Thursday, August 6, 2009 at 5:38 PM
References (10)
References allow you to track sources for this article, as well as articles that were written in response to this article.
Welcome
Community
Search
BOOK
Reader Comments (26)
Hoooray for Michelle to make the best dressed list-she certainly deserves it, HOWEVER...I cannot believe her most notable ensemble for 2009 was the black outfit worn to visit the Pope!?! What planet are those people ON? Also, her signature jewelry should be her fabulous brooches, not double string of pearls.
Mrs. Obama and Malia spotted at Good Stuff Eatery http://www.tmz.com/2009/08/06/michelle-malia-obama-hamburgers-video/
As someone who has had one -- that toasted marshmallow shake at Good Stuff Eatery (as referenced in marabout40's post) is out of this world. The hamburgers are good too, but the fries and shakes are THE YUM.
Mrs. Obama is truly a breath of fresh air. How nice it must be for the President to come home at the end of a long day at the office to a beautiful, passionate, intelligent wife!
I went to the TMZ website - why do they entitle that video clip "feed the beast" That doesn't sound very nice, or is that a saying?
Thanks for the VF post Mrs. T! Congrats to the O's. I think I want both covers?! I love the style issue.
Good to see Mrs. O and Malia out and about having some fun. Thanks fot the link marabout40!!
Congratulations to Mrs O! However, if the Pope visit outfit was the big draw according to Vanity Fair, then I think they need their spectacles polishing. The orange swirl Talbots dress and vintage pin was streets ahead of that ensemble.
I'm also slightly nonplussed by Letizia of the Asturias being on the list. She dresses well, indeed, but is nowhere near as stylish as Crown Princess Mary of Denmark. Odd.
I am pleased that Vanity Fair didn't lump Mrs Obama and President Obama together in the 'couples' category! They each deserve their individual accolades: Mrs Obama for being such a wonderful role model in so many respects; and President Obama for being the epitome of being and looking cool under fire (not that he's not passionate about the important things, of course). But it's also quite funny in view of the comments about his self-confessed 'frumpy' jeans at the baseball game the other week.
A lovely bit of fun for the holiday season!
Congratulations to Mrs. O on her well deserved honor! She has indeed reset the bar for first ladies.
I have to agree with Babs and Posh, however, that the entire Vanity Fair staff may want to consider scheduling eye exams! I think the only outfit that scored lower marks on this board was the Westminster Abbey ensemble. Almost any of her evening outfits would be a better choice than the Pope visit outfit. It would be interesting to hear their rationale.
I agree with Babs, too, about the pearls. Although they look lovely on her, pearls are hardly original or distinctive. Her use of brooches, on the other hand, is indeed distinctive and unique!
In reading through the basic data given for others on the list, it struck me how little research seemed to go into gathering the information. What two women were identified with was what they wore at an event either given by or given for the first couple of France. A few had no information whatsoever.
When our first lady was in London with the President, she wore those pearls for nearly every event, but not so when she was in France or elsewhere. Her outfit with the Pope took some adjustment, but in a picture of them standing with the rest of the American delegation and the Pope, you could see the superior look of Michelle's outfit to the other two American women who wore lace rather than her sophisticated silk veil. And later when she took off the veil and coat and donned sunglasses, she was especially chic.
On the President's suits, he has a number of new ones made by a D.C. tailor and I think these dominate more lately than the ones made by his Chicago tailor.
An interesting side note on his shoes. Last year on July 4 in Montana during the Access Hollywood interview, all of the President's ladies ganged up on him about his clothes. When Michelle told how terribly old his belt was, he instinctively put his hand over it. She also said the same of his shoes. A month later for his birthday, some of his staff including Marv Nicholson gave him a present of a new belt and shoes.
But I agree with others and take great pleasure in the President making a best-dressed list.
To make a list of such high-importance in the fashion world from a publication such as Vanity Fair is an amazing feat - especially the third year running. Congratulations Mrs. O! Well-deserved! :)
I loved that the link to VF showed her in that v-neck emerald green dress, with her hair all fluffed up. It was such a different hairstyle for her, and she looked so pretty. That dress was before my time as a full-on MO addict. Does anyone remember whose dress it was?
I'm glad about POTUS making the list too. He looks fabulous in his new suits. It's easy to see the fabrics are the best and the fit is perfection. Of course, it does help to be tall and perfectly proportioned!
But . . . Brad Pitt is on the list????
@operafanatic - the dress was designed by Stevie Wonder's designer wife, Kai Milla . She met Michelle during the campaign and expressed interest in designing for the First Lady.
A colleague sent me an article that quoted "unofficial stylist" Ikram Goldman, saying Michelle has taken an interest in Alexander McQueen, particularly his latest dresses. So we may be seeing some of his pieces showing up on her soon.
It seems she may be on a bit of a British fashion kick, what with some of the other retro looking things she's worn lately.
