Saturday
May082010
Date Night
Saturday, May 8, 2010 at 8:11 AM 
Image by Yuri Gripas / REUTERS
The first lady looked tres chic as she left for a date night with the president last evening. The first couple dined at KOMI restaurant in Washington, D.C.
Mrs. O's date night attire included a black blazer with bracelet length sleeves, a sequined black camisole, and cropped black pants. For accessories, Jimmy Choo Lantern heels, a VBH clutch, diamond earrings and a mixed stack of bangles completed the look. Might the stack of bangles be Mrs. O's new signature brooch?
tagged Jimmy Choo, VBH
Jimmy Choo, VBH
Reader Comments (66)
Even though some may not like the length of the pants I personally think the short length makes her look very funky and she's got those beautiful shoes to show off. Come on people lighten up.....any thing longer woud l have looked just regular and uninteresting . After all she out on a date night -is she supposed to be looking llike she is going to some formal place?
I say go Michelle go! You are the smartest and "funkiest" first lady I have seen in a while and such an inspiration too . Some of us just adore you.
@babs: It depends on where you are going. In Italy (Rome for instance) the climate in August is just like Southern California so you can dress like you would there - lightweight, light colored clothes, sandals with good sole support (the cobblestones and walking can get to you). In Paris it can be warm but it can also rain and go chilly in minutes. Again, lots of cobblestones to walk on. It rains and goes cloudy in the London all summer but not so much in Scotland. Both places are humid. Just be prepared in every city with a sweater and umbrella or lightweight short trench and you can't go wrong. And also a light sweater or bolero you can throw over your shoulders is a must if you'll be in and out of churches. You might want a sweater in the evenings, too. Maybe just pack one really nice beaded one and two casual ones. Lightweight to-the-knee dresses that you can layer are good choices, or lightweight cotton trousers and lightweight blouses. Just be really careful about wearing shorts and sneakers. Nothing shouts "tourist" like a pair of ill-fitting shorts and gym shoes in a major European city! Most women wear sandals or heels in the summer. Have fun - I envy you! We did the "European tour" several years ago!
Babs,
I just returned from Italy where you would not see Capri pants in the city but perhaps at the beach resorts. I think that applies to most countries; you will not see them in the cities, but at the resorts
and beach towns.
Char
She looks great!!! I hope they had a nice date :)
Well said, Char - No European woman worth her salt wears capri pants in the city. I don't know why because I love them but tend to leave them for beachy holidays. Most Parisian women will wear pants with soft comfortable shoes, a pashmina (in all weathers) and a must have Longchamp bag.
Italian women are similar to Parisian women but less discreet in their choice of designer labels. Huge sunglasses are a must.
Canyongal - Scotland is much wetter and milder than England but the scenery is heartstoppingly beautiful.
lovely outfit with awesome accessories....Mrs o looks gorgeous..
Thanks char & canyon, for the wardrobe tips!! I'll be 4 days in Barcelona, 2 days Spain beach town, and then most likely on to Paris, traveling with my 2 daughters 17 & 22.
By the way, I actually do like Michelle's pant length here, agree that it's kind of funky. I think when it's a flowy loose fabric with the right shoes, you can get away with it.
Good Morning everyone I hope everyone had a lovely weekend. I just found out that Valerie Jarrett will be giving the commencement address at my school I am so excited.
Unless you are traveling in the country or visiting a beach resort, stick with simple city dressing and good walking shoes in Europe. I made the mistake one year of forgetting to change from white "trainers" into street shoes before vising the Casino at Deauville. Otherwise nicely dressed in pants and cashmere sweater and a good trench coat, I was refused entry. My shoes were in the car about a half mile away, my foot was hurting, I'd been to the Casino before, so I gave the whole thing a pass. But it was a good lesson.
J.Crew and other similar retailers have great coordinated wardrobe pieces, very packable, that are wonderful for travel. Scarves and jewelry can change the look, though most chic European women do not go in for flashy stuff on the street.
Go to have a good time, to be comfortable, to not have to worry about clothes. We all know what ugly Americans look like abroad - bad taste is bad taste no matter where you are.
I am with Dasie. Oscar de la Renta needs to fall back. The "bitter old queen" role he's playing toward the First Lady is sooooo unbecoming. And it isn't helpful, if he ever expects Mrs. Obama to wear any of his designs--which I find very "dated," if I may be frank.
