Holiday Preview
Wednesday, December 1, 2010 at 6:41 PM 
Images by Jewel Samad / Getty Images
There are many reasons to enjoy the holiday season, and in this circle, the chance to admire the first lady's seasonal wardrobe is certainly one! Mrs. O is off to a fabulous start, wearing a navy and gold ensemble to host a preview of the White House holiday decorations for military families earlier today. The more formal attire didn't stop the first lady from getting in on the fun, as Mrs. O helped to decorate cookies and make holiday cards with military children.
Update: The first lady's navy and floral print lurex jacquard ensemble are pre-Fall 2010 Moschino! Though difficult to see in the photo's above, the pieces include a top, skirt and jacket.
For more on the holiday preview, check out the videos below:
Moschino
Reader Comments (58)
Woo-Hoo! Another winner -- hair, make-up and clothes. Stunning!
The dress is nice, but the earrings age her.
very first-lady like. I like it.
I love this dress and the earrings. I think she looks GREAT.
STUNNING! I love you Michelle.
Festive! She looks every bit like a First Lady. A winner!
Loves it! Very holiday season!
Speechless...
She is breathtaking with this look!
How do earrings "age" you???????????
Very sweet! Mrs.O is saving the best for later....and this is a festive start for the Holidays.
Char from Seattle
Those are some gor ge ous earrIngs. The Lady looks amazing
A beautiful, sparkling dress for the beginning of the holiday season....
@glammie
I assume you are talking to me. Her earrings are something an old women(50's and 60's) would wear, and have worn SO that is how they age her!
As I look at the dress I again it's too long.
She's beautiful !
LOVE this gorgeous ensemble. Beautiful look, beautiful heart.
@ Mia Monte, it looks like thats part of her her knee near the edge of the table, the hemline is way above that....it looks like a good length to me.
Simply gorgeouse First Lady!!!
Another "10" look! Including the matching/coordinating, sparkling-patterned (holiday?) earrings--chosen to accentuate the gold patterns in the outfit, no doubt.
Wow -- absolutely love this!
I am 56, three grown kids, 5 grandchildren, I see myself far from being old.
Age is a number, and yet to feel what 50 should feel like.
Michele you look very gorgeous. Of course, you will never please everyone.
Keep on doing what you are doing.
Lovely, stunning! The whole outfit is gorgeous and festive. She is so elegant, beautiful, articulate and "down to earth". Merry Christmas everyone. This is a wonderful start to this blessed Holiday season.
It may be that women in their 50's and 60's often wear a similar style earring, but much, much smaller. The ladies you consider old-fashioned here would not dare to wear anything as bold as those that Michelle has on. They remind me of those worn around the 60's or so by daring women trying to make a statement, but these are more polished than those.
This is a very sophisticated look, especially without the jacket. I think these earrings help establish that look. The White House livestream showed her moving between tables of children as they worked on their projects often taking in a full length view of her. The dress fits her so very well that the length looks very good, just as it did on the dress she wore while she and the president were dancing with the children in India and as it did not with the looser fitting aqua dress.
I honestly do not see how anyone can dislike this outfit on her, but then, I've felt that way before and people found reasons to disagree.
I love the little girl because she's all about what's really important -- eating those cookies. She doesn't even have time to LOOK at the first lady. So funny.
This looks beautiful on her...very festive and glamorous. The trees and Christmas decorations look lovely too. This must be a beautiful time in the White House.
Isn't she lovely? First Lady Obama is just glowing! Gorgeous colors and makeup
Old, did someone say 50 - 60 is old!!!!! I will be 60 on my next birthday and don't feel old. A teenage must have said that LMAO.
The first lady looks very sophisticated and polished and sparkly for the holidays. Nice fit, nice color. I like the dress with the jacket and the earrings are to die for. Reminds me of some silver ones I had when I was in college - 40 years ago still LMAO.
Has anyone noticed that MO is covering her arms more than usual, since India, or is that just coincidence.....
Old women? Mia Monte, how immature of you!
I think she looks great and the outfit is stunning on her, including the earrings.
Don't exactly know how to respond the "aging earrings" except that maybe someone needs a new perscription on their glasses.
