London Flower Power
Wednesday, June 10, 2009 at 4:28 PM 
Photo by Jeff Moore / Splash News
Media outlets, particularly those overseas, have been abuzz over Mrs. O's most recent ensemble, worn as the first lady left Westminster Abbey in Central London yesterday. Mrs. O wore a sheer tunic, adorned with layers of embroidered floral trim, over a pair of slim black pants and white tank. A polka dot Sonia Rykiel belt cinched the waist, and a layered cardigan in yellow with purple trim (Hanii Y perhaps?) topped the ensemble. Mrs. O's ToyWatch in ultra violet added the final punch of color. Should anyone recognize Mrs. O's tunic, we would love an anonymous tip!
Reviews have been a bit mixed (as they usually are when the first lady makes a bold fashion move). Of the look, New York magazine said, "Michelle Obama Can't Always be Perfect," while the Daily Mail named Mrs. O, "the First Lady of Flamboyance." Our take? We like that Mrs. O has fun with her style. Her ensemble seems to project a playful, bright mood, and who can fault that? (Kat, you inspired the title for this post! Just perfect.)
To see more ensembles from Mrs. O's trip to London this week, click here. We have to say, we've felt a bit conflicted about what to cover and what not to. Technically, Mrs. O and her daugters are on a private vacation. Some of the photos feel very intrusive (peering into car windows, etc.), so we'll only feature those where Mrs. O is making a more formal, public appearance.
Today the first lady (wearing an argyle J.Crew cardigan) and her daughters braved the rain to visit Leavesdon Studios, where the Harry Potter films are made. Hope they had fun!
Sonia Rykiel, ToyWatch
Reader Comments (256)
Christina: Mrs Biden looks absolutely delightful! She always does...
Yes, the word is shocking. The media articles are properly titled in response to this get up. It makes her hips look wider. I do love the colors but it is just too youthful for a woman her age. The belt makes it worse. I like the pants, the cardigans and the watch. But everything else, including that hairstyle, has to go. Surprisingly, I think everyone would have liked this tunic if it had been worn with white pants and no belt. I actually like the tunic by itself but not in combination with the rest of this ensemble. A fashion mistake indeed!
Audrey, your post made me chuckle !!
Wonder if maybe on this private trip, Mrs. O is operatiing without her usual support system for hair, makeup and clothes. Photos, also, are from paparazzi rather than the official WH photog. She looks like a tourist with kids in tow, dealing with rainy weather. But they clearly were having a good time! Finally, pretty is as pretty does. She gave her daughters a trip they will remember forever.
Audrey, Audrey, Audrey....checking this website really takes so very little of my time and I have yet to yell at my computer screen! I do enjoy reading all the comments, however, and will continue to do so even though it does seem that I manage to offend some posters simply by waking up in the morning. Oh well, so be it. What does confound me, however, is that it appears some of my most vocal critics are totally flummoxed when they read an opinion or viewpoint that differs from theirs. One learns from weighing differing opinions and viewpoints rather than dismissing them out of hand. It is this sort ot "ideological isolationism" that has made civil discourse, sadly, a thing of the past.
Mrs. T, how do I get rid of the security messages I get every time I interface with this website? Here's the message: "Security Information. THis page contains both secure and nonsecure items. Do you want to dispaly the nonsecure items?" I use Internet Explorer 7.
Also, any way to reverse the order of the comments thread? I.e. the newer comments show up on the first pages and the older on the last pages.
Hey everyone! I was finally able to log in as a registered user after some difficulty...good to be back.
As far as Mrs.O's tunic goes, this is one top I would have liked to see without a belt. As a stand alone it is a beautiful top, very modern with a retro twist - shagadellic almost. I absolutely love the detail and the rows of colour and flowers. But it becomes too busy with the belt and two layers of sweaters and really just takes away from the simple beauty of Mrs.O and her curvaceous body.
P.S Mrs.O-ers would have known me as "ROCKY" before.
Hyde Parker you nearly made my paint my screen with tea. Is it Eddie izzard who suggested that there were two things Americans could do abroad if they weren't looking that good: 1) Talk about Scooby Doo, 2) Pretend you're Canadian.
