Mrs. O's Marc Jacobs Moment
Monday, December 20, 2010 at 4:18 PM 
Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton
In October 2009, Glamour's Tracey Lomrantz asked The Washington Post's Robin Givhan what designer she would like to see added to Mrs. O's sartorial repertoire. Robin Givhan's response?
"I think it would be interesting to see her in Marc Jacobs. And I say that because he's probably one of the most directional American designers, so it would be interesting to see if she could incorporate pieces from his collection into her wardrobe and make it something that could work in the White House."
Just as Robin Givhan's set to leave for The Daily Beast, she has her wish! Pictured above with an a capella group that performed at the White House on December 10, Mrs. O wears a dress from Marc Jacobs Fall 2010, seen on the runway here. Thank to reader "marky mark" for the tip, which has been confirmed. For a close-up of the dress on the first lady, click here.
For further reading, check out these related pieces from [NYMag] and [Glamour]
Marc Jacobs
Reader Comments (46)
Mrs. O is FLAW-LESS in this Marc Jacobs dress. The paillettes are so festive and are great against her skin. She is just so fun and comfortable in her own skin that she just always looks happy, open, ready to go. Who wouldn't want to sing acapella with her and the Potus? Love it!
Oooooh. I'd like to see those gloves on the 1st Lady, too:)
I thought that the official portrait of the First Lady Michelle Obama had a Marc Jacobs dress. Please confirm...
The official portrait dress is Michael Kors
If anybody has the body/curves for that dress, it's Michelle Obama. Thanks for the update!
Luv the MJ dress -- I'm surprised she doesn't wear more MJ - he does that classic with a twist look that she rocks so well!
Oh my goodness! I didn't even notice President Obama was in the picture until I clicked on the larger sized pic! I thought he was one of the regular acapella singers...
Mrs. O makes that dress!
I can't not even find the words to express how much I love this dress, and love it on her!!!
Wow! For those of us who voted for "change" here it is...in this Fabulous dress! She looks Wonderful!
Love it! Mrs. Obama's wardrobe narrative is ever expanding . She is a fine complement to the President and her fashion presence is a compliment to each White House occasion.
I love this picture and I love the dress even more!
Does anyone know why the first lady never wears pantyhose??? Love her and her style but don't really understand why she doesn't wear pantyhose which are one of the signs of a well dressed woman. Just curious.
Debra
That dress is sensational and so is the lady wearing it.
That is both an inspired design and an inspired choice by Mrs. O. She looks really lovely and is obviously having fun. What an expression of effortless glamour!
Has anyone seen the back of this sheath dress? It appears to be some kind of plain fabric. ??
What a cute moment. If I were one of those kids I'd be thrilled to death. I wonder what they were singing??
This is a knock-out. Everyone looks so happy. I love the fact that President Obama chose a tie to match the First Lady's dress.
Debra Biagini, you are wrong about pantyhose being a sign of a well-dressed woman. Whose sign? Just stop it.
Pantyhose? I thought only old ladies wore pantyhose anymore?
Btw, I was being facetious. I wear pantyhose at funerals, wedding, interviews and such, but am usually bare-legged as it's far too hot for pantyhose most of the year where I live.
Beautiful dress.
According to this website, the dress is indeed plain in back - sequined only on the front.
And it is chocolate brown. Who knew?
http://www.redcarpet-fashionawards.com/ (scroll down)
@ Debra Biagini: When MO appeared on The View (pre-election) she spoke of not wearing pantyhose.
"It feels better. That's what it is. I stopped wearing pantyhose a long time ago because it was painful! And, they'd always rip! And I'm 5'11. So I'm tall. Nothing really fit. You put 'em on, you'd rip 'em. It's just ... inconvenient."
Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59twO1fJwtQ
The quote starts at 14m33secs.
