A Toast to Modern Glamour
Sunday, February 21, 2010 at 9:38 PM 
Photo by Ron Sachs-Pool/Getty Images
Tonight is the much anticipated Governors Ball, held in the State Dining Room of the White House. Surprisingly, few photos have surfaced. Mrs. O appears to be wearing a chic black evening dress for the fete, paired with flawless hair and make-up. Fingers crossed we have a chance to see the gown!
Update #1: Mrs. O wears a black georgette tiered ruffle gown by Thakoon. If only there were full-length photos!
Update #2: Eddie Gehman Kohan, the editor at Obama Foodorama, has shared a bit of fabulous perspective on the evening. At the White House music preview event yesterday, Mrs. O relayed that she intended to wear white for the evening. The first lady told the audience: "Tonight we're having a big Ball, and everyone gets dressed up and I'm wearing white, just so you know." There seems to have been a change of wardrobe plans before the event!
Additionally, Ms. Gehman Kohan offered insight as to why there are so few photographs from last evening. In a change from the year prior, there was no formal ceremonial arrival for the governors and their spouses. Press wasn't allowed to photograph arrivals, and just a small group of photographers were allowed inside the State Dining Room after guests were seated.
For those interested in last evening's menu and table settings, Obama Foodorama has a great overview, here.
Update #3: The gown! Many thanks to Nyon for finding and sharing!
Image by Pete Souza / White House
Thakoon
Reader Comments (106)
IVA, I see you cut your hair. How did you feel afterwards? Do you like it or do you miss your long hair?
MS T ANY PHOTO OF THE GOWN YET?
No! I am so intrigued by the rhyme and reason for why certain events are photographed and others are not.
February is definately her month for great fashion. The photo is terrrific and she does have a glow.
Maybe she should talk to the republicans about America's Health Care Plan.... how can you say "no" to Michelle when she looks like this !
LOVE IT !
POTUS said that he was first drawn to her eyes? Now we know why. There are quite a few pictures of him staring directly at her, under her spell. I am, every time I look at this picture. If they are a mirror of the soul, I see clarity, confidence and love. You know folks, I've never been one to be impressed by celebrities or politicians or other famous people. I've wondered why I'm so drawn to the Obama family and I think I know why. They seem so real, like my neighbors next door. She does not always look perfect. I don't always like everything that she wears. She looks so lovely tonight, today or tomorrow she will probably wear something and I'll think, miss! But isn't that the way normal people are in real life? If she were perfect all the time, every color right, every hair in place then she would be a fantasy, but she is not. She is real and beautiful and healthy and a one brilliant First Lady.
@ Nyon - it wasn't so bad because I only cut about 3-4 inches, so it's at my shoulder. I will cut it to the bottom of my ear next I think.
@ dasie - Well said every last word.
Hi all, Essence magazine March/10, in stores. Love Potus and Flotus on cover, picture perfect.
Topics on magazine cover very interesting. "Fashion Must-Haves, Hot Dresses, Shoes! Bags!
I'm getting a copy 2day.
This is the WOW factor!
IVA, cool and probably won't be that bad next time since your use to seeing it shorter. Let me know how it turns out.
Dasie, I 100% agree with you.
In this photo Michelle Obama puts me in mind of Cleopatra. From many scholarly written and artistic accounts Cleopatra was not in any way what would be considered a "classic beauty" yet she managed to captivate the top leaders of the world with "a confidence, intelligence and charisma and a beauty that went well beyond that of youth". She still managed to hold Marc Anthony's heart (and interest) at age 39 when she ended her life. Back in those days, 39 was considered ancient! So here's to real, intelligent, confident beauty that lasts! If Michelle Obama can help foster the concept that beauty can last into middle age and beyond and that you don't have to look, act or dress like you're trying to be 20 and you don't have to resort to botox or plastic surgery in order to be beautiful, we will all be better for it, including this next generation of young women. As I've said many times on this blog, a woman's biggest beauty asset is self-confidence. The FLOTUS has a surplus of that.
