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)
Mrs Brown looked so good, I hardly recognized her, I had to read the caption on the photo twice just to make sure; her dress and the sweater was very sharp.
Boazwife,
Are you still up, too? Are you also on the West Coast, too?
Mrs. Brown's dress and sweater were wonderful. Did she get a stylist?
I'm off to bed now. Good-night.
She looks radiant. I love her dress, her heels, her hair, but most of all I love that man with her---oh yeah, her husband the Pres! God bless them.
I'm probably going to start a firestorm of angry comments but this is one time where I think a little shrug or light jacket or something pretty to cover her arms would have balanced this outfit out and made it more event-appropriate. IWorn as it is, it looks like something you could throw on and wear on a cruise, at the beach, in Hawaii but IMHO it is a little too informal. Pretty color palette, though....and KILLER pumps.
From the side view (with Carla Sarkozy) it looks like a tiny bit of tailoring at the waist might have made it look less "maternity".
Ok ladies, please remember we are all entitled to our opinions!
The AP video Sierra linked to above made me appreciate this dress (after I really wasn't feelin' it from the still images). The tone and shape are wonderful in movement.
This part of the evening was a cocktail reception with participants and spouses. Then they branched off with participants staying for a "working dinner" and spouses off to Teresa Heinz Kerry's farm for supper.
The AP video Sierra linked to above made me appreciate this dress (after I really wasn't feelin' it from the still images). The tone and shape are wonderful in movement.
This part of the evening was a cocktail reception with participants and spouses. Then they branched off with participants staying for a "working dinner" and spouses off to Teresa Heinz Kerry's farm for supper.
Best First Lady EVER!!!
I. LOVE. IT.
OK. I love Thakoon and I love Michelle. I even love this dress.
But, it is really (I mean really) culturally insensitive to wear this dress when you are hosting the President and First Lady of Indonesia. It is a big insult to muslims to show so much skin. Spagetti straps and cleavage are just so far over the line it isn't even funny. The Indonesian President and his wife are so obviously uncomfortable (he actually looks angry and he always smiles in photos). Carla Bruni has right, Michelle doesn't. Practically all the other first ladies wore long sleaves out of respect.
While most Indonesian's will just look the other way, extremists will take this as an insult. It isn't right, but it is reality. The Bali bombings, the Marriott Jakarata bombings -- all targeting westerners. It puts Americans overseas at risk.
I don't expect Michelle to know this, but her advisors should. I could care less about fashion rules -- if she wears shinny fabric in the morning, or a belt over a sweater. But please be respectful when you host the President of the largest muslim country in the world. As an American living in South East Asia, I'd sure appreciate it.
The dress is lovely in fabric and design. The style, however, is not flattering. It flattens her bust and thickens her torso. This kind of ruching is going to pile on the pounds for any but the stick-thin.
However, the shoes are fun, and I love the long pearls and the smooth chignon -- very Josephine Baker. she looks sexy, elegant and confident.
Sarah Brown, two thumbs up!
Did anyone see the pic of Pres O wiping Mrs. O's shoulders... ohhhhhhhh. Again I must say I LOVE this couple. The dress is not my favorite, but she looks wonderful.
I have already posted that I don't think this dress flatters the First Lady. I understand that the videos show otherwise but when a public person is choosing clothing for a very public occasion, how the clothing will look on still camera has to be a considered and even ttested in advance. But what I really wanted to add is that this website says the dress is from the "Thakoon Resort 2010 Collection." That says it all. The G20 is not a resort occasion and Pittsburgh is not a resort place.
@JuliaKhoo, I do believe that the Muslim Indonesians were one of many, many couples the Obamas hosted. Or am I wrong...were they the focus of the event?
julia Khoo,
I speak here as a muslim myself, you are totally wrong. A muslim may...MAY get offended if somebody wore such dress in their country....but in other people's countries , we don't "get offended" because people follow their own traditions and customs.
The Obama's also received the prime minister of Turkey and his wife( who wears the head cover) and the forgien minister of Saudi Arabia...and neither got offended nor I bet you the prime minister of Indonesia...
your post might make sense if the Obama's were visiting Indonesia not the other way around.
