Mrs. O Go Bragh
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at 6:15 PM 
Image by Tim Sloan / Getty Images
The first lady spent St. Patrick's Day as a participant in Newsweek Magazine's Executive Forum on childhood obesity, hosted at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. The first lady seemed to make a nod to the Irish holiday with her ensemble today, pairing a green top and pumps with a sheer yellow cardigan and blue pencil skirt, accessorized with a silver belt and pearls.
Update #1: The festivities continued, as the first lady hosted a St. Patrick's Day reception at the White House this evening. Below she is pictured alongside Mary Molloy, the wife of Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen.
Update #2: Mrs. O wore a Jason Wu custom kelly green faille sheath with embroidered french knots for the St. Patrick's Day reception.
Image by Jason Reed / Reuters
Jason Wu
Reader Comments (93)
Sorry to have to say it, but, she had an off day here. This outfit is a mess. Every piece looks just thrown together with no rhyme or reason.
Not her best but I really like the interesting belt. I think she wore it before the Indian State Dinner last November. I'd love to know who the designer is.
She really shouldn't have left the house like this. She looks like Malia and Sasha dressed her. Sorry. The pundits will have a field day with this look. Her legs also dont look as shiny and hairless as usual.
My first thought was, "What the heck....?" Sorry, but this is a miss. The color palette just doesn't work.
i don't think she was making a fashion statement.as she had said in her multiple interviews, she is a tom-jock at heart and glams it up when an occasion calls for it. i love the turquoise skirt.my preference would have been the skirt and the green top.would have been less busy.
just admire her individuality.
here is the video:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/battling-childhood-obesity-epidemic
@ Chrystelle
Mrs. Obama has also said that she likes clothes and fashion and "It is fun to look pretty." Yes, we dont love this outfit, but let's not start defending it or making trivial excuses. It's OK. It's just clothes.
I love her belt the top is nice you can tell that she is wearring a short long selve under the yellow sweater. Her pearls are nice put it really didn't go with the outfit. And the bloue skrit didn't go with anything she had on love her shoes they show the whole outfit .I will wear a green pants or black pants with it.
the whole outfit would have been more "pulled together" had the cardigan not been so sheer or her blouse been sleeveless.
THIS IS A MISS.
Not a totally bad outfit just some fashion miscues.
she is a fashion icon.whether you likes it or not.no amount of your whining is going to change that.
Hmmm...I don't mind it really. I'd lose the pearls, but everything else looks kind of normal to me.
Mrs. O is looking good tonight on the live feed of the St. Patrick's celebration
FLOTUS should be the FL of the Caribbean. WE LOVE how she mixes colours. True Caribbean flavour.LOVE, LOVE LOVE.
What a fantastic, amazing First Lady Mrs Obama is!!! A true FASHION ICON & SO MUCH MORE!!! A positively history book worthy and assured First Lady - Oh how I love this magnificent woman!!!
Poor, miserable "Nic John" - who peed in your soup? And "Babs", still up to your old tricks huh...tsk, tsk,tsk. It's going to be a loooong 7years for you guys. LOL.
@ nic john,
I think YOU consider her a fashion icon because you are always one of the first to post your criticisms of her 'fashion'. Do you sit at your computer all day long just waiting for her to wear something you don't like so you can comment. How do you get here so quickly. I bet it makes your day to see her, doesn't it? I know people who have never visited this site and have no interest or intention of doing so because they don't care what the First Lady wears because they DON'T CONSIDER HER A FASHION ICON!!!!
On the Whotehouse.gov video this top looks like a true kelly green, a nod to St. Patrick's Day. @Trinisamba, when I first saw this outfit the first thing I thought about was my Caribbean cruise. Every where I went I saw that color scheme, so vibrant. I like how FLOTUS mixes and matches colors and plays with accessories. She is delightful and has a wicked sense of humor.