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chicagoan! Long time no salient comment. Welcome back.
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Jerseygirl: "The right" ??! Yes, everyone thinks they have the right. Actually we don't. The laws allow us to, but it's not a right. It's a privilege. I don't have the right to comment on what my neighbour wears, or my Prime Minsters wife. I have done (and unkindly) but I never for one minute thought I had the right to. I rather thought I was being extremely rude. (Minster?!!!! Minister!)
Some people come here expressly to be negative about Mrs O's fashion. Some are quite deliberately nasty. Maybe it's a sideswipe against her husband's administration. Maybe they are unhappy. I will shout them down whenever I get the opportunity. (I will try and remember this the next time Sarah Brown comes out without her control pants, bite my lip and say nothing horrible.)
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Audrey! You powerhouse of self-expression! Damn fine speech!
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Nancy, I love it when you're disingenuous.
Wow, someone please check her before she walks out the door! what is she thinking? did her children pick out her clothes for her?
and what if they did, bren
Oh, Posh Tater, you give me far too much credit. I am likely one of the least disingenous people you will ever know. A direct (okay, possibly too direct) Midwesterner who speaks right from the shoulder about what she means with little patience for whatever-it-is-you-think I am doing. As you do, actually. I bet we'd even learn to enjoy each other. Cheers.
All I know is, when this picture came up on my screen my dog started barking like her tail was on fire. Coincidence? I don't think so.
My husband's response was "Even Homer nods."
Personally, I knew we were in for something different when I saw that ToyWatch in Paris.
Posh Tater:
Maybe you don't have a "right" to comment, but I feel that I do since this is a fashion blog and that's what people do, comment. I read the responses, add my two cents and move on.
I just happened to notice that you become very snarky wtih posters whom you deem are negative (and call them out by name). Again, I don't consider it negative if someone does not like an outfit (which is their perogative). No one should be chastised by anyone for their opinion on these boards or chased away.
We can agree to disagree but my opinion on the above will not change.
Enjoy the weekend.
Bren,
If her children picked out her clothes for her and she gave their choice credence, more power to Mrs. O. That would show that she values their opinion, respects their wishes, and has fun with her girls on a special vacation and a special day.
You fashion police need to lighten up. People, myself included, have mentioned alternatives to her ensemble, but done so without being smarmy, snarky, snobby, or sarcastic. Why don't some of you filter your thoughts before you write? Is that asking too much?
There are plenty of other websites you can contribute to where your brand of "expertise" that is given in doses of thinly disguised contempt will be more than welcomed.
In response to all those who commented on my criticism of the children's clothing. I have 4 children (and not nearly the resources of the Obamas), and I am not "crazy wild" about how she dresses them. I am not attacking the children...good Lord! I am not a fan of oversized hooded parkas with every outfit (they get lost in the jacket) or of sneakers all the time and they seem to wear a lot of that. I know the girls are coming into an awkward age (pre teen are not easy to dress!), but there is some cute stuff out there. I understand that they are on vacation, but they are the FIRST FAMILY of the US, and as such have a standard to maintain...like it or not. I am a big fan of Obamas (I proudly went to the inauguration), but sometimes even Mrs O makes a mistake!
In a nutshell --- it was the right outfit to wear to a museum in the Hamptons...not to Westminster Abbey. It is not a city outfit, no matter who wears it.
Passagio, the Obama children are off limits for criticism of any kind. Period. And just forget about the awkward age garbage. This site has had to endure that topic once already, and it was neither pretty nor appreciated.
Years ago Hillary Clinton put people and the media on notice that her child was not up for discussion, and Sarah Palin made it clear recently that she did not want her daughter up for discussion either. While I applaud Hillary's work and detest the politics of Palin, as mothers they both have the right to protect their children from our nosiness.
And since you have children, you probably know that kids are self-conscious of their appearance, and what they wear is a huge part of that package. Just leave the girls' wardrobes alone. You have plenty to say about what you dislike about MO's outfit - why not just leave it at that? Most kids can't differentiate between people criticizing their personalities versus their appearance, so why not just leave the whole thing alone?
