Tuesday
May112010
Thakoon Remix
Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at 11:48 PM 
Images via USDA on Flickr / Creative Commons
The first lady was at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C. today to present the Childhood Obesity Task Force action plan, "Solving the Problem of Childhood Obesity Within a Generation." More on the plan can be found here. For the business affair, the first lady reprised a Thakoon Watercolor Gazar jacket, first seen in October of 2009, here. Today Mrs. O remixed the jacket, pairing it with a floral blue top and solid navy trousers.
tagged Thakoon
Thakoon
Reader Comments (42)
Hair and makeup are on point; but this is an odd outfit. The floral top underneath seems too casual and it looks like she's wearing jeans. Plus she's wearing the belt from her blue Cornejo suit (not seen in pics above). Unfortunate because the jacket itself is exquisite. I wonder which shoes she's wearing.
An picture of the pants but almost pictures of the shoes. The pants look like they are quite dressy, Thakoon?
http://www.daylife.com/photo/08nr3hJewV3C4?q=Michelle+Obama
Here's a pic with a matching belt for her jacket.
http://www.daylife.com/photo/0fXo7iL63EbSa?q=Michelle+Obama
Jacket would be gorgeous over a dress, not so good with pants/top here. Hair & makeup lovely.
I think of this every time I see a close-up of the First Lady. Don't tweeze your eyebrows, ladies. It ages you the way sun damage or bad foundation does. Let brows grow and then have them shaped by a professional. Or draw them in the right way. I love Mrs. O, but do wish she had a thicker, less arched brow. Not to be a negative Nellie - just a tip to all the women out there who might think of going super-groomed. because inevitably you will regret the decision. BTW, I shaved my brows in fifth grade, and learned this lesson early!
I agree missann, hair and makeup definitely on point. If you watch the video her skin literally looks procelain like. I do however, love this look. The contrasting patterns in the jacket and the top look very clever. I like that she gets mileage out of her clothes, especially her belts !!
http://www.daylife.com/photo/0fXo7iL63EbSa?q=Michelle+Obama This is a side view on daylife....you can see the entire top.
Love the blouse with its very pretty print. I cannot say the same for the jacket, which I have never liked. This outfit does seem a bit casual for a "business affair."
i can't see much of the outfit so any comment on it will not make sense to me. Mrs.T do you know that the pic of Mrs.O in her red dress (prabal gurung) disappear? you should check it out.
I must say following Mrs.O’s fashion and reading these informative comments, inspires me to keep up with styles and make-up.
Mrs. O is a very dynamic person, and her dressing shows that. She's very creative with the way she dresses, so sometimes she'll not really miss, but just skew, and it will be difficult to follow. That's this outfit for me. Nice colors on her, everything fits right, but it's off. Her hair and make up are perfect, as written above, though. And I'm loving her dedication to this project.
ETA: Has anyone read about Jonathan Alter's new book on President Obama's 1st year? There's a snippet in there where apparently Carla Sarkozy confided in Mrs. O that she and her husband made some head of state wait because they were having sex. Mrs. O politely demurred when Carla asked if she had ever done that with Mr. O. Anyway, when I read that, it made me think of all of the pictures with them where they were whispering and chatting like old friends. I wonder if that moment was caught on camera.
This is a write up on that gossip: http://blogs.abcnews.com/theworldnewser/2010/05/book-says-carla-brunisarkozy-confided-sex-hijinks-to-michelle-obama.html
A better look.
http://www.daylife.com/photo/0fXo7iL63EbSa?q=michelle+obama
Another photo - shows some of the top she is wearing under the Thakoon top.
http://view2.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/8760223/first-lady-unveils/first-lady-unveils.jpg?size=500&AdImageId=12831208&imageId=8760223
Here is another view of Mrs. O in this outfit.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/photogallery/may-2010-photo-day
What a FRESH, DELIGHTFUL mix! Again, the Asian influence wins! MRS. OBAMA is flawlessly gorgeous and smart in this lovely outfit. Though the colors in this top and jacket are the same, the floral print in her top, and delicate hues in the brush stroke design of her jacket creates a soft and subtle contrast. As I look at her, I'm reminded of the Japanese kimono and obi, along with the Korean hanbok. Both amid layers, features a contrasts of floral, patterned designs and colors. Making the entire approach AVANT-GARDE!
"""There's a snippet in there where apparently Carla Sarkozy confided in Mrs. O that she and her husband made some head of state wait because they were having sex. Mrs. O politely demurred when Carla asked if she had ever done that with Mr. O. """"
And IVA, this is why I love Mrs Obama. She is a class act and a real lady. She met Carla Bruni after being First lady for a few months, remember her trip to Europe last April ? Many people make mistakes when they are new to a job or a role. You want to fit in, you want to be the new kid on the block, you want people to like you so you try not to offend.
