Thursday
Jul092009
Sunny Delight
Thursday, July 9, 2009 at 10:22 AM 
Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto / Getty Images
First lady Mrs. O visited Palazzo del Governo in L'Aquila, Italy this morning with other G8 spouses. The medieval city was hit by a powerful earthquake in April 2009. As Mrs. O surveyed the damage, she said, ''I'm very moved. I and my husband have been very struck by what we're seeing and we'll try to do everything possible to support you."
Dressed in a yellow floral Liz Claiborne cardigan and chartreuse pleated skirt, Mrs. O brought a ray of sunshine. Fittingly chosen, Mrs. O wore a beaded brooch from Italian fashion house Moschino at her collar. Update: We've confirmed that Mrs. O's skirt is indeed J.Crew's cotton sateen Gateau skirt in chartreuse.
tagged J.Crew, Liz Claiborne, Moschino
J.Crew, Liz Claiborne, Moschino
Reader Comments (169)
Yahoo news has photos of the visit with the Pope. MO is wearing all black... including a mantilla/veil type head dress.
Boy, when she wore a veil, she wore a veil! I think maybe this was a little over the top....not lovin' it. But lovin' her for showing respect.
Wow, that IS conservative.
Oh...never mind. I see it now. :)
Are you all happy she dressed VERY conservative today!!
I just took a closer look at the photos with the pope.....the veil, the bow, the belt.....and she was doing so well :(
Lots of pics on Getty.
I think she looks beautiful - appropriate, happy, and ever so slightly edgy. I'm a Catholic who wanted her to dress traditionally here, but I think it will be fun to pick that outfit apart. I sense lots going on there.
That Alaia belt is going to need its own passport soon. It travels a LOT.
A good close-up
LOL Christina! I like that.
Apologies if this is the shot already listed above.
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//090710/481/2a213795353f48cd81de9a49855470db/
Is that the coat that was worn over the chartreuse Jason Wu for arriving in the UK? And, pardon me if I haven't seen the right pics yet but, did the Pope acknowledge Michelle at all? Because in the Yahoo photo's, he doesn't. I'm going off to check Daylife now....
(Janelle - it's hard to critique fashion in the Vatican????! Oh come now, all those frocks! And the Pope's lace was lovely.)
At the end of the Daylife photos - ONE of the Pope actually speaking to Michelle, or pointing his head in her direction anyway - there is on old photo of Joe Biden and Jill Biden meeting Pope John Paul which is rather sweet.
Posh, Yes, the Pope did acknowledge her. He gave her, as well as others, a present. Hopefully, they will post the video somewhere so you can see it.
Did the little O's also met the Pope?? There is a picture of them leaving the Vatican, but not a picture of the with the Pope.
Cool beans. I will cruise Youtube. Thank you!
Weird seeing Michelle dressed like that. Very nun-ish. LOL. For me, this doesn't even count as part of the fashion spread for this trip.
But for those right wing haters who were just waiting to pounce on her, they can't say she wasn't conservative and properly covered up!! LOL
She does look a little like a nun, but I admire her for respecting protocol. Both of the Obamas show such enormous respect for the beliefs and cultures of others. I also like the individual pieces she's wearing: the blouse, the pencil skirt, and the duster. I know that under other circumstances, she'd have mixed them with other colors.
At the same time, I'm still at a complete and utter loss to understand WHY she thinks that belt goes with ANYTHING and EVERYTHING!! Sorry, I know the belt defenders will pounce on me, but I just had to say it. This blouse is NOT designed to be cinched under the bosom. Why?
When she wore the white big bow blouse it was in all cotton. On the runway it was shown in black satin. This appears to be the runway model.
There's a tiny bit of footage of The President and the Pope on CBS news, a write up on (I think it was called) The Gabbler entitled "Obama meets the Pope, and makes it out alive" and I found this picture, which charmed my socks off. Look at The Vatican gentlemen.... do they looked chuffed to BITS to be seeing Mr O in the flesh, or do they look chuffed to bits? Hmm??! How cute is that?
http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-07-10-voa20.cfm
MsG I won't pounce on you! I'll just say that without the belt, the outfit would look REALLY weird, undefined, wider and just ... adrift somehow. Frankly, I would have liked it more without the coat. But hey, it came with the coat.
That blouse would look so nice tucked in to the skirt, with no belt. Thought the same thing when she wore the white version. Adding that "drop and give me five" belt just detracts from the blouse's charm, while the blouse's femininity detracts from the darn belt's structure statement. Too much going on, but that's my opinion. Glad she wore the veil.