Something is wrong with me because I can't believe how ticked off I am to not be able to see the full gown! I mean, I'm really pissed. Because if her hair and makeup look that good, you know the dress is gorgeous!
Mrs. T, is it possible for you to get an image of the dress from Thakoon himself? With a little description?
Michelle's look is absolutely amazing! How old is she again? LOL.
there isn't anything wrong with u Tracy.trust me.i wager a month's salary that we all feel the same way but u're just the first person to type it.
there is a picture of her on instyle.com when she enters the room in her jason wu-alaia combo.she looks magnificient and dare i say sexy?? she really makes 46 looks enticing. thank you Mrs.O!
@dasie and canyongal: love your comments.
FLOTUS looks totally FAB! Love the hair and make up, and I'm so glad she chose to "BARE ARMS!" LOL!
She looks like Michelle's avatar.
Our first lady is a HOTTIE!!!
Neener, neener, our first lady is cuter than your's.
Talk about knock down, drop dead GEORGEOUS.
I'm an "older" woman (50) and she is a FINE, FINE EXAMPLE of just how sexy an older, mature, wise woman can be.
No one in their 20's has a single thing on her!
Shazam!
@ dasie,
I totally agree with you in regards to the FLOTUS. She has even said herself that she sees herself like any ordinary working mom trying to keep up with her children and her husband. She also acknowledges that some outfits she wears will resonate with some people while others will not but that she won't "obsess" about it. I think that's such a healthy and realistic view to take, afterall, she's dressing for herself and not for the masses. She wears what she feels comfortable in and what works for her. Others may think differently on occasion, myself included. This is what I find so refreshing and enlighting about Michelle Obama, she knows who she is, is not trying to compete with anyone, and is willing to listen to others' opinions without having them co-op her own. That is what I call "Strength of Character", and she carries it so effortlessly. Brava, Michelle!
I love the versatility of Mrs. O's hair. She is showing women everywhere that you can have less than shoulder-length hair and have tremendous versatility. This is especially important for black women in America. God bless you Mrs. O. Your presence and appearance is liberating for so many women the world over.
This affair was never announced in any way from the White House other than a couple of comments from Michelle herself unless you count the streaming of the music event Sunday afternoon. The menu was never announced.
I wonder if this is not a new tack by the White House. They've been pretty transparent on social events in the past and have been thoroughly and often falsely disparaged by the opposition's followers on anything that could be spun: Kobe beef, continuous partying, etc.
Then came their exquisite state dinner in November. Cost of food was negligible because it was primarily vegetarian. It was hard to fault the necessity of putting on a good show for an important ally, although recycling and other cost efficient measures were used.
Then came the party crashers and we never again heard anything about how truly wonderful this event was, but the press obsessed on security, Desiree Rogers, ubiquitous details of the party crashers, etc.
The Indian press raved about the dinner and on his return back home their prime minister stated that it was the best dinner he had ever attended. What did Americans get? A bunch of nonsense that deprived us of being able to bask in the glow of something that we as a nation could be very proud of.
The Governor's Ball is a tradition and had to be held. To the Obamas and the governors I'm sure it went off as well as last year's. but the press got little of it. Maybe they followed this philosophy: don't know; can't criticize and thereby dominate the news..
There's a lot of very important initiatives going on right now: jobs bill (passed Senate with 5 Republican votes) health care summit, education initiatives, etc. Perhaps this is a way to try to keep the press more focused on the real issues.
Still a bummer for people like us who can't seem to get enough of our first lady.
I say this with all due respect to Mrs O -- Michelle, you are one HOT mama!!! To me she's a cross between to of the 60's glamour girls -- Diana Ross and Marilyn Monroe -- smokin!!!
I would be surprised if we did not get to see additional pictures from the event including more MO/BO photos from Pete Souza or some other WH photographer on flickr/White House's photostream ... eventually. very disappointing....like Sharon says - a real bummer.