Jersey Girl, I disagree with you that people should not be chastised for their opinions - if those opinions are delivered in an obnoxious way. The great thing about this blog is people state their opinions much more respectfully than 99% of the sites out there. Since the site changeover, things have gotten a little smarmy again. Hopefully the blog will self-regulate back to an atmosphere of civility soon enough.
A "controversial" outfit brings it all to the surface, but I for one do not understand why some of the negative comments are so vicious.
What a wonderful, fun look! I appreciate Mrs. O staying true to her statement that fashion should be fun and make you feel good.
Looks like something Ugly Betty would wear
Very early in this thread, someone said they were not going to comment on the outfit until the the writer had let it kind of jell for a bit. That seemed like a good idea, particularly in the case of this outfit which has generated so many comments. Despite my dog's reaction (see above somewhere), much of the outfit is actually growing on me. I wish she had left the belt off, not because it isn't a cute enough belt, but because it stops the flow of a tunic which is kind of ethereal. It looks like silk organza - very light and airy - and the belt just makes it bunch up and detracts from the applique detail.
It can be very hard to find the right combination when you are starting with such a distinctive piece and I think that's what so many of us are responding to here. I hope we discover who designed the tunic, and how it was originally shown. I thought the idea that someone had of wearing it with slim khakis was a great one. The grey slacks and black shoes seem like they come from another world - certainly another fabric world.
I keep remembering MO's remark in Time a couple of weeks ago, when she said all this (I'm paraphrasing) chatter about her clothes is "just conversation." Well, this is some long and spirited conversation we're all having! For my money, that's at least half the fun of clothes.
I don't mind the clothes so much, though I probably wouldn't wear it if I were out in public as First Lady. I don't find it atrocious though.
It's more just the tightness of the hair style. It looks austere and contrasts with the brightness and lightness of the colors. If her hair was down, it would make the look seem much softer and everything would balance out. Or even that bouncy ponytail she had on when she went out to lunch with her staff or when she went to the Eiffel Tower. Those would've softened the look.
So yeah, it's the austereness of the hairstyle that seems jarring to my eye more than anything.
I love all the pieces by themselves...together they look like a closet exploded on Ms. O. I'm a huge fan but not of this outfit.
Everything that is worn, does not have to be belted. A horizonal design, flowers, wide hips plus and a belt that cuts you in half, is simply not working. .
Then all he more reason for Mrs. O to dresxs the children in cute attires and not let them always get lost in those big parkas and sneakers. We know she has good taste most of the time, but like it or not she and her family will be on display as the first family of the US. Unfortunately this is a position where you do not get an off day from the public eye. Mrs. O is smart enough to know that when she signed on for her hsband's presidential campaign.
Also, I was under the impression that only Mrs. T and/or one of the moderators were regulators of site decorum; after all, they are the ones who allow the comments to be posted, but gauging from the post above I am wrong. I will still go by the opinion of Mrs. T and her moderators when it comes to site correctness--and noone else. If they deem a comment good enough to be posted, then it's good enough for me.
I just had to chuckle at the comment about the hair style. Obvioisly, many still have a lot to learn about the hair regimen of a black first lady. First of all, when we black women put our hair in a ponytail or a bun, most of the time it is not by choice; more often then not we are managing our hair between appointments. If Mrs. O did not have her hairdresser at hand, which she probably did not since the rest of her trip was a private vacation and she perhaps did not see the point in spending the extra money, then she HAD to come up with a low-maintenace solution for her hair. Black hair + damp rainy Paris and London weather = bad frizzy hair day. And believe me when I tell you, this "severe hairdo" is just black women's version of easy hair grooming to carry us over to our next hair appointment. And you can do absolutely nothing with the hair unless you get it styled again (blow dry, flat ironed, etc). I truly hope that all this styling for official functions does not damage the strong healthy mane of our beloved FLOTUS.
La, la la la dee dah...and the music goes on and on and on ...
They all continue to protest too much...differing opinions, ideological perspective, blah, blah, blah...
And oh Christina...absolutely no assumptions here, only certainty with regards to bad faith and alter egos...