:o)
BTW, I am totally digging the dress. I'd like to see the back. Is it that same grey fabric or more sequins? I'll be looking for the knock-off cuz I can't afford Marc Jacobs and my car at the same time. *lol*
This is a prime example of "Runway to Reality". Michelle Obama takes this dress and makes it her own. I like the earrings as an additional touch of bling. While both looks are great I am in my 50's and would definitely lean towards the way the FLOTUS styled it, however I could very easily envision my daughter wearing elbow-length or fingerless gloves and different shoes making it more edgy. This is a great dress that can swing either way. Not many designers can pull that off. Marc Jacobs is GENIUS.
In a word: "Bam!"
First we had the First Lady's belts, then when that started to get old some ventured on to her cardigans. Now that that manufactured "uproar" has temporarily died down, one poster has started pantyhose-gate. Some people are never satisfied, they always have to point at something this First Lady wears or doesn't wear to find fault with. In an era when more and more well-dressed women are ditching the pantyhose, here comes someone who seems to thinki that women aren't considered "well-dressed" if they aren't saddled with that uncomfortable piece of accessory. Well, Debra Biagini, if you feel the need to wear pantyhoses at every turn, then do so and leave the First Lady and the rest of us to decide if and when we want to subject ourselves to that continued torture and expense since they rip at every turn.
So, it's not important...cuz it's christmas and they should enjoy???
But the pumps need to go. Check out the shoes on the runway!
Debra, the first lady stated in an interview she doesn't wear hosiery as she's too tall and cannot get the correct size. Doesn't seem like a plausible excuse to me. Every woman (tall and short) I know who lives in the northeastern part of the US is wearing hosiery throughout the fall and winter. To me a properly dressed lady's outfit is incomplete without hosiery, unless it's the summer or she's wearing an open-toe shoe
Well, I am clueless. What does "directional" mean in regards to Marc Jacobs?
re; the pantyhose discussion. Is not the whole point of pantyhose, especially the neutral or skin tone type to make your own legs look better than they do naturally? It seems to me that Mre. Obama has beautiful skin and her legs look great naturally, without the pantyhose as an extra layer. Pantyhose are not always comfortable and they do run/rip at inopportune moments. I would love to have my legs look as great all year around as Mre.O's do. On "What Not to Wear" bare legs are the standard for the well-dressed fashionista.
Well JEM, I bet you see improperly dressed ladies everyday.
I'm with mszonian 524. Some people do look really hard to point out something that isn't 'right' in every outfit the first lady is wearing.
Michelle Obama doesn't wear pantyhose and so do more and more women, even at work. Why not get rid of something we don't like?? If you have good legs no need for 'camouflage'.
Her dress here is gorgeous and glamorous. Very good choice!
A lot of women do not wear pantyhose, unfortunately I'm not one of them. I don't feel dressed unless I am wearing pantyhose or holdup's and I'm usually the last to take them off when summer arrives. That said, every woman has the right to wear what they like and Mrs Obama is one of them.
@sootica: Good question. In context, I think what Robin Givhan was saying is that Marc Jacobs has a strong design point of view. I don't know if "directional" is exactly the right word for that, but I'm guessing that's what was meant.
I didn't realize that Marc Jacobs is so controversial. Am I missing something?
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this dress and how it looks on Mrs. O!!
Pantyhose are a very traditional or formal look, and are often used to improve the look of legs (if they are as pale as mine, for example!). Mrs. O has fabulous, well-manicured legs and can certainly go bare-legged all year round. Personally, I wear pantyhose or tights for certain occasions, but usually only to add color or texture to an outfit. If the intention is to LOOK like I have nude legs, then I usually bypass the annoyance and frustration of pantyhose and simply HAVE nude legs.
As for them being the sign of a "well dressed woman"... That is personal taste, and actually pretty outdated. That hearkens back to a time when the First Lady shouldn't have been seen in public without a hat, gloves, and a proper skirt suit. Mrs. O understands modern fashion in the context of a powerful working woman AND mother, and pantyhose and conservative styles certainly aren't her thing.
Sidenote: the President and First Lady are "singing" with the Tufts University all-male a cappella group, the Tufts Beelzebubs! They were on national television last year to compete in "The Sing Off" and came in second.
