A Delightful Mix of Print and Pattern
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 at 2:59 PM 
Image by Jim Young / Reuters
The first lady hosted a town hall meeting on childhood obesity at the White House today, as part of an ongoing effort to support her "Let's Move" initiative.
Per Political Punch, "Mrs. Obama spent about an hour answering students’ questions that addressed the price of healthy food, what schools can do to educate students about healthy eating and living and the role that government can play in this effort."
On the style front, Mrs. O playfully mixed print and pattern, working with a palette of white, black and navy in her full skirt, floral camisole and lace print cardigan. More to follow.
Update #1: Mrs. O wears a lace cardigan by L'Wren Scott, paired with a Talbots blouse.
Update #2: Mrs. O's patchwork skirt is from the Jean Paul Gaultier S/S 2010 collection.
Jean Paul Gaultier, L'Wren Scott, Talbots
Reader Comments (78)
@nonpasserat but of course it is ok to disparage Michelle. I see no posts that you are referring to regarding past first ladies. Most people who disparage first ladies are talking about Michelle.
"Pretty Mommy!" That's what those kids are thinking. It's a Town Hall meeting for kids at the White House . . . can you say "intimidating"? I love this look. It's cute, it catches the kids eyes, it invites interaction with the intended audience: those children. [What! NO! You mean Michelle is not dressing to satisfy commenters here on the blog? The idea! <tongue firmly in cheek>]
Thanks to the commenter who noted (and maybe one day it will sink in) the outfit looks great on video footage. This is almost always the case. My only beef with this blog are the treatises that are written over chance seconds caught on film. Many of these snapshots in time catch her in motion. She's not Angelina Jolie and living for the pose. She's living to be the best mom, best wife, best FLOTUS, best Michelle . . . she can be. To thine ownself be true Michelle. Praying for you all!
Thanks to other posters for calling out nonpasserat. It's encouraging to see that others are tired of her thinly veiled jabs at Mrs. O.
No one has taken jabs at other first ladies - only nonpasserat has taken jabs at our current FLOTUS,
and it's obvious.
who knew irony was such a lost art these days?? Nonpasserat, you complain about people disrespect of other previous First Ladies (although there isn't any proof of your claims) and turn around and disrespect Mrs.O?
anyone who knows your comments history on this site has seen you taking veiled shots at the current First Lady on multiples occasions. so spare us your newly found "moral". you are just jealous of the amount of attention( and well deserved if you ask me) that this first lady is getting and that worldwide. you shouldn't wear your political inclination ( although there isn't anything wrong with you being a republican, it just highlights Mrs.O broad appeal) so obviously.it makes you very petty
her outfit was pretty and the discussion very informative.you could see how she was connecting with those kids.a good omen for the next generation.
Mrs.O is looking good on her new mag cover and there is a picture of her with the president in her Moise De la renta red dress on the white house site. she seems to bit quite taken with that outfit given that it is the 4th time she is wearing it.
nonpasserat where did she see anyone disparaging Mrs. Bush in any recent posts so it is ok for you to come in and disparage Mrs. O. Laura Bush was a wonderful First Lady, who is denying that. No one paid much attention to her fashion but a lot of us paid attention to her good works AND CONTINUE TO DO SO. You are a hypocrite nonpasserat, you just resent the fact that Michelle Obama is in the WHITE House and you work out your internal jealousies, anger and frustrations by saying the things you do. Yeah, yeah, yeah free speech and all that and you have a right to your opinion and I am expressing mine, GET OVER IT, already!
Regarding Mrs. O's outfit, I love the skirt and the shoes but I would have combined things differently. Not one of my favorites.
Ohhhhh Nonpasserat just likes to come on, make bitchy comments about Mrs O and then sit back to suck up the upset. It's a regular gig. Must be a slow day.
Non passerat. None shall pass. Guess constipation does make people cranky.
Julia
I went to Talbots.com and was able to find the very similar top you referred to earlier. I love the top Mrs O is wearing. I myself will only do two different patterns. Though I think Michelle is rocking this look, and as mentioned earlier, the outfit reads better on CSPAN.
I never go and buy Michelle looks, but I needed that top.
So thanks Julia:)
there is also a video of Mrs.O alongside the cover shot and some beautifully shot pictures of her on their website (concierge.com). i hope they allow you to use it Mrs.T
Now ya'll cannot tell me Nonpasserat is not a HATER!!!!!!
oops !
I completely disagree with the FLOTUS and POTUS ploitics , yet I regularly visit this site because she is a snazzy dresser and has given me a lot of good ideas. Perhaps nonpasserat was responding to the other posts which implied this White House has more involvement with children than others which is not true. I think I would have liked the outfit best with bright blue shoes to pick up the stripe in the skirt. I think the muted green really hits an off note but it is otherwise a great Mrs. O look. Kudos to those of you who picked up on her most playful outfits being worn when she visits kids. I never even thought of that.
