Sunday
May102009
A Vision in Magenta
Sunday, May 10, 2009 at 12:22 AM 
Photo by Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images
Mrs. O attended the White House Correspondents Dinner this evening wearing a fitted fuchsia sheath dress and bejeweled statement necklace. Pictured with the First Lady is Doug Mills, a photographer for the New York Times.
Update: Mrs. O wears a magenta double face stretch wool crepe scoop neck sheath dress by Michael Kors.
To hear the President's remarks -- and see Mrs. O flex her fabulous arms -- watch the video below:
Happy Mother's Day everyone!
tagged Michael Kors in Outfits
Michael Kors in Outfits
Reader Comments (236)
This woman is a smash...love the color (another classic sheath!) and the necklace is a gorgeous piece...as a woman who who has always loved to dress in color,but for many years I was given the "OMG, that is so..umm..third world" look (BTW-I am originally from one of those so-called-TW countries) can I just say: THANK GOD FOR MICHELLE OBAMA. COLOR is SOPHISTICATED...NO NEED TO DRESS IN NAVY BLUES, KHAKIS, GRAYS, WHTIE.
BTW-Our President was fantastic tonight!!!
Michelle O. looked lovely...as usual. This color really suits her.
Fuschsia just may be the First Lady's best color. She looks simply ravishing here. And that statement necklace? J'adore! :)
http://cafefashionista.blogspot.com
Here's a better look at the entire length of the dress. It seems like she's also wearing silver shoes.
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Michelle-Obama/ss/events/pl/050108michelleobama/im:/090510/ids_photos_ts/r325361271.jpg#photoViewer=/090510/ids_photos_ts/r2332499815.jpg
I just saw that the dress was long...wow..stunning as usual!
This is definitely one of those crowd-pleasers.
I think that Michelle in a sleeveless, jewel-toned sheath is basically an automatic home-run. It's truly her signature look and she ALWAYS looks beautiful. We all know how much Mrs. O loves the kooky or unexpected or unusual and I totally embrace that about her. But darn if I don't love her in sheaths!!
I thought she looked amazing; imple, elegant, and beautiful. I understand her wanting to be understated since this was a dinner about the press and she didn't want to take away focus. I love that the dress is floor length and I think it makes the spectacular necklace stand out even more.
Thank you for that picture Ari! I had totally assumed this was a knee-length dress like some of her past looks. The fact that it's longer is more fitting for this formal event, actually.
As I said in the last thread, this look is right up there, for me, with the floral Thakoon dress from the European tour in terms of how much I like it. I think it's an even better look than the the black Michael Kors dress from last week.
Here's a link that has President Obama's speech/jokes and also Wanda Sykes' jokes (four videos total):
www(DOT)demconwatchblog(DOT)com/diary/1510/obamas-speechjokes-at-whca
any word on who makes the dress? dying to find out ASAP!
I LOVE that necklace! The pink flower - probably part of the necklace, though it wouldn't be the first time MO used a pin and necklace together - is perfect. She has such a signature style - the unexpected belt (or corset!); bold, obviously fake jewelry; cool shoes; pony tails; and color color color.
I love the picture where she's flexing her hard-earned muscles! You go, MO!
Notice the welt seaming on the dress - beautiful. So: who's dress? Who's necklace? I'm guessing Binns on the latter.
Fabo-MO!
I LOVE the statement necklace, but as far as the dress, it is neither here nor there for me....i love that its fusia though, it makes her pop!
my guess is on Kors, he had a a few fusia pieces in his spring collection, and the silouhette is typical Kors
I just saw the full length of the dress, and I like it a little better now, bit im still feeling a little neutral about it....:-)
LOVE this silhouette on her!!! It's so simple and elegant and enhances rather than detracts from her natural radiance. Beautiful color. Beautiful necklace. And NO belt!
is it just me, or does the top of Desiree Roger's dress bother you too? something about the fit is not quite right, which really surprises me, because Desiree is usually always on point!!
I watched the runway arrivals and most (not all) folks had black or dark colors on .. some red .. some not so dark .. but Michelle's color really popped! Whenever she wears color she stands out amongst the rest, but I also think it has to do with her height too. Some people have control of a room when they enter and Michelle is one of them.
