This Evening's (Thakoon) Dress
Thursday, September 24, 2009 at 7:24 PM 
Photo by Jim Young / Reuters
The President and First Lady are hosting G20 events in Pittsburgh this evening, posing above with the President and First Lady of Indonesia.
Mrs. O is dazzling in a Thakoon Resort 2010 Collection frock, as seen here. The silk plisse fabric is an ikat print in gray and pink, ruched asymmetrically through the bodice of the dress. This distinct technique of construction and surface embellishment has been a trademark of Thakoon's in recent seasons - and it's working fabulously for the first lady this evening.
Mrs. O has accessorized the look with a single strand of long pearls, pearl earrings, and her hair swept into a low chignon. Pink heels add a pop of color to complete the look.
From the New York Times:
At 6:15 p.m. Mr. and Mrs. Obama stepped out of the Phipps Conservatory, underneath an awning to greet their first guests. Mr. Obama in a dark blue suit, Mrs. Obama in a taupe, pink and green patterned cocktail dress with straps. Pink patent leather two-inch heels. Hair pulled back in a full, bouffant faux ponytail. Long pearl necklace, pearl earrings. No stockings.
Mr. Obama: “Where’d my First Lady go?”
Mrs. Obama: “Right here,” stepping beside him, as it started to drizzle.
Later in the evening, First Lady Mrs. O hosted a dinner party for the G20 spouses at the Pittsburgh home of Teresa Heinz Kerry.
Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson
P.S. A glimpse at our favorite and remarkably fashionable first lady friends:
Image by Jewel Samad / Getty Images
Thakoon
Reader Comments (110)
I wonder why the First Lady left. I guess the dinner is just for the Presidents, and Prime Ministers
I think it indeed is a pink and lavender leopard print. This is just one of those dresses that you can't appreciate fully unless you see it in person. It's not for tv or photos at all. It's an actual pattern, and quite interesting, but on tv and in photos, it just looks like a muddled pastel color. I bet it's a lot more interesting and stunning in real life.
I JUST SAW HER DRESS SHE IS A NICE DRESS SHE IS WEARRING AND HER HAIR IS NOT DOWN. ITS IN ALOW BUN.AND SHE IS NOT WEARRING A BELT ETHER.LOL
She left because this is a working dinner for the heads of state of the G-20. She is hosting a dinner for the spouses at Theresa Heinz Kerry's Rosemont Farm. She left before the others so she would be there to greet them as they arrived.
This is a video of a Diplomat who wants 1st Lady Pic Not Pres. it just came in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ISe2pLmTU8
shows how popular our first lady is.
A great day for viewing at Mrs. O!
The dress is nice, but from certain angles it makes her look too big around the waist and bottom. This shot is nice: http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/91122841/AFP
sierra, that video is too cute, and Michelle looks absolutely gorgeous. The photos don't do her justice.
Not a fan of this dress, and quite frankly don't recall liking any of Thakoon's designs.
I don't think this dress flatters Mrs. Obama at all....and unless the dinner is a "garden party", it seems too much like a daytime dress to me.
This is what I meant by some outfits being a little "off"....I'll bet this is an Ikram choice.
They're too cuuuuuuuuute!
here!
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Michelle-Obama/ss/events/pl/050108michelleobama/im:/090924/ids_photos_ts/r4116886119.jpg
Again, she looks beautiful. Lovely dress. In the yahoo pictures, you can see that some of the male dignitaries and heads of state do a double take when regarding Mrs O. I love her bangs, they make her look so young. In one of the pictures, our Pres seems so in awe of her, and in another, he is scowling at Berlusconi who appeared to be making a fuss over her LOL
I did not like the dress but not until I saw the video posted by Sierra......You are right, Marabout40, the photos don't do this dress any justice. I can smile now!
It's a lovely dress, but I don't think it's going to be her best look of these UN/G20 days. So far, the coppery dress from last evening gets my #1 vote - she looked gorgeous in that and it was definitely the right dress for the moment. I'm not sure this one is.
That said, definitely go on Getty and find the picture of Berlisconi (sorry - I know that's spelled wrong) when he first sees her. He's such a hound dog. And the expression on POTUS looks like he's about to challenge him to a duel.
OperaFanatic, hahaha the president expression is priceless! He's like "What the heck" better watch out, thats my wife" lol
Does the first lady have a weave? Or is her part naturally that close and undefined? I just love these two.
