Tuesday
Jul212009
Elegance Epitomized
Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at 11:28 PM 
Photo by Getty Images / Pool
President Mr. O and First Lady Mrs. O hosted a celebration of country music in the East Room of the White House this evening, including performances from Charley Pride, Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss and Union Station.
Mrs. O has absolutely wowed in her white summer dress. She looks every bit the part of a modern first lady - and we do love the soft swept updo (or is it a new cut?). What does everyone think? More fabulous photos here and here.
Update #1: Mrs. O wears a dress by Michael Kors, in embroidered white cotton batiste.
Update #2: InStyle has confirmed that Mrs. O's 'do is simply that, not a new haircut. Click here to read. More detail from Johnny Wright here.
tagged Michael Kors
Michael Kors
Reader Comments (106)
First I'd like to say that i m very happy that i am the first to comment!
Michelle looks so beautiful in this dress and i love it when her hair is up like that.....i just wish i saw what she was wearing on her feet.
Makes my heart flutter...
I love the colors in this picture. This is a glorious look for them both.
Mrs. O looks fabulous in this wonderful dress. I love the texture that gives the pure white a lot of interest. I also love the fit of the bodice, and the slightly full skirt with its subtle gathers at the waist, which falls in the perfect place. This is a perfect 10+.
Yes, Mrs. T., I love the soft look of this updo, less severe than some others. She looks really beautiful.
He looks great, too. He always looks so happy and proud to be with her. His black and white tie, which appears to be slightly textured, compliments the texture of her dress. Lovely.
Me likey! I didn't get to see it on tv but I read on here that it sparkled. I can't wait to see this online.
The texture is swirling scrolls and patterns of white sequin embroidery.
Daylife has good pictures:
Michelle in textured white dress
Her make-up is very soft and perfect, as is her hair. Here's a close-up. It also shows more of the texture of the dress:
Perfect make-up and hair
I promise this is my last post! I'm just so excited to see her looking so perfect. The dress is the perfect length, too:
Perfect length
Beautiful dress, hair, everything (including the husband)! I'll be interested to see what the fabric is - it has a softness to it; no stiffness, despite what everyone is saying about beading or embellishment.
She looks especially fantastic in full-skirted dresses with slightly cut in armholes. It balances her perfectly. I'm thinking of that black, v-neck, sleevless dress with the ruffled full skirt that she wore in London.
It's nice to travel to a foreign country and be proud of our leadership.
There is a post on the papier mache thread from "spanishgirl" which quite touched me. I'm posting here because we've all moved on, and I hope some of you will go back and read it (it's about 3:30 p.m. on the 21st).
I am sure the White House tracks this - and lots of other - sites to see what's going on out here. I hope they pick up that message, because it would put a smile on Mrs. O's face to know how she's inspired this young woman in so many areas of her life. And it should please Mrs. T that she chose Mrs. O.org to say so!
Thanks Willow for the full length shot and close ups. She looks a bit retro at first glance, what with the high, round shape of the hair with that cut of bodice. This is a dress whose look would totally change depending on the hair worn with it.
The top looks a bit wedding dressy in close up, though I think this is one of those that one that translates better in person. The detail is still a little hard to make out and on a dress like this it would make all the difference. The shape and length of the dress is quite lovely.
And I am once again loving the white and the soft bangs. I'm guessing it's an updo and not a haircut.
Lovely! Try to see one of the detailed pix if you can. Beautiful embroidery & beading.
I love Mrs. O's hair like this. She'd look great with a haircut this length, but I know from experience that it's not as easy to maintain as a longer cut you can pull back when you need to!
The concert was great, the interaction between the facebook audience, and Mrs. O was beautiful...it's a great time to be alive!
Thanks Willow for those lovely pictures
Sorry to be the first to disagree but I'm not loving this whole look. I think someone said it was too "wedding".....gotta agree. It needs "something" - an accessory or a pop of color, sparkle....something. And I think her hair looks a little unkempt in a few of the other photos. Sorry, that's just my opinion. I wish this dress had a V-neck. I think that would make Mrs. O look less girlish and more womanly. But the drop waist and full skirt definitely flatter her body shape.
