Friday
Sep242010
Have a Little Feith
Friday, September 24, 2010 at 7:54 PM 
Image by Hiroko Masuike / Getty Images
First Lady Mrs. O met with students today to tour an herb garden at Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture in Pocantico Hills, New York. The group was also joined by spouses of other political figures in New York City this week for the UN summit.
For the garden affair, the first lady wore a wisteria print dress by Tracy Feith, paired with silver pointed toe flats. The dress was first seen in January 2009 for the inauguration, and has made a lovely reprise here.
tagged Tracy Feith
Tracy Feith
Reader Comments (56)
SAME DRESS SHE WEAR LAST YEAR OR BEFORE LAST YEAR THE DRESS FIT HER NICELY HER SHOES WAS BLACK WHEN SHE WEAR THE DRESS THIS TIME SHE WEAR THEM IN SIVER.
I would to say that you are doing a wounderful job ur leadership is inspiring and tell the president we still believe and still surport him
I think this all the time, and just have to say it: Mrs. O cannot take a bad picture!
She always looks remarkable, and I think she does once again in this gorgeous dress. As someone who takes pretty horrific photos, I envy her ... just wonderful! Have a great weekend all.
This is one of my favorites in her fashion "repertiore". And, its oh so fitting in what looks like a vineyard. Ok, I went back and read it. Its a herb garden. LOL! Love it!
Perfect! One of my favorites.
Char in Seattle
This is a lovely dress and I am glad to see it again. I love that she wears her clothes more than once, especially in this age of economic hardship. It shows a certain admirable restraint and indicates that her clothes really are valued by her and not treated as one-time wears or throwaways. The same with shoes. She seems to have a working wardrobe of shoes and wears them many times. Gosh! Just like the rest of us!
Interesting (and I know I will be called out as a troll) but I do think Mrs. T is right that the East Wing considers the visual impact of every outfit. She is said to be going out to campaign for imperilled democrats, so she has been appearing in charming, non-threatening (even boring) florals. Plus, whenever the economic news is bad, FLOTUS repeats outfits, as if to remind us that her frocks are just like our own wardrobes, repeated as needed, even though they cost far more than any of most of us could afford. This is a bewitching stagecraft, for sure!
Interesting (and I know I will be called out as a troll) but I do think Mrs. T is right that the East Wing considers the visual impact of every outfit. She is said to be going out to campaign for imperilled democrats, so she has been appearing in charming, non-threatening (even boring) florals. Plus, whenever the economic news is bad, FLOTUS repeats outfits, as if to remind us that her frocks are just like our own wardrobes, repeated as needed, even though they cost far more than any of most of us could afford. This is a bewitching stagecraft, for sure!
OMG, how much i hate this dress :(
I've noticed a floral pattern this week--cute!
Mrs. O has worn this dress several times and it always looks fresh. A perfect dress for an outing on the farm.
I was wondering what dresses other posters would like to see reappear. My list includes the red/black/white cocktail dress by Jason Wu and the gold Rodarte worn in Copenhagen.
love love love this one, good last time, great this time.. It also fits perfectly with the backyard on 1st photo totallly apprpriate with the landscape. It seems these days Mrs O in a green mood. But in the end it seems every colours is good on her.
I love everything about this dress.
McKinley,
You may think you're honorably defending Mrs O but as someone without a dog in the fight of these 2 comments between you and Nic, I'd say that you came across as incredibly rude and disrespectful to someone who was simply stating an opinion.
Given the fact that this is a fashion site, people will disagree about whether a Michelle outfit is nice. If folks can't do that freely without fear of being attacked then the quality of this awesome will go down
@McKinley - agree this dress is a good choice for this setting
Some of my favorite dresses that I would not tire of seeing as repeats: the red Pinto dress worn on her first trip to the WH to meet the Bushes (wow, was that not a great hint at what was in store for us with MO), the floral Tracy Reese dress/Mexico/WH picnic, the belted red dress by Moises de la Renta, the floral dress in WH pic with Wounded Warriors (don't remember ever seeing the designer's name), the sexy Alaia black dress/NATO dinner, 2 gowns - the Soronen twilight gown/Gov. Dinner and the Naeem Khan gown/State Dinner and the list goes on and on.....
It must be my monitor because this dress does not look the same color as the one our Michelle wore the day after the inauguation. I like how she kept it minimal and wore those silver flats, even though I never tire of seeing those pearls. It is a nice dress for the occassion. I saw some pics on Gettyimages and it is delightful seeing the fashion sense of other First Ladies. It cracked me up that most of them were carrying purses. I don't mean small or diminutive clutch bags. I mean the kind that we are known to carry with all of our stuff in them. For whatever reason, it reminded me of The Queen, she is never photographed without her purse.