POKER FACE
Hey Sierra, that video is the BEST!
I'm so cracking up at how Mrs.O turns her back to the cameras and lowers her voice when talking to the President. Obviously she doesn't want them eavesdropping on the conversation! Like Duh! It's so funny...
I can't believe how comfortable they both always seem - especially Mrs.O in complex situations like this. I mean really, which First Lady talks to the audience and tells them to sing! She's a real sport. Mrs.O is the best at making people feel comfortable. You just gotta love her, even if her fashion choices are sometimes questionable.
Cheers!
I saw a pic on the Huffington Post and I'm not sure this is the right fit for Mrs. Obamas body style. I think she needs to stick to more tailored dresses from the waist down. Her skin and hair look great though.
strong foru
Are you talking about the sheer outfit because thats the only one i see on huffington post
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Jackeens_for_Obama/549
Great pics
I also LOVE how Sarah Brown dressess. So laid back, and simple
That video is too cute, and thank you Sierra for posting it. I love looking at the First Family.
personally i like this dress out of all of the other ones she worn aside from the red outfit which i adore
Thank you, Mia. These pictures are gorgeous. I love picture 8, 14, 26 &27
Would loved have to seen it in person, although she's beautiful as always!! :)
GORGEOUS!!! Be still my heart! I so loooove this woman. You go Mrs O!
I like it the outfit.
On a funny note, please keep the first lady from Silvio Berlusconi. That picture of him is too funny. Trying to tell Mrs O to come get a hug and she has her hand out to shake it, lol lol. That's got to be the highlight too funny. Not laughed so hard in a while
I liked this dress on the Thakoon model but I am afraid it doesn't flatter Mrs. Obama. Was the Thakoon model's dress strapless? Mrs. Obama's dress appears to have spaghetti straps which detract from the lines of the dress. Also I think the opera length pearls are wrong. A choker would have been better.
She should be a spokesperson for covergirl because she is easy, breezy, and beautiful! I like the dress, it is so chic and sexy. And from some of the pictures that I saw, the President thought it was sexy too;-) Berlusconi is something else! I Lol when I saw that. Does anyone have video showing it?
It takes a brave woman over 40 to wear ruche.
I LOLed at the Berlusconi pic too. Any videos of them wiping the rain off each other?
Wow - I think she looks sensational. It's a youthful but glamorous look. I love it.
I love how every time Mrs.O makes a fashion choice that is out of the box and doesn't please the aesthetic taste of some automatically it's "Oh, that must have been Ikram's fault". No, Mrs.O chose these clothes for herself whether Ikram played a part in it or not. At the end of the day she picks what she likes and wears what she likes. That's all.
@Ari
You are so right. Ikram JUST pulls the clothes and FLOTUS chooses what she wears. I was watching Rachel Zoe show, she pulls the clothes and the clients choose what they want to wear. Rachel Zoe shops for her clients then her clients decide what they want to purchase, JUST like Ikram. Like you said people ALWAYS says "she needs a new stylist" people don't understand that FLOTUS PICKS ALL her clothes. People always say "she needs a new stylist when they don't like what she wears. Ikram pulls clothes for Oprah, V.Jarrett and a ton of other chicago women.
Those pink heels would go with a lot of things, so pretty.
Hey Prime Minister Gordon Brown, getting a little too intimate with our First lady dude! http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Michelle-Obama/ss/events/pl/050108michelleobama/im:/090924/ids_photos_ts/r4116886119.jpg#photoViewer=/090925/ids_photos_wl/r1815835944.jpg
VA VA VA VOOM! I think she looks absolutely stunning and sexy! No wonder Berlesconi wanted more. The light color of the dress highlights her gorgeous skin tone, similar to that wonderful blouse she wore for the Spoken Word night at the White House.
I love the mystery of this subtle, elusive fabric. It gives me a sense of depth and flow, which are enhanced by the ruching and the way the ruching flows into the pleats opening up on her right side. I think the design is an intricate masterpiece. I love the way the dress flows when she moves. Thanks for the video, Sierra.
Mrs. O's bodice is trim enough to wear the yards of fabric in that ruching. And although this design doesn't accentuate her narrow waist, I really appreciate the beauty of this shape and flow. I think it's very feminine and very sexy, while remaining completely modest. I think it looks many times better on Mrs. O than on that pale, thin model.