Still not crazy about the pin she wore... on C-Span it showed up RED at the beginning of the video and looked like RED Christmas bow to me. It did look different in the close-up photos though.
God Bless the Obama Family.
Obama 2012
I think she looked lovely. But what happened to Jennifer Loven, wow. Here hair, her earrings, her dress. She was set up. Jennifer, what happened? As the president of the WHCA she should have came with it.
While I don't think there was an intentional connection, pink (and green) are the colors of the first black greek sorority founded in 1908 at Howard University: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. The first lady was invited to become an honorary member of the sorority at its 100th anniversary.
As a proud member of AKA, the first lady's fushia colored dress immediately made me think of the pride we have of this classy, dignified woman as our nation's first lady!
Here's a link to photos of the AFTER PARTY
www(DOT)politico(DOT)com/blogs/dinnerdish/
photo #1 is Ms. Rogers and Jarrett
photo #2 is Jason Wu
"Hey, Mr. New York Times photographer, my eyes are up *here.*"
I am surprised at my fellow Mrs.O posters here this evening.
Do we know Ms. Loven? No.
Perhaps she likes her hair teased like that and likes being different. I happened to like her hair, dress, earrings, her look, and her smile.
People on the previous thread were saying that she talked to the president too much... well she is the President of the Association of the Correspondents that hosted this event.
I understand that 'we' are Michelle Obama lovers on this website, but let's give some other women a break.
----
I loved the event this evening. It was great gawking at all the celebs like Helen Thomas (bless her heart), Colin Powell, Bono, Kevin Bacon, Tyra Banks, Whoopie, Barbara Walters, Andrea Mitchell, Sting, Samuel Jackson, Sharpton, Mayor Felty, Gordon Ramsey, Rahm, Keith Olbermann, Chris Mathews, --- Glenn Beck (was there, what's up with that?!), Todd Palin probably wasn't too happy about the Palin abstinence joke! Tim Geither didn't look too happy after the fire hydrant joke...
I never seen Wanda Sykes before tonight and I think she is awesome... some may say that she crossed the line but 'she told it like it is'.
Oh, and I forgot to say that I LOVED Michelle's hair tonight, much better than the helmet/cap 'up-do' that she had the other night in New York City.
Did you guys see Kathleen Sebelius? She looked AAAAAMAZING. I saw a picture of her in a Daily Kos diary and her light blue dress was super pretty and showed off her great arms. She's a relatively young woman and I often forget that.
I was just now watching the Obama clips again and I LOVE the dress that Jennifer Loven wore. Michelle Obama looked wonderful but 'for me' I would love to have Loven's dress. Anyone got a clue of who designed it?
I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. It is not something that Michelle would wear but I WOULD!
@leahD, I understand what your saying about Mrs Loven, I'm sure she does have a lovely personality but that hair was a hot mess,it looked like some eggs were ready to hatch out of that nest she was sporting as a hairstyle
Leah D, I get where you are coming from regarding Jennifer Loven. However, this is a fashion blog so I guess the first reaction to almost everyone/anyone we "come across" is to discuss their style. And we all know that when Michelle wears something that isn't "approved", very few people hold back in any way. They express their dislike in clear terms. So I don't think Jennifer is getting a harsher treatment.
I, for one, actually did like her dress, but thought her hair did not serve her well. Obviously, like with anything Mrs. O wears, some will like it and some won't.
Dee,
We might just have to get used to the 'nest' look.
I remember a few weeks ago Drew Barrymoore had a teased nest look on the runway - perhaps it is a new trend, I don't have a clue.
Jenna,
I went to Daily Kos and did not see the Sebelius photo.
I did see one earlier this evening but can't find any of her now at all.
I even went to Daily Life and looked at the White House and Barack photos and nothing of her was there.
Where did you see it on Daily Kos?
Leah, it's the diary on the Recommended list by Al Rogers. The 5th photo is a screenshot of Kathleen arriving at the event in a strapless, ice-blue, assymetrically-tiered gown. She looks lovely.
