Purple and Polka Dots (by Lanvin!)
Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at 4:34 PM 
Photo by Yuri Gripas / Reuters
We are loving First Lady Mrs. O's Spring wardrobe!
To visit third grade students at Ferebee-Hope Community School in Washington, DC, Mrs. O wore a purple polka dot sleeveless dress.
Update: A gold star for Jahmal, who has correctly identified Mrs. O's polka dot dress as Lanvin! The dress comes from Lanvin's Resort 2009 collection, seen in a full-length navy version here. Jahmal's discovery, here, also includes great detail shots. The silk dress features a draped bodice and a distinctive adornment at the shoulder, made of plastic discs accented with tubes and beads.
Thanks to Political Punch (one of our "go-to"s for Mrs. O coverage), we also have an update on the event:
The First Lady visited a group of third graders at the Ferebee-Hope Community School in Southeast Washington, who participate in the school's after-school program. According to her press office, her visit was intended to highlight the importance of after-school programs, particularly those for lower-income children.
Mrs. Obama read the book, "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" by Judith Viorst. Afterwards she and the children talked about what makes a bad day (gum in one's hair, falling in mud on one's birthday) and what to do on such occasions (remember there's always tomorrow).
Update: An important detail we failed to include. Per the Huffington Post, the day also included a meeting with leaders from the dropout prevention organization "Communities In Schools", which provides individual tutoring for the third graders the First Lady met. Thanks to Janelle for pointing us to this Washington Post video:
Reader Comments (248)
To the question "How does Mrs O influence your life ?" :
I am living in Brussels, Belgium. Yesterday, sitting in the metro, I saw a very young (maybe 17), beautiful black girl stepping in. She was wearing a light purple cardigan on a grey Tshirt, combined with a deep gray trouser... and with a HUGE belt way above the waist and high heels black shoes ! My immediate thought was that this look was clearly inspired by Mr O. style. Maybe it was just my imagination. However I felt suddenly happy to hope that this young girl might not only be inspired by Mrs O look, but also by her words and deeds...
Saturday - May 16th - Michelle Obama gives commencement speech at Merced
Saturday - May 23rd - The Obama Family go to Camp David for Memorial Day weekend
Monday - May 25th - The Obama Family return to the White House
Willow,
I read the book by that French woman (Mireille Guiliano); it's called "French Women Don't Get Fat." In addition to the wonderful things she says about food and how to stay thin, she also talks about how French women dress. She says that French women pay far more attention to quality and tailoring than the average American woman does. They'd rather pay a substantial sum for one good quality, well tailored garment than a dozen cheaper fad items. Their emphasis is clearly on quality rather than quantity.
Mrs. G :
But I understand that, when they buy quality, they still don't buy items they can't really afford. They take the same budget, but spread it over fewer, better clothes and shoes. They are less likely to go into too much debt than an American woman.
If John McCain had won the election, do you think his wife Cindy would have been criticized for wearing super expensive clothing during the recessions when people are loosing their jobs?
Article on her visit to this school in the bad parts of Washington. Kids have to go through metal detector every day. Our First Lady is so Awesome!
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/16/us/politics/16michelle.html?_r=1&hp
dont forget shes going to the met muesuem in new york on the 18th
Check these out!
Cinco de Mayo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/3532372114/in/photostream/
Arriving in NYC
http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/3531555777/in/photostream/
Good Evening Everyone, Happy Friday,
Go over to AC360.com, then down the middle to Beat 360.
Good picture of POTUS. It's a fun daily game, you might like to play.
Jamie,
Yes, you're absolutely right. Good lesson in that for all of us!
@peggy,
Thanks for that NY Times link. Great article. Mrs. O is really inspiring those children. Something upset me though...the young girl Ashleigh at the end of the article said she has to stop listening to negativity and that her Dad said she wasn't going to make it. I hope Ashleigh makes it real big, like a writer, an engineer, astronaut, anything to prove him wrong. Some folks don't deserve the children they've been given. Mrs. O's presence really helps with a lot of those kids self-esteem and help them dream big.
I just read some crap quote from the model lady name Iman that our FLOTUS is not a real beauty. something about she will get prettier with time, but blah blah.
I stopped reading.
wth?????? why do women always put each other down, especially this woman being so much older, shouldn't she have some class and decorum? why was that even necessary to say?
also what is a "real beauty"? size 0, straight nose, fake tracks for hair and no ass?
