Tuesday
Nov092010
Welcome to Jakarta
Tuesday, November 9, 2010 at 7:44 AM 
Photo by Jim Watson / Getty Images
The president and first lady have arrived in Jakarta, meeting with their hosts, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, during an official arrival ceremony at the State Palace Complex Istana Merdeka in Jakarta.
For her first appearance in Indonesia, Mrs. O has paired a black and red patterned dress with loose black pants. Many travel websites recommend visitors to Indonesia wear "unrevealing clothes" while in the country, yet others indicate that all forms of modern dress should be acceptable in Jakarta or Bali. Is Mrs. O's ensemble purposefully modest or simply a creative pairing of her wardrobe? What do you think?
Reader Comments (49)
I think the modern dress code is more appropriate for regular visitors. Heads of State will probably find it more appropriate to stick to a traditionally conservative dress code.
Either way, I love what she's wearing. The red brightens her face.
Mrs T
can you pls pls post this picture, She looks stunning on this photo. http://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/106646496/AFP
Mrs. T, you've anticipated my question. I think the answer is that she's being both modest and creative. I'd love to see this red print dress on its own. Doesn't it seem like Mrs. O is gaining momentum on this trip? The last few days have been knockouts!
But what's up with the President's trousers? It looks as though they are bunched up over his shoes.
I think she's being evocative of the culture she's in without acting like she can appropriate their traditional clothing like a costume. I find it tasteful and respectful.
Very creative and smart.
She is lovely
Mrs. T, you are working overtime!
My thought is that though she is visiting more "cosmopolitan" (and less conservative) areas of the country, the visit will obviously be broadcast all over the country (and all over the Muslim world in particular, I'm sure, since Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim majority nation) I think it's appropriate to lean more toward the conservative side in such a case.
I like it. Also, Mr. President, get those pants taken up a bit! :-) There's just supposed to be a break at the ankle, not bagginess there.
I think its purposely modest. It must have been tricky for her to dress as not to offend these other countries while holding on to her own style. She looks nice.
I vote that Mrs. O chose to wear conservative clothing out of respect for the Muslim community. I'm living in neighboring Malaysia for the year, and her outfit looks like typical Muslim women's wear in this part of the world. What's lovely about her outfit is that she add her signature color punch and belted femininity too.
Mrs. Obama may only be visiting Jakarta, however, this is being televised all over the country. It is prudent for her to be modest. Yes you can dress anyway you want in the major cities but she is a first lady and there are certain expectations. So far, I think that she has done everything fashion right on this trip. Not necessarily fashionable to please Americans but her function is to support her husband's mission without distractions and that is just the way it is. Accept it.
Fierceness. Totally fierceness. It looks like traditional Javanese dress but with a western high end twist. Love it.
This is a fantastic look with a little nod to everyday dress of Indonesian Muslim women, just taken up a notch, and more form flattering. I love it! I wouldn't be surprised if you see it on the streets of Jakarta soon!
The colors are beautiful and is a lovely "chic" ensemble. I have a fashion question: are the pants the right width or should they have been more narrow. I am always concerned with the width of pants to wear with a long tunic.
I think that her selection shows respect for the culture of the country but with chic. I love her pairing of the trouser with the dress - very elegant.
I think she looks very beautiful, fashionable and respectful in these outfits. I love the Indonesian firdy lady's choice too. It is a beautiful color.
Mrs. o at the State Dinner.
Lovely!
http://theobamadiary.com/2010/11/09/dinner-guests/
Love the dress, but hate it with the pants. Why not wear a jacket that matches the pants?
As wife of the head of State, smart choice. I believe her outfit is purposefully modest. It is best to dress with diplomacy in a majority Muslim State like Jakarta.
I think it is purposely modest which is very smart.
The layers at the neck of her dress reminds me of the same details of the orange/red Maria Pinto dress that she re-wore recently.
My favorite so far are this outfit and the black eveneing dess with the beaded jacket.
She's covered up for a reason, because Indonesia is a Muslim country. Thus, she is respecting the Muslim culture by covering her body from had to toe.
Thank you for your perspective @an Indonesian muslim male. I agree with you.
Mrs Obama is one classy lady.
Again, I say that if you interviewed anyone on the streets of Jakarta then this outfit would get a resounding thumbs up. A lot of Muslim ladies over here in the UK wear long dresses & cardigans over their pants. I don't always like the look, sometimes in trying to appear modest one can look rather unkempt. I personally feel that the obssession with modest dress in certain countries and cultures is a bit too much and for anyone who has visited places like Egypt, it does not make a blind bit of difference, in terms of avoiding sexual harassment etc, whether you are a tourist or a local.
However...........
I have absolutely no problem in wearing what is acceptable and appropriate when visiting another country and I think Michelle Obama clearly thinks the same.