I like this dress, it's color, and I really like that interesting necklace. That amount of solid fuschia needed an interesting complement, and Michelle delivered with that fabulous necklace. I'm looking forward to seeing a close-up of it. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Michelle didn't add a belt this time.
I'm not as Wowed by this look as I was by Michelle the other night. That was perfection (except for the hair from just one angle). I guess she can't score that high on the Wow meter every time. She looked great, just not a total Wow for me. I loved seeing her flexing her muscles in response to Wanda's comments about her arms. She's such a great gal, isn't she?
Youtube has complete videos of Barack's and Wanda's speeches. I enjoyed them both. It appeared to me that President Obama was not totally thrilled with Wanda's comments about Biden talking so much that his interrogators thought listening to him was torture. It was a very funny joke, but maybe Barack thought it a little over the top... Wanda is one of my favorites. She's very smart, very to the point, and very funny. Love her.
Ha! It's too funny that (in addition to FLOTUS) we're discussing the cabinet secretary of the HHS!... On a Saturday night!... Nerds at heart represent!.... at Nerd Prom.
As a DC-native (long moved away, but all family there) I LOVE this stuff.
It's a gorgeous look for Michelle, isn't it? The color/silhouette/style and THAT NECKLACE is too great! (the dress fit is a teeny bit off, but -- eh -- who cares?)
Jenna, Thanks! I found it.
---
I just wanted to say to everyone else that on some previous threads there was a lot of talk of 'black women' and how Michelle Obama is the 'the one' that now promotes the 'black is beautiful image'... I say BULL.
I am an Italian-American woman and my skin color (a very deep olive) is more like our Presidents than any of the white models that we see in the media -- but I am considered white. I am sort of between being black or white and I honestly don't even think about it the majority of the time.
All this talk of race and 'black is beautiful' now that we have an African-American First Lady to me has been offensive. I do not look at our POTUS and FLOTUS as being of any color. I see the POTUS and FLOTUS as two very intelligent capable adults that are qualified for the position that they are in and it has nothing to do with the color of their skin.
To me Barack and Michelle JUST represents the fact that 'if you work hard and you are of good heart you will succeed'.
I worked in a law firm for several years (several years ago) and I can tell you that I have known a couple of hundred lawyers and the issue was never 'color of skin' the issue is 'class and education'. If you are not of a certain social status and education level then you are not going to be 'one of the boys/girls' (no matter of your race or gender'.
While I was gawking at all of the stars this evening I noticed that the African-American community was well represented: Samuel Jackson, Alicia Keys, Tyra Banks, The Rock, Stevie Wonder, Whoopie, Mr. (Mayor of D.C.) and Mrs Felty (she is gorgeous), Wanda Sykes, Colin Powell, Al Roker, Eric Holder, etc. etc. etc. etc. To say that only 'now' that the African-American people are getting attention in the media - I will say it again - is just BULL.
I grew up paying attention to Sidney Poitier, Sammy Davis, Cicely Tyson, Aretha Franklin, Dorothy Dandridge, Redd Foxx, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Martin Luther King Jr., etc. AND A LOT MORE OTHER PEOPLE.
Yes, I am proud that America has finally elected the first African-American bi-racial president in history, but I truly believe it has more to do with his integrity and intellect than it does have to do with the color of his skin.
And as far as OUR First Lady --- everyone needs to remember that she belongs to ALL OF US AMERICANS.
I love the necklace. I also love the color of the dress worn by FLOTUS. However, I'm not crazy about the length or the style. It's really a very plain dress. Too plain. It's not one of her best ensembles. She also looks a bit tired. I guess all the parties, dinners, charity events and world tours are starting to wear on her.
Aw, Leah.... Don't start something!
@ruth leslie - i disagree, I think the color is smashing on her and is the perfect palette to show off the stunning necklace. then again, I tend toward clean, modern lines, but with her fit and healthy figure, the simplicity of the dress is lovely.
OT, but here is another dress I have not seen before, dress worn to rose garden ceremony to honor the Teacher of the Year, Tuesday, April 28, 2009.
