Wednesday
Jun032009
Mrs. O Lunches with Nancy Reagan
Wednesday, June 3, 2009 at 6:11 PM 
Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton
Mrs. O lunched with former First Lady Nancy Reagan today. The lunch came after President Mr. O signed a bill creating the Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission, which will honor the 100th anniversary, in 2011, of the late president’s birth.
Mrs. O has fully embraced a summer palette, wearing a striped T-shirt and floral cardigan from Gap (on sale for $24.99!), and white textured pencil skirt. A single strand of pearls and diamond bangles accessorized the look.
Update: Mrs. O wears a Michael Kors, Spring 2009, white lacquered boucle pencil skirt.
tagged Gap, Michael Kors in Outfits
Gap, Michael Kors in Outfits
Reader Comments (181)
For whatever it's worth:
1. I hate it when people who don't like an outfit presume to tell other people who DO that they don't have taste, or that they're just saying that because they're so in love with Michelle that they don't have eyes, or whatever. Don't try to get inside my head.
2. Conversely (or is it inversely?) I hate it when people do like an outfit presume to tell other people who don't like it that they're haters, Republicans (gasp! Like being an Republican is against the law or something) or some other comment like that. Again, enough with the mind-reading.
On other comment boards I've participated in, there's generally a rule called "don't talk about the boards on the boards." It's another way of saying that it's better to stick to your own thoughts, instead of trying to characterize someone else's (i.e., all people who dislike an outfit must be "haters," all people who like it have no taste.)
Where things seem to get off the rails here all the time is when someone lobs that kind of bomb, people feel compelled to defend themselves, and it all turns into a scrum when the truth is, it's a shell and a cardigan. Even I don't have that much to say about it because who cares?
There's this other thing I'm trying now called not saying anything when I disagree with someone. It's very zen. Sometimes I crack a bit like I did yesterday, but by and large, it's working for me.
Asking a serious question, is she suppose to be "on point" every day for everything she does? Is she also allowed to retain her individual style or must she conform to what "we" deem is first lady-ish or is it just subjective opinions?
Well, let me preface this by saying that I realize MO has a lot to think about when choosing an outfit, and she will usually have to go through at least two or three a day. She has to find something appropriate, flattering, and different, at the same time tasteful, etc. In this case she has to think about the skirt getting wrinkled when she sits down, how the photos will look, etc.
So, the colors are very pretty, I think this red is called "rouge" and is so bright and summery. Well, an outfit should add up to more than the sum of its parts, ideally. I think the stripes and floral are too busy and the pearls and diamond bangles are too much. It's just cluttered. The cardigan would be lovely with a simple white sheath and one of her pins, and a couple of chunky bangles in white and green for accent.
I know, easy for me to say!
@ Willow...
Your comment.....
“Can anyone not feel the hand of God on this man?”
I, too, have thought and felt the exact same thing about our President.
Thank you for making that statement.
Posh and OpFan, Thank you much for the tip about the shirt. I'll look it up, although I am sure I can not afford it. I had been sick, so I did not realize the post was updated.
Christina, I heart you (smile).
Briana, to venture a response to your "serious" question: I personally don't expect Mrs. O to be "on point" everyday for everything, and that is part;y why this blog is so interesting and fun.But some of Mrs. O's quirkiness is a little bit off (Remember the green jacket and the purple striped t-shirt, although I am sure some loved it), particularly for FLOTUS who has tons of extra stylish eyes and hands at her beck and call. Desiree Rogers for example is stylish and almost always on point, but I suspect Mrs. O is a free-spirit who loves giving people like us something to talk about (smiles).
On another interior decorating style note: Does anyone other than me love how the door is incorporated into the paperwall and molding design on the left. It creates such a smooth flow!
And finally, This is about President O's style, but I thought some of you would like to see it and debate on it.
www(DOT)politicsdaily(DOT)com/2009/06/03/walter-on-the-tieless-obama/
For my part, I understand that Prez O wants to let loose on his down time, but I did think he looked a little disheveled compared to Mrs. O's elegance on date night. But hey, to each his own + he is the POTUS so he can set trends if he wishes to.
If I can just bring up one more thing:
WHAT'S WITH THE SECRET DOOR?? (to our left as we view the photo.)