Everytime I put on pantyhose when I'm wearing a short dress I think of Michelle Obama. I wear them because (a) I have the whitest legs on the planet, and (b) they have freckles and a few veins that have appeared in my 6th decade, which I find really distracting with most dresses. I wear the closest shade I can find to my own skin tone because they "smooth out" the imperfections. I don't have the complaints others do with discomfort - I just put 'em on and go.
I've always assumed MO goes barelegged because her legs and skin are in great shape. Also I think her skin tone makes her look finished in a way mine does not. I just look barelegged and not quite completely dressed.
When there's a foot of snow on the ground, slushy streets and the temp. is below freezing, then I gotta keep warm for gosh sakes, so panty hose are a must if wearing a skirt! But only in black, or ultra-sheer. If not going outdoors, don't need pantyhose. Except if you want to cover up inperfections as described above.
I think this idea of "well dressed women" wearing pantyhose must have come about from an era long gone when only wealthier women could afford them and they became a coveted item.
I had no idea pantyhose were used to cover up inperfections in one's legs! That's a new one for me.
I wear bare legs from Victoria Day (end of May) until T'giving (2nd week of October). The rest of the time, I wear patterned or plain tights (usually DKNY because they are industructible). Only if I'm attending an event where tights / bare legs would seem too casual would I don pantyhose.
I'd go bare-legged year round if I could, but I hate putting my bare feet in closed shoes (pumps and the like). That doesn't seem to be an isse for MO, I noticed.
The way I see it, pantyhose is a medical item used to cover leg blemishes like varicose veins, blotched skin and legs that have lost their muscle tone. Older women use hose to give their legs a more smooth and youthful look. My mother, grandmother and my older sister wear them for swollen ankles. I remember my grandmother hauling on a girdle with clips to hold up her stockings, until I lived with her during college and she "found liberation" her words!!!. I only wore them when I was pregnant to help my circulation. I don't plan to be pregnant again so I never plan to wear hose. Ok folks, this is just my opinion. I am thrilled that MO has such stunning legs that she can go without them although it is obvious to me that she wore them for the inauguration.
Apparently, Ms. O does not like pantyhose. I am not sure, though, why she said that she could not find hose long enough. I am 5'11 1/2 " with a 36" inseam. In the 1960s it was almost impossible to find pantyhose to fit. Fortunately, it is not now a problem. I am able to find hose at all price points - from Walmart to Wolford. Donna Karan hose are particularly generous - I can even wear medium.
Having said that I certainly respect Ms. O's preference. However, I live near Washington, and one of the reasons that I wear pantyhose in the winter is for warmth. Am not sure why she doesn't get chilly.
Can I add another POV to the pantyhose debate?
I can't speak to the height issue (I'm 5'6", which is pretty average) but as a Black woman, I can tell you it's not always the easiest thing to find pantyhose in the appropriate shade. My complexion is slightly darker than MO. It's not impossible - but it takes some diligent research and lots of trial and error. Often, what looks like a good match in the packages is too yellow once I have them on.
More than once, I've found the perfect brand/shade (perfect = a sheer hue that matches my skintone) only to have it discontinued. When I find the perfect shade, I buy them by the dozen and pickup whatever is left at the end of the season (May) to keep until the following September.
Typically I pay $10/pair for the brand I am currently wearing (Silks in the colour Java). Certainly, there is more variety at higher price points, but I"m not inclined to pay $15+ for pantyhose that I'll wear to work where invariabley they will catch and run (or attached to my 7yo velcro or gawd knows what!!)
Granted, in the US there are far more brands than are available here in Toronto. However, Il ived a short time in in NYC and went thru the same hassle.
Our First Lady fills out this dress way better than the model did! *thumbs up*
Michelle Obama doesn't wear pantyhose. ...Yawn...
As for this Marc Jacobs dress? Who made the earrings? WOW!! She looks absolutely fabulous. I would love to see a side and back view.
I'm with Glammie. I cannot STAND to put my bare feet into a closed shoe. It just feels "wrong" somehow, to say nothing of what it does to the inside of your shoe over the long run. By the way, pantyhose haven't been around THAT long. They only became de rigeur in the 60's. I even wear tights with pants, as I just feel naked unless I do, and they also do a great job of holding in my tummy.