Friday
Jun122009
We Love
Friday, June 12, 2009 at 7:12 PM 
Photo by REUTERS/Richard Lewis/Crown Copyright/Handout
Thank you to those (IVA!) who directed us to this lovely photograph of Mrs. O and Sarah Brown walking through the gardens of 10 Downing Street in London. The photo was taken on June 8, but just released today. A wonderful way to start the weekend!
Reader Comments (155)
Nice pic. Strange that MO looks a little stout here and SB appears to be the thinner one. Good strolling outfit.
Pleated, patterned skirts do that to me, too, MissAnn. They're fun to wear, but they make you look more voluminous than you really are.
Goodness...I'm speechless again. Maybe it's the angle the way the picture was taken but Mrs. O does indeed look stout (which she is not). Of course, those kind of pleats will add pounds to anyone and only should be worn by those who are quite slim. She also needs to lose that awful wide belt and the slicked back hair. Honestly, she is such a beautiful woman and this outfit is simply not doing her the justice she deserves!
Mrs. O should return to her dress sheaths, cardigans, and pencil skirts. She is the bomb in those and those kinds of clothes really compliment her figure.
The combination of the belt and the pleats add unflattering volume in all the wrong places. But what an absolutely gorgeous setting!
I like to watch Mrs. O's new combinations; for example this black & white dress with an aqua
colored sweater. It's a great way to get more mileage out of your closet.
Char
What a beautiful picture! It's a little bit like a dream sequence with the flowers and the vines framing them. Both women look lovely.
I really like Mrs.O's mix of the soft patterned dress and the baby blue cardigan. I guess, as always, I am lukewarm on the belt, but if she is going to wear it (and we know by now that absolutely is! lol) this is a really great way to utilize it. It really dresses up the whole look.
By the way, I was doing some online shopping (or more browsing) earlier and I came across the cooooolest item ever! It's the red Thakoon reverse kimono that Mrs. O wore at the DNC convention last summer, but turned into a mini skirt. It's not really the sort of thing I would wear AND I really cannot afford it (even at its steep discount because it's from like 3 seasons ago). But the fabric is really beautiful and it's still a striking piece. Anyway, I thought others would find it cool to see that fabric re-incarnated. Link here: http://www.eluxury.com/estore/browse/product_detail.jsp?id=12043702
I think its b/c they are in motion MRS O far from stout hehe....
I'm glad you posted this picture, I provided the link on the last thread and wondered why no one commented on it.
I do find it curious that Mrs. Brown looks slimmer than she normally does and Mrs. O, the opposite. Could be the angle and outfit since flowy, pleated dresses like the one Mrs. O is wearing will add volume. I actually like the whole outfit, belt included. And the swept back hair is something I do, as a black woman, when I just can't and don't want to deal with wrapping my hair at night, and then fussing with it the next day.
I like the "feel" of the picture though...very lazy, hazy and whimsical.
I think the pleats of the dress probably do add a tad of volume...
but sheesh! She doesn't look "stout". She looks more or less like herself. Her body is very athletic but she has never been skinny. I think she looks terrific and it really is a very pretty outfit.
Of course, every single outfit will inspire different opinions. And I guess that one is just mine. But the comments here can sometimes make me very cranky. Some people are so hard to please. Not that II would have it any other way since it's good to have diversity of opinion and etc....
Anyway...I think this trip must have been extremely fun for the Obamas. So good for them.
It's perplexing the lengths to which some posters would go not to say anything that can be perceived as even remotely negative about the first lady. They deserve a gold medal for verbal acrobatic gymnastics (lol). BTW, that is a lovely picture of two healthy regular women, who just happen to have extraordinary positions, enjoying a beautiful spring day. (I still wish the first lady would get rid of that belt though, maybe a slim black belt would have been more fitting)
Could the dress be jason wu? It kinda looks like this one from his Spring 2009 collection. Also in the pics of her in the car with the dress on, you can kind of see similar detailing in the front.
http://www.style.com/fashionshows/complete/slideshow/S2009RTW-JASONWU/?loop=0&&iphoto=8&play=false&cnt=12
I love the silver pleated look. Are we sure that is a skirt and not a dress? I agree that the outfit would look nice without the belt as well.