Meeting Pope Benedict XVI
I'm not politically in favor of Pres. Obama but I think Mrs. Obama looks very classy and pretty here meeting the Pope.
Just saw a a pic of the First Family boarding Air Force 1 to leave Rome. Mrs. Obama is wearing the same black outfit worn to the Vatican but without the duster. The top is sleevless. I think the Alaia belt really brings this outfit together. The whole look is very, very classy. The two girls look very nice as well.
Exactly right, Nancy. The blouse is soft and feminine; the "mood" of the belt is entirely different. Also, the belt makes the blouse pile up below it, adding to her "hippiness".
I'm glad Mrs. O followed protocol and wore a veil. BUT, she really didn't have to look more like a nun than most nuns these days. I expected her to wear the small triangular lace veil that most women wear when they meet the Pope. That's what Mrs. Clinton and Mrs. Bush wore. It would have fulfilled the obligation and been much more attractive than this. IMHO, this long, long veil is way over-kill, and really not attractive. I'm sorry to say it, but I don't really like anything about this outfit. But, she fulfilled all the requirements of protocol--and then some. Her sleeves could not be longer.
Mrs. O with Pope
I'm with all of you. Onward to Ghana, where I expect her to really shine with bright colors.
My incredibly stunning and lovely and amazing first lady! I love, love, love this woman!
http://www.daylife.com/photo/0eumeNxh2nfmw
Two rosaries coming up in thanksgiving for God's amazing grace and infinite wisdom in blessing this nation with this amazing couple!
Oh Willow, do you not understand that Mrs Obama is held to much higher standards than Hillary and Laura? A regular mantilla will not have done it for the critics...They might actually have advocated a burka!
I doubt Mrs Obama was shooting for "attractive" for this meeting; to simply get it over with without any controversy real or contrived, is pretty much all she hoped for, I suspect.
She really can't ever win for losing...
This is the cutest picture I have ever seen! http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/88966904/Getty-Images-News
Sasha's little foots!
It pains me to say this, but Mrs O has gained a good few pounds over the past few weeks. I was so taken aback when I saw CNN footage of her on walkabout. I really want her to reduce her calorie intake and do some moderate exercise. I like the colors/summery look but the extra weight is spoiling the look for me.
The Mrs. O with Pope link Willow provided is great - lots of pics. One of POTUS looking up at some of the art is priceless - the look on his face is very cute. Also, there is one of the family boarding Air Force One and he has his hand on MO's back, guiding her into the plane. The slit at the back of her black skirt goes about halfway up her thigh. Probably a good thing that she wore the coat/duster in the Vatican!
Little known fact about the pope: he always wears red shoes. Apparently had dozens made right after he was elected.
I know Audrey, she definitely cannot win for losing. People had this huge debate on whether not she would wear the veil and whether or not she would follow protocol. She did both and people are still complaining. And I am not just talking about people on this site, I am talking about the other sites I visit as well. How much can you spruce up a black outfit that is supposed to be modest and tradional because you are meeting the Pope? She did what she could by adding the belt and wearing a blouse that had some interest.
Willow, I think she wore the long veil to stand out. If you see in the video or maybe in some pics, two women staffers had on short lace veils. So, I kinda think she wore it to distinguish herself from them. Maybe I am wrong, it is just a thought.
Operfanatic, I was looking at that too. Yeah, I was like whoa that is a serious slit. The girls look adorable as always.
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Papacy-and-Vatican/ss/events/wl/033002pope#photoViewer=/090710/481/6910ca23b8d845f8a7dac94167bf3ce0
here are the pictures of how Mrs. O. dressed for the visit to the pope:
http://www.corriere.it/gallery/Politica/vuoto.shtml?2009/07_Luglio/g8/17&8
Mark Owens--
The picture you mention is on the front page of Politico under the title of photos of the Obamas in Europe and it comes up again at the end of the photo display.
They are walking to Air Force One still all dressed in black. Michelle is back to sleeveless, sans veil and is carrying a load of black clothes. Also is wearing sun glasses and is back to her chic self. Sasha's dress is really cute on her and Malia is a little more dignified. The President is wearing his kind of sheepish look that he often has when with his family as opposed to his powerful in charge look that he needs when doing business.
Haven't seen this photo anywhere else yet.
Operafanatic--
You mention the Pope's red shoes. Are you familar with his clothes? Someone directed us to the slideshow on the Vatican and I looked further. He seems to alternate from white cape (I'm sure it has a better name) and red like the one he wore today. Also saw one with the leader of Malta and the Pope was wearing a very ornately gold embroidered red top. Any significance to all this? And what about that red "cowboy" hat he sometimes wears?