Here is McQueen's latest collection - Resort 2010. I have serious doubts about these. Judge for yourselves.
http://www.style.com/fashionshows/complete/slideshow/2010RST-AMCQUEEN/?loop=0&iphoto=0&play=false&cnt=29
After looking thru the McQueen Resort 2010 collection, I can definitely see Michelle in Cardigan #13 and Dress #20, but that's about it.
Reminds me of the "psychedelics" from the 60's and the shoulder pads of the 80's.....two eras that, personally, I'd like to forget. I noticed that some of the models are pictured with oversized handbags. The handbags could be useful to to store an alternate change of clothing when buyers remorse sets in.
BTW, I looked through several other collections of McQueen's - Resort 2010 was the most recent. McQueen has taken edgy over the top into runway shockers that are not considered in the trade to be marketable. I can't imagine why Mrs. O would try to wear them (they are VERY difficult to wear). Is Ikram pushing him? Getting a deal from McQueen to push his wares? I would hate to think that...
Oh my. Well, construction-wise, these are some very well-made pieces from Alexander McQueen. I like look #4, the red and black and gray striped dress, and some of the fabrics are lovely. The long yellow gown (look #25, I think) is lovely.
I don't like the exaggerated shoulders, but that's just not my personal style. I think many of those outfits are actually quite attractive. It'll be interesting to see if any of them show up on Mrs. O.
The article I saw on Ikram didn't say that MO had taken an interest in McQueen, though. *Ikram* has taken an interest in him (among other designers), and the reporter is making an a leap that MO will start wearing him.
http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2009/07/will_ikram_goldman_dress_miche.html
Christina, do you recall an unusual pinstripe suit MO wore last year? It was grey and where you'd normally see sharp pinstripes, the stripes were fuzzy and reminiscent of tailor's chalk marks? That was McQueen, but I think it was from an older collection of his.
He does pretty far-out presentation, but he's such a great tailor, so all his work has solid structure and really holds up. I can see MO wearing something from him that's been a bit customized for her.
This isn't what I was thinking of, but another McQueen she wore on Aug 08 Ebony cover:
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj262/onlinepictureshow2/michelle-obama-ebony-1.jpg
WAYYYY OT, but I spied something tonight while insomnia-web-surfing that made me laff out loud and I know you regulars will appreciate it.
http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/politics/Michelle_Obama_First_Lady_in_Action.html
Photo 44 of 146 in an MO slideshow. Check out who is sitting be-robed and behind her on stage at the UC Merced graduation. (I thought I was seeing things, but quick glance at other pix on Getty show that I'm right! I can't believe none of us noticed it. That guy is good.)
I do remember that pinstriped suit! I liked it. And I am CRACKING. UP. at that picture of the UC Merced commencement. I love that TBG so much, you guys. I'm totally making up stories about him in my head. Girl crush!
The Washington Post did a magazine piece about what Secret Service trainees go through and it was so good -- it makes me appreciate people like TBG all the more.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/17/AR2009071701785.html
My poor dog jumped about a foot in the air because I was laughing so hard when I saw TBG in his graduation finery. How, how, how did all of us miss this? It's not like he exactly fits in there - hilarious.
I confess I was thinking about him yesterday, and wondering what his wardrobe will be in Martha's Vineyard. This could get interesting!
Tee hee.
Good thing our home office is at the far side of the house from the bedroom because NO DOUBT but that my GASP would've waken hubby otherwise.
I'm actually hoping TBG gets his own summer vacation somewhere, too!
I saw the SS guy at MO's UC Merced address at the time only because after first enjoying a set of photos, I have made a game out of going back and finding all the SS guys in certain photos. A similar setup for BO was at the Notre Dame commencement where his most visible SS guy is robed and sitting in a prominent stage position. Made me wonder at the time that if I notice this guy all the time why they don't use someone who "blends in" better. This guy is so easy to remember especially with his bald head. I remember him also in photos with GWBush. But then again, they probably aren't trying to be "invisible" on those stages.. just trying not to be so obvious and stick out like a sore thumb on photos.
OK, I've just been to the Vanity Fair website and Mrs O is give the placing on the following basis:
"Notable Ensembles of 2009: Inauguration wardrobe; black Moschino organza top, skirt, and silk veil worn when meeting Pope Benedict XVI."
So not just the Pope funerial nun ensemble but her entire Inauguration wardrobe as well. Which makes a little more sense!
OK again. I've just been back to go through all the pictures and I have to say that Vanity Fair are certainly picking a lot of people on the Best Dressed List whose featured photo shows clothes that don't even FIT. Natalia Vodanova was wearing a dress that was patently a size (or two) too big for her, and Diana Taylor's dress was far too tight at the top. Her skin is bobbling out all over the place and looking most uncomfortable. Best dressed??? People! Please!
Members of the "I need a bath and a decent Meal" Club were Nicky Haslam, Stacey Bendet, The Duches of Alba and Lapo Elkann. Renee Zellweger just needs meals. My personal best from the pics were Tiki Barber and Ali Hewson.