Sunday
Feb212010
Sleek and Chic
Sunday, February 21, 2010 at 7:24 PM 
Image by Jewel Samad / Getty Images
Image by Kris Connor / Getty Images
In preparation for this evening's Governors Ball, the first lady hosted a music preview event at the White House this afternoon, featuring Grammy-winning composer and singer Harry Connick Jr. who performed for an audience including young glee club members from a local Washington, D.C. elementary school.
For the event, Mrs. O debuted a sleek new version of her bob haircut, wearing a v-neck dress with a patterned blouse top, paired with an Alaia belt and bolero.
Update: Mrs. O wore a custom sheath dress with gathered leaf print chiffon bodice by Jason Wu.
Reader Comments (32)
Radiant in black! Im loving my FLOTUS!
This might be one of my favorite outfits yet. I don't know why, but I just love how it all works, and she looks so sexy and young and HAPPY.
She looks wonderful! Love it, the full length images is great as well.
http://www.daylife.com/photo/09fNgmx2Mj8mk?q=michelle+obama
I just love the bracelet! But then, she's an amazing woman and always looks good.
EDGY DOES IT
No shy coy First Lady here. No sirree.
I'm envisioning Mrs.O coming down a runway, with strong confident steps, that sharp bang covering one side of her face, a fierce look in her eyes, then bang, the jacket comes off and... we gasp!!! The dress is revealed. And I am so loving that cluster of peals on her hand - Governor's Ball, where are you?! The anticipation is too much I tell you, too much!
Very nice can't weit to see what she is going to wear tonight ball
She does look incredible, and I, too, put this ensemble right near the top of my favorites list. Sexy, sassy, sophisticated and elegant, all at once. Loving it!
Oh, gosh. I hope the governor's ball isn't going to be one of those events where there are no pictures of the dress! Where are they?!!! This is killing me!
She looks really happy with herself, and she should be. This is no plain LBD, it's a real winner. I like the way that our Michelle has bought out one of my favorite belts of hers and those stacking pearl bracelets are just the right accessory to punch up this outfit. Really nice!
I guess I'm the odd one out here. I think that the neckline is too low for an event with school kids. It doesn't show so much here, but it seems pretty obvious on the Huffington Post photos. And, it's another belt riding up too high in front. I love Michelle, but this one just seems like a miss.
Here's a little glimpse of the ball dress:
http://tinyurl.com/ykdu9hr
But all you can tell is that it's black and sleeveless.
Tiny snippet of dress at beginning of video
http://www.necn.com/02/21/10/Gov-Douglas-toasts-first-couple-American/landing_politics.html?blockID=184157&feedID=4212
Like I SAID in the other post, work it first lady... looked SEXY, CLASSY AND SOPHISTICATED.
Nothing wrong with the V-neck, you look beautiful. And the heels are just beautiful. Show them girls they is nothing wrong with being beautiful and confident in the way you carry yourself. And this is a perfect use of a belt especially when you are wearing a high waist-ed skirt.
Work it FLOTUS...
@Paula there is nothing wrong with the belt its perfect placement, saw all the pics on Yahoo and the link on huffpost and nada wrong with it. I don't see what you see but that's just me
Gym time
I like this photo of the "sleek and chic" outfit, very stylish:
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Michelle-Obama/ss/events/pl/050108michelleobama/im:/100222/ids_photos_ts/r404286283.jpg/#photoViewer=/100221/ids_photos_ts/r1669467395.jpg
Well, it looks like the only way we're gonna see the ball gown is if the White House releases a photo.
I hate when this happens. There's no reason for there to be so few pictures of such a big event and it's just wrong that there's not a picture of the First Lady's gown at an event this big.
Nice pic of Mrs O's hair and makeup from tonight's ball, but again not too much of the dress, alas!
http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/96938557/Getty-Images-News
I love a short sweater with a dress... so cute! GO Michelle!
The outfit is fab, but I was more intrigued with her interaction with those kids. Check out the pictures of this event on getty images and be amazed at how she energizes a room.
Photos of Michelle with children will always be my favorites. On those occasions, it's as if you can see into and experience her very heart of hearts. What you see and experience there, and what children aways seem to elicit from Michelle, is beauty at its most indelible--love in action!
Oh this is lovely. Perfectly proportioned and perfect (let me say that again) perfect for an event with children. This just screams elegant - and I'm growing to like the haircut more and more, this is so sleek and lovely.
Ooooooooo!!! Adore her leaf print patterned blouse. Perfect for her complexion.
Details on this vogue-look belt blends beautifully with top. Bolero is a 'must have' in her
wardrobe and be on her planned weekly rack she spoke about in her interview.
Fast, easy to mix and match, she can literally close her eyes and pick this look.
I'd really like to see her in more of these trendy youthful styles, especially for her daughters.
What this bolero and low v-neck cut did was visually enhance her bust (which is small in proportion to her hips) and give her a perfect hourglass shape. The belt worked because it was in keeping with the monochrome black of the outfit AND it pushed up her bust to deliver even more figure flattery. I imagine when she looked at herself in the mirror she herself had a "wow" moment! This is a real A-list look for the FLOTUS.
Looks like Michelle is making friends with Carla Bruni! Harry Connick Jr recently sang with Carla!
Nice hairstyle, but is it real or is it a wig? I would really like to know. It does not not appear to be natural.
Ravishing !!
i like this outfit on her especially the top pattern. The bracelet perls looks so beautifull on her hand.
Mrs O gains a bit of weight.
I hope to see Mrs O with a long hair"coifure" soon!
Flawless!
Mrs O , are simply beautifull with this outfit and high heel.
This appears to be a wig. You can see that her hair is pulled straight back and the wig is arranged on top. Looks pretty good, though.
That appears to be the same bolero she has work before. It has tiny black buttons down the front of one side.
I don't see the problem with the neckline. Not crazy about the high wide nailhead belt, but overall this is a good look.
@ pearl.. It is a wig, it is very clear in this particular photo. She is like all of us lady who has a bck up plan to give our hair a much needed rest.
Question re hair: How can we tell the difference between a weave, and a wig when
hairline hair roots are showing? I love wigs, I wear them every day and I never have to
blow dry, roller set, curling iron, worry about humidity and rain, etc. In this busy world,
and for a woman on the go - perfect and have more time to do things that count.
@ pearl - why don't you send a letter to the First Lady asking her because no anonymous blogger sitting at home looking at pictures of Mrs. O on the internet is going to know for sure.
Feminine, chic and altogether beautiful. I do love this wonderful First Lady!!
@ iva.... IVA, no need to be so rude. Just as how everyone is curious about the what Mrs. O is wearing, some persons are into hair as well, and will be curious about her hair styles and pieces. Pearl's remarks as well as others, on the subject of hair are pretty well meaning... so please take your sarcasm elsewhere. And it is very clear that she is wearing a piece. What we would not know for sure is whether it is a wig or weave....