Then you DO slip up and naturally learn from it. No such errors on the part of Michelle because she "politely demurred" and removed herself from an embarassing situation. Love her for it.
@ Iva - I read the snippet. Just another way of trying to discredit the Obamas. I hope you didn't believe the writer's crap.
I find this outfit to be fun and casual but still QUITE appropriate.
I love Michelle Obama.
This outfit doesn't do it for me. Actually when she remixes I'm generally not a fan, but that's okay. I like that she wears what she wants to wear. Mad cool.....
Kathleen Sibelius is the sharpest dresses woman on the platform.
I sense a trend that we had better get used to: mixing patterns with a common color story. She did it big time with the Moschino Cheap & Chic dress from last week. I think it looks fresh and fits her sense of style perfectly.
I can see where people might think this looks a bit casual, but I'd argue that it's the color (kind of a denim-ish blue) in the blouse which gives that impression. But the blouse is probably silk or a very fine cotton, and gazar - the jacket - is a dressy, elegant fabric.
I like it - and it will be fun to watch how this combo thing evolves!
Off topic, but a heads up for anyone interested in Bochic. Gilt.com has some fabulous pieces at deep discounts (this is a relative term - we're still talking 1000s). Within 15 minutes a number of pieces were gone, but it's still a fun look. One pair of earrings is especially reminiscent of the pair Mrs. O wore to the India State Dinner.
I love the Thakoon jacket mixed with the floral top, but would have preferred it paired with some black trousers. I saw this live and the trousers didn't look casual, but the blue trousers with the top and the blue stage background was a lot for me.
@operafanatic--I saw that Bochic sale through Gilt and the pieces were lovely! I saw those earrings similar to the State Dinner but they were black I think. Almost all the pieces have been bought. I was admiring the ivory bracelet on sale that resembled a smaller version of what she wore to the correspondents dinner. All I could do was sigh...all of the pieces, and I do mean all of them, were just beautiful. I hope Mrs. O continues to wear Bochic for her very formal events---the style suits her.
I don't see anything wrong with her outfit. She's wearing the equivalent of a pantsuit much like Secretary Sebelius behind her.
Mixing patterns & textures in fashion is a bit like art. Sometimes it grabs you...it just clicks, other times not so much. Depends on who's looking at it and from whatever perspective they bring. But when it's done right it adds interest, depth & personality to an outfit.
Personally, I love that Mrs. O is willing to take these fashion risks. She inspires me to do the same.
I saw pics yesterday and never knew she was wearing pants. Thanks for the pic Mrs. T.
I read that too Iva and I wondered how did he get that piece of info. Was Mrs. Sarkozy speaking loud enough for everyone to hear? It just seems like something you wouldn't say loud if you were not speaking privately, especially when you're in the public eye like them.
oops, I guess I overlooked the sentence where it says Sarkozy told her friends this story, which I still find hard to believe, but whatever!
Oh she wear pants and top I thought it was a dress nice outfit and shoes very nice.
Yeah I also find this outfit bit so so. But otherwise she is pretty cool, I like her style. And she is also very charismatic and intelligent lady. I am happy for these people to be influential.
Mrs.O adresses military's families today. pics are on getty images.too lazy to post links.
So now we are talking about Mrs. O's sex life? Deliver me, please.
I have finally come to the conclusion that commenting on Mrs. O's clothing, whether pro or con, is basically a pointless exercise on this website. Mrs. T., I mean you no disrespect in this regard, believe me. In fact, I very much admire your efforts. That is what drew me to this website to begin with. It seemed lots smarter and more informed than the typical Internet blogs. Plus, there was the book!
Ultimately, though, any opinion or point of view posted here, no matter how diplomatically, gets ravished by those who think otherwise, or who do not acknowledge that posting an opinion is simply that, or who feel some profound need to defend Mrs. O at all costs, and without a whole lot of rational thinking figuring in. Or, and I must say this, by those who seem very consistently to feel the need to make some summary statement after most of the others seem to have weighed in.
I did not begin to participate here because I wanted someone to tell me how to think. I thought this was the opportunity for informed, thoughtful, and lively discussion on a topic I found intriguing (and which, for the record, was way out of my realm in terms of my usual means of communicating).
JMH
i always wonder how people choose to convey private conversations to the press. private means private.
so who told mr. newsweek alter that mrs. sarkozy and mrs obama had this conversation? or is it enquirer style leak to get people to buy his book?
JMH, please keep commenting! I appreciate the range of perspective, and believe it's important to keeping the dialogue here interesting. I must admit, I'm very stretched at the moment, between my full time job and getting married in just 6 weeks! I think post wedding I'll have considerably more time to devote to the blog and will do a better job in moderating to ensure the environment is more welcoming to different opinions.