Mrs T - Thanks for all your hard work in getting these pictures on the websiite.
@faultless one:
I personally like the look of flowy pants with a tunic. The pants probably could have been shorter, though. Or maybe I'm the only one walking on the bottoms of my long pants and ripping out the hems.
One of the many qualities Mrs. O has is being deliberate; there is no doubt in my mind that she understands the culture of the people of Indonesia and she acknowledged that with her outfit. Kudos to her sense of style and thoughtfulness. Really nice!
I love this dress!
Perfect choice. Love the dress and love it over the trousers. Very modern AND very conservative thereby sticking to all the clothing advice you would be given when visiting a Muslim country, without losing any of her own stylistic flair. Cool!
I love tunics and this is the tunic at its best.
Leave it to Mrs. O to create drop-dead, red-carpet impact with demure, discreet high fashion.
I CANNOT get enough of her. What a fashion icon, especially for *cough cough* 'older women' (i.e. anyone over 35).
I'm loving the individuality and beauty of each outfit...you go Mrs. O...you make the decisions, no one else!!!!!!!!!!
Great look, Mrs. O!
I think Mrs O erred on the side of caution becauae the last thing they need is for the trip to be dominated by talk of how immodest the flotus appeared on a State visit to a muslim country.
We'll see the dress on its own someday, I'm sure. She is tall enough to pull this look off. I am short and have tried it - a big miss! But she looks elegant. I love her respect for and the subtle nods to the culture around her that she continues to bring to the table. She is a natural ambassador. So very much like the late Princess Diana. Except for the fact that she and the POTUS are in love, there are more parallels between her and Princess Diana than Jackie Kennedy Onassis.
The outfit is attractive and perfectly appropriate. Our FLOTUS is doing us proud!
Tracy said it best: "Fierceness!"
P.S. I wish the President would get rid of those tired-ass American-designed or -branded suits! With those pleated (read "dated") trousers. I know he is capable of much better style than he exhibits. Yet, I know the naysayers and haters would raise an unnecessary stink if he did. An intelligent and handsome President/man with the nerve to show some GQ style would drive them nuts!!! (And something in me tells me he has it in--even if it's hidden. How could he not, with a stylish, tastemaker wife like Michelle so close by?)
Mrs. T, I echo other posters who marvel at the full on blast of great posts and photos you have given us to document the O's trip. Thank you thank you thank you!
I think Mrs. O nicely finessed the issue of custom while retaining her air of "chic". It's so refreshing to see how she manages this.
Such a beautiful woman.
Dress or tunic? I am a big fan of this pairing!
I love this look and Michelle Obama looks great.
In my opinion, the outfit states: respect for the culture, comfort for self and fashion chic.
Thank you for your input, an Indonesian muslim male. I truly appreciate what you said, "So far, I think that she has done everything fashion right on this trip. Not necessarily fashionable to please Americans but her function is to support her husband's mission without distractions and that is just the way it is." You're right on target. Thank you!
Tasteful, appropriate and elegant as always.
I like the print of the dress and look forward to seeing it one day without the pants. I think that it can stand on it's own and still look fashionable. I know this is a fashion blog about our Michelle, but it's kinda funny sometimes. We see photos of her and it seems (at least for me) that everyone else in the picture fades into the background......just like wallpaper! She's a show stopper, that's for sure!
The dress with the black pants looks exactly like that: pants with a dress! Should have worn a tunic with pants. Now that would have been much better. This looks as though she pulled it together at the last minute! Awful! Someone should have planned better. Not a class act!
I, too, look forward to seeing this beautiful dress and its wonderful colors without the wide pants. It would have looked so much better with leggings or heavier-weight black tights. I think the style/cut of this dress is just right for Mrs. O....let's see more of them!
When and how does not liking someone's outfit automatically make them classless? Seroiusly?!?!
I agree w/the previous poster... a tunic would have been nice. Or rather pants with a skinnier leg. The pant legs are too wide for this dress.
Overall... Mrs. O looks absolutely lovely.
She just wows me in this beautiful tunic top over pants which I've seen many Indy women wear. By the way...the First Lady of Indonesia isn't wearing hose!
Leggings? Puhleeze.
Bevi, I know right! If she would have worn leggings to meet the President of Indonesia, the "appropriate police" would have been out in full force.
I love this outfit. The dress looks good with the pants and I'm sure it is going to look good without them.
Mrs.T here is a photo that has not been widely used of Mrs-O in a dress I am sure we have not seen before. You absolutely MUST feature this look on the blog it is fantastic!
http://theobamadiary.com/2010/11/10/indonesia/
I think she pulls this look off fantasically. I wonder who designed the dress? I don't believe I have seen it before. Once again, she looks terrific!
the dress is guilty brotherhood