Tuesday
Jan252011
Return to the Chic Sheath
Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at 9:12 PM 
Images by Jim Young / Reuters, Jim Watson / Getty Images
Mrs. O chose a classic, fitted sheath dress for the State of the Union address this evening. The look recalls Mrs. O's early Maria Pinto dresses circa 2008, though the designer of this dress proves to be Rachel Roy. The Rachel Roy silver silk shift dress is part of the designer's Fall 2012 collection. The First Lady kept accessories to a minimum, wearing drop earrings and a stack of lucite bangle bracelets, all by Kara Ross. Simple and chic.
Of note, Mrs. O is seated with the family of Christina Taylor Green, who was killed in the Tuscon, Arizona shootings earlier this month. The First Lady is also wearing a black and white lapel ribbon in honor or Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.
tagged Kara Ross NY, Rachel Roy
Kara Ross NY, Rachel Roy
Reader Comments (81)
Agreed Nora. I really don't think she coordinates with her guests or other First Ladies and that it is a coincidence.
I see absolutely nothing wrong with the fit of this dress, like an earlier blogger noted. However, Philly, the idea of a tailor is not entirely awful. Unlike a stylist, it is not considered as much of a "luxury" and even has a plus side: it creates one extra job in an economy where both parties are clamoring for jobs, jobs, jobs. Even little old I resort to them sometimes when a dress does not fit just right, and most dry cleaners nowadays offer tailoring services as well. On another note, I am so getting Lucite bangles for spring :-)
@Philly, good point about the fittings. I don't think Mrs.O has the time to stand for endless fittings,
tailoring, etc. It must be difficult enough to choose these outfits from the many that must be
delivered for approval. I love your last line about the whiner designer, belts & funeral attire.
Char
Elegant, Chic and Simple
Class Act all the way.
Thankful she wasn't wearing that awful RED that Nancy Pelosi wore.
@Philly
Well said.
I think Mrs. Obama looked stunning. The dress is absolutely a perfect, understated style, but with a beautiful fabric to make it a classic. The lucite bangles add that "up to the minute" touch, much better than a stack of silver or gemstone bracelets.
I thought the image Mrs. O's selected outfit projected was ethereal!
i sure hope "Oscar" does not think he influenced this design choice. I for one wish we could confine opinions to Mrs. O's actual style choices and not project onto her what we wish she would wear. While it's interesting and fun to critic the First Lady's actual style choices, but to criticize her for what/whom she does not wear, geez, The First Lady of the United States is not our paper doll!!!
I am an average, upper- middle-class person and I employ a tailor for my clothing from time -to-time. I have done so ever since I was in high school long ago. I have developed a nice relationship with these persons over the years. It is not a big expense and is quite common, actually. I live in a small city and we have four local tailors as well as access to tailoring through a couple of the locally-owned boutiques. Tailoring is a necessity because I am very petite and a size 2 but I am curvy and busty with very short arms and legs. Everyone has his or her issues! You would be amazed at how much it helps! For me, it is invaluable.
It's been said that you can't please all of the people all of the time. Well, I think this look comes pretty close, wouldn't you?
No belt.
Not tight.
No cardigan.
Got sleeves.
American made
She's wearing hose.
Her hair is down (and thick and luscious, might I add).
I see the Inappropriate Posse grumbling a bit about the fit in the bodice, but, for now it's only a low murmur ... *lol*
As for myself, grey is not my favourite colour -- I have none in my own wardrobe. Reminds me of cement -- but she made the entire outfit work and she look gorgeou as always.
PS I'd like to meet her manicurist. It's alway perfect and her hand are beautiful and graceful.
In the Huffpost photo, the top appears to be a gray wool jacket, the shoes appear to be a gunmetal gray, a very nice match to the jacket.
All in all, a complete hit for the First Lady. The dress fits her to perfection; you have to be very body confident, as she is, to wear this cut with such ease.
@LaVonne I agree...there seems to be lots of "critique", criticism of this First Lady that was not readily apparent with any other of recent memory.
I'm glad Mrs. O has her own sense of style and a weath of self-confidence which make her the powerful, beautiful, strong lady that she is. Keep on keeping on, Mrs. O! You always do us proud.
Hello Everyone,
Loved your comments today. Thanks for all of the links.
