Sunday
Jun072009
A Day in Paris
Sunday, June 7, 2009 at 11:13 AM 
Picture by KCS Presse / Splash News
Mrs. O has been to the Pompidou Center today, and is now enjoying a bit of shopping around Paris, seen here. The first lady is wearing the "Lei dress" by Tracy Feith, last seen for a daytime event during the Democratic National Convention in August 2008. Click here to see our earlier post on the dress.
The dress features a bodice of hand dyed cotton and silk, trimmed in strips of metallic shot, tea dyed chiffon and cotton batik. The skirt is heavy linen, with peace lace trim at the hem, hand beaded with tiny beads and sequins, at the hem.
tagged Tracy Feith in Outfits
Tracy Feith in Outfits
Reader Comments (117)
@ Willow - I thought about doing just that today. So, I feel ya.
@ RoseParvin - I think that sounds great, but there is NO WAY they could do that and survive the political firestorm that would cause.
@ Willow, I agree 100%
LOL@ OperaFanatic, Didnt know what TBG was either (I thought it mean The BodyGaurd)
Cheers
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=ajzB5WcNNQdw
The Obama's got from strength to strength !
I hope Mr Obama and his family have enjoyed their visit here in Paris, one of the most beautifull city in the world.
Happy birthday to Sasha and wish all you a safe trip back to your home country.
The Obamas didn't not had a date night, it was a family night!
Article is not French!
http://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/2009/06/07/01016-20090607ARTFIG00027-les-obama-jouent-les-touristes-a-paris-.php
Operfanatic, you just cleared up TBG for me: for everyone who doesn't know its Tall Bald Guy, one of Mrs. O's secret service agents. I was wondering for a while what that meant.
RoseParvin, thats a nice idea but they would be eaten alive if they vacation in St. Tropez. They are taking a vacation this summer, I think in Marthas Vineyard lets see how the trolls handle that. But St. Tropez, forget about it.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20090608-209336/Obamas-enjoy-modern-art-on-Paris-jaunt
RoseParvin,
The President has been back in D.C. for like four hours now.
----
Also, I am still seeing articles that are saying that Sasha's birthday isn't until Wednesday.
I hope one of the things that Michelle Obama did today on her shopping trip was buy another dress to replace the lei dress, so she can promptly burn it! The lei dress isn't cute at all. None of Tracy Feith's numbers so far have looked good on Mrs. Obama.
And now Politico dot com is saying that Sasha's b-day is Monday.
OK, if TBG doesn't mean "The Body Guard", would someone please enlighten me? Thanks. (smile)
@Willow---TBG means "The Bald Guy".
Thanks, Janelle.
Hah! But, Janelle -- ALL those guys are bald!
(I think I know which one you mean. He was too funny when the London schoolgirls rushed the stage. God love 'im.)
A lot of them are bald, but he's the one usually right behind Mrs. O and is super tall...and bald! He's easier to spot here in the US when she's at smaller events like schools, etc. I think he's a regular because of his height and Mrs. O is tall and during the campaign I could tell he was tall enough to always be able to look over her shoulder when going through crowds.
Operafanatic, thank you so much for the laugh...I simply couldn't stop, it was so innocent and sweet the whole TBG confusion-
Willow, many of us feel as frustrated for various reasons- I didn't post for a long time, but got really angry at some of the meanspirited and horrid posts such as the one just put up by Mara and I couldn't hold back any longer. To sit behind a computer and insult a woman who hasn't asked to be a fashion standard is preposterous!
I thought of quitting, but realized that might be exactly what these awful people are looking to achieve. So now I stay and fight ...
Being the internet and anonymous, you've got to realize that there are many here who unlike you aren't here to have an innocent fun exchange.
There are paid anti Obama trolls, but even worse are those here pushing for particular designers - times are tough and many are resorting to any manner of strongarming.
Coming to a site such as this and seeking to influence the narrative by slamming Michelle's style and advocating certain designers etc. could just be another cost saving advertising stint for some.