The Prez always looks so proud when he's with his woman, First Lady Michelle Obama
She is amazing. I love everything she wears!
Just saw this on a BBC website and it highlights how absolutely up to date Michelle's outfits are
'The Spring-Summer 2009 fashion collections shone with sequins; now the High Street is awash with them. These shiny disc adornments used to be strictly for after dark and were often associated with outfits deemed cheap and nasty, unless skating on ice. What changed? Jenni discusses the allure of sequins.'
Remember people's reaction to the outfit that she wore to Downing Street. She nailed it then and now.
They look great. President Obama looked quite dashing.
Stunning Photo! They are so full of vitality.
Perfection! I love this look! It's beautifully fitted, and the skirt has enough fullness to balance her nicely without adding bulk on the bottom. It's also reminiscent of the Inaugural Ball gown.
More outfits like this!!!
SUMMERTIME, AND THE LIVIN' IS EASY...
Your daddy's rich and your mama is GOOD LOOKIN'
Mrs.O looks as fresh as a summer's night's breeze. Even though she has been out of sight for the past couple of weeks, she definitely has not been out of mind - indeed absence DOES make the heart grow fonder! It warms my heart whenever I see Michelle looking so well and wearing her best accessory - The President.
There is a romantic feel to this whole look she is wearing here, and I love it! The soft updo only seeks to accentuate her fabulous cheek bones even more. I dare say, she looks every part the DEMURE DAMSEL...
Rocky,
Your line "wearing her best accessory--The President" makes me smile! Who wouldn't like to have an accessory like him?! You know this lady has to have a LOT going for her to capture and keep his heart as she obviously does.
I need to know what this woman uses on her skin. It just always looks so smooth and soft. They looked very romantic when they walked out. For anyone who didn't see the show, I think she was wearing her strappy Jimmy Choos in silver or gold. Also, she was rocking the multiple bracelets - which I am doing today too!
That's not an updo, it's a new haircut. And clearly a successful one based on all the comments here!
Operafanatic - Thanks for calling attention to Spanishgirl's comment on the previous thread at Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at 3:32 PM. I hope Mrs. O sees it. Aren't we all just so proud to have such an inspiring, beautiful woman of substance as our First Lady?
I didn't realize that there was a whole conversation about this dress on the previous thread last night. I was busy and hurried, saw the above photo, and wondered where everyone was. ;-)
It must have been great to see the live stream. If anyone has a link to even a bit of video from last night's performance, I'd love to see Mrs. O's dress in motion, and interacting with the lights.
Michelle looks beautiful in this dress--and I love her hair.
@IVA
I'm with you on the skin - it's always glowing! It annoys the living daylights out of me! SO NOT FAIR. Humph!!!
>;-
Ooh, love the hairdo! She looks beautiful.
If you have to listen to country music, you could do a lot worse. I didn't know Charlie Pride was still around, but Alison Krauss has absolutely the most beautiful voice of any singer in any genre. And Brad Paisley (Mr. Kimberly "Father of the Bride" Williams) is pretty darn cute.
A beautiful dress. I love the length.
She looks lovely! So elegant, fresh and summery.
@ Iva & Rocky... I too think she has fantastic skin. It would be so nice to know the products she uses!
Desiree does a great job on transforming the room. ( I'm guessing she does it?)
The ambiance always looks perfect.
Mrs. O looks absolutely radiant! I voted for Mr. O, but have come to admire Mrs. O just as much for her beauty, grace and poise.
Twitter = Strongforu
it's really a new haircut? I guess we'll have to see some more pictures to know for sure. It's quite flattering either way.
It is definitely a cut and she looks very cute! So does Mr. President, if I might be so bold.
