Sunday
Nov072010
A Most Gorgeous Dinner Jacket
Sunday, November 7, 2010 at 5:12 PM 
Image via The Obama Diary
The president and first lady dined at the Prime Minister of India's residence this evening, where Mrs. O wore a richly embroidered jacket paired with black pants and a tassel necklace.
An exciting tidbit! The first lady wears a necklace by Ranjana Khan, from the designer's Fall 2010 Art Deco collection. The necklace features black silk cord with a gold and silver medallion and silver chain fringe.
Update: Mrs. O's jacket is Dries Van Noten, from the designer's Fall 2010 collection, seen here.
tagged Dries Van Noten, Ranjana Khan
Dries Van Noten, Ranjana Khan
Reader Comments (50)
Lovely! It is clear she is paying homage to the Indian style of dress and ornamentation.
I just keeps getting better and better
I love SARI ;)
I love SARI ;)
Oh, it's a long dress, not slacks. I like that even better.
That jacket is so cool. Even with an all black palette she manages to infuse some "brightness" and "exuberance" into her outfit with the ornate gold pattern. Love it! The tassel necklace is a nice touch as well.
This is beautiful. Very Indian inspired, stylish, and modest. This is one of the best things I've seen her wear. I love how ornate it is.
Funny she should wear this because I myself have recently taken an interest in evening jackets. I think they're really overlooked my the 35 and under crowd.
This is one I was looking at yesterday. If I had the money I would def buy this. I could see Mrs. O wearing this as well:
http://www.net-a-porter.com/am/product/159004?cm_mmc=LinkshareUS-_-ProductFeed-_-Willow-_-Jackets&siteID=J84DHJLQkR4-VcHAfV5b4zW31PIGjt1UYA
Mrs Obama's jacket is simply sensational ! Everyone looks lovely.
Very nicely down not to attention grabbing but not blending into the background! Nice job Mrs. Obama!
Her outfit looks much better. I really love her Jacket.
I wonder how long she is going to style her hair the same way like this. It just doesn't look good.
I really have loved the direction she has taken with this trip. Its fashionable, yet comfortable and cultural.
@Tracy
That is an amazing jacket!
The richness of the platinum and gold embroidery in Mrs. Obama's beautiful jacket atop her black gown is absolutely stunning!
I like her easy, no fuss hairdo! She reminds me of runway models when she wears her hair in this style!
Absolutely tasteful and elegant!
The jacket, and necklace are simply beautiful. Knowing FLOTUS she likely had the jacket done by an Indian designer, since she is in India.
Looks like she is actually wearing pants. There's a video on obamadiary that shows good shots of her and you can see her outfit clearly. Looks good!
I luv her outfit !!!! But Mrs. T that is not a dress...Those r black slacks...I watched the dinner video...On obamadiary.com
Cool outfit! I luv the jacket!
Wow, now that's a jacket! When our Michelle wears her hair plain and pulled back, it makes that beautiful face and exquisite complexion pop. She gives good face. I've said this before, Kevyn Aucoin would've had a frenzied field day with her face. I can just envision him sketching make-up profiles for her as he did with so many others. He was The Master and he would've loved her! She looks adorable. Oh, wait, there are other people in the photo, too! Everybody looks so nice!
New favorites from this trip -- the dinner jacket, the turquoise ensemble, the leaving the White House outfit!
Christina,
Isn't that jacket fabulous?! I wish I had 2500 bucks! LOL
But I'm really gonna start investing in evening jackets like that one and the one Mrs. O is wearing. I think the younger crowd doesn't know much about how gorgeous evening jackets are. And I like the way Mrs. O is wearing hers. It's the star of the outfit, not competing with anything else. I'd really like to see Mrs O start a trend with these kinds of statement pieces.
Also, and y'all can agree or disagree, but it's very Michael Jackson-ish to me. MJ is a big fashion icon to me and I always loved his jeweled jackets. I'm thinking about getting this jacket when i have some extra money:
http://www.net-a-porter.com/am/product/103502?cm_mmc=LinkshareUS-_-ProductFeed-_-Alice_and_Olivia-_-Jackets&siteID=J84DHJLQkR4-e7A7G._td0iRRJpG263CHg
Simply sensational. What a delightful top. The combo is my favourite.
I think this is absolutely beautiful, a stunning nod to Indian culture and just plain
sensational for the First Lady. This has been an interesting trip for this blog,and
I appreciate the feedback from the Indians. Clearly, Mrs. Obama did her homework
on this. I, for one, have tried to remain open-minded about some of her choices.
Peace and Love!
That looks like a traditional Kashmiri jacket. I have one that I got in Kashmir 20+ years ago and it's a similar shape and density of embroidery.
It takes a very confident woman to wear her hair off the face and I think Mrs Obama pulls it off!
Her face is beautiful, genuine and radiant. I am not a fan however of the last few outfits. Maybe culturally correct but not looking good on her. I can appreciate all the beading on the jacket but she is just not looking her usual striking self in these clothes. She could still have the length but not the potato sack look.
I agree with this article about Mrs O's fashion choices on the India trip:
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Mrs-Obama-goes-vintage/Article1-623034.aspx
The photo does not do justice to the intricacy and detail on this beautifully embellished jacket - I hope we get to see it again in close-up. Although it is a very striking piece I could imagine Mrs O pairing it with a dress or skirt for a different function with less formality. Either way, she looks every inch the First Lady and her good taste and fashion flair are on show for the whole world to see.
Bridget,
I could see Mrs. O wearing that jacket again with a nice pencil skirt or even dressing it down with a nice dark denim jeans and some flats. It's a very versatile piece and definitely worth whatever it costs.