For the first time, I am not liking Mrs. O.'s makeup. The liner around her eyes is much too dark, and her lips are way too pale. A brighter color of lipstick would have looked so much better with her beautiful dress, earrings and hair.
JEB, right on!! That's exactly it!
Mrs. T, if you have any connectons at Thakoon PLEASE get us a full length picture of the dress so we can relax - LOL! I've looked every place I could think of online. My husband would think I was insane! I was so hoping to wake up to a picture of it today. In the long run it doesn't really matter, though, because the FLOTUS made sure she looked perfect from the waist up....a smart thing to do at a sit-down dinner.
someone else mentioned the 1960's and I heartily agree. Mrs. O's look tonight definitely has an air of 60's glamour to it. It's the cut of the hair and the smokey eyes.
I WAS THERE SUNDAYNIGHT MRS OBAMA DRESS WAS VERY VERY BEAUTIFUL SHE CHANGE HER MIND BECOUSE HER WHITE DRESS WAS SEE THOUGH SHE DIDNT WONT TO MAKE A FOOL OUT OF HERSELF SHE TOLD ME I WAS RIGHT NEXT TO HER AND THE PRESIDENT I HAD A BALL OF COUSE I HAVE TO ASK HER THAT WHAT HAPPEND TO HER WHITE DRESS AND SHE SAID IT TO ME. AND I WAS RIGHT SHE WAS WEARRING A LONG GOWN I SAID THAT BEFORE.. TO BAD THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO SHOW IT. MAYBE MRS T WILL SHOW THE WHOLE DRESS AND PUT IT IN HER BOOK NEXT TIME.AM SURE THAT SOMBODY WILL SHOW HER LONG GOWRN I HAVE THE PIC PUT NOT ALLOW TO SHOW IT IN THE WEBSITE SORRY.WHAT A NIGHT AND I ASO HAVE A PIC WITH THE PRESIDENT TO WITH HER AND THE VIC AND HIS WIFE.I CANT WEIT FOR APRIL 5 I WILL BE THERE AT THE WHITE HOUSE TO WITH MY NEPHEW PLAYING AND HAVING A GOOD TIME AND MEETING THE FAMILY AGIAN. THIS TIME I WILL MET THERE CHILDREAN. I AREADY GOT THE TICKETS.THEY DID EARLY AM GLAD. CANT WEIT TO SEE WHAT SHE IS GOING TO WEAR .
You know what, I kinda don't want to see the whole dress anymore. You know how you can want something so bad and then when you get it you are totally disappointed. That probably won't happen with the dress, but I don't even want to chance it.
She looks great. Flawless hair and makeup. I feel like this is a dress we have seen before and I've seen her wear it to an event with Mr. O. It looks like one of her knee length dresses.
I wish we had a picture of this dress, even if it is not on Mrs O.
I FOUND IT!!!! YES!!!!! AND IT'S GREAT!!! ;-)
http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/photogallery/national-governors-association
Click through the pics and there are two. There still is no pic of the shoes, though.
@Michelle, You are very fortunate to meet the First Lady, and you get to go to the White
House again soon. Take me with you next time (smile). Did she wear the same pearl bracelet
seen in photo - preparation of the Gov. Ball? LOVE POTUS - LOVE MY PRESIDENT -
he's so handsome in bow tie. They look fabulous...
@Nyon - thanks for pics.
THANKS NYON THE PICTURES OF THE FLOTUS WAS WORTH THE WAIT.
@Nyon, you are something else, if anyone was going to find a pic of the dress, it would be you. Very chic and understated, not much color in the room that night, seems like they were trying to keep every thing low key. That might explain why she did not wear a white dress, to keep from standing out in a sea of black tuxedos and other black dresses. Interesting, isn't it?
@dasie, I loved your comments, they mirror mine exactly.