And my intuition tells me Mrs. Obama is has either read his spiteful remarks about her or has had them communicated to her. And that she will NEVER (as in Claire Huxtable's "never, ever, ever, anytime anyplace NEVER!) wear his designs.
Just desserts and comeuppance, I say.
That's very cool Ashley!!!
Just FYI this is what Mrs. O wore today:
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//100511/480/urn_publicid_ap_org8ae1da740b
6142c2a47aea479e8e4881/#photoViewer=/100511/480/urn_publicid_ap_org146651e
4a8d544a481d2506d4a859d10
Hello everyone. I have been following this blog since its inception. I visit it daily, sometimes more than once a day. I usually just read blogs and don’t comment, but I just had to comment here because I love this site and admire this woman. And I love the positive and true loving spirit for this woman that flows from most of you guys. She is a woman worth loving as exhibited by her husband, our President, through his open and unabashed love and adoration of her as a woman, a wife, a mother and First Lady.
The main thing I admire most about Mrs. Obama is her individuality and her refusal to adhere to established norms in her fashion choices. She is open to and likes to experiment with innovative and trend-setting designers and has ‘fun’ with her fashion. I applaud her for her self-confidence in being her own woman and her daring in making her fashion choices. Mrs. T was on point naming her book “Mrs.O The Face of Fashion Democracy”
To the ‘appropriate police’ let me say that I was born in 1945 (am now 65 years of age) and believe me, I have seen and experienced the evolution of women’s fashion over these many years. Boy did we have rules! I remember when women were not allowed to wear pants to work or church. When open-toed shoes, sandals or bare-legs were not considered ‘appropriate’ in the work place. When you didn’t wear White before Easter and after Labor Day, and OMG, lest we forget the uproar that was created over the ‘appropriateness’ of the mini-skirt. I could go on and on but I think you all get my drift. Times change and the rules constantly change to fit the times. So ‘appropriate police’ I would like to say that this is 2010 and you all sound like a bunch of ‘fuddie-duddies’. Fashion trends have changed dramatically. Today, women have become much more flexible and less rigid and rule oriented in their fashion choices, pretty much opting to wear what works for them, and I for one applaud them. This is called individuality, and it works for me!
Mrs. Obama is a young 21st century First Lady. She is a product of her time. I think that she represents women and this country splendidly, and I for one am very proud of her. I have yet to see her in anything that I feel is inappropriate on any occasion. Different maybe from what we have seen in past First Ladies, but never inappropriate. I may not like something that she is wearing but to label this as inappropriate because I personally don’t like it is absolutely ludicrous.
I realize that this is a fashion site and we are here to discuss Mrs. O’s fashion choices, not criticize them. Personally I don’t believe that there is anything constructive about criticism. Criticism hurts, offends, demeans, undermines and puts down, and never makes anyone or anything better, so I ask you what in the world is constructive about that! It is O.K. not to like something she wearing, we all have different tastes. For instance I don’t like the belts, but this is a personal opinion. We may not like a particular dress or how it looks on her, or the shortness of her pants, and we should be able to comment on this without making snide comments about her poor taste, lack of fashion sense or appropriateness or that she needs a fashion consultant. These types of comments are critical jabs at her, not the clothes.
And finally I’d like to say to those of you who admire the glow from Mrs. Obama, let me say that she obviously has good skin and uses good skin care products, but the real beauty of Mrs. Obama comes from an intangible—Here is a woman well and truly loved, respected and cherished by her husband—and let’s face it ladies, you just can’t buy this in a bottle or a jar or dress it up in clothes!
Wishing you all life, light and love.
@DianeinCleveland
Your comment has been most eloquently put. I agree with you wholeheartedly. Mrs. Obama embodies and personifies individuality, confidence and numerous positive attributes. Qualities that are sadly lacking in so many of us.
Hi DianeinCleveland,
You really ht the nail on the head with your comments. Mrs. O possesses an "intangible" that defines her style, her personality, and her inner peace with herself.
Among photos of Samantha Cameron, the new "first lady" of England - a similar look:
http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/6774/slide_6774_89898_large.jpg?1273710772603
She is very chic.
Jestina, when I visited Edinburgh in the summertime there were way more sunny, warm (sticky) days than there were in London - and it didn't rain on us more than once in Scotland, although there were cloudy days. Upon arrival in London we were caught in a downpour so heavy we had to return to our hotel to start our sightseeing again. I'm talking about height-of-summer temps. Maybe it's still the cool season over there.