The White House decor looks festive and so does our First Lady.
Cookies look good too !!
Dear Ms. Monte,
Ageism is just as cruel as any other kind of prejudice. I'm in my 50s and I found that comment to be a slap in the face. What if somebody said that only stupid, insensitive people would wear that dress? BTW I think she looks gorgeous and she's close to 50!
Sharon Nelson's assessment is "spot on!" I am 63 years old and i still wear big earrings and I love the ones that Mrs. Obama is wearing. (My mother used to refer to people like me derisively as "old miss young.") However, I am also writing to offer an insight on dress length. Fashion cannot always dictate dress length. I am a member of the clergy and when I shop for clothes I have to sit in a chair in front of a mirror in order to prepare for the fact that I may be sitting on an unprotected platform in that dress. Furthermore walking around and bending over in order to interact with small children at the same time a camera or cameras will be following every movement requires either pants or a dress long enough not to create embarrassing camera angles. I unabashedly love this dress and jacket that Mrs. Obama is wearing!!!!!
Maybe it's the lighting or my computer monitor, but when I saw this dress at first glance I thought it was navy and gold, as opposed to being black. Either way it's really sharp. I would love to see how our Michelle re-wears the coat. I can envision it knocking that Talbots cream colored sheath dress out of the park. Just look at me, trying to style the most fashionable woman of our time (as if I could!). Anyway, she looks marvelous (in my Billy Crystal voice) and this dress is stunning. I like how she interacts with people, especially children. It's so funny that the little girl is so unaffected by the hoopla, just getting at those cookies! Wow, to be a kid again......precious and priceless, for sure!
And speaking of being a kid again, I remember when I was much younger and thought that 50 and 60 was OLD, also. Ancient even. But as my grandmother used to say, "Just keep going to bed at night, and waking up in the morning......". I'm not so sure that 50 is old anymore, especially now that I'm there. I look at pictures of my mom that were taken when she was 50, and I'm not my mom's 50 that's for sure. So to those who feel that 50 is old, I won't even begin to horrify you with the details of these killer suede over-the-knee-boots that I just bought that screams "LOOK OUT, OR DAMN IT, I'LL BITE 'CHA!" Because I know that they not only look good on my 50 year old legs, but I look good in them. So, word to the wise, just keep going to bed at night..........
She is stunning in this dress.
Mia Monte, at the risk of drawing the ire of the "wiser and finer" women, I agree with you to a certain extent and totally understand what you mean. about the earrings (Maybe I would have chosen different wording :-) But lovely ensemble, love the Black and Gold colors but would have like it better (and I can't believe I'm saying that) with one of her cute cardis or a solid black coat. Her makeup on the other hand is flawless and I love the shorter do on her.
Charlene,
I just turned 30, but I am not fearing getting older. Your 50 is indeed different from your mother's 50. My mom is 64 and when I look at pics of my granny back when she was 65, she was an old woman retired from life. My mother is 60, doesn't look a day over 50, is healthy as ever, travels extensively, and has even started a new wedding photography business. Women in their 50s and up and really changing things in my generation, because y'all are taking away this sad notion that life is only exciting and vibrant if you're under 30. That's so not true.
She looks fabulous!! Earrings and all.
Gorgeous, sumptuous simplicity. Navy and gold. You can almost feel the fabric (does anyone know what it is?) and the gold brocade. Love the bow, the cut, so 60s yet so contemporary Mrs. O
I love that little girl biting into that very yummy-looking cookie!
Back to Back post, my apologies.
I disagree with the comment on the earrings as being 'aging' but I suspect that the author of the opinion drew an association, unconscious or not, with 80s fashion when big "studs" were popular. They haven't had a comeback, but maybe Mrs. O is at the forefront of a trend! Big surprise! :)
Also, I would encourage board posters to reconsider their position as self-appointed pseudo-morality police who feel, or posture, outrage when someone respectfully critiques fashion choices worn by the Obama family.
We all profoundly respect them; commenting on fashion choice is not an assault on their personas. This is not an idolatry board.
