Mrs. O in Alexander McQueen
Wednesday, January 19, 2011 at 6:32 PM 
Image by Saul Loeb / Getty Images
Image by Jewel Samad / Getty Images
Image by Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP Photos
First Lady Michelle Obama wears a red petal print silk organza off-the-shoulder Alexander McQueen gown to tonight's state dinner at the White House. The color, red, is not a complete surprise, as it symbolizes good luck and happiness in Chinese culture. The choice of design house is more unexpected, as many had speculated that the first lady would wear a gown by a Chinese-American designer. If we've learned one thing about Mrs. O's style, it's that it never fails to surprise. The gown is a daring, high-glamour choice for the occasion.
It is also a wonderful honor for the house of Alexander McQueen. The work of the late designer has long been a staple in the first lady's wardrobe. Booth Moore of the L.A. Times reports that this gown, in fact, was designed by Alexander McQueen's successor, Sarah Burton. Indeed, the dress appears to be a variation of an Alexander McQueen Resort 2011 gown, seen here.
If you haven't yet seen it, please do give Robin Givhan's piece for The Daily Beast a read. In her first story for the site, Givhan does a superb job of translating Mrs. O fashion's message, in a way only she can. Of a seemingly unexpected choice, Givhan presents great logic.
"The red petal print, silk organza gown wasn’t so much an act of diplomacy as a broad statement about the new realities of the fashion industry. In choosing a dress from Alexander McQueen, Mrs. Obama championed the cause of artisan design, the legacy of bespoke tailoring, and the staggering creativity that can be nurtured in the frock trade when it is at its best."
"Michelle Obama in Alexander McQueen: Lady in Red at the White House State Dinner" [The Daily Beast]
Update: For those curious about Mrs. O's jewelry, the First Lady wore Ruby and Geode Earrings in 18k Yellow Gold from New York-based jewelry designer Kimberly McDonald.
Reader Comments (168)
I don't like this dress at all....the off the shoulder looks weird. It doesn't look formal enough either. I do love the earrings though, I wonder where they are from. She looks good though!
Mrs. O looks absolutely beautiful and elegant. Love, love.
I love the dress. I love the off the shoulder thing. What I also love is that the first lady never fidgets in her clothes. Yes she is wearing the strap off the shoulder, but she does not appear to let it bother her or try and fix it. She knows her body and how it looks in clothes. Boy I wish I had that much confidence. Bye the bye, anyone have any ideas on why the dressing down with jewelry. Would it have been too much to have the wonderful bangles? Does she look unfinished? The fashion challenged one in the crowd wants to know.
The "one shoulder off" look is completely inappropriate. While the dress is stunning and flattering to the First Lady, the strap falling off the shoulder makes it (and her) look trampy - either lower both shoulders or neither - this dress is so obviously symmetrical, that the flirty shoulder is just plain jarring! This could have been passable with, say, Sarkozy and Bruni, but against the backdrop of all these stiff Chinese visitors ... the contrast is just too much. Plus, the dress is very formal, and the informal "flashdance" gesture contradicts the artistic intent of the gown. I know I am in the minority here, but I feel really strongly about it. It's not just the dress, just the woman, just the look - the entire context is part of the presentation (especially if you are the First Lady).
I'm not feeling the one shoulder up, one shoulder off. This is not appropriate for a state dinner.
I love when FLOTUS gets people all riled up because she steps out the box with an outfit! LOL
She is not afraid to wear beautiful colors, and patterns, she is such a trendsetter!!
The print on this dressing is so beautiful. In some pictures the dress photographs as the color orange, while some photos the dress looks red.
Also, many people on fashion blogs have called FLOTUS look, regal. This dres certainly makes her look regal.
STUNNING. Wow she looks absolutely stunning. It is so lovely to see so much glamour in the White House!
For those of you saying this is not a "black tie" gown because it's flashy, you are wrong. D.C. women do subtle when it comes to black tie events. But Mrs. O is more fashionable than most women in D.C. Look at the gowns at that big fashion industry event held every year at The Met. I forgot what it's called. But that's also a black tie event and the dresses are very much like what Mrs. O is wearing tonight. Big and bold.