We were able to see the Jackie O exhibit at the Cochran Gallery of Art in DC a few years ago. It was entitled "Jackie Kennedy The White House Years" and it featured clothing she wore on the campaign trail, during the inaugural festivities, at the White House itself and on state visits around the world.and featured her outfits. What I learned was how much "thought" went into what she wore. The exhibit was also at the MET and several other museums. I think Mrs O is taking a page from Jackie O's book. She is wearing colors and jewelry that relates to the country she is visiting. If you can ever see Jackie O's exhibits or read the book on the exhibit that elaborates on her choices you will know what I mean.
I was so relieved to see photos of the Obama's leaving, where Michelle is back to herself--sans veil, sleeveless, nice slit up back of skirt. Whew! What a relief! The girls look very nice.
I want to be very respectful to those of you are practicing Catholics. I know how important one's religion can be in one's life. But I must also ask your indulgence of this former Catholic, who got deeper into this church than most, experienced some of the contradictions and hypocrisies visible only from within, and who has some serious wounds and scars from it.
There are in the world many critics of the Catholic Church and the Papacy and the clergy, as I think everyone is aware. The opulence of the Vatican is scandalous to many. And Pope Benedict's preference for expensive clothes is another. He wears red Prada shoes, and other finery.
Pope wears Prada
Hey Willow, as devout a catholic as I am, I absolutely understand and appreciate your point...
I too have many struggles with the "establishment" even if my faith remains intact.
Thanks Audrey for your beautiful comment. I am so glad that the Obama Family went to the Vatican. The photos show a lot of happiness and warmth. Having seen very close this Pope as well as a previous Pope, I consider this moment an experience of a lifetime. Everyone looked relaxed, poised and enjoying the moment. I prayed for that moment and for what can come out of such a meeting. Let's rejoice in that moment.
Hi Willow,
I am right there with you. I was born and raised Catholic. Then about 10 years ago I started working in a church. It was a place where high-ranking members of the Catholic heirarchy where regulaarly present. Unfortunately, working with these people on a regular basis made me completely lose my faith in the church. I have great respoect for the religion, but the clergy I have come accroessed have been some of the most unpleasant, damagedm and damaging people I have ever met.
OK, got that off my chest. Back to the fashion!
Willow,
As I've said before on this site, I'm not Catholic and never have been; but I am a Christian and have attended churches of other denominations all my life; and your statement about the "contradictions and hypocrisies visible only from within" resonates deeply. I meet people of all denominations who share your disillusionment and who bear similar scars because of what I consider the misplaced values of many churches. I dream of a day when all churches will realize that they exist to spread the teachings, the love, and the kindness of Christ (that is after all the root of the word "Christian"). What people wear to attend church or to visit a human leader is insignificant in comparison to the great commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves. Think how much more influence the church could have if we just practiced that one thing. We wouldn't be having discussions about veils and red shoes and lifelong scars if we all loved and had been loved like that.
Sorry that my previous post doesn't look as if it belongs in a fashion blog. :) It just seemed to fit many of the other comments and sentiments about the audience with the pope.
As a practicing Catholic I am compelled to correct this myth that the Pope wears Prada. Don't know how to hotlink but here is the site were this was dispelled...again:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/27/style/27iht-pope.14043264.html?_r=1
Willow, I completely understand where you're coming from. I was raised Catholic. Went to catholic school through high school. Once I was out of my parents home, I was free to leave the church I'd come to realize was full of hypocrisy and contradictions.
@MsG - I appreciated your post so very much. You said it so beautifully. So many of the churches fall so far short of the simple Jesus who walked from place to place, healing, loving, teaching. There is only one commandment: Love God and love your neighbor has yourself." Piling all the human rules and traditions on top of that is where all the problems and the wounds come from. What would Jesus think of the Vatican? What would Jesus think of a church that preferred to have too few ministers/priests to having married and woman priests? What would he think of a church that condemns homosexuality, but whose clergy is filled with homosexuals, many of them dying from AIDS because they are not celibate, but can appear to be within the protection of the church?
Please understand that I love gays and homosexuals. I've seen too many turning themselves inside out trying to be something they are not so that the church will approve of them. What terrible, terrible torture! It's the hypocrisy of the Church on this subject that I object to.
When one reads the sacred texts found at Nagamati, there is a bit of a Gospel by Mary Magdalene, who actually was not the woman caught in adultery, but probably Jesus' closest disciple, and one who was given teachings that the others were not. It was the men in the church in later centuries who, seeking power, worked hard to link the woman caught in adultery with Mary Magdalene in the minds of the people, in order to discredit her and to elevate patriarchal rule in the church.