The setting is divine - and Sarah looks lovely in that color.
Mrs. O, I beg of you, no more "heavy" belts! They sit too high and do not complement your figure.
I just can't bash the hair. Mrs. O just has "vacation hair." We've all done it, ladies. When I travel and don't want to fuss with my hair I come up with a low maintenance 'do, too.
Okay, these pictures are adorable AND one of them gives us a different look at that Peter Soronen dress Mrs. O wore to the Governor's Ball.
http://community.livejournal.com/obama_daily/234115.html
Someone on another thread today asked if anyone had noticed both POTUS and FLOTUS had gained weight. I think they probably have, but let's cut them a little slack. They've been in Europe, staying in embassies and dining with world leaders. It's not like they're going to turn to the waiter at the Elysee Palace and ask for fruit and cottage cheese. They work out like maniacs in their normal (and I use the term relatively) lives, and I would hope it's not only for their health but also so they can cut loose when confronted with delicious food in foreign lands - or the White House dining room, for that matter.
No more belts please - I love her outfits, but tired of the belts! Please please please. I will make an exception for the Alaia belt she wore with the Maria Pinto Purple sheath.
Speaking of Maria Pinto, Has Mrs. O ditched her? Any thoughts anyone?
I think Michelle Obama would benefit from dressing her shape with more volume/interest on top and de-emphasizing her hips.
This outfit suffers from the placement of the belt (and its color). If she went for a more padded shoulder look it would give her more volume in the bust area and give her more of an hourglass figure rather than a pear. A lighter colored belt would have been a better choice here. And maybe a thinner width of belt would be more attractive.
However, I do like the colors. I wonder if she has considered wearing her signature large belts UNDER her cardigans.
Christina, forget the Soronen dress! Did you see how gorgeous Mrs. O looks in the last picture of that series, Her ruffled beige collar peeking under the tailored black coat and the broach, Wow! Her hair and makeup were on point as well; she needs to bring that shade of lipstick back! I am also loving the sweptback bob.
Time for a reality check. Michelle is not skinny.
She is a 46 year old, fit, attractive, youthful woman. She is not slim, slender, skinny, thin, or anything remotely like that. She is athletic and tall, but she has a lot of weight below her waist, shall we say. She works on it.
This is a very pretty look for her, I like the hair up -- it's summery and casual. Love the dress and cardigan. Very British. Sarah Brown looks pretty too. With her it is a case of fitting clothes properly - she looked good in France, and here she looks lovely, very relaxed.
Beautiful picture, thank you!
It's mind-boggling that the woman wearing the Soronen gown w/ the fabulous hair and jewelry is the same woman shown here and in the previous photo of the visit to Westminster Abbey. Who took that other Michelle away?
Untucking the cardigan would've gone a long way towards improving her profile. A structured jacket with tailored cinching at the waist would've been even better with this particular dress, as well as a belt that didn't call so much attention to itself. I get that she loves belts, I would've suggested a thinner one in white.
I love everything but that particular belt with the dress. I agree with whoever said that a narrower belt would have been more flattering.
This is possibly the most breathtaking picture I have seen all day. Between the scenery and the beautifully colored fashions...I'm speechless! :)
JRG -- vacation. vacation. vacation. People often wear different clothing when they're on vacation compared to when they're "working" and intentionally putting themselves in the public eye. Again, I know Mrs. O will wear something again that you will like. She hasn't changed into a different person.
Nonpasserat -- I agree with you. Michelle Obama is not slender. To speak extremely broadly, different cultures often have differing beauty standards. In an EXTREMELY BROAD sense, having curves is perhaps a little more appreciated in the black community. (I'm tiptoeing into this, if you can't tell, because I don't want to appoint myself some kind of spokeswoman for black people. And I don't want to suggest that all black people look exactly alike.)