Peggy - thanks for the link to the NYTimes article. I admire Mrs. O and President O sooooo much for aaaaaallllll they are trying to do. I just hope they begin to take more weekends away from the White House. I fear they may burn themselves out if they don't slow down a bit. I'm sure they feel that 4 or 8 years is too short to bring the change they envision, but, rest is a part of good health, too. (smile) I'm glad they're going to Camp David this weekend.
I just read some crap quote from the model lady name Iman that our FLOTUS is not a real beauty. something about she will get prettier with time, but blah blah.
I stopped reading.
wth?????? why do women always put each other down, especially this woman being so much older, shouldn’t she have some class and decorum? why was that even necessary to say?
also what is a “real beauty”? size 0, straight nose, fake tracks for hair and no behind?
calm down toi22. Iman's beauty IS fading, that is what she is grappling with. Show her some love. Who will be studying about Iman 100 years from now. People spend thousands for Mrs. Obama's big beautiful expressive eyes and her high cheek bones. Thousand$!!!. She is beautiful to POTUS, look at how he looks at her, my goodness.
Thanks for the video link... Now we can see the full dress! Just beautiful. She's such a sweetie.
Toi22,
I read the article you're talking about. Although I think Iman does sound condescending, I don't think she's insulting the First Lady. She seems to admire her and believe she will age well--perhaps better than those "lucky" few who are born with perfect features which can only go downhill. And as Jenna points out, the way HE looks at her is the real deal anyway. Who doesn't dream of having a man who looks at you like that?! Mrs. Obama doesn't have to worry what anyone else says about her as long as she has that.
Aw, poor Iman isn't a native English speaker and, I imagine, would've phrased that comment differently if she were (saying "classical beauty" rather than saying "great beauty", for example). It's true, really, if you think about it.
There are plenty of beautiful models, for example, who have classical beauty (plus modeling skills & youth), but what happens to them when they age?
Michelle has unconventional beauty, which is a combination of her character and style and physical presence. Those attributes do improve with age and wisdom and leave the others in the dust!
PS - Know that the headline - Iman: Michelle Obama no 'great beauty' - was deliberately written to provoke and grab attention! It's not at all what Iman said:
"Mrs. Obama is not a great beauty," Iman told the publication. "But she is so interesting looking and so bright. That will always take you farther. When you're a great beauty, it's always downhill for you. If you're someone like Mrs. Obama, you just get better with age."
You know, I don't know that a lot of models are "great beauties". In my opinion, for example, I cannot say that I think Kate Moss is a great beauty. I think she's very ordinary looking. Maybe she has the attitude, or whatever, to make her good in front of the camera or on the run-way, but great beauty? I don't see it.
The few times I've looked in on "America's Next Top Model", only a few of those competing could be really called great beauties. It seems to me the judges look for attitude, and ability to convey it more than classical beauty.
Mrs. O' ability to lift us all with her great personality and enthusiasm surely outshines any model out there, in my opinion. And I think she is quite beautiful enough, and absolutely stunningly beautiful at the night of poetry. I'll take her over any model any day.
I think Iman was just trying to say that Michelle is not a stereotypically pretty person, rather she has a real kind of beauty that is much more valuable than that. Iman was just trying to emphasize that the real beauty that radiates from within Mrs.O is much more valuable than being superficially beautiful. Her words were definitely taken out of context and somewhat misunderstood. I have read some past quotes by Iman about Michelle and she has always said great things about her. Right before the Inauguration she even did a nice piece about her for the Daily News.
Iman is beautiful. I think her comments were ill-phrased, but I think that her overall goal was to be complimentary. That's what I choose to believe, anyway.
What I've learned from Mrs. O is to listen to criticism, pay attention to what's useful, ignore what isn't, and still be happy. She has had more than a few occasions to be upset about things she said that, IMO, were blown out of proportion, but she has never done that. So I'm trying to look at the people who comment about her in the same spirit, if I can.
Hi Willow,
I'm guessing they do not go to Camp David very often because of the young girls. I'm a Mom and when my son was that age we were just consumed with his activities. Sports, Music, lessons, practice, parties...
They are probably trying to keep it normal on the weekends for them.
What time is the graduation 2morrow?
Ah, you're right Ann #1. They did talk about soccer on Saturdays. Great parents.
I have followed this site from the time our President made his speech in Chicago. Unfortunately, the last few weeks more and more comments seem to have steered from the fashiion aspect of this site and on to other political issues, including the cost of MO's dress. Am I the only one on this site old enough to remember all the heat Nancy Reagan drew when she accepted designers' clothes on loan...even this aspect must be reported as income for the First Family. These two bright young people are too smart and too well connected to get themselves into a mess around the cost of Michelle's wardrobe. I think she, like the rest of us, has a budget and buys what she can afford and none of us are picking up that tab.