I think it leads to Narnia.
Willow,
You are so intelligent and articulate! When I watch the president I don't know whether to cry because the world is so full of problems he has to deal with, or cry because we are so incredibly lucky that he IS president.
P.S. Pretty hot out today, isn't it!
BEA:
It's interesting that you are such a fashion know-it-all when you don't even know how to spell palette.
Pallet=portable storage platform! And yes, I watch "What not to Wear" frequently. Sometimes, some of the outfits Clinton and Stacy put together are dreadful, but they don't presume to know EVERYTHING. There is such a thing as taste...you're either born with it or you're not.
@Groovy - thanks for you compliment. By your P.S. on the weather, are you letting me know that you, too, are in Portland, OR?
Thank you to others who expressed appreciation of my words.
@For Christina and Bevi and others with a crush on Rahm Emanuel, among the pictures of the President on Yahoo, there is a picture of Rahm riding a camel. I think you would like it. (smile)
I love the Gap sweater set and think its really cute - looks good on Mrs. O.
That said, I wouldn't have worn a gap set to have lunch with the former first lady, Mrs. Reagan. Seems a tad casual.
Just saying.
Willow - not Portland, but in the beautiful, if unseasonably warm, Pacific Northwest!
Basso & Brooke: WOW!!! Thanks again Posh!
OK, I know ya'll sick and tired of me now (I am), but I just wanted to confirm that Mrs. O is indeed appearing with Oprah at an event tonight. They just confirmed it on my local news, so be on the lookout for new pics!
@Groovy - Hi, neighbor. We do live in what I call Paradise, don't we? I grew up in rural Minnesota. The prairie had it's features to love, but this is amazing. I live surrounded by trees. I have the kind of lush garden I could never have imagined in the Midwest. For a nature mystic like me, this is heaven. I'm enjoying this early clear weather. So many years, it hasn't stopped raining until July 4th!
Philosopher King.
That's what a guest on Chris Mathews just called President Obama. This guest (an ambassador from somewhere, I'm sorry I didn't get his name) was so touched by the respect our President had shown to the Muslim world, he said he got goose bumps. Then he said that by this speech, President Obama had moved beyond being leader of an individual country to the role of "Philosopher King", someone with a vision and leadership for the world community. (Some words like that.)
Exactly. Awesome.
If you have not yet watched the looonnnnng speech (55 minutes), it is well worth while and is available everywhere. The White House site is a good one.
I watched the speech today, and let me tell you, I'm so proud of this man. I know deep in my heart, that God sent him to us, to give us peace in the Middle East. Even with all the negativity that surround him, I feel a protection that is given to him from God, for he is given a mission to accomplish.
I love Mrs. O outfit! Casual elegance is my style, and I love the two different prints together. She can pull this off, because of the color which suits her well, for she pops out from the calm colors that surrounds her. May I say that I never followed anybody like this couple in my entire life. They are just a beautiful example what a good marriage can look like and feel like, in spite of their rough time during their marriage, they worked together and did what was necessary to achieve a endorsing love.
What ya'll are calling secret doors are 'closets'.
Several of the rooms in the White House have the 'secret door closets'. They said in a video tour that I watched last year that especially in the rooms that are not square they added the closets because armoires, bookcases, etc. did not work well with the curved walls.
You can see the door knob to the right side of Nancy Reagan's head.
Leah -- seriously, I know that the door does not really lead to Narnia. I was just trying to spread a little sunshine.
Christina,
I did read earlier on another website where a couple of people didn't understand why there was a door there, so I thought I'd just toss out some info here for everyone.
I know that you weren't serious.
Looks like someone's else is posting as 'c' today.
For the record, I'm the longtime regular "C." - Capital C with a period following-
I happen to be one of those regular posters who's never had a bad thing to say about Mrs o's clothes...
I thinks she always wears whatever she does wear well and frankly, once she wore junya watanabe & Alaia, she had me completely convinced that she was absolutely uniquely fashion conscious in her own right -
And there's absolutely no way I could poke holes at anybody elses unique and peculiar style.
Add to that the fact that I really love this woman! (I find that I tend not to obssess or focus much on much else once I love a persons mind and being - rather strange for a fashion obssessed architect who constantly offers up unsolicited style advice while shopping and elsewhere; & re-designs and re-organizes peoples homes mentally -and sometimes actually! - when visiting!)