Now Mrs. O is threatening the lives of Americans in South East Asia!!! As a Muslim woman who wears the veil, that is a bit of a stretch, JuliaKhoo. Extremists will try to kill you even if she was covered from head to toe, like I am
Six outfits and counting and still no wide, harsh belts. I think she heard about the uproar over the last belt she wore for her Healthcare Speech.
Meant to say...
FOUR outfits and counting and still no belts. I think she heard about the uproar over the last belt she wore for her Healthcare Speech.
kbarch noted what I've been thinking....each outfit should be tested in natural and artificial light, with still cameras and video. If this had been done, I believe that quite a few outfits would have failed to meet the requirements that since Mrs. Obama's choices will ultimately end up in museums, libraries and history books, her outfits need to enhance her image.
I love our First Lady...I just continue to think she needs a new stylist and branch out beyond Ikram's store. I agree with many that that the final choices are hers alone but it all starts with the outfits that are "pulled" for her perusal.
All one needs to do is think about is every photo we have even seen of Jacqueline Kennedy or Princess Diana or, now, Carla Bruni, Queen Raina, Princess Leticia....every outfit photographed beautifully and fit to a "T".
I never knew Americans cannot dress the way they dress in their own country. I know that when going to other countries one should respect the customs and we are open enough to be open to other cultures. But it seems that same respect is not expected from those visiting our country? There is ALWAYS something.
PalGirl2008 agreed 100%. There is this pretense of understanding every cultural aspect of the world. Culturally insensitive? The art of just throwing words together without context or understanding the cultures in depth. There are always some individuals peddling this whole notion what is appropriate to the rest of us, OR telling us who will get offended or not, just because they are. By the way didn't PBO live in Indonesia for a few? Jesus some of these postings.
After seeing the variety of all the women there at the event, I appreciate it all. All the women had variety and excuse me Carla was not the amazing there to me. A black dress does not make it oh my God appropriate, its not a funeral. Black is a safe route, there is nothing amazing about it. I have seen her in a black dress all the time, there is nothing diversified about it.
I love the diversity of colors and of designs. It was beautiful. Diversity of cultures, colors, patterns and different ways of dressing. The women came to show something different. Heck Mrs Brown stepped her game up to be comfortable and free and beautiful. From Argentina's prime ministers purple suit to the other ladies white halter shirt and shirt.
I do notice when there are ample amount of positive commentaries on Mrs O clothing, there will be someone to throw in the "rules" or "appropriate" argument. Interesting.
Work it Mrs O. Even the president of Singapore wanted a picture with just her alone because his daughter wanted it. Yep that's the impact she has with her Thakoon dress on.
Wow! Great colors and fit. The pink heels are a perfect complement to the dress.
Me, Myself.....No she does not have a weave. Sometimes we are worlds apart about each other. I think the dress is lovely, but maybe she did need a light wrap or shrug. Barbara, why do her outfits need to enhance her image? That baffles me.
Dinner Pic
http://www.flickr.com/photos/globalpittsburgh/3952691957/
There are some new photos on the white house blog showing the spouses dinner. It appears to me that Mrs. O's dress was not for the public or the red carpet. It was for the room where they will be dining. The whole scheme matches her and the lighting goes with her dress. The dress looks much better in those photos. She dressed for her guests in that room, not the public.
Also, I find it odd that Deisree Rogers is sitting in between the President's and Prime Minister wives. However she might be sitting there to entertain them.
@Barbara "All one needs to do is think about is every photo we have even seen of Jacqueline Kennedy or Princess Diana or, now, Carla Bruni, Queen Raina, Princess Leticia....every outfit photographed beautifully and fit to a "T"."
Therein lies the problem. Did she ever tell anyone she wants to be within these groups of ladies?
She dresses as she said to make herself happy and the rest of peoples talk are just conversation. The last time I remember she did not ask for anybody to place her on a pedestal.
