Honoring Sojourner Truth
Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at 11:14 AM 
Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
First Lady Mrs. O will join Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today in unveiling a bust of abolitionist and women's rights activist Sojourner Truth in Emancipation Hall at the newly opened Capitol Visitor Center. Click here to read Sojourner Truth's "Ain't I a Woman?" speech delivered in December 1851. The bust is the work of sculptor and painter Artis Lane, the granddaughter of abolitionist educators. The LA Times has a profile of Ms. Lane, here. First Lady Mrs. O spoke briefly at today's event. From the AP:
"I hope that Sojourner Truth would be proud to see me, a descendant of slaves, serving as the first lady of the United States of America," Mrs. Obama said to loud applause at a ceremony at the Capitol Visitor Center.
"Now many young boys and girls, like my own daughters, will come to Emancipation Hall and see the face of a woman who looks like them," Mrs. Obama said.
Mrs. O wears a striped shirt dress by Sophie Theallet, a French designer living in the United States. To show her Spring 2009 collection (the same collection Mrs. O's dress originates from), Ms. Theallet chose a full casting of black models, notable in an industry criticized for its lack of diversity. The designer told Fashion Week Daily, "It came totally naturally with my collection because I love colors and I think colors are really beautiful on dark skin. And these girls are like princesses, and I want to show that." Prior to launching her own line in Spring 2006, Ms. Theallet spent 10 years alongside Azzedine Alaia, another Mrs. O favorite. Style.com caught up with the designer this afternoon to get her reaction:
"It was the best gift—it blew my mind!' Théallet said. "I am really proud—it’s the first word that comes to me. I love the way she is, the way she talks…and she looks happy in that dress."
Sophie Theallet in Outfits
Reader Comments (156)
Here is another article about Mrs O
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/04/28/first.lady/
The video of the event is now streaming live on CNN
It's so wonderful to hear nearly every guest honor FLOTUS so beautifully in addition to Sojourner Truth. She looks beautiful.
Beautiful!
It looks like Mrs. O has a skirt/blouse combo. But I'm really noticing the belt. It's probably one of my favorite belts of Michelle's. It's the black belt she wore with a black sweater/black pants to break ground for the white house garden with the kids. It really stuck out because its shiny and placed in just the right place today--nice.
Curious about the black skirt with the splash of turquoise near the bottom--Jason Wu perhaps? I'm loving that she's set the stage for not having to wear a business suit all the time while still looking crisp, feminine, and professional.
I think she's wearing a dress with the black bolero jacket from London. She's beautiful and the dress is cute for this hot spring day!
LOVE IT!!! the pop of color on the skirt portion is lovely!!!!!
I love her in a shirt like this. She looks great. Love the skirt. 100% happy with this outfit. I see new clothes!
No that' s not it. its not the bolero... One think for sure is her make up is flawless and she looks radiant...
Mrs. Obama looks gorgeous! What a beautiful dress, or is it a two piece? Madame Secretary is looking great these days as well.
it looks like a belted shirt dress to me; she looks great, love the pop of color on the skirt.
moja - it is a belted shirtdress, which I was just reading is a hot style this year. She looks wonderful, she sounded beautiful, and everyone honored her. What a great event.
I love it. Cute dress
Mrs. O supporting another small name designer, i love it!! take that big-name-designers who have been criticizing mrs. O!
here is a great close up and detail of the dress
http://www.eluxury.com/estore/browse/product_detail.jsp?program-id=780&ad-id=57&id=12218461
Gorgeous! I loves it, loves it! Great color, great fit, and no cardigan. And of course, her hair and makeup are beautiful. She looks glamorous but approachable. Classic Michelle.
Can someone point me to the knockoff version. Almost $2,000. A little too steep for my pocketbook.
But I love the look. She tends to always look better than the model in her clothes.
Wow she looks fabulous!
What a fun dress! Very cute.