Willow, your 1:31pm post was so apt and expressed a lot of my feelings...
President Obama's speech was brilliant and the more you hear it it seems, the more profound and laden with wisdom and history it gets - A mark of a speech that will be referenced for years to come.
I'm so mad! I cannot believe that the President family have to pay for their trip to Paris. This is disgusting! All the Bush family have had everything paid for them except for our President.
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2009/06/last_weekend_br.html
Willow,
I read about the prairies in the Laura Ingalls Wilder books and thought they sounded pretty interesting! But I agree, green is great, even if the 4th of July is often cool and wet!
Groovy - Our lovely, overly warm weather has turned to severe thunderstorms and the threat of tornadoes. This isn't like Portland at all, but just like the midwest! It reminds me of standing on the porch when I was 5 years old, watching a tornado rip the porch roof and walls off before we made it into the house! I'm hoping we don't see anything like that tonight. Rather scary.
Hmm! Shakeup on the First Lady's team:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/06/04/east_wing_shakeup_as_first_lad.html
We just "met" Jackie Norris during that NBC special. She *seemed* nice.... Intrigue!
This is so funny! Must see video with Craig Ferguson:The Obamas and Date Gate.
http://thepoliticalcarnival.blogspot.com/2009/06/video-craig-ferguson-obamas-and.html
Mrs. O looks like Chucky from Child's Play in this photo...
Tori...lol
Willow - Good grief! I hope you don't get to relive that memory!
Groovy - I think the worst of the bad weather is passed. The sky is no longer that scary navy blue greenish color. Although there are trees down and power out in some parts of the city, we are in tact here. One of the only funnel clouds sited headed out over the Pacific. Hopefully things will stay calm throughout the evening.
Jersey Girl--
I so agree about our no longer being allowed to see this truly amazing creature, the old Michelle Obama. Recently I've been viewing early interviews and speeches and they do create a desire to see more of this person. My only consolation on this is that although the administration feels that politically (and they are probably right) it is to their advantage to present her as they have, President Obama has full exposure to the old one. He alluded to that in last night's broadcast when he said (paraphrased), "I also have a wife who is doing her level best to make sure I keep my head screwed on right." Sounds like the old Michelle to me.
Willow--
About those prisons: the physical is absolutely true and he knew that beforehand. He gets some breaks with golf, basketball, working out, a couple of hours each night with his family, and his weekly trips out somewhere in the U.S. But still lots of restrictions and I don't think this speech was recreation--I expect this trip has been plenty stressful. He just knows how to make it look otherwise.
On the mental prison: I don't buy that. From what I read, he controls all meetings and does not sit idly by allowing inane comments. He quickly cuts them off. Likewise in staff meetings, he cuts them off when they are going over material he already knows. Good for him, his time is valuable.
On this outfit, at first I was surprised, especially the stripes, but it grows on you. There are so many shadows in the picture (my monitor?), but I saw it on television, and liked it much better there.
@Christina,
I wouldn't read too much into Jackie Norris leaving until I hear otherwise. In the full statement on the Chicago Tribune site, it said she'll still be working closely with Mrs. O's office and the administration, and could be as simple as finding the right fit for her own personal interests. The Washington Post pulled out words here and there to fit a narrative, which other blogs have jumped on to make Mrs. O appear to be too hard to work for or difficult (the old campaign negative narrative again).
I will say this, Susan Sher is a powerhouse and is maybe overqualified (she's a legal counsel advisor in the East Wing), but she's very close to Mrs. O and she lives in the same building with Valerie Jarrett and Desiree. Susan has great credentials to replace Jackie Norris.
Here's the full press statement (that never gets reported):
blogs(dot)suntimes(dot)com/sweet/2009/06/michelle_obama_staff_change_ch(dot)html
Also, the negativity regarding the Obamas in Paris (as noted by Peggy's post above) has already started. But the Obamas will be fine and will just keep trekking along....comes with the territory and is part of politics. The President got very good praise for his wonderful speech today, and he's off to Europe where he's popular so there will be some negativity this weekend, but I will try to focus on the positive and am quite excited to see the family there. Mrs. O and the girls will stay in Paris a few extra days and I hope they get to see all the richness and culture Paris has to offer. Chelsea, the Bush girls and other WH children enjoyed other countries and so should the Obama girls. I got so upset about the coverage of their date night, but realized that they are under the worst scrutiny ever, and it may not stop so it the meantime, I think of what Mrs. O said to Oprah...that she's just going to be the best "me" she can be and live life with some gusto.