She is not Jacqueline, she is not princess Diana, she is not Carla, she is not Queen Raina, She is not princess Leticia. (By the way all the dresses on these ladies do not all fit to a T, that is kind of stretching it). She is Michelle Obama.
Leave these ladies to themselves, like Hillary and Laura were left alone. She has become this obsession to turn into a fashion doll, she is not, she is an individual who happens to be first lady period.
So do we have a running tab on fashion faux pas...no shiny suits before noon, no white after labor day, do NOT dress the way you dress in YOUR country because if you do terrorist will strike and all because of your spaghetti stripes, do not wear a cardigan to meet the queen, even though half the princesses of Europe wear Cardigans to meet the queen, anything else?
Some people should take a moment; take breath, re-read what you write before pressing the send button. I don’t agree with all the first lady’s choices. But then I take a breath and say they are her choices. There are many days I leave the house with something I think looks fabulous! Then, later – ask myself what I was thinking. It’s all about forward movement. And, stop comparing – it’s not helpful. The first lady has a different body, a different build and different life experience that inform her choices. I love that she remains true to herself – that’s why she feels so authentic and real to us. We don’t need cookie cutter people. That’s old fashioned and old fashion!
@ Briana
It was the Finance Minister of Singapore, not the president. But I agree with everything else you said.
I feel like I have seen Carla Bruni in this look several times. Her style is overrated, IMHO.
@ Barbara
You said "All one needs to do is think about is every photo we have even seen of Jacqueline Kennedy or Princess Diana or, now, Carla Bruni, Queen Raina, Princess Leticia....every outfit photographed beautifully and fit to a "T".
That is quite a broad generalization! EVERY outfit? Fit to a "T"? You really have seen EVERY photograph of these women and can make that courageous statement?
@Barabra
SHE IS NOT THEM, get over she is MICHELLE OBAMA!!! Just because your STUCK in the old days, SHE IS NOT. She is NOT dressing for museums. GET OVER IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Damn, her clothes are not there for HER image!! Did you see the Singapore guy who wanted HER picture SOLEY, he did not give a damn about her outfit!!!
@Julia
Okay there where Muslims there, and? So now she is supposed to please ONE group of people? Now she is supposed to dress for the Muslims. All the FLOTUS's DID not wear LONG SLEEVES, and they sure as hell did not wear long sleeves ONLY for the muslim Prime Ministers. SHould Michelle have worn a veil too, because one of the wives wore a veil. The Obamas ARE NOT MUSLIM, so they don't have to pretend to be one. The African wives wore traditional clothes, where they offended by Michelle not wearing traditional clothes?
The First Lady's skin is simply divine. It's so shiny, soft-looking, and blemish free. Her husband must get a thrill just from touching her. LOL
I find it so strange that every time someone doesn't like her outfit, the discussion turns to appropriateness, or some variation of that. It was really funny to read TWO of our Muslim blogsisters comment on how ridiculous the statement was about Mrs. O offending the Muslim leaders by showing skin in her own country.
That has shown me, and many others I presume, just how clueless many members of the "appropriate police" are. They don't like Mrs. O's outfit. Perhaps the skin offended THEM. Perhaps the colors and style wasn't appealing to THEM. And rather than admit that, it seems easier to act as if many other people feel that way too since she chose something that wasn't "appropriate."
Anyway, I loved this outfit when I saw a brief clip of them on CNN greeting people, and I love the pictures that Mrs. T posted. I really don't see how this dress isn't appropriate, but it may be a generation thing.
Yes, her skin is amazing. She doesn't have a blemish on her! That's how I'm trying to get my skin to look. She seems to be glowing from the inside. That's not moisturizer, that's just good genes.