So much of what we find in church structures is not about empowering people with love and forgiveness, but about power OVER people with judgement and condemnation. It is so sad.
Once when Gandhi was asked "Mr. Gandhi, though you quote the words of Christ often, why is it that you appear to so adamantly reject becoming his follower?" Gandhi replied, "Oh, I don't reject your Christ. I love your Christ. It's just that so many of you Christians are so unlike your Christ."
Anyway, I could raise many glaring flaws of the Church here, but those who are open to it are probably quite well aware of them. There are many people like me who consider ourselves to be deeply spiritual, living the words of Christ and other spiritual masters, who are not members of any church, and who see value in all spiritual traditions. When you get to the mystical level of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, they all converge on an ecstatic experience of Divine love, and a creation vibrating with that love, where all is one with God, and all is God. Heavenly bliss!
@donnanoshock - Thank you for dispelling the myth about the Prada shoes. I always believed that.
In defense of Catholicism, let me just say, we Catholics ARE the Church (the men and women who belong to the religion; it is not an abstract concept). We like to sit and complain about how disillusioned we are with the Church; however, regardless of what the leadership of the Church does or say, it is our personnal responsibility to live as good Christians. The sins of our leaders are no excuse for us to fall away from our Church and its beautiful religious practices. And to those who are criticizxing the Catholic Church, I say, name me one religion that is flawless.
I think this is the best shot for a look at her Vatican visit outfit. http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Papacy-and-Vatican/ss/events/wl/033002pope#photoViewer=/090710/481/db5f879a1fc74a9da15679abecb364e5
I'm a new poster here, but have been following the site from the beginning. I agree that Mrs. Obama was dressed per protocol. What has been bothering me about this discussion is the underlying assumption that "when in Rome" is the rule if the rule treats women as second class citizens. If the rule is race based, (back of the bus or the old South Africa) we would all cheer a President or First Lady who stood their ground and refused to be treated as second class. Why is blatant sexism in the guise of religious belief any more acceptable in the international arena than blatant racism???
They're about to touch down in Ghana. Wardrobe change? I hope it's bright and fitted and doesn't have a belt or cardigan.
As a devout Catholic, let me just add that there have been problems in the Catholic Church - as well as in many other religions. I have known many priests over my 60 years of life. And there are more priests living their religion and practicing their faith than those who are not. The press always gives more attention to the problems than to the dignity, the humanity, the work and the suffering of hundreds of misionary priests and nuns. There are human problems in the Catholic Church - but let's hope we all take some time to search for the Truth and the Faith and the Love within the Church as well.
I hope this comment gets posted since I have read quite a few negative comments about the Cathilic Church and my previous comment was not posted.
BTW: there was a lot of warmth and happiness in all the photos of the Obama Family at the Vatican. It was a great visit and let's hope many more blessings continue to be shed on this great Nation, as a result of this visit.
@Sharon Nelson, et al: I am pretty sure I read about Benedict's red shoes in an article that discussed Vatican attire in the context of several shops near Vatican City that provide virtually all of the clothing the priests working there wear. It was probably in the NYTimes, right around the time Benedict was installed. (I do not remember anything about Prada, BTW.)
I'm running out the door right now, but I will do a little research early tomorrow, via NYTimes Archives and google. I'll also ask my husband about some of the apparel. He attended nothing but Catholic schools until law school - somehow lived to tell the tale - and has a great memory for this kind of thing. I think he will be a little bewildered about these questions coming by way of Mrs. O bloggers, but whatever. It's good to keep him guessing!
So stay tuned!
@Audrey - I just found your post at 3:17, and I really appreciate it. I have a lot of admiration for the many people who continue to love and stay with the Catholic Church, even though she is full of so many flaws. I, too, miss the community, etc. But I just can't be there.
Thank you for your understanding.
Nyon - I am sorry that you seem pained by the varied opinions about Mrs. O wearing a veil or not, and about what she actually did wear. I don't think any of those opinions has anything to do with whether she won or lost. She followed protocol and cannot be faulted for not doing so. That's a win. All these other opinions are just conversation. They don't harm Mrs. O in the least.
Variety is the spice of life. Wouldn't it be terrible if we all agreed about what looked good. The fashion world would not exist, as we'd all be wearing the unanimously desired uniform.
So, I hope you can feel more comfortable with the meriad of opinions out there. If we all agreed, this would be a pretty boring site.
@marabout40 - Thank you for your understanding, too. It feels good.