Back to this dress, does anyone know what this neckline is called? Is it a bateau or a scoop neckline. Just wondering, either way I like it.
I think she looks lovely in almost anything because her body is suited to wearing almost any style. My favourite is her WH photo
I've aways liked this dress. So very comfortable looking and nice colors.
whitehouse.gov has in the September photo of the day section a picture of the Obamas at the Thursday night reception. But it is at a distance, in a bluish light and from the side. But her dress appears to be red and sleeveless.
I'm on the "short bus" with you, Nic John, because I also hate this dress! ;-)
This is a very pretty dress on Mrs. Obama...regardless of how many times its been worn by her! She's a typical, budget minded mother, to me, even when she doesn't have to be!
@McKinley...so apropos for the garden outing!
I discovered Stone Barns farm in Pocantico Hills, NY by accident just a week ago and had lunch at the Cafe. Not cheap, but very good food in a lovely setting. This farm is an exceptional education experience and I plan to go back next spring to walk around and see the grounds.
She is just THE classiest lady. Never tire of seeing her pictures.
This is a wonderful dress. I can't imagine why anyone hates it, but to each his own. She wore it with black patent flats in 2009. I like it with those and with these metallics. It's perfect for the garden setting.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/27/tracy-feith-michelle-obam_n_161042.html# Pictures from 2009
Charlene, I think it must be the bright sunlight that makes the dress look different. I've always liked this dress and I love when Mrs. O repeats favorites. I'm with your choices, McKinley and Jazz, and would add the red Michael Kors from this week. I would even like to see (dare I say it?) the red Narciso Rodriguez from Election Night, worn WITHOUT the cardigan.
But I wonder what the thinking is on repeating formal dresses (like the Naeem Kahn) from high-profile events? Would the naysayers say this is not the done thing? I think any dress this spectacular deserve another showing and it certainly makes sense in this economy. Does anyone have any thoughts on that?
Sign me up for the medium-length bus. The first time I saw this dress, it was so different, especially so different from what I had come to expect from First Ladies, I really disliked it. But looking at the photos above--beautiful. The neckline is graceful, the sleeve length flattering, the skirt length perfect, and is that a cumberbund or rucheing at the waist? Pretty!
Also silver flats are one of my favorite Mrs O trademarks. Last summer I bought a pair, but somehow I just can't pull them off (not literally, of course!). I adore Michelle for being able to do all the things I can't!
Her dress is perfect for the surrounding - Mrs. O is like a beautiful flower in the midst of the trees and shrubs.
@ McKinley - Love your idea about favourite designs to re-appear. So many to choose from, the list is long. Many of the outfits are liberty inspired (works well with many things and will always be in fashion).....fits her figure - made for her. The empire waist is a big trend right now and suits her perfectly. There are 8 favourites that come to mind, which I'll list later. Some of them are - "Good Day Sunshine."....Rachel Roy (yellow and white print dress/George Washington Univ. Hospital). Metallic brocade jacket & yelllow top (G20 Summit - Tor.)....Blue floral light and flowing fabric (arrival in mexico and picnic at the WH - Tracy Reese). Box pleated shiny satiny floral pink/green (for the Wounded Soldier Ride) - Barbara Tfank.
I like this dress. I think it is lovely, as is Mrs. O, flattering and perfectly appropriate for the occasion. Charlene in Detroit: would it be considered a scoop neck or a variation thereof...
a pleated scoop or a gathered scoop?
I was not a fan of this drees on the inaugural weekend. I do not, and didn't love the print. That being said, I love the line/structure of the dress which flatters her figure. Different print and I'd be a fan. Still, love her style most of the time!!
WANT this dress! Loved it then, love it now-feminine, classy and comfortable, particularly with the silver flats.
Beautiful dress and lovely colors. Perfect pick for the occasion.
@ Jazz and prettiribbons, the floral Barbara Tfank dress is retro-fab! Love it lots.
I didn't remember the yellow/white Rachel Roy so I had to scroll back and find it. That's a flexible dress. She could dress it up and down.
Those gorgeous gowns of hers probably won't be seen again until they are on the auction block at Sotheby's.
Perfect dress for the setting! Like the natural belting, too.
@McKinley - you are probably right about the gowns not being worn again. Other possibilities for the Naeem Khan gown - the First Ladies Museum or the Obama presidential library
OMG! How much I LOVE this dress.
This is one of my favorite dresses in Mrs. O's wardrobe. I don't recall seeing it since she wore it to that church service on Obama's first full day in office. It's beautiful!
Charlene + Lisa: I think it's a boatneck (bateau neck).
Can someone else weigh though, please?