I just bring this up to note, what some people are seeing as "stoutness" or a figure flaw to be worked on or hidden, others may see as an asset. Slender hips and a slender bottom are not an ultimate goal for all. So maybe she's not exactly trying to de-emphasize her hips. To be honest, I would say that it seems more clear that she's trying to play them up, and others are reading this as a "mistake." She's worn enough curve-emphasizing clothing that I'm getting the message that it's intentional.
Now I'm not in her head, of course. Just offering some food for thought. Just because the broader culture may valorize women with boyish figures at the moment (or with slender hips and REALLY LARGE BREASTS,) doesn't mean that's a beauty standard shared by everyone.
Nora -- I'm very curious about the dress in that last picture. It's not something I remember seeing before, but maybe Mrs. T has? Personally, I just thought it was very cute for them to pose with Flat Stanley.
no she definitely packed on a few pounds. why oh why does she always put the belt OVER the sweater???? if it had been just around the dress, it would have been fine.
Time for the belts and cardigans to go, and stat. Totally unflattering. Had this outfit simply been the dress by itself, it would have been a hit. Add the belt sitting too high and bunched up lines of the cardigan and you have a not so great outfit. Pretty much every time she wears a wide belt or cardigan, or god forbid, both at the same time, it ruins what would be a great outfit.
I want to echo some of the comments made above. Even though Michelle's outfits don't always sit well with the masses, can this fellow congregation agree that she is redefining beauty? Michelle isn't skinny. And she knows this. Voila! She struts in a dress with a pattern and pleats. Some say downplay. She says flaunt.
Doesn't Mrs. Obama have beautiful cheekbones? This hairstyle certainly plays them up.
The bracelet on MO's left wrist looks substantial, with some blue stones or enamel that goes with the color of the sweater.
Ok, we all love Mrs. O but someone needs to get her a full-time professional stylist. That doesn't mean hire someone to change her style, but a pro to help her avoid guffawes like the outfit above. Pleats of that type with the sweater gathering in the back all work to Mrs. O's disadvantange. Also, in this instance, one of the new thinner belts would have worked better over this outfit.
I love that our fantastic first lady seems to have no intention of trying to make herself look thinner. Maybe we are at the birth of a new standard of beauty, one in which the natural curves of women are celebrated as pleasing to the eye. Maybe this new standard will leave room for more than one type of body.
Wouldn't that be a good thing?
Mrs. O is not skinny or thin. She's definitely got hips. But she usually looks quite toned and fit--not fat. In this pic, she looks a bit stout or round--yes, she looks kind of fat. Could be the cut of the clothes, the belt, etc. And it could be because she's put on a few vacation pounds--who wouldn't with a stop in Paris?
She certainly would look trimmer if she would stick to the sheath dresses. But since she seems to be favoring more voluminous looks these days, perhaps she doesn't care. Or perhaps this is just part of being busy and not having time to think/rethink wardrobe choices.
I don't care for this outfit on her, nor did I like the flower power bit from the other day. But it least it's a look, and it's interesting. I am always curious to see what she is wearing. In contrast to Mrs. Brown, who might be a lovely lady, but whose clothes are not the least bit interesting.
Mrs. O looks relaxed and lovely.
But how about a shout out for Mrs. B as Most Improved Since Last We Saw Her? If it weren't for the 'comfortable' shoes (so British). Watch our Michelle and Carla, there's a dark horse coming in on the outside track...
Have a great weekend Mrs. O'ers one and all.
I just cannot understand why this woman looks great some times and so utterly embarassingly horrible others. I don't think she is flaunting it. I think she can't see herself in the mirror. She needs to either lose weight or dress for the weight she is now carrying around. She cannot indulge in bright colors and stripes and flamboyance unless she gets back into shape. Until then she should put on some of those black outfits--or the Lanvin--she looked great in. I mean, looking at Carla Bruni in white and Michelle in white was just....well, I felt embarased for her. Does she have no one around to say--uh, no, not that one honey, you look like a tank in white--let alone knowing what any pro needs to know: that the camera adds ten pounds. She is not as free as she seems to think she is. She looked horrible all the way through Europe--and was only great three times on the last trip to Europe. Zebra stripes on that backside? Is that pride? Or is that stupidity?