The dress is indeed appropriate. It just looks extra flashy compared to the other women. But it's a very fashion forward black tie gown.
Mixed review here: lovely draping and stunning fabric, but the asymmetrical off-shoulder is distracting and the wrap looks inadequate with the dress. Mrs. O looks wonderful, but I would rate both of the dresses from the previous state dinners ahead of this one. But I love the coat and dress combo from this morning!
@perspective: *My* perspective is that asymmetrical necklines are very in right now, despite how weird it may look to us (my last red carpet event was roughly, um, never.)
Mrs. O is guilty of nothing more than being very "on trend."
I have to agree with many others that the dress Mrs. Obama is wearing maybe nice overall...but the off the shoulder look is not flattering her body shape in this dress. The dress appears awarded looking on Mrs. Obama.
A very different question: president of China is not married? I don't see a wife.
@christina: being trendy is good enough for MTv or some sort of Celeb get together - if you are hosting a state dinner, the bar should be set a little higher :) Fashion, like all art, is a form of communication. Being trendy is for people who don't know what they want to say, so they just copy what somebody else has said. This is just a response to your comment on "trendiness" - I actually think MO is pretty good (very good) at using fashion to communicate. I wouldn't accuse her of being trendy.
First off, let me please say, ahem
MICHELLE OBAMA IS THE FIERCEST OF THE FIERCE. The dress, the shawl, the earrings. Perfection. Interesting and APPROPRIATE. A state dinner is a black tie event, my friends! The person dressed inappropriately in this picture is certainly not Mrs. Obama.
I like when her looks stir up conversation! This is why life is interesting, different opinions, different views....and even though my view is correct, that she blows everyone out of the water, I welcome others input :)
STUNNING!!!! Flotus looks absolutely stunning. POTUS looks gorgeous, so classy and beautiful. I feel super proud at the moment.
There is a lovely photo of Mrs. O, Mr. President, and China's president featured on Cathy Horyn's critique of the dress on nytimes.com.
Mrs. O is making it nearly impossible to discuss American style without her view. The dress was not what I was expecting. I knew the red was coming, but the design has me captive.
Michelle Obama inspires me...Love the dress, the confidence and elegance. The President looks great too.
I loved the Power Colors in meeting China's President..a woman of Stature who always "rises to the occasion" but her escort wasn't bad either..lol
I'm sorry guys, I just don't know about this outfit. I find elements of prettiness but the whole look does not seem pulled together. The shawl is thin and odd. Her hair and makeup are cute though. It also gives an over-the-top vibe that--at lest to me--does not jive with the usual minimalist Asian palate. Too much, too opulent, too fussy.
@ Christina: " *My* perspective is that asymmetrical necklines are very in right now, despite how weird it may look to us (my last red carpet event was roughly, um, never.)"
KMSL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great one liner!
The tone of that red is GORGEOUS against her skintone ... I think she's stunning in that gown.
Ok I call flag on the play, did *lets get a little perspective* just use the word "trampy" to describe the first lady's style and by extension the first lady. I think that deserves a report of abuse and Mrs T could you please take that post off the blog. While I do agree that we can agree to disagree, there is no need for that kind of language to describe Mrs O. My head just exploded.
This gown is pure majestry, Mrs. O knows how to walk the line between elegance, and edge, yet she can look so comfortable in even a gown! MAGNIFICENT! EXCELLENT! BEAUTIFul!
Look at this link to see how beautiful the dress is: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ap_on_en_mu/us_us_china_state_dinner
I want in on the skin care regimen - her skin looks amazing!
Very interesting dress; .it's beautiful, though not in a "knock your socks off" kind of way. It's more like an invitation to admire an structurally complex piece of art.
I am surprised it was not a Chinese or Chinese American designer-but I was right about the color being red!
I agree with Anagrom.
The characterization of the First Lady's gown as "trampy" by the ironically named commentator, "let's get a little perspective", is deeply disrespectful of Mrs. Obama and should have no place on Mrs. T's classy website.