You know, I try not to be critical of people's choices because we're all in this thing together (whether we know it, like it or not), and our opinions are just that: opinions. So I'm a bit puzzled, at times, when people equate their displeasure in someone's fashion choice as a character indictment of that person. It's fashion people, not a barometer of a person's character or abilities. We can all be kinder to one another.
She looks good even though her clothes don't (match this time). How lucky can she get!!!!
Sorry about the typo, it should be" Whitehouse.gov". That's the where that I saw the video of today's event.
Okay, this is my first negative comment on Mrs O's fashion style. For me, the skirt is a great color, and the belt, especially the buckle, is very interesting, and the two work well together. Possibly a pair of silver pumps would have been a nice touch, to tie in with the belt. The top also works with the color of the skirt, but that cardigan misses the mark for me completely, it's just one item too many. As for the pearls, I mentioned in an earlier post, they're a classic, but with this outfit, especially because of the design of the belt, I would say a more contemporary necklace would have worked better. But all that said, you know, everyone can have an off day now and again...still love you Michelle :-)
She's back to the belts....but this one looks ok...at least sitting down. I always admire her courage for mixing and matching colors and textures that many women would dare try.
she is the first lady! who let her out of the "House" looking like this! i am shocked!
@ C Terra....One does not always/only need to match. One can harmonise as well, as is this instance.Very oceanlike.
@ Nyon
I'm sure her tonight's dress is a Jason Wu
That dress she's wearing with the Prime Ministers wife is very pretty. I'm guessing it's Jason Wu because of the beading. It looks kind of like this dress from the Resort 2010 collection , but in yellow.
I have to say this...her dress with the belt does not flatter Mrs. Obama shape... She should really not wear wide belts...As for her St. Patrick dress it looks like a bathroom floor flat mat...sorry...had to be truthful. I have loved most of her outfits but these two clothing choices were disastrous :(
Lucky, we have "three long years" of future wonderful outfits to view. So, everyone in America needs to get use to these hit an miss clothing choices by Mrs. Obama. The First Lady seems to love to take chances and tryout different fabrics...that is very admirable of her :)
Ms. T , have you ever thought about adding a fun poll on your site... for fans of Mrs.O to way in on her best outfits...Though I think you might have a problem with internet trolls trying to ruin a poll...but if you offer a poll every now an then it would avoid a lot troll traffic...
Oh well, just a fun idea to add to the website :)
I didn't notice the skirt and top were two different colors until I watched the newsweek video..oh wow..I'm guessing she was just having some fun because it was St. Patty's Day. The only thing I dont like about the outfit is the pearls, I never really cared for pearls. The second dress is nice though...she always rocks it for night/social events.
Why are people shocked about this outfit..umm..we all know Mrs. O loves her cardigans, belts, and mismatch colors...just because she's been wearing a lot of Hits lately, we can't forget about her signatures. This is how she dressed most of the time during the first year.
I wonder if this is Jason Wu, this looks very Wu-ish.
The dress from the meeting the Irish Prime minister's wife reminds me of these 2 Jason Wu pieces from his 2010 resort collection. I won't be surprised to find out its Wu:
http://cache1.asset-cache.net/xc/88489891.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D0619BA8F8902DE3B673FF03808D2A4BF9935BA99F77DFB2ADE30A760B0D811297
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DFNQQlUklEM/Si-bxVhhWdI/AAAAAAAAArI/K0KF7fuH1pw/s400/jason+wu_3.jpg
Could be Jason Wu but doesn't have the peplum that his design (Ari post) has.
Love the dress, the daytime Newsweek outfit looks thrown together (even though I'm sure it isn't), nothing does with anything.
Love the belt though.
? Is CArole Tannenbaum still doing another collection?
She redeemed her fashion misstep of the morning with this gorgeous sleeveless dress.
I totally agree with Mrs. A. It IS just clothing, and it's crazy to defend an outfit when it's so apparent that it's not working. Mrs. O. had been on a real winning streak for months up until yesterday. Do we have to like everything she wears in order to like Mrs. O.? I think not. So, I will say it: that belt is a horror.
