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)
Absolutely Beautiful!!! This is the way to do stripes and color without over doing it. She is such a tall woman, and you dont want prints to overwhelm her, and here it dosent!!!
Here's another look at the version in white: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/26/fashion/26pulse.html?ref=fashion
from the New York Times Style section
Mrs. Obama look georgeous in this outfit! I really really love to watch her clothes as soon as potos are available. I'm sure mrs. Obama would rather want people to focus on her projects and what she is working with. But I'm really interrested in her outfits too. I like how she try out several style, and always look very nice. I think I can count on one hand the times her outfit was not good in my opinion.
From the minute I saw the video of Sophie Theallet's show, I KNEW Mrs. O would soon wear her. Not just that all the models were black (amazing!), but the designs seemed so much like Michelle. So many beautiful SLEEVELESS dresses. I think the First Lady will look best in one of Sophie's long, sleeveless gowns in white. I have a feeling she already has one in her closet
I must say I like it better in black, and I think the tighter sleeve around the arm, as on Mrs. O, is better than the looser sleeve on the model, as in the link provided by Alsace above.
it's funny, just last week I happened to look at Sophie Theallet's website. I don't remember how I ended up there, but I bookmarked it. Her clothes are absolutely beautiful and I think Mrs. O wears this dress beautifully.
Do you ladies think this is Mrs O's response to all those designers who criticized her? I mean this designer has used models of color for many years. She doesn't pdress them in ridiculous clothes & make up like some others (for example those designers who make Alek Wek look like a clown on their runways).
Anyway I like this choice. It's beautiful, feminine and appropriate for the occasion.
Everyone did a beautiful job at Emancipation Hall. We have some powerhouse women in our country!
Good point about "Mad Men". That retro look is making a comeback, and the third season of the show should serve to bring on more fashion comebacks as the time frame advances.
Mrs. O looks delightful!! I love shirtwaists and pleats and full skirts. So feminine!!
Mrs. C's choice of color for the ceremony complimented Mrs. O's outfit beautifully.
Regarding some snarking of the price of Mrs. O's dress..she's the First Lady, for crying out loud, and she and her hubby have worked hard for years and years. She can darn well spend $2,000 on a dress if she wants to. You can bet there will most likely be knock offs of the dress, (I have my fingers crossed!), so those knock offs may just contribute a bit to the economy!
Christina,
Speaking of 'Mad Men'. I normally don't watch that show very often, but the other night I was flipping around and caught a bit of it - the episode where the wife of the main guy gave a dinner party with the 'Heineken beer' and the wife wore a very full skirted outfit with tulle/crinoline beneath and that dress reminded me of the full skirted dress Michelle wore at to the Lincoln event at the Ford's Theater. I love those full skirted dresses - they remind me of my mother, I am not saying that the look is old fashioned because when Michelle wears it she looks so fresh/new and feminine. I wish I could wear that style but I am too short.
this dress is great ! sort of ethnic dress!!Mrs O looks cute in it, no cartigans, startrek belt, sleevless staff!! hope she will wear African modern dresses , caftan with bangles around her arms,diamond and saphir of course soon!
Today , i am happy with her
This is very becoming on her. She looks gorgeous!
Ms Theallet is a very skilled designer, her dresses are impeccably made , the inside seams are beautifully finished , the cotton and silk ribbon she uses are from European Mills and the dresses are all produced in New York City , this are mainly the reasons for the price of this dress, unlike other designers that produce their goods in Asia at lower cost.
flotus and potus to present award for teacher of the year any minute now. does she wear the same dress? maybe play it up with some spunky jewelry or accessories?
@ Iris,
I totally agree with your comment. I think Mrs. O's fashion choices are a subtle embodiment of her political ideas.
For the past two to three years, there has been increasing discussion, spearheaded by former models Bethann Hardison and Iman, concerning the lack of models of color, especially black models, on the runway.
I suspect that anyone wearing Sophie Theallet knows which side of that discussion they are on. Bravo, Mrs. O!
I think that the First lady looks amazing. She has her own style and she does not care to be a fashionista. I think that we all can relate to her because she is a professional women with a husband and kids and just happens to be the First Lady of the US. I love her and think that she shows women and girls that you can be intelligent and beautiful. I love Mrs. Obama.
@ gloria S.
You bring up a point I hadn't thought about, regarding this dress being "American-made."
Here's an interesting little story about the all-black fashion show. Ms. Theallet says that she wasn't trying to make a statement, she was just thinking about the way the clothing looked against the skin:
http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/S2009RTW-STHEALLET/
I love this dress. I cannot afford that price but I can search for something similar. I want to find fuller skirted dresses. I have'nt had this much fun following fashion since Princess Diana.
Here is a pic of Dr. Jill Biden and Mrs.O during the presentation of teacher award.
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//090428/480/c3586b25c77d4149ba00eb74a692c6cf/#photoViewer=/090428/480/c3586b25c77d4149ba00eb74a692c6cf
The dress is sold out!
On Theallet's website, I just loved the white floor length, sleeveless gown--would look great on Michelle at a formal event.
So glad the dress sold out and hope Sophie Theallet gets more recognition. Hopefully, we'll see the First Lady in other Theallet outfits--I hope she got the white version of the dress today, because it looks flowy, crisp, and quite beautiful.
@ "tell you." Say what? The dress is SOLD OUT?!
OMG!!!!!! Mrs. O has some SERIOUS POWER IN THE FASHION WORLD!! I MEAN SERIOUS POWER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even with the economy in this state, she can sell out a dress that's $2,000. I LOVE this woman. I know Sophie Theallet is happy. Wow!
Okay, so now onto the event. The event was absolutely amazing! Cicely Tyson is one of my favorites! I was pleased to see Yolanda Adams. Just the fact that Sojourner Truth was honored in this way was amazing.