I am having a BIG laugh. The split second I saw the outfit I said to myself - "Lawdee, the criticisms are going to be flying" - and I have not been in the least bit disappointed.
I think this is a FANTASTIC outfit. I can't pull this off because I am too short but FLOTUS has the height and stature to pull off what most of us can't.
Might there be a bit of jealously?
This is a whimsical one. Modern gypsy, might we say? Playful. Meant to allow those in her presence to feel immeasurably comfortable.
I would imagine that "ordinary" folk might otherwise be intimidated to meet the FL and "Trying Too Hard To Be Different" is not at all what this outfit is about.
I knew the green shoes would have hit a vein but there is a trend. Black and White and Green....AGAIN!!! Just for the critics - I would say.
She looks GREAT!! I love her for breaking the glass ceiling AND dressing outside of the nine dots.
@ Nyon - DITTO!!!
This Conde Nast article is probably one of the best written on Mrs. O in awhile. It's long but well worth the read. Chrystelle mentioned the accompanying video. Our First Lady looks so nice, the yellow and blue contrasts. I also hope Mrs. T posts a few pictures from this--great photos of Mrs. O and great read!
http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/articles/502489?pageNumber=1
Chrystelle, thanks for informing us about the video. I really love the outfit she is wearing in it. I also love how the people react when they see her and Mrs. O continues to surprise me. She knows a lil bit of sign language. She is just so well rounded.
I agree Janelle, the article is LONG, but it is well written!
Although this is a fashion blog, I have to admit, most of the time I wouldn't know the difference between an Oscar de la Renta or an Oscar the Grouch but, aesthetically, I know what looks and feels good. This outfit does just that! Personally, I love b/w and red combos, but the green shoes works equally as well for me.
What I enjoy most about this site is being able to get a daily glimpse of Mrs. O and watch how her actions, more than what she wears, impacts others. The yellow and blue outfit in the video that Janelle mentioned, is such a happy combo of colors but I think what will stand out more in the minds of the tour guests she surprised (not the first time she has done this ) is her grace, and how she seemed to personalize each brief greeting. I just loved it when she used ASL to spell out one of the visitors name --Renee I think it was. Years from now, she will have no recall of what Mrs.O was wearing but I guarantee she wil always remember the warmth of the greeting she received from her. Thanks chrystelle for the video link.
Thanks, guys, for the article. It was very good, and the video is adorable. She's having a blast and is truly happy. That just shines through with everything I see about her.
Dawn s, how can you disagree with Flotus poltics when she is not setting any policies?
and as for nonpasserat noone is gonna fall for her lies.
I've just figured out FLOTUS and POTUS, crazy acronyms, I have to say! Like many other comments, I love the composite parts of this outfit, but too much together. I would have gone for a plain, slim fitting white knit top under a plain red or black cropped shrug or cardi and red or black shoes and 5cm longer on the skirt. Overall, it's very informal, and much improved on some of the formal, starchy, matronly styles shes been wearing lately. Michelle Obama is my fashion heroine, I'm about the same age, height and weight (having recently lost 8kg) and aspire to her style on an opshop (thrift shop) budget. PS. I live in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/08/michelle-obamas-cond-nast_n_529840.html. Mrs O, is on the cover of another magazine. I think she looks so beautiful:)
I think Johnny Camp is on to something!
I love that she tries mixing patterns & textures. The outfit works because of the size of the prints and the same color scheme. Maybe it's just an acquired taste.
The shoes are a different story. I think she was trying to keep the color muted to stay within the color palette of her outfit. But she would have done better using a brighter colored shoe.
I wonder if Mrs. O will end up being the FLOTUS with the most magazine covers?
This won't be one of my favorite ensembles, though I like the individual pieces. Sort of. Not the skirt so much. And I'm not sure what's going on with the shoes. Okay, I like the top and the cardigan. But probably not together....
...okay, this one will have to be a no.
Is this a Sophie Theallet skirt? I saw this outfit in another photo - it really does have rather bright royal blue patches in it, right above the stripes! In which case, pairing it with the olive shoes.........hmmmm.
Mrs. Obama is inspiring me to be more adventurous! This outfit is so lovely and so fresh!
This outfit is a nice casual look for Michelle. I like the top and sweater. The skirt is good,except for the border ... it distracts from the continuity.
I caught the CSPAN Q&A this weekend and not once did I think about her outfit, only about how great she interacted with the kids and how thoughtful their questions and her answers were.
I like the outfit, even with all the patterns, which seems to be an emerging trend for spring and summer. Hate the shoes - Manolo, Christian, where are you when we need you?
I am sorry to say that all the stretches to find virtue in this mash-up do not change my initial impression. Approachability, playfulness, statement making--none of these can convince my eyes to see something other than a bold and daring mistake. Thank goodness, such examples are rare indeed on this FLOTUS.