As for Carla, I think she has good taste, but her clothes are not as fun as Michelle's. And even though I don't think she's a very good dresser, even Sarah Brown's clothes seem to have more personality than Carla Bruni's. I think we've seen her in a capped sleeved black dress at every single one of these events. It's not very creative. Yes, she has style but she doesn't have the personality to her style to warrant a blog about it like Mrs. O. Not trying to put her down, just saying. I do think her clothes are over hyped. And even though I'm not a fan of this particular dress for Mrs. O, it's far more interesting than Carala's uniform.
the white house flicker stream has two more pictures of the spouses dinner, and Mrs.O looks right in her element...and so pretty and elegant....sigh
I posted early on regarding this dress, saying I thought it was beautiful, but probably would not be my favorite of these UN/G20 events. What I was really aware of when I first saw it - in all the pictures with the other guests - was that she was so much more "bare" than all the other women, a bit less formal. To me, it looked like she was dressed for a different party than everyone else. But, since I believe it's a hostess's perogative to wear what she wants, I figured, well, okay. There is no doubt she looked gorgeous and comfortable with her choice. And, once again she demonstrated that her skin may be the best in the country.
This morning when I saw the pictures at the Heinz-Kerry house - I realized I was right. She WAS dressed for another party - a small, intimate, patio dinner in a private home. And the dress was dead-on perfect for that. I thought she looked even better in that setting.
I agree with the poster who thought the length of the pearls was the right balance for MO's body in this dress. She is a tall woman, and does not have small bone structure. A choker or shorter necklace would have looked dinky on her, especially given the lightness of this chiffon dress. I think it - and she - benefitted from the heft of the large, long pearl necklace. Maybe one day she'll wear a piece of jewelry that overpowers her, but I haven't seen it yet. Not even that gigantic Tom Binns piece at the WH dinner was too much for me.
new pics on yahoo
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Michelle-Obama/ss/events/pl/050108michelleobama#photoViewer=/090925/ids_photos_ts/r1335508782.jpg
new pics:
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//090925/480/1febf6ed91064ee2b66214372e1bd6e6/#photoViewer=/090925/480/179de960de1c4772aeaa453a3304bbda
LOL@ Original Mrs A, I think you wrote too soon about the "no belt", She has on one in DayLife photo, with a pretty wrap dress!
I've been reading all the comments, and cant help but feel bad for some of the posters. After all the arguments and counter arguments about MrsO style choices. I thought finally we reached an unspoken agreement to accept MrsO style choices as herself expression, and not try to compare her with others. Oh well guess some people will never learn.
BTW, I love every article of clothing that she wore so far! Absolutely Fabolous!
Stop projecting people and start enjoying the fashion!
WOW.....great look.
The dress is marvelous and so are the shoes, makeup and hair.
I am thankfull that she is beltless and extremely happy there are no pins or trinkets.
Very sophisticated. Hope this look becomes a repeat.
I'm not feeling this dress. It doesn't flatter her figure, and shows too much skin for the occasion. I haven't liked any of the Thakoon ensembles that she's worn. The necklace is also too long. Her burnt orange dress from the other night was a great look. Her hair and makeup looked nice though. The table looks nice.
Here's a link to the dress Stylishgurl is referring to: http://www.daylife.com/photo/01togMs58v9U4?q=G20+Summit
The belt is back and I love this dress!
Mara, I too am not a fan of Thakoon. I think his taste level is seriously lacking. The only dresses that Mrs. O that I don't think are flattering to her are always Thakoon. His dresses do not flatter real women. Now when she wears people like Michael Kors or Maria Pinto, she always knocks it out the park.
The only Thakoon dress on her that I thought was ok was the dress she wore for Barack's DNC speech. Other than that, I haven't been a fan of his work on her.
Tracey @ 10:48 and Opfan,
That was my first reaction, too, when seeing the pics of Mrs. O at the dinner. She could not have looked more perfect in that setting.
Regarding how much beautiful skin Mrs. O is showing, I always think that when brown or black people show more skin, they look more clothed than white people showing an equal amount of skin. Can you imagine Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton, Nancy Reagan or even Carla Bruni in that dress? It would look very naked.
I think that my fellow whites will agree that we want to get a tan before showing much skin.
I appreciate the comments from our Muslim posters. I wondered how the Muslim dignitaries would respond to Michelle's dress. I'm happy to know that the rules of respect for Muslim garb are for respect when visiting a Muslim country.