A professional stylist? while on vacation?? LOL if the American people got the vapors over a three day vacation imagine how they would feel about a professional paid stylist on vacation...it comes out of her pocket, and seriously I'm going to cut Michelle some slack on her vacation and private time.
Actually Mrs A the shoes Mrs B is wearing do look stylish to me--after all they are a wedge. Sensible? I must be getting old. I agree with you. Mrs B does look good. And in fairness to Mrs O sometimes you just don't know how the camera is going to catch you at a particularly bad angle or how an outfit is going to look photographed. Even movie stars with stylists get this wrong.
Shelly
POETRY IN MOTION
@nonpasserat just a correction on your comment on Mrs.O's age. She is 45 not 46 - born 17th January, 1964. She was 44 when her husband became the 44th President - that's how I remember!
This picture of Mrs.O and Sarah Brown creates such a serene atmosphere, you can actually smell the sweet perfume of the flowers and crisp London air. I do love Mrs.O's colour combination, but want to agree that she does seemed to have put on a few pounds. But, like the rest of us it only goes to show that she IS HUMAN and would have to consciously make an effort to control her diet like a normal person would. It's all that great White House food and those fancy restaurants!
Nevertheless, I'm thinking that if she wore a thinner belt (maybe in the same fabric of the dress) it would have softened the look. I keep thinking that she probably doesn't want to look like a balloon and feels the need to accentuate her waist with these broad belts.
I think Mrs. O appreciates the physical feel of her clothe in addition to the silhouette, color or print. She often wears clothes with soft or special textures then jazzed up with unusual embellishments. I think she also must enjoy the feeling of a wider belt worn sort of like a corset.
In this case, the cardigan is too thin to be adding bulk, so I think the camera angle isn't the most flattering.
(and, let's not forget that life at Downing Street is crazy from a political standpoint right now. Gordon Brown had to put up a real fight not to get ousted from the premiership last weekend. Party leaders quitting his cabinet & making public calls for him to stand down: all-night strategy sessions as he reorganized his cabinet; in the middle the trip to Normandy. Very tough time.)
I am holding my tongue with both hands and glueing it to the roof of my mouth. Can someone help me find my Zen, please?
Hmmmm....it's kind of funny that I don't remember people criticizing Barbara Bush or Hilary Clinton that much for not being completely svelte. That said, as a woman of size myself, you DO need to learn what flatters and what does not, and to look in a full-length mirror at all angles before you go out. I would never dream of belting a cardigan or jacket on the outside. I'll bet that beautiful dress came with its own slim belt. If she had used it under the cardigan, it would have made a world of difference. Mrs. O. needs to learn to dress for the size she is now, not the size she wants to be.
Ahem...Michelle Obama is not out of shape, and she is NOT fat. In fact, she has a normal woman's figure---not the figure of an emaciated fashion model (thank goodness). I think she represents real beauty and not a unrealistic shape that can only be attained through an unhealthy diet, breast augmentation and something like liposuction.
Many women are pear shaped (and we are talking all races here). I think it's high time that they are seen for the womanly women they are. (And guess what, I'm one of them. And, like Michelle, I don't obsess over trying to look like women chosen for magazine photography.)
Has she gained weight? Maybe, maybe not. It's hard to say. Have any of you gained weight lately? Stress? Lack of time for exercise? Any other reasons?
Yes I noticed too that she seems to have put on weight. But I know from personal experience that at age 45 and having had 2 children, the pounds just start to add up stealthily, and before you even know it you've put on 10 pounds, and it's very had to get back to where you were before. Anyway, the issue (or should I say disapointment) that I now have is the same old same old reliance on cardigans with a wide belt over the top. It is getting boring and the one thing I so love about Michelle's clothes is that they were always fresh and inspiring. I couldn't wait to see what she would wear next, but now it's Oh- just another belted cardigan.