@Willow --- I'm not an expert (that's Christina, I think lol), but memory tells me TBG is actuallY Tall Bald Guy. There are lots of bald guys there, but only one TBG. Think he's pretty cute myself.
@IVA, I think you're right. Many Spanish and French-speakers are surely following the blog. But they don't contribute because they feel uncomfortable expressing themselves in English. And sadly, most posters in English on various blogs get furious when conversation veers into another language. I don't know why. I would have liked to welcome amara maestre by replying in Spanish, but instead I contented myself with translating her comment. Even a single exchange could be enough for someone to say something that would make her feel bad. I've been there before.
I am hoping that, as time goes by on the new board, various foreign-language communities will emerge and establish themselves as sub-boards. This often happens when they do it on their own, with moderators evolving from within the community. It's usually a result of critical mass, when foreigners who've been posting in English decide they'd like to branch off.
Sub-boards can enrich the main board substantially because they bring so much added information. We can see it on the blog already, with English speakers from other countries posting links to articles and videos from sources outside the US. I've found many articles from The Telegraph and The Times in London to be insightful on Michelle.
This could happen in a big way if Michelle attracts a younger fanbase. It's the younger women who are the most bi-lingual.
I had started TBG as "tall bald guy," but it's taken on a life of its own. I'm specifically thinking of the white guy who is always *right there* in the pictures, particularly when there are crowds around. I like to think that he has a frustrated crush.
RoseParvin, that sounds like something the president and his wife could use, but the fake patriots would practically explode in fake outrage as they quickly tally up the exaggerated costs-
But no worries, the president in response to a question posed by a french journalist yesterday, promised to return often when he leaves office-
I stand corrected---"Tall Bald Guy" it is.
TBG is whatever you want it to be. (smile)
THE CHEEK BONES HAVE IT:
I'd just like to say that Mrs.O is really rocking that pull back hairstyle. First the high ponytail and now a very chic bun/ chignon. In one of the photos of the girls and her in the tunnel at the Pompidou Center, there is a stunning side profile of her. Those cheek bones are to die for!
@Pat - I appreciated the English translation of the French article. Thanks.
I'm curious to know. Did anyone click on the link to Mozart? Did you like it?
It was Christina's post I found - when you were all referring to him as the "tall bald guy" and she switched to initials. So that's who he is to me now. I love the specificity - no, not THAT bald guy, the TALL bald guy. It still cracks me up.
Nice way to end the day!
People has a great summation of the Obama's paris adventure which includes an absolutely stunning picture of Malia. (I'd post the link but it's frontpage on their website and easy to find)
If I remember right it was Christina who gave Tall Bald Guy the name "TBG"! We are lucky he is always so close to Mrs. O, he does a great job for her and for our country.
Further down in the Getty images is a photo of the Obamas deplaning in Paris on their return from Normandy. She is wearing black.
Also pretty neat is that the president on his return home is playing golf and watching the NBA playoffs. Good for him. Shows balance. Worked very hard for 4 days, devoted private time for his family, and now is taking some time for himself. And it allows his girls to do their shopping and other things that would not interest him. And they come home tomorrow.
Willow the Mozart II was nice very soothing.
Sasha's Birthday is on the 10th, per People Magazine!
Sharon - Thanks for pointing out that picture on Getty Images. I bet she changed into that black dress for their date night? Looks like a cute dress.
Thanks for the tip, Sharon. I bet she's wearing a long, black maxi-dress in that picture. It looks very comfortable...I think she has her IPod in her hand, so chances are she was relaxing in the plane listening to some tunes.
I agree, he's apparently gearing up for his healthcare battle starting Monday, so he should take in as much relaxation as he can.
It's not clothing related but, I'm reading a very interesting story in the New York Times magazine about the team Obama has put together to work about health care (Michelle has a tiny cameo, so I guess that keeps it just slightly on topic.) It's a very interesting story if you like behind-the-scenes stuff. I won't put the link because this post will go into moderation, but if you go the the magazine section of the New York Times website, you'll find it.
