 20, 2006, President Bush signed H.R. 4510 / Public Law 109-427 "To direct the Joint Committee on the Library to accept the donation of a bust depicting Sojourner Truth and to display the bust in a suitable location in the Capitol."
I did a little more research:
- There is only one statue of an African American in the Capitol: a bust of Martin Luther King in the Rotunda. However, two statues are in the planning stages for eventual display in the Capitol, one of civil rights icon Rosa Parks and the other of abolitionist Sojourner Truth.
----
Update on the Rosa Parks statue:
"Call for Artists: Design Competition for Rosa Parks Statue in U.S. Capitol" March 2008
- The Rosa Parks statue represents the first commission of a full-sized statue authorized and funded by the U.S. Congress since the 1870s.
(So, it must not be in the Capitol as of yet.)
Also, President Obama has added a bust of Martin Luther King, Jr. to the Oval Office, it sits to the left of the fireplace - and he also added an Abraham Lincoln bust that sits to the right of the fireplace.
Here is a great article that appeared in The Nation, about Michelle Obama. It was written by Katha Pollit, called "Mad About Michelle."
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090420/pollitt
I can't wait for the event tomorrow, Its great the capitol will be adding a little more colour to it lol
@Ann#1
I agree. Whenever we go too long without a new post, the comment threads get irritable. There's no need to dredge up something someone said days ago and bitch about it. It's okay to move on.
I just remember the days they said Palin was wearing to expensive clothes! this makes me sick $450 tennis shoes give me a break while the USA is in the worse recession ever we mostly women in this thread are so shallow all we can comment on is OBAMAS lovely arms and her fashion shame on you gals!!