MICHELLE YOU MUST WORK IN WASHINGTON I AM SO GLAD ONE OF MS T FAMILY GOT TO GO TO THE WHITE HOUSE FOR US. I WILL BE ON LINE 4/25 TRYING TO GET TICKETS FOR 4/5. I WANT TO TAKE MY NIECE. I HOPE IN THE FUTURE YOU CAN SHARE THE PICTURES. PS DID YOU GET A GOOD LOOK AT THOSE FAB ARMS?
Nice job Nyon! It's as I envisioned. I bet the detailing of it is to die for, but alas we are not meant to see that up close and personal of our lovely first lady.
I do think they were trying to keep it understated and not get called out for being insensitive due to the economic times. How unfortunate. Oh well. We've got 7 years to work through this mess and get to some good times before they leave!
BTW...anyone else having a "things that make you go hmmmmmm" moment...if ya know what I mean?
I was right she looked great in the grown and I am glad that I went sundaynight I told you guys that she wear a black grown and am glad that someone show her long dressfinnely. Wow what a night I have a Picts now you guys have them to .
dang, now I really want to see that WHITE dress! It must be something to have created a wardrobe malfunction for the First Lady.
It explains the dramatic makeup, smoky eye and nude mouth perfect for a light pastel or white dress, not really right with black where you want more color.
I'm the only one who felt letdown by the dress? I was expecting one of her big event outfits, something to knock your eyes out, not a nice little black cocktail dress. Meh.
I'd give a lot to know who told her to tone it down. My goodness.
Nyon, thanks for not following your first mind and sticking with it long enough to come up with those pictures. You made my--and I'm sure many others--day. I'm feeling you IVA. BTW; what event is coming up on 4/5. Did I miss something???
The gown looks good. Thank goodness for Nyon finding the photos. Now, let's hope we can get some closeups of the details.
@ Michelle, are we really to believe that the First Lady told you her dress was see through and she didn't want to make a fool of herself?? I don't believe this actually happened.
Scary beautiful!
Yeah, it would be me, the one who said she kinda didn't want to see it, but the key word is KINDA, ;-) And I couldn't wait to share it with my Mrs. O buddies.
IVA, if you're thinking what I think you're thinking, then hell yeah I feel you. I said a little more than hmmmm, though, LMAO!!!!!
Asereht,I think they are talking about the White House Easter egg hunt. Thats the only thing I can think of that would be happening in April that includes the kids.
THANK YOU Nylon you're a true fan........leaving no stone unturned until you found a full length photo of the dress..............I love it.
Iva and Nyon: Definitely made me go hmmmmm, and also I am thinking that someone has a rich fantasy life. I'm not falling for that one, much less the many comments of "I have that, too."
GORGEOUS!! Mrs Obama seriously rocks. Notice how understatedly beautifully manicured her hands always are, like a hand model's. Goodness me, the lady is a goddess and her husband is a prince. I adore them both.
@ Nyon - it is funny that you'd be the one to find the full length shot when you said you "kinda" didn't want to see it all and possibly ruin it for yourself. LOL. Well, good news, the full length doesn't disappoint.
Thank you Nyon! A lot of women can rock a LBD. Not a lot of them can rock it like Mrs. O, though!
Wow, that gown is stunning and sexy all at once. Its retro, yet very modern. 10.
Might I point out also Mrs. T, it was wonderful to just see the hair and make-up first, and a hint of the dress first.
Because now that I see the gown, look how beautifully everything came together. Someone commented up above when it was just the first photo, that her hair and make up were retro, yet fresh and modern.
That was my first thought upon coming here tonight to discover the new photo of the full length dress, and my first thoughts was that this dress is retro, yet modern (see my comment).
Look at that!!!!!! You could have guessed the style of the dress based on her hair and make-up.
Ikram and the glam squad are on duty!!!!
everything is perfect - hair, dress, makeup, jewelry.
@NYON....thanks, the photo's are great. She looks wonderful in this dress. It kind of reminds me of the dress she wore on date night to NYC. It was a shorter version, yet, similiar in style. (???)
@Sharon Nelson...I think you are correct.