Cheers and peace...Sildi
Cheers, Sildi
Ms. Monte ... you really stepped in that one.
50 or even 60 is not old ... not by any stretch.
Those earrings are not old. They coordinate perfectly with what the First Lady is wearing. All kinds of women of all ages wear all kinds of earrings. Believe.
BTW I am forty-seven and 7/12 yo.
WOW! Absolutely stunningly fabulously gorgeous!
"Has anyone noticed that MO is covering her arms more than usual, since India, or is that just coincidence....."
I think it's just that it is winter. :-)
So is this dress navy and gold? Or black and gold? It looks navy on my monitor.
To get off the button earrings, interesting that she is wearing no bracelets. She usually does. Maybe she didn't want to get icing on them?
Edited to add: this link provides many more images of this event. So, I think the dress is indeed black and gold, and you can see the "ageifying" earrings up close. I think they look fine; i wouldn't have given them a second glance if they hadn't been brought up here.
Winter?!? That doesn't make MO cover her arms.
Wonderful dress!!!!!!!!
Y'all watch. Before you can blink those big round clip-on looking earrings will be in all the stores and knockoffs as well. Scarfs and glove the color of her mustardy J Crew cardigan are popping up already. She is a trendsetter.
LOL @ladywatcher. :-)
@Christina, thanks for sharing the extra photos of this event. I don't want to beat a dead horse regarding the earrings....but the close up of the earrings, they look gorgeous! Hmmm, I am stumped with the "aging" reference, maybe for some its the shape? At any rate she was glowing literally, I don't know if it is the lighting in some of the pictures, but her makeup in particular....flawless; She glows inside and out!
@ Christina: those photos were great! So charming. Thanks for posting!
FLOTUS looks AMAZING!
Aging earrings!!!!! I laughed and laughed and laughed. Hehehehehe, that's just ossom, thank you - THANK YOU from the heart of my bottom, for the best laugh I have had since watching a hotel disco in Egypt last Wednesday. Oh my.
So, um, back to Mrs O - GORGEOUS suit. Love the navy and gold, love the make-up, love the hair, love the everything. She looks super stunning. I wish I had elegant hands like that too. I have huge man hands instead though, so I'll just have to admire other peoples. Meh.
Dear Sildi,
You are absolutely right. And I apologize to Ms. Monte. I did not mean to be the "pseudo-morality police," but I was pretty hurt by that statement. I don't like being cut in a wide swath by anyone, especially people I don't know. I think it's important to think before you speak (or write, including myself!!) but I'm sure it was just an off-the cuff remark that was not intended to offend anyone. So, I'm sorry. However, Mrs. Obama is close in age to being one of "us", and there are a lot of people in their 50s and 60s (and older) who do not like to be pegged for only one of their attributes. "Wise" and "knowledgeable" may have been meant sarcastically, but we have very little respect for older people in this country and hearing that statement opens a window into other peoples' attitudes. "Old" carries a lot of baggage - all of it with unpleasant connotations. Never is it meant as an accomplishment of years. So, I respectfully sign off this site and will attempt to find one where old curmudgeons like myself are welcome. Best of luck with these interesting discussions.
@ Christina and others, Moschino has confirmed that the ensemble -- actually a skirt, top and jacket -- is navy and gold. I agree it's tough to tell, but that's directly from the press representative.
@Joanne
First off, thanks for your thoughtful note.
Yet, believe it or not, I did not have your post in mind!
Folks on this board are awesome and yes, occasionally a mean-spirited post goes up that deserves to be ignored.
Yet, unfortunately, perfectly polite posts that express disagreement or flat out dislike of the Obama family sartorial choices are responded to with merciless, indignant or faux-indignant snarls and juvenile cattiness. That's wrong. It feels like a kids playground rather than a mature forum through which fashion conversation and debate can take place.
Yet some immediate interpret anything but lavish praise as "you offended Mrs. Obama and/or her husband/daughters" which ensues in a playground dynamic of hands on the hip with "na na na na na".
C'mon.
Most of us post here because we overall love Mrs. O's & Co.'s looks and many of us are also Obama political supporters.
I love that we disagree and compare notes. Let's keep it grown-up.