Regarding IVA's comment, I've always noticed that Mrs. O looks better with an outfit than the model on a runway or website usually does. On the model, I would have passed that outfit by, but on Mrs. O, I'd definitely give it a second and third look.
It does have a very lovely sheen, fit, and detailing on the bottom by the designer--but I'm sure that look can easily be replicated for $100 to $200. I don't know if you would get the same sheen, flow, and detailing at the knockoff price. It's Mrs. O's wallet, so I don't question the money for her, but I am so sure there's something similar out there for the rest of us. It gives me great ideas while shopping.
I was just visiting Sophie Theallet's website and noticed that in most of her shows, particularly her Spring 2009 show where Mrs.O got this dress, most if not all of her models are black or women of color. I think this is wonderful. About a month ago i read an article on the Huffington Post where one of their contributing editors who was a former model discussed the irony that many top designers were complaining that she doesn't wear their designs, while some of these same designers hardly ever used black or non-white models. I think it's great that Sophie loves and recognizes black beauty enough to not use just one or two black models, but a whole slew of them, unlike most runway shows.
Here's a photo of Sophie with a model at the end of her show:
http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/82739327.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF193F1A54CE2C4AF7C23B664B09069700A105A5397277B4DC33E
And here is the Huffington Post article I was referring to:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/donna-michelle-anderson/whites-only-designers-rea_b_184917.html
The First Lady looks delightful. I smiled the minute I saw this photo. She looks so happy and the dress is charming. I'm so glad to see Miss Sojourner honored. She is a hero of mine from childhood and was an incredible human being.
Mrs. O looks fab as usual, but check out Mrs. Clinton too--so glad to see her wearing color!
i LOVE this designer's embrace of black models!!! awsome!
I have to admit, I am a little bit more in love with the white version of the dress that the designer has in her latest collection, it has a airy im-ready-for-summer look to it, but the black that Mrs. O is wearing is still very lovely!!
A $2,000 dress may be sharp. But with the current economy, is it correct for her to wear such pricy clothes when others are struggling to find work, care for their children and so on.
Sure we all love fashion and looking great. Realistically spending $2,000 on a dress is shameful.
I agree with Janelle and IVA, that the dress isn't eye-catching on the model, but looks stunning on Mrs.O
I think it's b/c Mrs.O's figure is so amazing, she looks good in just about everything. She's tall, fit, but still curvaceous, and of course has those amazing arms. She's just gorgeous. I almost wanted to cry reading that CNN piece because it shows how powerful and influential she is and has been for women and girls everywhere, I'm so glad that she has this position and can do so much great work.
I went to Sophie Theallat's website, and how beautiful to see more women of color on the runway for a change!! That made my day, and I wish she'd get better press coverage for it. If I had more money right now, I would definitely support her designs just to send a message.
She uses very beautiful colors and fabrics. I do like the dress Michelle wore today in the white version, but I think for the occasion today, the black may have been better. However, after seeing the two similar Junya Watanabe cardigans that Michelle bought, you never know if she already has the white version of today's dress. It may pop up sometime this summer for another occasion--it truly is lovely in white as well.
A close-up of this dress on the Sophie Theallat website reveals how well constructed this garment is. MO looks radiant!
Tsk, tsk, Liz, go back to freeperville. Keeping our spirits up is important, and we have no idea what Michelle paid for that dress, she may get them at cost. Plus, she and Obama both have worked for their money and give bundles to charity.
IVA, take up sewing, you can make a shirtwaist in a New York minute.
Now, that's a truly lovely look. Everything about the dress is divine. I can see myself in one just like it. Hilary's not looking too bad either. Keep it up, girls!
She never looked so good !!!!!! Thanks to Sophie Theallet
Liz sums up why Mrs.O can't win. When she wears lower priced items from J Crew and elsewhere, some people think she shouldn't do that. The well-established designers want her to wear their outfits, I'm sure it would cost her more money for a similar outfit from them. I'm just glad she's doing what makes her happy.