As for assuming "Republican Plants" - nah...I do believe some here need no prompting, financial incentive or incitement to disparage Mrs Obama - They seem to mostly come up with the hate and snark all by themselves...
We have to look no further than the horrific actions of a few days ago by the enraged man who filled with years of hate and compelled by dangerous propaganda courtesy of you know who, descended upon the holocaust museum and took the life an innocent man-
That's the price we pay as a nation for validating and encouraging the sort of hate motivated "free speech" masquerading as "discourse" that folks like Nancy and her ilk keep pushing for...
Sorry, ain't gonna happen here!
Eleroy! You have really stepped over the line. "Hate motivated free speech masquerading as discourse that folks like Nancy and her ilk keep pushing for..." Are you kidding me? Are you seriously suggesting I am comparable to the lunatic who killed that security officer because I don't care for some of Mrs. Obama's fashion choices? Who is the one with hate-filled speech here? As my mother used to say, "Who died and left you boss?"
Please.
Eleroy,
When you say "bad faith and alter egos," I assume you are referring once again to me. I'm at a loss even to imagine what I have done to incur such extreme wrath from you. I deeply respect and admire Michelle Obama, even when I occasionally disagree with certain fashion choices. I do not come here to bash her, and I have never bashed her publicly or privately. I have also never said anything derogatory about you.
If you will explain to me exactly what I have done to offend you, I will be more than happy to make a sincere apology for my action. If you don't want to do that but would prefer to continue taking pot shots, I have nothing further to say. This will be my last response to anything you say unless I can make amends for whatever I have done to offend you.
Eleroy, I'm sorry, I can't go with you there. There are magnitudes of difference between a hate-filled racist anti-semitic murderer, and a person who calls a tunic a "pinata." That kind of wild overstatement doesn't do any of us any good.
Hi Eleroy,
I agree with the above 3 posters. There is no proper correlation between a racist murderer and posters whom one may perceive as rude or thoughtless.
It really does not serve well to make that kind of over reaching comparison. I hope the case is your frustration level reached a boiling over point and you wrote something in haste that you now regret. 99.9% of the posters on this site are well-intentioned and I think you owe an apology.
If that puts me on your "bad" list, so be it.
Hi Lilly O,
Thanks for the explanation about hair style. I found it interesting and edifying and it does provide context that I hadn't understood before. I appreciate it. :)
I must part ways with those who seem to have made the wild leap in accusing Eleroy of comparing the meanspirited posters on this site to the racist D.C holocaust denier/murderer.
I read and re-read Eleroy's post and I come away with something very different.
There is a tendency to dismiss words and sentiments that come from an ugly place and have the potential to grow, take root and negatively influence and impact.
Some on this site continue to be unnecessarily and extremely spiteful and meanspirited in participating in what should be a respectful and lighthearted conversation about the fashion choices of a woman who never sought to be a fashion standard.
Unlike some, I too see and literally feel the venom that seeps through some of the posts no matter how hard some try to couch their attacks on the person of the first lady in nuanced and 'cleverly' manipulated verbiage.
Posters like Posh Tater, IVA , Bevi , Hyde Parker, Operafanatic, Dee, etc. do not always love Mrs O's choices and somehow manage to convey that without resorting to disrespectful and demeaning posts.
How is it possible that many of us on this board are able to decipher the difference between the decent dissenting posts of these posters and those of the other posters whose blatantly rude and insidious posts leave us unequivocal in our belief that they come premeditated and ill-intentioned.
It is not Eleroy who should apologize, but those guilty of initiating the actions that threaten to turn this board into a very unpleasant place.
Hi Audrey,
I adore your perspective and see you as one of the people who serve as the conscience of this blog. You have what I call a s--t detector that is very well calibrated, and nobody gets by your radar who comes to this board, as you said in the best way yourself, "premeditated and ill-intentioned."
My feeling about Eleroy's comment was if she/he was comparing the deeds of the Holocaust Museum murderer to the premeditated and ill intentioned posters, it is too far a stretch and simply not in the same ballpark. As rude and obnoxious as I find the comments of most of the people Eleroy cited, I truly believe that there is a line in the sand the was crossed by Eleroy.