Willow,
Your advice is beautifully stated and very much to the point. However, I fear that it will be wasted once again. For as long as this blog has existed, we've had the same discussions; but there obviously have been few permanent changes. I don't understand why some people have such a hard time just being civil. We all claim to be admirers of the Obamas, yet this sort of conflict is the exact opposite of everything they stand for, so are we really learning anything from their example?
Let us hereby defend and uphold the constitutional right of the FLOTUS to BARE arms! :)
Ms. G - Thank you for your comment.
I thought we were here to enjoy Mrs. O's exciting clothes, and certainly their trip to Paris. I like hearing people's honest reaction to a look. But a brief comment is sufficient. Those who argue continuously about belts and cardigans and heels and designers kill the joy for everyone.
These repeat offenders are like children who must share one Barbie Doll. They argue continuously about how to dress her. Control issues and issues of competition hang out all over the place, as well as the apparent addiction to being here. Psychological and emotional health would be demonstrated instead by light enjoyment of Mrs. O's fashion choices followed by interest in living one's own life.
Mrs. O doesn't waste a second on anyone's critique. She will have a positive impact on the country. Her clothes will continue to entertain and to spark new interest in fashion and American designers. It's all a win. So, all those words are far more revealing of the flaws in the people making them than they are of anything about the First Lady. And they cast a dark cloud here.
I'm sorry if I've gotten too much into a mother/therapist/preacher role.
Come on, my loves, I'll bet you can do better than this in the future.
Thank you.
"...ALL those guys are bald!" Too funny.
I don't think comments against trolls and haters are wasted. If a majority of this blogs contributors are constructively critical of certain behaviours, the offenders don't appear again or modify their behaviour. I think it's a credit to the unity here.
We do have a couple of persistently miserable clingers on, but maybe they are the kind of people who are only happy if they can find fault with something. Todays bunch strike me as not being regulars.
Frankly, I'm not ignoring bad manners. That sends the message that it's OK to behave badly, and it's OK to disagree by being nasty instead of being constructive. I'll oppose that every day I can type.
So. For all you peeps who think that coming on this blog is your chance to tell Mrs O how she "should" be dressing, here is the Posh Tater take on "should":
For any given individual, the gap between what "should" be happening and what is happening will usually be the source of unhappiness. The trick is to accept what IS, and not spend your life bitching about what "should" be. Remember, complaining about the rain doesn't make it stop. 'K?
Now, back to style.... there's another outfit that I'm not seeing many photo's of... Mrs O appears to be wearing a white 3/4 sleeve cardigan over a dark print top. Do we have any better pics of that?? Or were they early ones from today or something?
Oh, got it, that was the Pompidou visit.... d'oh!
Aw, how cute is this? Obama aides engaged in Paris:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/06/katie-mccormick-lelyveld-_n_212227.html
Willow -- Isn't that Mozart Adagio the theme song of the movie "Out of Africa"?
Mrs.O and the girls have left Paris this morning for the U.S.
TJ Maxx has a black dress that is very similar in construction to Carla Bruni's white satin dress that she wore to the D-Day event. I am not sure of store distribution, but I found in in the better dresses sale rack in two different east coast stores. $29.99.
I agree with Posh; it is not wasteful to call out negative posters every now and then. And, there is a regular poster who was on her best behavior for about a week, and felt the need to get nasty again in the above thread: Mara. It takes just a few of the visiting trolls to give others permission to make snarky (thanks for that vocab word, Christina) remarks and call it a "free country". I don't visit this site so I can read the simple-minded posts of people who hit and run or can't help but fly their nasty freak flags, but to check in with Mrs. O's fashion and the musings of the very supportive and interesting community that has developed here.
There are so many lovely people on this blog who do not have to condescend to sarcasm or mean remarks to get their points across. I choose to focus on their fashion sense, their opinions of Mrs. O's sartorial choices, and whatever else they have to contribute about the Obamas' orbit of associates. I would much rather get a chuckle from Christina or Posh, or a translation from Alsace, or the latest info from Janelle or Leah D, or sage writing from IVA, or fashion forward comments from so many posters who are too numerous to mention.