On a related note, yes the economy is bad but not everyone is in dire straits, if the people who have jobs and are earning money don't spend some of it (within their means of course) then the economy will just get worse. If you could afford a $2000 dress, buy it, if you could afford a $200 dress, buy it, if you could afford a $20 dress, buy it. It's good for business and good for the economy.
And by the way, Mrs.O looks divine. I love the outfit on her, she is radiant and glowing.
Oh boy! I really didn't mean to bring up the price of the dress to start some nonsense that Liz was writing about.
I am in the corner that believes my First Lady better not wear things that I can afford on a constant basis. She's representing my country and she ought to look tasteful and classy, and on some level - elite. So, I don't care if the dress was $200 or $2000, she looked lovely.
@trudy - you sound like my mother! All my life my mother has been trying to get me to sew because she has been known to replicate various simple pieces from time to time. I just may have to do that at some point.
best and most stylish first lady ever! i know, jackie was fabulous and i love her, but the substance, that harvard law degree, that michelle brings, really is just too much for words. i feel so very proud of this woman and this country!
I was lucky enough to attend this amazing event- and Michelle looked beautiful! When she said "I think Sojourner Truth would be proud to see me here" it almost made me cry.
Thank you Mrs. O for covering the story!
Sacha--- I think I would have cried! Sojourner Truth's "Ain't I a Woman Too" speech has been one of my favorites for YEARS.
The dress is adorable and something I would definately wear. I love it. The pops of color at the hem make it an A+ in my book. Where is the white one that you guys mentioned? I did not see it on the eluxury link that someone posted.
Everyone, here's the event today in its entirety. Michelle appears well in the dress in the beginning and at the 1:00:35 mark--gotta go back to work!
http://c-span.org/Watch/Media/2009/04/28/HP/A/17944/Congressional+Tribute+Commemorating+the+Bust+Unveiling+of+Sojourner+Truth.aspx
I really like this look, simple w/ a burst of colour. If anyone wants to watch the ceremony they've posted video on CSPAN
@ Brook,
You'll find the white version of today's dress at www(dot)sophietheallet(dot)com site at the spring collection.
This dress is so glamorous in it's simplicity and colour. It's playful, fun and feminine. I love it when Mrs.O wears clothes that lets you know she has curves! Even more so to an event like this where the beauty and strength of a women is celebrated in the company of OTHER strong and beautiful women.
Here's to 100x100 more days like this!
Cheers...
Sacha - you're so lucky to have been able to go to the event. You all in the crowd sure did show lots of love to Mrs. O during the event.
Michelle Obama looks dazzling in Sophie Theallet’s dress. It fills my heart with joy and gratitude as I’ve been knowing about Theallet’s commitment to model from African descent for many years. The association of Michelle Obama and Sophie Theallet is as beautiful as meaningful.
A beautiful tribute to a magnificent person: Sojourner Truth! Classy choice, Michelle.
Brook- I love "Ain't I a Woman Too" speech as well. I taught it for many years to middle school children.
Trudy - I'm not too sure about making that dress in a NY minute unless you are a very good seamstress. Those pleats are everywhere! And the placket is a project in itself, at least in my sewing world!
It's a great, classic look.
Could that shirtdress be more divine? I think not. Oh, how I covet it!
http://cafefashionista.blogspot.com
I regret to dissent - I think Mrs. O looks like she's off to a coffeeklatsch, circa 1963. A simple one-color shift dress, like she wore to the convention, with some jewelry, would have been more appropriate in honoring a great American, IMHO.
Mrs O looks very classy
i like the dress
but it does seem no matter what she does someone will complain
thats why i love the fact she does her own thing
no matter who thinks it's appropriate or not
@ Lisa
You know, I think to some extent, that 1960s retro look is coming back. I guess I'm thinking about "Mad Men," you know? It seems like shirtwaist dresses with full skirts are re-emerging in popularity. I will say that for women with fuller hips, like Michelle and me, it's a very flattering look. My hips laugh at pencil skirts!
I think this dress matched the occasion, and definitely the season!