I like the cardigans okay but it's time to move on and start experimenting again WITHOUT BELTS. Just please not an experiment with flowerinig blooms. Also, I disagree with the comment that she looked bad in the all-white outfit, I thought it was great.
Don't let the naysayers convince anyone that a woman shouldn't be able to wear whatever looks move her. Whatever she loves. That goes for Michelle or any woman. There is no "look" in fashion that is beyond anyone. There is only adapting a look to suit your body type and personality. Coco Chanel said that luxury is comfort and comfort, luxury. To be comfortable one must feel free to play, have fun with. Michelle is obviously a joyous person, what with her colors, her playful patterns and combinations. She plays outside the box and thank god for it. Fashion should be fun, not restrictive. It should be accessible, not exclusive. I think it would help some people on here to keep these things in perspective when critiquing. The attitude should be open and adaptable, never closed or you risk coming across like you want to slap a straitjacket on her, however well-intended you may be.
Michelle looks god dam awful and someone needs to tell her the truth. She is no longer a regular person- she is the First Lady! She carries a title that requires she observes protocol, propriety and decorum. Come on, people, don't let our love for Michelle- and I do love her dearly- cloud our judgement that her role as First Lady requires a seriousness much much more than what we are seeing now... Let's also admit our limitations about issues of this natutre and collectively suggest our First Lady consult with some professionals
The hair pulled back is the look of a woman that does not have access to a hairstylist. I believe that the hairstylist did travel with her to France for the official visit with the President then returned back to the States. Mrs. O went to London without her hairstylist and is left to pull back her hair instead of using a local stylist that can style her hair for her. A local stylist that she does not know can be a risk since she/he could dish it out to the media. Mrs. O is a private person who refuses to take that risk.
I can't wait for the beginning of the week when she does some official work and she is back to looking polished. As for this vacation, it is obvious to all that Mrs. O desperately misses her stylist that work with her in an official capacity. We do too.
Zen, Bevi! Zen! Let's both take deep breaths, in and out. Mrs. O is happy and healthy, and I'm sure would not want us to stress out on her behalf.
But it is hard.
I like Mrs. B's shoes, here. A nice in-fashion wedge heel.
Wow!!! People are funny to me. Mrs. O takes a pic with a voluminous dress on, at a bad angle, and some people are falling over their keyboards trying to type that she has gained a few pounds. Please!! She gained a few pounds in a few days, I don't think so!! No one said anything about her gaining weight in the previous post or the one of her in France. The saying is definitely true that people build you up, just to watch you fall (or at least make something up to make it look like your falling). And I know some of you never built Mrs. O up and are just haters trying to find a flaw to break her down with. I got news for you, you can't bring her down. Michelle Obama is still going to be a smart, beautiful, strong, glamorous, and compassionate woman. You might as well get use to it!!
Many have commented about the pulled-back hairstyle, and I have to admit that I think it's a little too severe looking and much prefer seeing her with softer layers around her face. However, someone added a comment at the end of the London thread which brings up some very useful information in understanding African American hair. It requires very special care, and not just any stylist is capable of providing that care. I also know from a friend whom I have worked with for many years that the daily use of heat and chemical treatments takes a very heavy toll on this type of hair. So I think the occasional give-the-hair-a-break day is something we'll all need to accept and appreciate.
And BTW, Nyon, when did observing that someone may have gained a couple of pounds become a sign of hating or attacking that person? I would still consider Michelle Obama "a smart, beautiful, strong, glamorous, and compassionate woman" even if I did think she'd gained a few pounds. Actually, I'm currently working on taking off the extra 9 pounds I've allowed to creep up on me only because I don't like what they do for the fit of my clothes, not because I think those few pounds change who I am. :)
I just looked back at the other thread, and the comment came from Lilly O. Perhaps, Lilly, you wouldn't mind reposting it here?
I haven't posted here since the change. I don't like most the comments that I am reading. Alot of h8 and meaness.
Both Mrs. O and the other woman looks beautiful.