Thursday
Jan282010
Striped in McQueen
Thursday, January 28, 2010 at 4:27 PM 
Image by Jason Reed / Reuters
First Lady Mrs. O returned to her pinstripe chalk stripe Alexander McQueen suit today as she began her campaign against childhood obesity. Mrs. O was joined by Surgeon General Regina Benjamin at a YMCA in Alexandria, Virginia, where they spoke on the issue.
This suit has certainly been a favorite of Mrs. O's in recent years. Mrs. O wore it several times on the campaign trail during 2007 and 2008, and for at least one public event last year. Click here to see our previous post the its history.
In the past paired with brooches, the first lady wore it with a high collar white shirt, red belt and coordinating lipstick for today's appearance.
tagged Alexander McQueen
Alexander McQueen
Reader Comments (70)
First Lady's best accessory: http://s659.photobucket.com/albums/uu314/marabout40/?action=view¤t=hefine.jpg
She does look appropriately dignified as always... but something about the stripes and shoulder pads makes it look like a pimp/mafia suit... I know this is horrible to say... but that is the first thing that came to mind when I saw it. See the pic below to see what I mean:
http://www.bigapplecostumes.com/catalog/Clyde%20Pin%20Stripe%20Suit_thumb.jpg
I would like this suit better with a regular collar which would fit better with the collar of the suit jacket.
I have never cared for wide chalk stripes on any piece of clothing for a man or a woman. It's not flattering, and always reminds me of the "zoot suits" of the late '30's-early '40's. Who cares who the designer is? Every designer has some flops. That said, Mrs. O. has looked particularly wonderful for the last couple of months. Great choices...except for this one.
I think the suit would have been more forgiving if she had buttoned it. Chalk stripes or pin stripes tend to add extra bulk and the unbuttoned suit bulks her up and makes her shoulders look wide. I remember a previous pic of this suit that was more flattering on her. Today, I really don't like this. I am OK with the shirt she has on, though it would have looked better with a less busy outfit, so that the shirt could be the focal point. I like suits. I dont think there is anything wrong with them. They always enhance one's professionalism. The only time that a suit can be wrong is when someone picks a style that is wrong for her body type. And with the right style, anyone can get away with a pin stripe. A short person can get away with a pin stripe suit if there isn't so much fabric. A knee length skirtsuit or shorter as opposed to pants.
I think we will be seeing more suits now that she is embracing policy and wants to be taken as more than a vegetable garden owner and Mom in chief. So the anti-suit crowd better brace themselves. I am seeing changes in her wardrobe choices that I am happy about. Glad to see less of the oddly placed belts, overdone sleeveless outfits for the wrong occasions, odd patterns and overkill accessories. I really do think she has made some conscious changes which is important now that the administration wants her name to stand for more than fashion.
Interesting to read about "falls." Never heard that term before. I know about lacefront wigs. Are these the same thing? Is it the lighting? what are all those silver/grey streaks in her hair?
My immediate reaction was pimp - Nathan Detroit (Guys & Dolls) - and the zoot suiters of times past, with the garish suits and broad brimmed hats.
Drawing this kind of attention does not seem like a great idea.
I also wonder about the mixed message to children about obesity - the surgeon general is indeed obese.
When a very feminine, pretty woman wears masculine clothes/style (like this suit), it has the paradoxical effect of emphasizing her femininity and sexiness. For example, a very feminine woman with an hourglass figure like Dr Jill Biden or She Who Must Not Be Named can wear masculine clothes and look fabulously feminine and adorable.
Michelle Obama is a very attractive woman, she is tall, strong, with broad shoulders and strong features. She's not terribly feminine or delicately pretty. Generally she wears clothes whose style or fabric or color, or accessories, are very feminine. Someone who is not terribly feminine wearing a masculine style tends to look mannish, in spite of her good figure. So to me, this is not a good look for her. I love her hair though!
Dr. Regina Benjamin, the Surgeon General, is indeed overweight, but she is NOT obese by any standard.
Sharp!!! A woman always looks good in a male-inspired suit. Would love to see the shoes though.
This ""Chalk Stripe Suit" needs an eraser.
I like the shorter hair look and often wonder if there are times we say her natural hair and other times it is enhanced.
@Denise, thanks for the detailed report on a small wig or fall, I'm sure someone found the information useful.
Regardless, bringing Oprah's hair into the conversation seems odd, unless someone feels they are sharing hairpieces. Lady O and Queen O are two entirely different people. I don't think there is any comparison.
Hey people! We have another international trip to look forward to! PBO, Mrs. O and the girls will be traveling to Indonesia and Australia, with a stop in Guam, in the second half of March. The only bummer is - radically different time zones.
BeeGee-I hope you are not calling Nathan Detroit a pimp. A gambler, sure, but not a pimp. I'm with you on the suit tho--not a good look.
I love this look as a break from the usual (I know it's a rerun but you all know what I mean). The gorgeous blouse (by whom?) compliments the tailored suit. Did I see someone say something about a red belt? I love the red lipstick. This is all a very sophisticated look. IMHO, much better than floppy cardigans.
I've been intrigued by all of the anti-suit comments in a number of threads. I've never before thought of suits as aging, stuffy, etc. Of course, it depends on the suit, but I think it's possible to find suits that look fresh and stylish; and I think most of Mrs. O's suits have been great.
I've also noticed a shift in her overall fashion choices since the beginning of this year. She seems to have found a style that works for her position without sacrificing her individual tastes or caving in to the "First Lady uniform."
This particular suit is not a winner for me because I feel that menswear fabrics work best for more petite, naturally feminine figures. I am built very much like Mrs. O (same height, bone structure, etc.), and I avoid menswear fabrics. With this build, I need things that add curves and soften the angles; and I think those styles work best for her as well.
The woman can wear whatever she wants. I just like HER! I like what she represents - an intelligent woman, great mom, good wife - she's just the bomb. As I told my husband recently... I love Barack, sure do, but he's so last year... I'm in love with Michelle now :)
Go Obamas!
Here is pic of Mrs. O today at her meeting on childhood obesity:
http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/96352765/AFP
There are pics on yahoo as well.
Oooh giddy squeal that is a Michelle Obama suit!
Hopefully the Surgeon General will embrace change and be part of the initiative to eradicate obesity.
Mrs. O starting a vegetable stood for more than a hobby in the back yard. Among the food and nutrition communities she is getting high praise for encouraging Americans to raise their awareness about eating vegetables, gardening without pesticides, becoming a little less reliant on big agribusiness for putting food on our tables, and replacing processed foods with freshly grown alternatives. The emergence of community gardens skyrocketed last spring. This in turn promoted and encouraged community participation and cooperation. Her efforts to restart a White House Garden actually is a wonderful springboard for this next step in her campaign to educate a new generation about healthy eating.
Also, the idea of who or what is feminine is an extremely subjective topic. There are many who find Mrs. O to be very pretty and *feminine*.
This suit looked much nicer on her in last year's photos. One still photo may not necessarily do justice to her overall appearance in this suit.
Her stripes need to match!
Wouldn't it be a nice touch, in some way, to pay tribute to the late Alexander McQueen and his work on this site? Especially as Mrs O has evidently appreciated his talent for several years.