As to her appearance in the poka dot dress...I believe it is navy rather than purple. I think it is longer rather than shorter and was pulled up to enable seating in the lower chairs in the children's environment. I think it was also selected to be appropriate for the "highest level" to the day's agenda, ie, meeting with other people rather than just solely an event geared toward the children. A recent NY Times article addresses the tremendous impact this First Lady has on America's youth because she did not come from a "blessed" background, but reached a tremendous level of success on her own drive and the support of her family. I suspect her influence is far more reaching than just pulling a cargidan from the closet or reaching for more color in our own wardrobes, albeit fun too.
susang
Commencement ceremonies are tomorrow at 1:30 Pacific time. It will be livestreamed here:
http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/index
Here's the special commencement T-shirt:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1830989&id=27108774150
@Willow,
Mrs. O's speech is tomorrow at 1:30 pm (PDT), and 4:30 pm (EST). The following link shows the area is really pulling out all the stops. I think they're going to get a little boost in their local economy. What I thought was good was that over 50% of the graduates are the first to go to college in their families. Also, over 70% of the college are minorities and immigrants. It's small, new, and they're first graduating class. They're hoping to expand having Mrs. O the first commencement speaker and all the attention they're getting. They've spent over $700K to put up big screens in their downtown area (I read that this week)!
www(dot)capandtown(dot)com
I meant to say that the $700K includes the big screens and all the local planning, etc. that it takes to coordinate the over 25K people they're expecting. As you can see from the above link and flyer, they're advertising it as a block party! LOL
I hope people spend money and they get their money back.
I know this is probable redundant and unimportant but did anyone notice that Mrs.O has that Alaia belt she wears all the time in white also. I just came across this picture and I think it looks a lot like her black one.
http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0cCkaLqahZeaM/340x.jpg
Sorry everyone for the many posts...keep forgeting stuff and I need to go to bed. The live webcast of her speech will be at www(dot)ucmerced(dot)edu. They're even having a pre-show starting at 11:30 PDT and 2:30 pm (EST). These folks aren't playing around!
'night all...
"Lee Rosenbaum reports....that Michelle Obama will attend on Monday the ribbon-cutting for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's new American Wing, which will be followed by a private meeting with arts and entertainment leaders. That evening, she will attend the American Ballet Opening Spring Gala at the Metropolitan Opera House."
This sounds like it's going to be all kinds of fabulous!
Thanks for the info Janelle no need to apologize!
Ooooooooo, perhaps the Met is where she'll wear the tuxedo??? So much suspense!
Check out this spoof, it made me laugh;
http://bit.ly/ED9PZ
Janelle - thanks for the info on the livestream of festivities and speech by Mrs. O. I hope I can get it this time. For the poetry night, I could get neither a clear picture, or clear sound. I hope tomorrow will be better.
Ok I have to butt in here on the whole talk about people in America dressing well....not so nice. I really couldn't agree more with you guys. I think it's sad fashion has been put to the way side so much here in America. I know/understand there are more important things in life but how you look says a lot about yourself. Like I said a few post back I'm only 17 so I think I'm one of the younger visiters here but even at my age I take great pride in how I look. I attend online school so I don't go off to school everyday but when I do go to the store or something like that I wear nice jeans a pretty top and heels. I've been wearing heels since I was about 11 years old. Its the way my parents raised me. It went as far as one time I was walking in this store I go to all the time and a woman that worked there walking up to me and said "I always know when your walking down by me because your the only one around here who wears heels and is always put together." I think thats pretty sad when a 17 year old is the most put together person in a store. I've always enjoyed looking nice and I always have my hair and makeup done before going out. I just really wish more woman and girls in America would put more time into how they look.
First of all, Iman did not insult our First Lady, for she was only explaining between being strikingly beautiful, and interestingly beautiful. I do understand what she is saying. I'm certain Iman with her beauty and color, had to do things and endure criticism in her field, and she took what was given to her, and turned it into great success with a price. Strikingly beautiful is a curse, because you have to remain that forever, or else people will talk about you not being that woman of beauty anymore. But, Mrs.O is interestingly beautiful, for she has the complete package that will last forever. I personally am tired of the dumb young adults, who feel that their outer beauty is everything, and they don't have to work hard for their success. They try to be infamous for money and fame and forget about getting a real education. I love my First Lady and her husband loves her too. Women would kill to find a man like our Potus, and she, got him! So you know, she's all that and then some, the 120% doer!