Should these obnoxious posters apologize for their rudeness and sarcasm? I believe they should. Will they? Of course not.
Nora - here is a quote for you: "We have to say, we've felt a bit conflicted about what to cover and what not to. Technically Mrs. O and her daugters are on a private vacation. "
This comes from Mrs. T herself. Mrs. T felt conflicted about posting these photos, and she clearly stated why. I am sure that in the future Mrs. T. will have second thoughts about posting photos that show the Obamas on vacation, and why shouldn't she, when this blog will have to contend with the likes of you and your ilk.
Oh shut up Nora!
Now how's that for unmoderated/unregulated site decorum?
Well I didn't think Eleroy was comparing the posters to racist killers, although some of them could be closet racists, or shall I say... computer racists? Anyway, I thought he/she meant we as the guardians of this site, if you will, must not allow subdued and not subdued forms of hate speech in the name of 'tolerance.' I've seen people go out of their way trying to reason with posters who consistently make jabs at Mrs. Obama in various posts or even singular ones. I think b/c Michelle is unlike any First Lady we've seen people become overly acceptable of hidden insults. It's okay to discuss her clothes in depth as long as you respect Mrs. Obama's tastes and freedom of expression. However, one has to walk a fine line when discussing her appearance sans clothing. Many purposely choose not to walk that line. I personally feel that shouldn't even be up for discussion, especially when the remark sounds suspect, e.g. "Michelle looks severe with her hair pulled back. I'd prefer bangs b/c they soften her face." Why say a thing like that? Since when is a chignon severe? Mrs. Obama has no wrinkles and had no face lift, so why would a bun make her look severe? I consider that unnecessarily abrasive language. It's one thing to prefer bangs, but it's something entirely different to say b/c they 'soften' her and without them she looks 'severe.' As I've previously said, people have to take into account that Mrs. Obama may not think like you, look like you or even be around your age. And she definitely doesn't have any of our lifestyles, so we shouldn't dare school a First Lady on how to be a First Lady. That in itself is remarkably foolish. We have to be sensitive to these realities. But if you're not, well then... you already suck.
LOL. Is she wearing two pairs of pants too? LOL Whoever it was who posted that she looks like Carrie Bradshaw got it right on. Oh well - she's on vacation, not greeting a head of state. I admire her strong sense of self.
I am always in complete awe with everything this woman wears...just gorgeous!!!
is it possible all this adoration is going to MO's head? I mean, she looks like she thinks she can just do anything she pleases. She looks like the Easter Bunny. This is a job. Get a grip. Get a stylist if you've lost your sense of perspective. I think she's lost her humility.There is no other way I can explain this brilliant woman acting so dim. Maybe going inside the bubble really does change one.
Thanks Bev, but I must agree with Bianca...
It always starts really small in all those 'harmless', seemingly 'insignificant' ways and before you know it, it gets really out of hand.
Hate is a process that builds up gradually, culminating in acts such as the one at the holocaust museum.
Take for instance the guy in Long Island who names his kid "Adolf Hitler" -
He's not a murderer, but his intentions and potential for cutting unkindness are clearer for his seemingly 'harmless' act of freedom of speech and self-expression-
Hate does not always manifest in murder; and hateful sentiments are initially expressed sometimes in more harmless ways...
Some of the posters here are not harmless; they come with very a specific and unkosher agenda - and it certainly does not come from a good place. And contrary to what they would have you believe, for them it is really not about Mrs Obama's clothes or style, even if they slyly couch their hate in obligatory fashion chatter.
(Eleroy, I only use Jewish references to honor you and your heritage; Please know that I truly admire you - you've got spunk! And the world would be a fairer and nicer place if there were more people like you who willingly took the heat for defending the honor of another human being. Bravo!)
Mrs. O really needs help with her fashion. Who wears or wants to wear two cardigans at the same time along with the floral "getup". This is a real embarrassment for the United States. I saw that Mrs O and her girls visited the Queen on this most recent visit. I haven't seen any pictures of this--certainly hope she dressed respectfully.