The dress in the second pic is fabulous, and Mrs. O. looks great in it.
Thank you, Mrs T, for posting a full-length photo of Mrs O with Mary Molloy. I imagine full-length photos are not always available. Good to see her outfit top-to-toe.
I liked the colours of the daytime outfit. The way it was put together - perhaps not so much. But ballet or bateau necklines flatter Mrs O so much more than the occasional high-necked blouses she sometimes chooses. IMHO. To quote the lady herself, 'Wear what you love' (Time, 1 June 09).
I am now off to change out of my pyjamas.
Love the sleeveless dress - really interesting details. The mix 'n match is not my fav ever, but hey, suspect my opinion is of little consequence to her ;-)
The evening dress is FABulous! Love the green and black. Would be even better -- more flattering to the figure -- to have the pattern reversed, with the denser pattern at the hem rather than the bodice.
I guess I'm the only one who loves the daytime look. It's got nothing to do with the fact that I love the First Lady because I have made my feelings known when I felt that an outfit is a miss but this one is definitely a hit.
The way she uses contrasting colours in her wardrobe truly astounds me. I now find myself scouting the sales racks for the COLOURS (both in shoes and clothes) that other people shy away from. We need to get away from the matchy matchy look by assuming that everything goes well with black or white or a pair of black slacks or blue jeans.
I would wear this look in a heartbeat although I think the sleeves of the blouse look a bit bulky under the cardigan. She pulls the ensemble together with a bright silver belt (POP !!!!) and finishes with a classic string of pearls. Just look at her georgeous smile.......the sister was born for greatness.
As I say, I don't always like what Mrs Obama wears but I truly admire her for the inspriration she invokes in her clothes. At length and last a fantastically high profile woman comes along with a wardrobe that we poorer folk can play around with and relate to.
I could spend all day surfing the net for pictures of my new girlee crush.
As for the evening look, a beautiful colour to honour St Patricks Day.
Michelle, I salute you again and again and again.
THE FLOTUS LOOKED GREAT AT THE RECEPTION FOR THE IRISH PRIME MINDTER AND HIS WIFE.
I WOULD NEVER WANT TO STAND BY THE FLOTUS SHE WILL MAKE YOU LOOK BAD..
PS I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE BRONX 59 SHOOL WHO PROFORMED FOR THE
POTUS AND THE FLOTUS.
These two pictures just go to show that "when she is good, she is very, very good, but when she is bad, she is horrid". Well, maybe not "horrid", but that first oufit is a major fail. A too thin cardigan showing the short sleeved sweater underneath, another ugly wide belt, three blah colors thrown together, she looks like she got dressed in the dark.
But the dress in the second photo is lovely and very flattering.
DUH... blue and yellow = GREEN
IT'S AMAZES ME HOW FAST SOME ARE 2 CRITCIZE. REMEMBER, FOR EVERY FINGER YOU POINT, 3 MORE ARE COMING BACK @ YOU. I THINK SHE LOOKS COMFORTABLY WHIMISICAL. HOW ABOUT YOU POST A DAILY PICTURE OF UR "FASHIONS" AND WELL SEE HOW FAST YOU GET STONED.
I
Bet she just didn't have any daytime green thing to wear so she thought mixing yellow and blue would add up to green. Whoa, this outfit was a perfect mistake in every way -- but I love how she wrinkles her nose when she laughs. That makes up for it!
My dismay from yesterday turned into happiness this morning when I saw this gorgeous green dress. I hope she wears it again sometime!
I think she probably had one of those days where she stood in the closet and just could not find anything to wear, especially in green. On those types of days the best solution is reliable black on the bottom and a pretty colored top.
Michelle rarely has a day where so many of us give a low rating. However, compared to some past first ladies, I have this comment "When they were blah they were very very blah and when they were blah they were blah" (thanks Hyde Parker)
I'm a quarter Irish from my dad's side, so, I say the 'BLESSINGS'' of the Irish BE WITH HER!....however she LOOKS! Photo #1: I'm going to look for a better photo of this outfit; even the background panel blue of Newsweek usually has a much richer tone than that on tv and her eyes should be recognizable for this type of close-up shot. Photo #2: There's too much of a shadow cast on her in order to tell the true color of the green dress. Then, I'll give an unbiased comment!