Thank you, Mrs. T., for your speedy and personal response. I will aim to keep in touch.
In the meantime, best wishes to you as you plan for and undertake this most meaningful upcoming journey.
JMH
@ JMH, I do not see how my comment in any way, invited a conversation about Mrs. O's sex life, especially since it was Carla doing the talking, with Mrs. O saying nothing. I thought that spoke well of her and wanted to share how she always has her wits about her.
Perhaps it's my fault, I assumed we were all adults that could discuss random topics. I should have written about the book snippet in the Chat area. My bad for that.
With regard to the rest of your comment, I think Mrs. T said it all.
Ladies, keep an eye on the new British PM's wife, Samantha "Sam" Cameron - she is supposed to be quite a fashion icon over in the UK. She is expecting a baby in September. She is a naturally pretty brunette and wore a beautiful, simple royal blue dress yesterday as she watched her husband take the place of Gordon Brown. The Cameron's lost a young son to muscular Dystrophy last year.
Mrs. T - Much happiness as your wedding approaches. Congratulations!
Mrs. T
My best to you in planning of your wedding and your marriage. All smiles for your new life together.
JMH if you put a view out there, you also need to accept that sometimes it won't be agreed with. Someone commenting on your posts may not be intending to tell you how to think but just not agreeing with you. I think that happens on all blogs and message boards and the rough comes with the smooth. Although I do agree that some comments can be hairier than others!
This is an interesting outfit. I'm not that enamoured of it - a little bitty perhaps? I think I might have liked the jacket belted over darker blue trousers without the top underneath. All three shades/patterns is a little WOAH, for me. But then I'm not very comfy with patterns so I may just not like them because I don't get 'em.
(Oo, and Erin, I agree with you about thicker eyebrows being younger, but I LOVE Mrs O's arches. Please don't take, our arches, awayyyyyy.)
Ha, Erin! That's too funny! I shaved just ONE of my brows when I was about eight...right before school pictures. Needless to say, my mom found nothing funny about it. I, too, love a fuller brow. Mine are paling now because of age, and I hate it!
JMH: I could not agree with you more. It is just not necessary to comment on every single post on this site that does not jibe with your own opinion. I have never said anything negative about Mrs. O., the person, and I never would, but I always get nasty, very personal comments back from the usual suspects about some of my fashion opinions. Totally unwarranted.
Mrs. T.: I also thank you for replying to JMH in such a timely manner. I do wish that comments of a very personal, insulting nature were not allowed on this site. Again, it just isn't necessary. I wish you and your husband-to-be every happiness and thank you for the opportunity to comment on Mrs. O.'s fashion, both pro and con.
OMG!!@ Mrs. T - I know it was mentIoned some time ago but six weeks to go and guess what I too say I do in six weeks and a bit - June 28 to be exact. CONGRATULATIONS!!
I will be in the USA for a while, then I will return to my Caribbean home.
My dress was inspired by a combination of looks from MO.
The First Lady was spot on with the mixing of patterns in the blouson and the jacket. Lovely! And her hair is fierce!
Thank you everyone for the warm thoughts. trinisamba -- congratulations to you as well. Quite exciting that our "I do" dates are so close!
I really like the mixing of prints and texture and it seems that so does our Michelle. I'm not always that adventurous in my own dress, I have to make myself step out of my comfort zone and do it. But when I do, boy, am I glad that I did. When I was looking on style.com I saw so many designers mixing several prints in one outfit. I've been really inspired by this. For me, this works really well from the few pics that are available on Getty and Yahoo. I thought that floral blue top was by Suno when I saw it up close on Mrs.T's second photo.
Mrs. T, it's so funny that you & trinisamba's date are so close together. My neice Ashlee is getting married here on the 25th of June. So to all of the June Brides, CONGRATULATIONS!
Dangit, I typed a long comment and lost it. Here's the abridged version. I can't see enough of this outfit to have an informed opinion but I don't think it's too casual. One doesn't need to be in a stereotypical tailored buttoned-down conservative matchy-matchy suit to look professional. I had breakfast today with 10 Members of Congress, and I wore white linen pants, a white cotton v-neck t-shirt, an orange cardigan and beige/tan/ neutral (whatever color) sling-back heels. I was perfectly happy and comfortable with my look.
@Erin: I don't think Mrs. O tweezes or waxes her eyebrows into that high arch -- I think it's a natural shape. I remember seeing a picture of her where she looked to be a pre-teen and she had that same high arch. I doubt she was tweezing or waxing back then. By the way, I think Malia has the same shaped eyebrows.