Whooppee f**** *** doo!
2 cardigans worn at the same time - ironically the hottest trend for the fall season, suddenly constitutes a major diplomatic snafu and a colossal embarrassment for the United States -
That is if we are to believe Phyllis W of the doomsday church.
Phyllis darling, move away really slowly ....there, there... now bang your head really hard on that wall.
Now repeat after me - reallly slowly:
"I Phyllis W promise not to ever insert myself into any fashion related conversation especially seeing as I do not know jack**** about any of it. I promise to stick to the Fox news website where my ugly and wicked opinions about a woman I know nothing about and who has done nothing to me but will continue to be the subject of the screaming manifestation of my deepest insecurities and misery, will be better received."
Now shoo Phyllis - Rush, Hannity & Beck are calling...propaganda updates served with a cup of piping hot tea!
Camille: Sorry, but I will not go hide under a rock! Mrs. O will never be compared to Jackie O wearing outfits like this. I don't like your tone and think this should be a venue to discuss fashion. Obviously we don't agree and that is fine with me. I don't care if you wear 5 cardigans at one time, but I do expect more from my First Lady.
Phyllis, I think she's *trying* to not be compared to Jackie O. Why would she want that?
As for what you "expect" from your First Lady, why don't you just tell her she's fired? And the reason? Wearing a cardigan with two colors! And flowers on her top!
WOW.
I can't see why Mrs O would ever get compared to Jackie O. She is a completely different woman. I don't see that Jackie O was particularly stylish. Sometimes, yes. Always? No.
"As rude and obnoxious as I find the comments of most of the people Eleroy cited, I truly believe that there is a line in the sand the was crossed by Eleroy." Bevi
I do agree with this. Quite a lot.
"I just happened to notice that you become very snarky wtih posters whom you deem are negative (and call them out by name)." Jersey Girl
This comment of Bevi's covers what I was trying to say and would say in return.
"Jersey Girl, I disagree with you that people should not be chastised for their opinions - if those opinions are delivered in an obnoxious way. The great thing about this blog is people state their opinions much more respectfully than 99% of the sites out there. Since the site changeover, things have gotten a little smarmy again. Hopefully the blog will self-regulate back to an atmosphere of civility soon enough."
Negativity by itself - no problem. We can't always agree, neither should we. Everyone's different. But saying that someone is in need of professional help because of a belt??! *small noise of bemusement*
It seems to be a general concensus that this is not a favorite outfit! But we must all keep in mind that this is a human being and not a mannequin on display in your local Macy's window or one of your paperdolls when you were growing up. Mrs. Obama is confident woman and she dresses for herself...not for you and probably not even 100% of the time for her own husband! She wears things that "she" likes. To be quite frank, I would prefer a "Michelle Obama" who can think for herself and not some Stepford-political wife, who has to be "told" what to wear!!!!!!!
But are you really here to have a respectful discussion about fashion Phyllis W??
I love it that so many people are cutting Michelle Obama some slack on wearing something so outlandish while abroad in such a public place as our First Lady. But can you imagine what the response would be had Laura Bush worn something like this? I hope that this new-found tolerance extends to Republican women if they ever get back in office.
I don't think this outfit is outlandish, Helen. Just b/c you say it is doesn't mean it is. And had Laura Bush wore this outfit I would have thought it was lovely just as I do with Lady Michelle, but that's neither here nor there. Laura Bush isn't the First Lady and we don't have a Republican woman as First Lady either. I won't sit here and judge this site's morality off a hypothetical anyway. Mrs. O is about Mrs. Obama only. No one else matters.
I think you have the wrong website 'Helen'!
Incidentally, Laura Bush was and has always been treated with dignity and respect by everyone, something many like you now fail to extend to Mrs Obama.
But the problem with brainwashed, propaganda incited responses which typically result in people like you fighting non-existent wars in your head, is that somehow enemies are created where they do not exist and history as we all know it is brazenly revised to suit whatever narrative justifies and validates your hate!
I stand by every single one of my posts-
Thank you Audrey, Camile, Bianca etc.
And to all people of decency and goodwill here - Shalom!
We remain alert...