By the way, the Moroccan Princess Lalla Salma, also, does the belted look on her day outfits and evening gown, too.
THE SCOND PIC OF MRS OBAMA SHE LOOKED WAY BETTER THEN THE FRIST PIC I LOVE HER DRESS SHE DIDNT WEAR A LOT OF STUFF LIKE THE FRIST ONE AND AGIAN LOVE HER BLACK PUMPS.THE DINNER WEIT WILL I WAS THERE I HAD A GREAT TIME. CANT WEIT TO FOR EASTER I WILL BE THERE WITH MY NEPHEW HAVING FUN WITH THE OBAMA KIDS.
I find it very amusing what I consider the "split personalities" of some of the posters on this site. For when the First Lady wears something they like, the fall over themselves with the effusive complements, but when she doesn't, then they unsheath the "bitchiness" and the uncomplimentary remarks that borders on character assassination. This behavior brings to mind what you see in people suffering from bipolar disorders or schizophrenia, where there are sharp swings in behavior, euphoria followed by depression and darkness. Yes, I'm talking about likes of Nic John, Mrs. A, babs, and canyongal. Then you have the others like Peggy and Hyde Parker, who never let an opportunity pass them by to go after the First Lady with such comments like, "who let out the house" or "horrid". Now mind you, this is just because they don't like the outfit the First Lady choose to wear on a given day. Can you imagine what their comments would be if they disagreed with her on fighting childhood obesity or any other initiative she chosed to champion? This attitude is just SICK! You people need to get a grip on yourselves, this behavior is childish, immature and counterproductive. If you are truly about offerring commentary on your fashion point-of-view vs that of the First Lady, well you should be intellectually mature enough to come up with some insightly comments that we all can benefit from instead of just spewing your venom and negativity because you lack the grace, knowledge, and yes, decency to critique a piece of clothing without your comments degenerating into something totally counterproductive to what hopefully was not your original intent. But unfortunately readers can only go by what we see in writing, not your state of mind at the time. So people, to quote the President, "we can disagree without being disagreeable". In other words, we can disagree with the choice of a given clothing item, but we should be able to keep our comments in perspective and remember that the purpose of this site is not only to assess the clothes but also the person wearing the clothes, what she's all about, what are her values, and her service to the community and the country as a whole. Yes, it's fun to watch what the First Lady wears on both public and private occasions, but it is equally as important, I think, to reflect and maybe even emulate what she's doing while she wears the clothes we are so quick to judge.
OMG, I love, love, love the first picture!! In fact, I think this is her best look ever!!! On a scale of one to 10, this look is an 11!!!! Karl Lagerfeld will be copying this look for his spring 2011 collection. Hair, makeup, sheer yellow cardigan with turquoise dress, big futuristic moonwalk silver and plastic belt that draws attention to her waist, conservative pearl necklace, everything is on point. OMG!! She looks exquisite, stunning, marvelous, incredible, amazing!!!!
The dress she wore to meet with the Irish PMs wife is just great. I have to say the belt with the lucite buckle has got to be one of the ugliest things I have ever seen. And I am not in the "hate all her wide belts" group. I just really dislike this one!
Regarding the fashion icon statement earlier: A few days ago I was looking through the paper at Sunday's ads and remarked to my husband that many of the models were wearing belts over their sweaters, etc. I said, do you know why that is the style these days. He didn't know so I told him and I'll tell you Nic John. It is because of Michelle Obama. She is a fashion icon and a trend setter.
Nice! Both of these First Ladies look nice in their Irish green outfits. Those sure are some snazzy pumps that Mary Molloy has on. The shade of green in our Michelle's dress is almost identical to that of Mary Molloy's suit. Well co-ordinated, I like them both.