Willow - Very un-Portland like weather! I'm glad it is almost over for you.
On a side note, Rachel Maddow is covering the president's speech very well.
Peggy, how do you know what the Bush family had to pay for? Most likely they operated under the same rules that the Obamas are right now. I remember seeing an article in National Geographic saying all Presidents and their families have to pay for personal expenses, including extra trips and vacation expenses that are non-official duties. Perhaps we did not hear about the Bush expenses because they have such considerable wealth and I admit they were not under sa much scrutiny as the Obamas. At least let us try to be accurate about our facts. And, no, I am not a republican, troll, or hater.
Regarding Ms. Norris from Politico:
" .... Norris, who, Obama called a "colleague and friend" has been appointed as a senior adviser to the Corporation for National and Community Service and in a statement said she is "looking forward to becoming an integral part of this Administration's efforts to advance the cause of national and community service."
It makes sense that FLOTUS would want her chief of staff to be a closer ally. Especially since her profile has risen. She has to have someone she truly trusts towatch her back.
The discussion regarding Mrs. O's outfits reminds me of the difference in fashion tastes between my friends and I. I am more inclined to purposely wear the sweater set in the same manner as Mrs. O has while I could not pay some of my friends to wear slacks other than black, navy or brown. When we go shopping and we pick out outfits we are always saying this looks like you. Mrs. O is definitely bring her style with to the whitehouse. Her outfits reminds me that she is a working mother and wife trying to balance work ans home. We know that Mrs. O. spoke at the commencement earlier that day; she also may have attended events for her children. She chose a versatile outfit and I love the whole look. I know that I am forever mixing dialmonds with pearls.
Excuse any typos...I got a big bandage on my finger.
EDIT: Mrs O definitely brought her own style with her to the Whitehouse.
Willow - loved your beautiful and well-considered words (@1.31 pm)
"... And, no, I am not a republican, troll, or hater..."
Yeah Jojo, we believe you...really we do!
Now pull the other one sweetheart!
Willow,
I loved your comments. You are very perceptive and your observations are right on!!!! Let's hope the President has an enjoyable trip.
Hmmm... I have the cardigan and do love it. But I wear it with a solid t-shirt and sweat pants. It is very casual and almost feels a bit disrespectful of Nancy regan.
Camille, Here is a link to the National Geographic article if you think I am making this up. Also, call me stupid, but I have no idea what you mean by "pull the other one." I guess you are within your rights to dislike my comment, but that does not make it OK to question my integrity or make snide remarks about me. I have been respectful and I would hope for the same courtesy, even if you disagree with what I wrote. Thank you
ngm(DOT)nationalgeographic(DOT)com/2009/01/president/bumiller-text/3
Here is the link:
ngm(DOT)nationalgeographic(DOT)com/2009/01/president/bumiller-text/3
Does anyone recognize the WH room in this photo?
Nakjima,
The room in the photo is the Family Residence Dining Room/The Prince of Wales Room on the second floor of the White House (in the Obama's private residence part of the WH).
w w w (DOT) whitehousemuseum (DOT) org/floor2/private-dining-room (DOT) htm
How great to find out that Malia shares my birthdate...though I am CONSIDERABLY older than she! I've always had fun with being "born on the fourth of July," and I hope she does, too. Happy Birthday in advance, fellow Cancerian!
Leah Thanks. I love J Kennedy`s 18th C. wallpaper with Revolutionary War scenes in that room but most first families seem to have preferred to conceal it. Maybe it`s a little too agitated for daily dining.
With the new Chief of Staff, it will be great for the First Lady! She needed a good friend who is her mentor to help her with her platforms, and to watch her back from the daggers from the Republican party. Bottom line; NO LEAKS!!
Norris will be working in her field, which was something she loved. I'm happy for her, however, nothing with change, for she still will be working with Michelle very closely.
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090605/NEWS09/906050400/-1/NEWS04