Dear Lord, she would be the talk of the world if she brought back the election night dress. And have we seen the iconic Maria Pinto purple sheath since 2008? I would love to see that one again and again.
I think the First Lady could re-wear her gowns at non-international events; like a Congressional
Dinner, for example. When they host State Dinners or foreign heads-of-state; a new gown
is necessary and expected, I would think.
Char from Seattle
Wouldn't it be great if some of the special dresses could do a national tour before they go to a museum or library as Jazz or auction as McKinley suggests? That kind of tour could raise funds for her mentorship (or any other) program. The late Princess of Wales did that with a selection of her gowns to raise money for her charities. It was a delight to view the couture structure of the gowns and fabrics (along with photos of when they were worn) up close. There is so much a photograph cannot reveal. (Including, the Diana's case, a little hand print in velvet where William or Harry had clutched his mother's leg before she left for the evening.) I wonder what other stories MO's gowns might tell?
I am not a huge fan of this dress but on reflection I suspect it's because it would not suit me at all. The silver flats are lovely though but most of all it's the inherent warmth and humanity Mrs O exudes that stands out no matter what she wears.
@ McKinley - I must be the only one who absolutely loved her election night dress. I stayed up over here in London to see history in the making and I thought the dress had the wow factor, particularly since the rest of her family were wearing red in some form. However, when I woke up a few hours later and heard the morning news, I was truly astounded. Michelle Obama was being ripped apart by the American media who were dry heaving at her wearing such a dress. I recall sitting up in bed whilst watching Breakfast tv with a very puzzled quizzical look on my face, wondering if after I went to bed at 4am, she had changed into something else. But no, they zoomed in on the dress that I saw and when the reporting returned to the GMTV studios I found that the commentators had the same quizzical look that I had. One of the female commentators then said that Michelle Obama will be the most scrutinised First Lady in history and that people will find fault with her wardrobe regardless. I sat there nodding my head because I couldn't agree more and whilst nodding my head, I noticed that another commentator sitting next to her on the sofa was nodding her head too and quietly remarked that in her opinion the dress was comfortable, warm and appropriate............I wish I had video'ed that moment.
Anyways........
I haven't always loved what the First Lady has worn but I have always tried to be diplomatic in my comments. The dress that she wore the morning after the election and is wearing again today is simply lovely, divine and oh so feminine. At the time of year when the last of the flowers are showing off their display before winter, I think that Michelle Obama has given a lot of thought to her emsemble.
Not wild about the dress, but I like the punning title, Mrs T!
@ Leslie
Your comments about the strategic wardrobe during her compaign efforts is brilliant.
The dress is not a favorite of mine, but I think it iis appropriate for the setting and I also think we will see a lot of repeats while she is on the campaign trail.
I do appreciate her variety and hope to see the gorgeous red dress she wore right after the election when she sat with Mrs. Bush for their first public meeting.
This is such a pretty dress and I'm really pleased to see it again. 'Specially with yummy silver flats!
I have always liked this dress. I wish she would get the blue one, too. Don't remember the sash from the first time around, or couldn't see it because of the photo angle, but it really makes the dress even prettier.
I was not crazy about this dress when she wore it just after the inauguration (after being completely in love with her inauguration day outfit) but I like it a lot more now. How is it that Michelle gets better and better looking as the months go on? I'm just a few years older, but I'm going in the opposite direction! She looks great here, very appropriate, pretty, and comfortable.
Well finally, a picture from the UN reception at the American Museum of Natural History. And the winner appears to be a repeat in her wardrobe. It is, I believe a reworking of the Alaia that she wore at the Nato Summit in April 2009, also I believe similar to that worn in Canada for the G20, and the dress worn to the Nobel dinner in 2009. I must say, I always love to see Mrs O in red. I also love the bangles, and the brooch. http://tinyurl.com/2wr6hb2
Anagrom, thanks for the link. Mrs. O looks amazing! It's like she's in 3-D, when compared to the lady next to her.
philly, I think if Mrs. O's dresses go to auction they will command top dollar. And hopefully a museum will purchase them and let the masses enjoy the art of fashion. Mrs. O doesn't strike me as the greed-type, so maybe the proceeds could go to a worthy charity. See: Proceeds from Mr. President's children's book. This is all conjecture, but we have six more years to wonder.
Love this dresss ... always have. The silver flats are an inspired touch. Our Girl just gets better and better. She is a great role model.
This is not really a bateau neckline. They are wide and high. It is too deep for that. And too shallow to be called a scoop.
I once wore a dress with a similar neckline and a friend called it a "ballet neckline". It is very much like the necklines on the leotards dancers wear for practice.
I always liked this dress however I never felt that Mrs. O wore it for the right occasions. it is perfect for this occasion as it celebrates gardening & horticulture.