SORRY TO DISAGREE BUT I FIND THE WHOLE LOOK QUITE PLAIN FOR A FIRST LADY. I AGREE WITH CANYONGAL, IT LOOKS TOO GIRLISH. MAYBE A DIFFERENT COLOR WOULD LOOK MUCH BETTER. NOT LOVING THE NECKLINE EITHER AND IF SHE DIDN'T WEAR SOME KIND OF HEELS THEN THE WHOLE LOOK FALLS FLAT TOO. THANK GOD SHE DIDN'T WEAR A BELT. HER HAIR DOES LOOK VERY NICE AND I THINK IT'S JUST GATHERED AND NOT CUT.
No, it's not a haircut. Her is pinned up in the back. Maybe in some of the pics you can see some of the long strands sticking out because I saw it during the livestream.
I love Mrs. O in white because you really get to focus on how beautiful her brown radiant skin is. I loved the details of the dress and I am so so on the hair. The whole family looked picture perfect, as usual.
I found out you can download here
http://www.hbg-international.com/?p=2456
the first few pages of the book "Mrs. O: The Face of Fashion Democracy"
I think it will be released in October.
It looks really nice
Tropicalmaam --- slow down, get off the caps (it says I am yelling). We get it you don't like it. Slow down it ain't the end of the world. Relax please, its not the end of the world.
Looks good to me, reminds me of one of the cocktail dresses from the 50's. Nice all around.
I like this but I wish I could see a full-length picture (and maybe a shot of her shoes).
Victoria Leon, Mrs T has a link to a nice full length shot of the dress above, The shoes are not visible though.
http://www.daylife.com/photo/0aBJ5sg0rM3u5?q=Barack+Obama
I like the silhouette of this dress. IMHO, this look is not so much girlish as it is feminine which is why I love, love the fashion of Mrs O; she is bringing femininity back. I think some have gotten too used to the "harsh" controlled look that many female power brokers wield. This look, as many of Mrs O's, is refreshing.
I can't imagine that there would be any negative comments about anything. Michele looks absolutely beautiful. Great hair, fitted dress, and no belt. Like others, I would like to see the shoes.
@ TropicalMaam
May I ask why you are yelling??
I do think a V-neck would have been a lot sexier but I'm glad she didn't wear a brooch or a belt but red high heels would have made the outfit look really nice. But maybe she was going for a more conservative look on purpose since it's celebrating country music.
This dress is #34 in Michael Kors's Spring 2009 RTW collection:
http://www.style.com/slideshows/fashionshows/S2009RTW/MKORS/RUNWAY/00340m.jpg
This photo does not do it justice. The sequin embroidery does not catch the light.
omg! I was online earlier today looking for a white dres..and found this one..
Lily Strapless Floral Appliqué Party Dress @ Nordstrom
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3030871?Category=&Search=True&SearchType=keywordsearch&keyword=LILY+STRAPLESS+in+All+Categories&origin=searchresults
However, I did not buy it! FLOTUS and I have the same taste in clothes.
Those of you asking about what shoes she wore, it was her strappy silver jimmy choos. Same ones she wore in France at the D-day celebrations with her white outfit and silver belt.
Her hair is not cut. It's pinned under. This is not the first time she's worn her hair like this.
I think the hair is a nice change, but I hope it isn't actually cut. It makes her look older, and like... Laura Bush. The latter is a very nice lady, but Michelle is more attractive not being that conservative in her look.
I didn't think her hair was cut, but I figured someone out there might know more than I do.
I don't think it's "plain," it's hard to call a dress with sequin details "plain." I think that it does have sparkle and that the pictures are not showing this aspect well. I've seen the same issue in dresses that are all black. It's just hard to see white-on-white and black-on-black detail.
Interesting that on the runway it was shown with a belt, but that Mrs. O appears to have gone beltless.
The belted look on the runway was not as good. In fact, the dress looked so nothingburger on the runway, I almost moved on. Then I got out the magnifying dress and found the texture.
This is one of the loveliest things she's worn. It fits perfectly and needs no embellishment. We may not pick that up in photos, but this is a stand-alone dress. Those who doubt should find a closup that shows the details of the allover sequin embroidery.
I once had a white dress with white irridescent sequins applied. It felt so glamorous. Picked up light and sparkled like a snowflake.