Abigail14,
As someone who's old enough to be your grandma, I just want to say how good it is to hear a young person say that you take pride in how you look. You are mature enough to realize that external appearance is not everything but that it is part of the package, and it's how others see us. It's been proved in actual experiments that when we show by our appearance that we care about ourselves, others to pay more attention to us and we have greater opportunities to have an influence. Keep it up!
I understand everyone's opinion about Americans not dressing up anymore and not taking pride in what they look like,although I disagree.I'm a firm believer in dressing for yourself and not how other people deem appropriate.Some people just aren't comfortable in dresses or heels,me being one of them.But again I get everyone's point.I just went to a wedding last week and they were people in jeans and tank tops.That is a place where you should look your best but the mall?Really?
I agree with Christina, I think Iman just got bundled up with her own words which were ill-phrased but I think what she meant was Mrs-O is more than her outer-beauty and that her inner-beauty will show more as she grows older and continue with her agenda.
Carmen,
I see your point, and I don't go to the mall in dresses and heels unless I'm on my way home from work. But it's possible to look put together and appropriate even in casual wear.
I saw some wedding photos once in which the father of the groom (of all people!) was wearing khaki pants, sneakers!!, a button-down oxford cloth shirt, a nondescript sport coat and tie, and what I would call a fishing hat which he kept on his head the entire evening--even inside the very nice club in which the reception was held. Now that should be considered inappropriate in anyone's book, IMO!
I also recall one of my son's high school girlfriends who was known as the class fashionista, and it was well known that she bought the majority of her clothes at Good Will. It was a private school, so I know most of the girls paid far more for their clothes and shopped at much more upscale stores; but none looked as good as she did. She had great fashion sense, so she knew what to look for, and the self-confidence to pull it all off. She went for quirky combinations that gave her a signature style even at a young age and on a very tight budget.
Just two quick comments.
One doesn't need to wear dresses and heels to the mall. But, as someone said above, one can look a bit more put together than just throwing on a pair of jeans and Tee shirt.
Yeah! for the comment by Ms. G about Good Will. I have also found that some of the best dressed people are shopping there and at other thrift stores. Truly -- the very best dressed people I have known! They find the most amazing things, and they can afford so many more things. I was amazed. Of course, it takes more energy than I have to wade through all that stuff for the gems, but if one has the energy, the pay-offs are wonderful.
@ms.G
Thank you for your kind words. It's nice to see other woman who share my liking for dressing nice. Seems like there aren't too many of them around where I live.
Your story about the wedding and the father of the groom reminded me of something that happen to me at a wedding when I was younger. I attended a family friends wedding back when I was about 14 years old. I wore a pretty purple dress and silver heels that was very nice/pretty for a 14 year old to wear (I look back at it now and would never wear it now, but then again I'm not 14 still). I am from NY but live in CO now. I live closer to a city so there aren't cows everywhere but the father of the groom showed up to the wedding wearing jeans and a cowboy hat. The wedding was set outside with a very large waterfall and it was just so pretty but in no way shape or form the type of wedding you wear jeans and a cowboy hat too. It just amazed me he would think if wearing something like that when he knew that wasn't the setting of the wedding.
Abigail, let's write a book on wacky weddings! haha
I think one of the greatest things Mrs. Obama teaches all of us, at all ages, is to be true to our own values and not be swayed by others who disagree with us, who are hostile toward us, or who are just plain clueless. You're lucky to be learning that lesson at only 17.
Mr. G,
We could write a best seller together haha.
I really couldn't agree more with you on Mrs. Obama. I love the fact that she has shown young woman in America and all over the world it is beautiful to be smart and go to college and have a job. But at the sametime she did it with such class and grace. She showed woman you don't have to be just beautiful or just smart but you can be both.
Charity shops, sale rails, jumble sales, antique shops, Ebay, designer clothes, high street and online... they all combine to be the secret weapon of the great shopper! Some of my nicest things have come from charity shops. I also customise things. It's good to play with pieces and liven them up a bit. Changing the buttons on a cardigan or jacket can make it look new too. Or embroidering the cuff of a jacket, wearing it with a belt, different earrings etc.
I'm glad to hear that people think we could all dress up more. I do succumb to jeans - but then I'm at home with animals and a vegetable garden. It's nice to wear proper clothes when I leave the house with my husband. I always feel that jeans are a bit of a copout - even though I do agree that with a pretty top and Louboutin's, no-one would look a slouch!
Pretty,pretty and dare I say it? pretty dress