I can't wait to find out who made the jacket. It's exquisite.
I like everything that she's wearing on this trip...but I'm not liking the hair at all. That's an 'I'm just running to the grocery...can't be bothered to comb the hair' look...very much unlike the elegant look she usually wears. Here makeup and eyebrows are also a bit off. Not as perfectly polished as usual. Is there no stylist on the trip with her? Or maybe it's dreadfully hot in India, as it usually is.
Reminiscent of a trip made by another couple
http://timelines.com/1959/2/9/martin-luther-king-jr-and-coretta-scott-king-travel-to-india
FLOTUS in a beautiful skirt(or dress) at Gandi's memorial.
http://www.daylife.com/photo/04gngmt3py4xC?q=michelle+obama
Mia Monte: I just saw it as pictures are coming across the wires. Irridescent material it looks like. Pretty.
BALMAIN!!!!!
Check these pictures out....Mrs. O could look like this if this reporter had his/her way...http://getahead.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/nov/04/slide-show-1-glamour-poll-michelle-obamas-best-indian-look.htm
Well I've laughed out loud twice today at comments on this thread. Firstly, at the notion that this might in some way look like Michael JACKSON???!!!! Please save us from anything LIKE that level of tawdry magpie trim. The very idea! And suji suji - that is a truly hideous look, I just hope you're joking!!! Bleuch. Nasty.
This jacket is OUTstanding - I love it. Also nice with the wide legged trousers in black - throws all that gorgeous embroidery into relief. And if she takes the jacket off indoors, she's still got the necklace to lift the unremitting black of her top .... unless that's embroidered on the sleeves too. I'd agree with the Kashmiri jacket idea - my experience of those is that the embroidery is mostly down the front of the jacket and on the wrists, not so much on the sleeves, but still, there is no mistaking the influence. I also love that she chose a bracelet length for the sleeves. Full length would have looked clumsy because it would have hidden her slender wrists. Perfectly judged.
Well so far I'd say this trip was a 99% win win. I didn't like the top Mrs O wore for laying a wreath and visiting a handicrafts centre, but only because it was plain black and dull - the skirt was gorgous and I liked the pin she paired it with. Otherwise it's been a great trip for clothes.
Are we looking forward to any more events?
Article from the fashion and beauty section of the Hindustan Times:
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Mrs-Obama-goes-vintage/Article1-623034.aspx#disqus_thread
Mia Monte
Thanks for the providing the link to the picture of the Obamas at the Gandhi memorial. Great outfit. I was especially happy to see FLOTUS wearing another Alexis Bittar pin. Beautiful!
Well, gee, excuse me for bringing up Michael Jackson. It's not that serious, people. I like MJ's fancy jackets and I like Mrs. O's fancy jacket. Get over it.
Mrs. Obama looks quite elegant.
@Posh Tater,
Chill out. I too agree that the dinner jacket Mrs O wore was reminiscent of the military-inspired jackets Michael would wear at his peak.
There are ways to respectfully disagree with someone without going off of the deep in.
If indeed Ranjana Khan wishes to succeed as a designer, the first rule in which to strictly adhere is flattering the figure of the customer.
Couture demands that clothing eliminate figure flaws, not accentuate them.
The design was obviously not re-cut to flatter the First Lady's figure. The eye is firstly drawn to her stomach. The jacket should have been cut to hide this. There is no excuse.
Mrs. O choose a lovely design, but is once again is failed by her dresser.
As for the White House social secretary and diplomatic corp of advisors, they also continue to fail the First Couple.
Wearing black is an insult in India. It is the color of sadness and mourning and never worn to a formal event.
@Kate Ford, the first lady's necklace is by the jewelry designer Ranjana Khan. We do not know the origin of the jacket, which I believe is the focus of your comment?
What a ravishing piece. Mrs. O really hit this one out of the park.
By the way, a cursory investigation on the Internet prompted by Kate Ford's comment that wearing black is insulting did not elicit any references to support that claim.
@Kate Ford, what an ignorant comment. Black is the color of mourning and sadness here in America too. That doesn't stop us from wearing our "little black dresses" and going to formal "black tie" events here. It certainly isn't stopping Indians from wearing it. You might do well to pay attention to what people around the first couple have been wearing since their arrival. Not just this one picture with them and the Singhs. Are those people insulting their own country?
Oy.
Awesome! I am loving it! Very strong and stylish. It shows a powerful sense of cultural awareness!!!
@Kate Ford can you explain why the Prime Minister's wife is wearing a black red trimmed sari seen here
http://mrs-o.org/newdata/2009/11/24/mrs-o-sparkles-in-naeem-khan.html
Is it only wrong for women to wear black because the men are all decked out in black suits. Please explain further.
Is there anyone who truly understands Indian culture tell us if wearing black is an insult? I genuinely want to know.
Absolutely fabulous jacket.
This jacket is stunning!
Is it just me, or is our First Lady as close to perfect as one can possible get? She consistently makes the right choice for the occasion....love this dress, especially the cut on the sleeves.
The clothes are all very stylish, but what is more important than the clothes is her class and warmth. It shines through regardless. That being said, I do not like her hair up like this. It doesn't suit her at all. It adds height, which she doesn't need, and it is too severe. She needs hair to soften her face. The bob is pretty and when she adds a little curl to her style, she looks really pretty. Maybe the heat necessitates this look, but I do not like it.
For the commenter who said black is the color of mourning in India, that is not true. For most of India's population, i.e. the Hindus, WHITE is the color of mourning not black. It is not an insult to wear black to India.