On another note, my son, nephew and father had a Rahm sighting and EXCHANGE in a DC restaurant yesterday. The boys (young men, actually) told Rahm that they thought he and his team were doing a great job. Rahm thanked them and asked them what they were up to, and they said they had been busy "converting" their grandfather back to the Dem side. My father chimed in that he was "in transition" and Rahm told the boys to keep up the good work, and made a few other choice remarks!
I didn't mean to suggest that anyone should stop calling out offensive posters. Sorry for giving that impression. I was only expressing my own feeling of discouragement when this same discussion happens on every other thread. It seems that once we've discussed the issue, there should be more of a spirit of cooperation and good will and that once people have been shown how others perceive them, they would want to be more pleasant. But since that isn't the case, I know there are a few of us who will continue to give the reminders as long as they're needed.
I come here often for two reasons: (1) I am a great admirer of the first couple and enjoy having a place to discuss their activities with other admirers, and (2) there are so many intelligent and interesting contributors to the discussions. It's just discouraging that some insist on spoiling the atmosphere.
Have a great day!
Ms. G, I come here for the same reasons. There are other blogs where every thing the First Family says and does and wears is nastily criticized and torn down so there are places for those who want to do that type of spoiling and I am convinced that those who do it have spoiled lives themselves. I am sure that most who howled about date night in NYC have not had to make one sacrifice during this depression. I don't absolutely love everything that Mrs. O wears, how could I, I am a different person with different tastes but I do think that there is a way to say that without being ornery and political. By the way, I am highwaisted like Mrs. O and NOTHING has every stopped me in my 58 years of life from wearing belts, wide or narrow.
I've just left a website where the posters were extremely brutal about Mrs.O's dress sense, behavior, family and her entourage in Paris. Really, I was quite taken aback by it all. It's only now that I'm realising the level of hate some people have for the POTUS and his family. Extreme hate will consume you.
All I can say about Mrs. O's dress is that it's interesting. And she's on vacation for goodness sake. This family like everyone else is entitled to have one.
Brava the other Jenna! "I am convinced that those who do it have spoiled lives themselves. I am sure that most who howled about date night in NYC have not had to make one sacrifice during this depression."
Yup, yes and hell yeah aa-a-all over again. People see what they want to see, hear what they want to hear. The greatest thing I was ever taught was to listen from a clearing, a place of nothing, no interpretation. Always ask "what actually happened?" Always ask "what did they actually say."
In the Date Night instance, Mr Obama kept a promise to his wife. That's it.
Do the complainers want a liar in office? No.
Do they want someone who does't keep promises? No.
Well then.
I couldn't care LESS if my Prime Minister wants to go to the theatre and that requires security. I couldn't care less if Mr Obama wants to take his wife on a date. If they want to go on a date, they earned it, and if the country wasn't half full of irate Republicans with a private armoury in the basement then he'd be able to take the shuttle and take the subway! Physician, heal thyself!!
Ms G I agree with you too. It's a shame that some people try to be snarky every day. I wonder... do they think they are being clever? Of course, we're onto it, but they haven't worked that out yet!!! Shame.
Mrs O and the First Girls made an unofficial visit to the House of Commons in London before the departed for the states today. Just pics of them in the motorcade on Getty.
Sunday evening news on NBC did a piece on the First Family in Paris. In one of the scenes you see Mrs O with the Green Silk suit that she wore in Iowa during the campaign.
www.msnbc(dot)msn(dot)com/id/3032619/#31155804
Sunday evening news on NBC did a piece on the First Family in Paris. In one of the scenes you see Mrs O with the Green Silk suit that she wore in Iowa during the campaign.
msnbc(dot)msn(dot)com/id/3032619/#31155804
Sunday evening news on NBC did a piece on the First Family in Paris. In one of the scenes you see Mrs O with the Green Silk suit that she wore in Iowa during the campaign.
msnbc(dot)msn(dot)com/id/3032619/#31155804