@ruth leslie - i disagree, I think the color is smashing on her and is the perfect palette to show off the stunning necklace. then again, I tend toward clean, modern lines, but with her fit and healthy figure, the simplicity of the dress is lovely.
oops, here is the link:
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Michelle-Obama/ss/events/pl/050108michelleobama/im:/090428/482/8a5921e87f0547d68e7bac4597016b87/
OT, but here is another dress I have not seen before, dress worn to rose garden ceremony to honor the Teacher of the Year, Tuesday, April 28, 2009.
And I also meant to say...
Even though we love Michelle Obama --- Let's not forget about all of the other African-American women that made a name for themselves before Michelle Obama came on the world stage:
Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Shirley Chisholm, Alice Walker, Billie Holliday, Barbara Jordan, Toni Morrison, Hattie McDaniel, Condoleezza Rice, Venus and Serena Williams,
Beyonce, Halle Berry, Whoopie, Phylicia Rashad, Debbie Allen, ... etc., etc., etc. ...
and some WOMEN that were firsts:
www(DOT)socyberty(DOT)com/Ethnicity/African-American-Female-Firsts(DOT)633717
Well, I think ya'll get my point.
That dress reaches the floor. How delightful!
Michelle teach us all.
desertwind,
I truly am not trying to start anything at all really.
The previous threads left a bad taste in my mouth and I just needed to say my peace so that I could stomach coming back to this tread with a peaceful calm heart.
Leah D, I dream of a day when we as humans move beyond this whole eighteenth-century issue of race to which we are still so committed. I see the Obamas as two well-educated, intelligent people who conduct themselves with the class and dignity that the office of President and First Lady demands, and I hardly remember that they're black.
But back to First Lady fashion, the "business" of this thread. I love her in clean, sophisticated, classy lines, and while I might not have worn this color myself, I think she looks great in the dress. I don't like it when she wears too many things at once, belt/cardigan/bow, for example, but I appreciate that she has her own style. I also think her make-up and hair look amazing on this occasion. She looked great in that black dress in New York last week too, except for the hair; I do not like it when she wears it up, and that particular "helmet/cap" look did not work for her, IMHO.
I think the dress is perfect for the occasion. The style is classically simple, which is appropriate as the focus of the evening isn't supposed to be her (it might be if she wore something very different and daring), yet it has enough to make her noticeable and, well, Michelle. The fit, the beautiful color, and that unusual necklace and flower thing going on.
What stopped me in my tracks was Glenn Close's dress and body. I thought, wow, and she's only 10 years younger than me, but I'd better check. Dear goddess, the woman is but ONE year younger, age 62. I know actresses have plastic surgery on their faces, but can you have it on your whole body? As fascinated as I was with the dress, am also seriously depressed and feeling like a complete slug. Anybody find a picture of her so I can torture myself more?
Mrs. O probably should wear Spanx. The full length and profile pictures are not flattering. What she did right was the other night, wearing a corset-type belt on the black ensemble. She should aim for the hourglass. I have a similar figure. I'd try this dress on and put it back. Who wants to remember to hold in your stomach all night?
Cee.
It is a shame that the media and people on the blogs bring up race. For a very long time while watching the primaries and the general election race never entered my mind at all... the most that it has has seeped into my brain has been on this website in the comments section in the past couple of weeks and it saddens me beyond belief.
When the Obamas speak of race it is in the context to 'overcome' differences, but for some reason that I cannot understand 'people' on blogs use race in a divisive way and that is very tragic in my opinion.
Perhaps in another generation or two - everything will have changed for the better - one can only hope.
Leah D...you are the exception in America...white & black Americans in particular. However, to argue that Michelle Obama being the 1st African American first lady is not a big deal in a country where less than 10 yrs ago was unimaginable is to play historical amnesia.
You and I can never relate to black women and their struggle for self acceptance and beauty, so to assume its not a significant step to see Michelle as real black woman not trying to change who she is misguided. She's a major role model for all young women, black girls in particular. Your opinion is valid, but so is the opinion of Michelle as being a dark beautiful black woman of West African ancestral, in a society where all-American beauty is a fictional image of blond hair, blue eyes....so let's not try to invalidate each other's point of view.