I believe that folks should be able to freely express their opinions about the First Lady's fashion choices. However, "let's get a little perspective's" snide comment is completely beyond the pale.
I think the First Lady looks "drop-jump high" gorgeous! I love the color, pattern and cut of her dress--even if a Chinese or Chinese-American did not design it. "So, what!" for that. Mrs. O has a lot of fashion confidence, which is what I appreciate and admire about her. Even when I'm not "feelin'" a particular outfit of hers.
And the hair is hot, too! That unstructured-yet-structured, pinned-up look makes this man go: "Dayy-umm, girl! Why you hurtin' like that?!" ...And let me not forget that beautiful burnished brown skin of hers...Umph, umph, umph! (India Arie's song is playing in my head.)
Such a lady our first lady is. A fine (real) Mrs. America if there ever was one.
P.S. @ All Mrs.O.org commenters: Though we don't always agree on the first lady's fashion pics, I'd like to believe that we all respect, admire, and appreciate who she is and how she represents this country. That said, I really hope we can all get along (better) here and be more respectful and tolerant of one another's points of view. The snarky-ness seems to be getting a little too consistent here, and is beginning to concern, if not worry, me.
I am growing on the gown.
But though I have come in earlier on this, I want to say, the person who reported our FLOTUS as looking trampy obviously does not live in NYC. Off the shoulder is in no way trampy.
I hate even giving this person consideration.
We can agree to disagree about the style of gown. But please understand that an over the top statement will not be listened to. At least by me.
Again, I am still iffy on the gown, it is growing on me. Pictures vs. video lends different perspectives, but please let's remember the woman is a mother, and the First Lady of the United States
This dress and look excite and thrill me. The fabric and design are so fashion-forward and so appropriate in every way. Mrs. O knows how to walk the line of cutting edge and proper. Out of the park!
1,2,3....go!!!
And they show up in droves under all their many unregistered incarnations looking for every scar and every pimple and making crap up as they go!!!
"She's too dressed up, who does she think she is?!!! This is not the Golden Globes!!! The dress is too formal!! The dress is not formal enough, how dare she?!!! It' s not by a Chinese designer horrors!!! The red is the wrong shade!!! She's smiling while the guest isn't, breach of protocol!!! She's taller than her the guest, unacceptable - make her shorter!!!"
LOL!!!
In the end, there's no taking away from the fact that this woman owns space in a lot of people's heads, LOL!!!
Mrs Obama ROCKS!!! Rock on Mrs Obama, Rock on!!!
FYI: The best photo I've seen so far of the dress: http://pics.rachelzoe.com/michelle-obama-is-beyond-stunning-in-alexande
The comment about whether an off-the-shoulder look is "trampy" reminds me of a very famous painting, Portrait of Madame X. When the painting was first unveiled, the artist depicted the woman with one strap casually falling down her shoulder. Apparently this was SCANDALOUS!!!! at the time, and eventually Sargent "edited" the painting and restored her strap to her shoulder.
Of course, this was 1884. But it's interesting that there is apparently the same reaction to what appears to be a woman in a "state of undress" -- even when in this case it is clearly intentional, part of the design of the gown, and she's showing no more skin (actually, less) than one would wearing a sleeveless gown. And it's 126 years later! Like they say, the more things change...
Check www.dailymail.co.uk and have another glance at the dress. It is supposed to be assymetrical, so she's pulling it off right.
Loved the guest list. Thx Chrstina!
Uh, "perspective"with a small "p" has a filter problem.
Mrs. O looks lovely, serene, and that gown just rocks. Personally I think it's terrific that she honored the house of Alexander McQueen.
she's a knockout and the most influential woman in fashion today. Not since Jackie have we had a First Lady that rocks the fashion like a movie star. I find this choice very daring, yet perfect for the occasion. Wonderful homage to McQueen....she manages to be cutting edge yet totally elegant. Wow. I love that there are so many comments tonight and so quickly!