I love Mrs. O's hair up like this, but don't quite get that little wisp of hair sticking out in the back.
Wow! She is consistently hitting it out of the park this week. Just fabulous!
I just saw some larger, closer pictures on Democratic Underground, and I need to say again that the way that fabric is used in that design is simply masterful.
marabout40 so was his wife holding the presidents hand during the pictures. Its just funny to me because I can't believe some of these people laughing... Its like wow, they are invading presidents and first ladies personal space but I don't think its intentional, its unconscious. They are so welcoming that I think people forget. But Berlusconi on the other hand, Jesus help him.
That video of them is too cute. I love the way the Prez looks at her when they are talking & I love how he chats with the guy in the uniform too. He is always so aware of who is around him & so kind. Good Golly, I love this First Family.
I'm torn on the dress. It looks very garden party but I guess since they are at an observatory, she wanted to go less formal. I like how the dress plays of her skin. I didn't like the mustard colored dress from last night. It had a great silhouette but it would have looked better in a pastel or bright color.
This dress has a great silhouette and the color goes with her skin very well. But I thought the strand of pearls was too long. I think this outfit probably looks great in person given the reaction some of the male heads-of-state gave her. PM Hu Jintao was positively beaming when he saw Mrs O. So was PM Zapatero from Spain. And Gordon Brown looked a little too amorous in that hug and kiss. And Berlusconi was, as usual outright pervy. The President looked as if he was going to slap Berlusconi with a leather glove and tell him "No, you cannot hug my wife, you lecherous ingrate." Never mess with Mrs. O or Mr. O will get angry. Admiration is fine--he loves showing Michelle off, but lecherous behavior is not.
The pink shoes are perfect and so is Mrs. O obvious confidence and comfort in this dress. I love the more subdued makeup. I actually think Mrs. O looks great and innocent, like a fresh-faced ingenue like with subdued/no makeup. I think this is why the dress works as well. The make-up is subdued.
Love the dresses....especially the mustard colored one.........Thanks for the link to the official photos ....my favourites are the one with POTUS wiping the rain drops off "His First Lady" with his handkerchief.........such a tender moment. Hey just a reminder to the ladies who have issues with some of Mrs.O outfits........ummmmm......notice how her husband was looking at her in some of these photos.......Its for Him.
Willow, I agree wholeheartedly the dress, the asymmetrical ruching, how it lays, how it flows is a masterpiece.
Mrs T you are rocking tonight.
The pictures don't do the dress any justice, I watched the video on high def...and wow...the design and the color is simply amazing.....I hope Mrs.O always always would defy the conventional wisdom about how a first lady should dress and act....breezy beautiful indeed
P.S the G-20 spouses had their dinner at the Theresa Hienz Kerry's farm....maybe that's why the dress code was more on the casual side.
Mrs Obama rocks! She totally rocks! She looks so lovely, sweet, sexy, feminine, fun, beautiful, classy and super hot!
I love my President and First lady, they do us proud.
First Lady Michelle Obama looks like she could step into a Covergirl commercial. I would definitely buy whatever she is wearing or selling !!! She looks so amazing and confident. She just keeps knocking it out of the park. As I watched them greeting the leaders from the G20 on CNN, she was definitely turning heads with men and women in this dress. Once again, she made a splash on the world stage, breaking the mole. But we all knew that she would :-)
What I take away from her fashion choices, is to wear what makes you feel comfortable and secure about yourself. I have made an effort to step out of my comfort zone, and I have been getting more compliments on my fashion choices.
Here is a video of the President and First Lady's arrival. This Thakoon dress just flows so eloquently as she walks.
http://www.politico.com/largevideobox.html?id=41933605001
Love the dress! She looks absolutely fab! Her skin is to die for!
With her broad shoulders she made the right choice by picking the operalength necklace. A choker would have made her even broader on top. She elongated her neckline and it looks very elegant. So right choice there. She choose what worked for her body.
She looks abolutely fab! And her skin is to die for! Love the soft pink heels against her brown skin.
And the necklace and straps made the dress more elegant for her body. She choose what worked for her. Having broad strong shoulders, a strapless dress and a choker would have make her upper body look even wider. So she definitely hit the right note her by wearing straps and an operalength necklace.
Didn't go for the obvious, but chose what works for her. Good on her!
It appears to me that Mrs. Brown looks thinner Does anyone else think so? Or is it just a different hair do?