As for Mrs. O, the way she handled her speech speaks volumes about how skilled she is as an orator. People had sat through an hour of speakers, many repeating some of the same details. Noticing this she truncated her speech into a few powerful lines. Indeed I am proud, and I know that Sojourner Truth would be proud to see her as First Lady of the United States of America. YAY MICHELLE!
By the time I made up my mind, the freaking dress is sold out..People need to get a life! (including myself)
Simply gorgeous and Madame Sec looks great too!
American-n-Rome only size four is available!
Yes sold out!!!! I love this couple. Who'd thought she wouldve made such an impact. But I must say I just absolutely love the way she carries herself period.
I see another Mimi is posting also...Mrs T, this will create confusion
Hmm, I see. Could our other Mimi ("who hasn't had this much fun following fashion since Princess Diana"), please add a last name initial to avoid confusion? These names do get tricky!
very summary and lady like, love it.
Mrs. T, you truly have a knack for weaving these multi-dimensional stories. Thanks for giving us the abstracts - and links with more info - on both the dedication and the designer. Oh, and do love the dress. Couldn't agree more with the designer on how dark skin and bright colors complement each other. Thank you.
Mrs T, yes that's the other Mimi.. Well I guess we'll just work it out then.
Wow! I do believe that Sophie Theallet's website has temporarily crashed due to the high traffic coming the site wanting to buy Mrs. O's dress! OMG! I can't get on the page.
I think a similar thing happened to JCrew after Inauguration Day...
Love it! It's like a grown up version of the dresses I liked to wear as a little girl! GREAT colors...
I'm not a fan of pleats in most cases, but I like this dress. It's got a demure quality, but with a splash of color. The print almost has an African fashion quality (I wonder if Sophie Theallet gets any inspiration from African designers?). Mrs. Obama looks cute.
Good to see Sojourner Truth getting her due props as well.
This dress is sold out? At a mere $1,925, there are lots of people out there doing really well to pay that amount of money for a shirt dress! Maybe Cindy McCain bought one too.
She is another lady that likes to dress really well.
This dress is fantastic! I love everything about it. It fits well and looks good on FLOTUS. It's also amazing what a professional hairstylist and makeup artist can do for someone's image. The First Lady looks very polished.
The dress is sold out! wow! what recession? lol Love michelle!!!!
I love the celebration aspect in both Michelle's lovely dress and the fabulous color of Hillary's suit.
An example of how the Obama administration includes everyone...
The Easter Bunny at the Easter Egg Roll is a Republican
http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20090427/NEWS/904279990&parentprofile=search?loc=interstitialskip
PS Here's a link to Style.com slideshow of Sophie Theallet's RTW Spring & Fall 09. She seems like a wonderful woman & very deserving of success.
http://www.style.com/fashionshows/designerdirectory/STHEALLET/seasons/
PPS - This is my first day commenting. I've been following your blog & love it.
Sorry real Mimi, first time poster. I was a kid when Princess Diana was alive and I would follow her fashion and life religiously, similar to what I'm doing with Michelle. It's simply fun. I love that dress. When I saw it I thought oh another black dress but that splash of color just brought it to life. I love Michelle's choices but grand and controversal, its just much needed fun.
@desertwind - thanks for posting the link to the slideshow. Seeing all of those beautiful black models in the Spring 09 show really did my heart good!!
Hi that Other Mimi. I sense this will be a lot fun (smiles). Anyway it's nice having you here.
From Politico: "Obama has a couple big items on the agenda this evening -- he'll be present at Secretary Sebelius's swearing-in ceremony in the Oval, and he and the first lady will host a reception for administration bigwigs."
I like the outfit. My first thought was that it seemed a little casual for the event, but then the symbolism struck me. The all black outfit with bold horizontal stripes reminded me of the Afro American flag (which has different colors) and also of the beautiful, long scarves all the graduates wore over their academic gowns at a black women's college graduation I attended. If that's why she wore this, what a perfect tribute for an event honoring Sojourner Truth.
For those who are interested in the dress, They added their stock. Size 4 & 6 are available
"the substance, that harvard law degree, that michelle brings, really is just too much for words."
merele on 28 April, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Okay,,, As to Jackie, Vassar, The Sorbonne, they don't count as substance?
This dress looks fantastic on her! I like that she chose to wear a black patent leather belt with it rather than the one shown in the ad.
@ Leah D -- that story about the Easter Bunny being a Republican was so cute! I am not surprised to hear that Sasha wasn't a huge fan of the bunny either, just like me. That child has good sense!
Ha! I agree, Christina, I wasn't a big fan either. You could tell Sasha thought he was creepy. That little girl is so funny!
The dress colors are not my favorite.
I just hope she doesn't ever wear the dress while on the steps of Air Force One - the colors are too close to the blue and gold stripes that are painted on the plane!
Everyone, there's TONS of whitehouse pictures released this evening at http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog. There's a picture there of the Obamas walking into a formal event, and Michelle is wearing a a STUNNING red gown (from the back that is). It looks somewhat corset style. I want to see the front of it. Anyway, I can't believe all the photos there that we haven't seen that the White House released a few minutes ago. Pictures of the family, etc. It's going to take forever for me to get through them. Some of them we've seen already from the Time slideshow, but this is the motherload of photos released by the White House photographers, Pete Souza. I'm so surprised, but the WH has given permission for release of all of them.
The back of the red gown Michelle is wearing looks beautiful!!! There's probably tons of photos we haven't seen yet. Or someone let me know if this is an old photo that I'm late in viewing. TONS OF PHOTOS I tell you. Michelle said she was going to open up the WH and make it more accessible--they're not kidding.