Very avant- garde, very risky, VERY BEAUTIFUL. I love how her hairstyle is in keeping with the theme of the dress. As ususal a winner!!
Mrs. O. looks absolutely fabulous from the neck up. I don't believe this dress was really meant to be off-the-shoulder. It just slipped. The rest of the dress belongs in the linen section along with all of the other sheets...so shapeless and dull.
Pretty lady! Nice hair style. Nice contemporary dress. And yet it is romantic and flowing soft: like a flower: petals are not always symetrical. But a better choice should be a sheer plain black shawl,even with with fringes and some touch of glitter if desiredf but no prints ( yellow camels and colored paisley don't match the dress) as seen on pictures 3, 4 and 5 here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/19/michelle-obama-china-dress-state-dinner_n_811320.html#226583
I love this! Mrs O looks so chic, but yet elegant!
I love it.
As beautiful and radiant as Mrs. O is in this dress, and poised as always, she very nearly pulls off this hard-to-wear dress, but not quite:
1. Ghastly conflict between the lines of the dress and shawl creating confusion.
2. Obvious difficulty in walking in the dress as soon on the video feed.
3. Skirt too voluminous.
Maybe the fabric in a simpler design!!?
Love her dress though wouldn't have been my first choice among the evening gowns available. But that scarf has got to go.
I loved Mrs.O's look! I saw her on the news last night, walking w/POTUS to where they were going to meet Pres. Hu. I thought she looked fantastic! (yet comfortable...some outfits are not that easy to walk in.) I love her hair up with this outfit. Love the color and pattern. Love the tear-drop earrings. Gorgeous!!!
That dress is an absolute STUNNER!!! She looks amazing ... again!!!
Wow, I saw it in motion...and Wowzas. Even Andrea Mitchell on NBC talked about how gorgeous it was in person. Here is Robin Givhan's take on it (http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2011-01-19/michelle-obama-in-alexander-mcqueen-lady-in-red-at-white-house-state-dinner/?cid=hp:mainpromo2) and it WAS supposed to be asymetrical.
I love the colour, it's rich and makes her skin radiate. However, I'm not sure on the design. Another poster said it appears to overwhelm her..........possibly but the off the shoulder look (is it supposed to look like that ?)...........well it looks (in my humble opinion) slightly untidy. That said I love her and love the fact that she gives nod to China's flag by wearing red.
Regal, yet serene. It made me think of a few quotes:
The dress must not hang on the body but follow its lines. It must accompany its wearer and when a woman smiles the dress must smile with her. - Madeleine Vionnet
Know, first, who you are; and then adorn yourself accordingly. - Epictetus
Adornment is never anything except a reflection of the heart. - Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel
Clothes and jewellery should be startling, individual. When you see a woman in my clothes, you want to know more about them. To me, that is what distinguishes good designers from bad designers. - Alexander McQueen
Since this was a state dinner, the First Lady wore something totally, incredibly beautiful- Red, which is the signature color for the Chinise, one of her favorite designers, and that off the shoulder look is just smashing! This woman knows how to roll- and she makes this country proud! No matter what anyone thinks- this First Lady picks her fashion for the occasion, and she is never wrong. President Obama has all the reason in the world to flash that million-dollar smile- when he sees his lady at her best- and that is every day- that makes him shine all the more!
WORK IT, FIRST LADY- YOU TOTALLY ROCK!!!
I love, love, love the look! The dress ... the daring-ness, the haute couture-ness of it all, the color and the print. NO 1st Lady in the history of this country has made the impression that she has. The off-the-shoulder is just enough .... Michelle is so very American. We are a mosaic, not a melting pot. She wears anyone and everyone and wears it well. We are suave and sophisticated and street smart and earthy. She represents us all whether we like it or not! (I pray someone in my circle of friends has an event this spring/summer so I can emulate this look) POTUS always looks like he's thinking "don't you wish your wife was hot like mine?" Love him!
Lovely gown on Mrs. O! The colors are beautiful and really reminds me of the colors of China. Has there been any info on the earrings she wore for this evening? Thanks for help that anyone can provide.