I now completely understand why she chose that dress for this occasion. The garden setting for the ladies dinner is just beautiful and her outfit blends in so well. Love it!
The dress is lovely and I think MO looks beautiful. I love her pink heels.
The pics of the wiping of the rain drops off of each other are priceless. I just want to say that I love how they can have such an intimate moment in such a public place. It's like they are the only two people in the room when they are interacting with each other.
The video was too cute as well.
Perfect dress for a garden dinner. Right on point. I actually feel that Mrs. Sarkozy overdressed.
@Tracy
"The only Thakoon dress on her that I thought was ok was the dress she wore for Barack's DNC speech. Other than that, I haven't been a fan of his work on her."
Remind me what that dress looked like? They start to run together in my mind.
I think Thakoon has not been one of the more favored designers for Mrs O. I do like this dress, though, it's light and pretty and I think it makes her look dewy (or maybe it was the rain!) It's funny, but no one has mentioned the one part that makes me think "eh" and that's this particular hairstyle.
Julia Khoo, I think you're very right that people have to show respect for cultures, but this summit is being hosted in the United States, and the president of Indonesia was not the only guest there. I doubt anyone would attack BECAUSE of spaghetti straps; sadly, I don't think extremists really need a reason to be extreme.
@Barbara:
""All one needs to do is think about is every photo we have even seen of Jacqueline Kennedy or Princess Diana or, now, Carla Bruni, Queen Raina, Princess Leticia....every outfit photographed beautifully and fit to a "T".
I have to think about this some more. I don't actually agree with you, but I find it intriguing that you chose to compare Michelle Obama to that particular group of women. I mean, for better or worse, those women were royalty or near-royalty (in the case of Jacqueline Kennedy) and were groomed from their youth to be arm candy to some powerful man.
That doesn't mean they don't/didn't have aspirations in their own right, and I'm sure they're all accomplished in their own ways. But it strikes me that there's a major difference between a Queen Rania and a Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama that goes beyond your perception that one dresses better than the other. Michelle Obama was not raised to be royalty. She was not "groomed" other than groomed to be super-intelligent and to go to college and to be a professional woman.
It just strikes me that Mrs. O might have a totally different thought process when it comes to presenting herself, than a princess or model might have. Anyway, I'm sorry that I disagree but your words do offer food for thought.
@Barbara and all those who agree with her. You want Laura Bush back in the White House and you are not going to get it. Besides this country is a republic so a black woman born on the south side of Chicago has every opportunity and right to be where she is. Get used to it for the next 3 and a half years. You can always vote them out and put "Jacqueline Kennedy or Princess Diana or, now, Carla Bruni, Queen Raina, Princess Leticia" back in the White House. OK?
Desiree Rogers always does this wierd thing where she takes up a prime seating positiion that should have gone to a distinguished guest at an event ,just so she gets in the shot with either the president or the first lady.
Rule 1000 dont wear resort wear if not at a resort.....looks at the rules shrugs and wears whaever I want to wear.
I wore White after labor day!!! and it felt GREAT!
Barbara,
With all due respect, there are many pictures of Princess Diana wearing things that are not terribly flattering or well cut. Remember she was photographed a lot in the eighties, and for my money, clothes were not cut well for women. As a matter of fact, Princess Diana grew into herself in terms of her personal style. It is well documented, actually, that she became more and more free and therefore her choices got better and better.
Carla Bruni...well, aren't there naked pics of here out there? And doesn't she have a particularly spotty past? Was she ever married to the father of her child? And yes, she grew up in a WEALTHY family in Italy, so even though she was like royalty, she doesn't act like it.
I am actually a little miffed that you would throw Carla Bruni out there as though the FLOTUS should look to Carla Bruni as some sort of idol or mentor. There are lot of pics of Carla Bruni that are WAY less than polite and lovely, if you know what I mean.
As far as Jackie O and the other ladies....I agree that they are usually lovely, however, I don't really see as many pics of those women as I do of MY FLOTUS. So, perhaps, they might have things a little easier than Michelle.