Anyway, back to what this thread is about.....I love the color and cut of FLOTUS dress.....it elongate her body and endless legs. This is a time where simplicity works!
caligal, I thought Michelle's silhouette was sexy. No girdles. I remember those from my youth, and I can't believe women are being suckered into wearing them again by giving them a "cute" name.
I was expecting Loven to look like a mess, based on the comments here, until I saw her photos. I don't get it, she looks normal to me, that tousled look is not unusual. Desiree missed on all counts though, dress and hair, like she was running late and threw on the dress.
p.s. Let's given Doug Mills a break, he was obviously looking at her necklace/pin.
Cyndi,
I disagree with the part of your comment 'in a society where all-American beauty is a fictional image of blond hair, blue eyes…'
I do NOT think that has ever been the 'American ideal woman' --- Perhaps long time ago in Germany --- but not in America. There have been dark haired brown eyed role models in the USA. And I NEVER said that Michelle Obama was not a major role model for all young women. I just think that she is NOT the 'first' role model or the 'only' role model for African-Americans. She is, of course, a MAJOR role model for ALL girls OF ALL races right now --- and even for some of us 'older gals' (big smile).
I just think that we must remember all of those that have come 'before' Michelle and all of those that have paved the way 'before' Barack.
I have been a lurker for a while, and I love this site, and love reading all your comments. As a non american, British black afriacan woman i think that your first lady is delightful. I agree that we should be beyond the race issue by now, but at least its not hidden any more, i think talking constructively and with an open heart can only help our understanding from different view points.
I think of Michelle as a role model for ALL women not just black women, i think that the fact she is black, helps black women easily identify with her more(which is a good thing) I mean if all types of women in America and outside can identify with her surely that is more important?
The fact that she is a an intelligent and warm women, what she taught me is to be true to yourself, she isn't perfect but looking at her, i don't think she minds, she looks happy and confortable in her our skin. That is a role model, not these so called celebrities that apprear in the papers ever day, falling out of bars and doing drugs!
Back to the subject in hand, i love her dress the colour as very good, make up and hair were fab.
Sorry to go on, thanks Issy
One last thing, doesn't pres obama look cute whenhe laughs!
I stayed out of the other conversations on race and what black women think about MrsO's figure, etc. But I must say as a Black woman I find it incredibly offense for people to say "they do not see color" when they see the POTUS and FLOTUS. Race is a very distingushing characteristic, as in gender. I would also not think it was a good thing of someone said to me "Brook, when I see you, I do not see a female" Huh??? That does not mean that you race or your gender has to be the one characteristic that defines you above all, but to pretend it is not there is rediculous. I wonder if the same posters who said they do not see race in this case do not see race when they are walking down the street alone and a man (black--OMG clutch the purse-- or white--whew, what a nice young man) approaches them from behind or when there is a news story about illegal immigrants.
No one is saying that MrsO or the President are the only role models. It is interesting to note Leahthat of the 22 AA females that you listed as "role models" only 5 were none entertainers or athletes. The point of making MrsO such a "big deal" is that entertaining (at one point it was called 'shucking and jiving and Hattie McDaniel famously said I would rather play a maid than be one--speaking to the limits of her professional endeavors) and physical excellence are things that historically Black people were expected to excel in. Go to any inner city majority black school and ask young people what they want to be when they grow up and most will say something associated with athletics or entertainment. The Obamas have put front and center the notion that you can be black, famous and dare I say wealthy without a ball or microphone in your hand.
Now, back to the subject at hand....
MrsO looked smashing. The dress was the perfect MrsO cut and I think she wore it because she knew the President would be poking fun at her arms and she wanted to flex. I loved that!! I thought the necklace was pure perfection!!
Thank you Brook. I will add further, some of these comments attempting to dictate the way African American's should feel about themselves and or the Obamas are clear examples of the entitlement and privilege that has always underscored racism. SInce some whites have decided "race" is no longer an issue, Blacks should also fall in line? To the extent that they can't recognize and celebrate the role models of their choosing? What nerve.