I agree with the majority of you that Mrs. Obama's outfit is a winner. I love the dress, the accessories and her hair and makeup.
It is a joy in following her on this site. Thanks, Mrs. T.
She is FABULOUS I admire her from head to toe. I may not always like the mix of patterns she sometimes wears BUT she is ALWAYS appropriate. She dresses for HERSELF and her budget as we all do. I can't image living under a microscope like the First Family.
Michelle, keep DOING U ! Critics be damned!
@lavonne you said it
"All great designers are known to have discretion and respect for current and prospective clients, at least they did with First Ladies of the past. I guess this First Lady does not qualify for that treatment."
OK, it's been a while and I feel the need to jump in. First, I think that the First Lady looks perfect.
Now Diane von Furstenberg is sniping about her 'disappointment'. Mrs. O has worn her clothes and did NOT look very good in them in my firm opinion. So there.
Michelle Obama obviously has a particular taste in clothes. Like it or not, and sometimes I don't, she is free to wear what she likes, just like the rest of us. Do I have agreement from most who visit this blog that she is a female human being with the right to make her clothing choices? I am sure she is aware that she is "representing us", as some often remark when discussing the "appropriateness" of her attire. But I will always uphold her RIGHT to wear what she wants American-made or not. What do you think the response would have been if she had worn that frock or similar that Vera Wang was wearing to the state dinner. I wonder if Mr. de la Renta would have found something 'amiss'. Or was that Scaasi's word?
We ALL have a right to our opinions and I think that de la Renta and Furstenberg are talking nonsense, as someone has already said in a earlier post.
Well I've said my piece. Peace.
She is so elegant and beautiful. I swear she can wear ANYTHING and get millions of compliments.
Mrs. O looks good in this dress. It's simple, elegant and the fabric looks to have a really nice "hand" (fashion term for weight and feel). In addition, the second picture reveals that Mrs. O has a classic American bombshell hourglass figure. When have we ever been able to say that about a First Lady?
How have American designers contributed to the American economy and jobs... last I heard.. they all manufacture there cloths overseas like in countries like China and Phillipines and Mexico.
They have taken american jobs overseas and have contibuted the unemployment in this country. Meanwhile they earn millions at the expense of many jobless people.
I say no... Michelle... do not promote these so called"American Designers" They are in it for themselves... not the American people
Love the dress, and jewellery. Mrs O is radiant. I also very much enjoyed seeing all the people invited to be seated with the First Lady tonight, and looking up who they were and why they were there. All on the White House website. Thoughtful and inspiring choices.
Karen, the First Lady *has* worn American designers and has put a large spotlight on the U.S. fashion industry and how it's been struggling. Or have you forgotten that she was feted for such just last spring? I must have missed all of Oscar's criticisms of Nancy wearing Valentino for anything but the price, not his nationality.
Whew, FLOTUS wore an American designer, I hope that makes everyone happy.
I saw a video from the "Oprah" show tomorrow and FLOTUS is wearing purple, she is going to discuss millitary families on the show.
Malia is becoming a little fashion icon herself.
http://www.styleite.com/media/malia-obama-chris-benz/?pid=4423#image
I thought she looked great at the State Dinner and the SOTUS. But I do feel that this is the first FLOTUS to have even had a fashion blog (although as it has been pointed out all First Ladies have taken heat for their choices regardless) and so it is to be expected, if part of your projected persona is that of a modern, savvy fashion consumer, that there will be commentary. So I would just suggest that it is a bit of "faux outrage" to be aghast when people have opinions on the matter. Every outfit that she wears is, I have no doubt, carefully parsed by her staff for the subliminal messages (and not so subliminal messages) that it sends. For a long time, politics has known that the "optics" count. The First Lady's love of fashion is part of her hip appeal, along with her hands on Mother-in-Chief role and her warmth. Is she going to miss for some on occasion? Of course. Is she going to hit it out of the park for some? Of course. Taste is completely individual. I don't see why people can't express an opinion without risking disdain and censure from the blog. Mr. de la Renta and Diane Von Furstenburg have every right to speak their piece and FLOTUS has every right to wear the dress she wants. Can't we agree that in a free country that should be the case? Why wish him ill because he has an opinion? I don't think FLOTUS does. His collection, incidentally, features a beautiful formal gown in red with a dropped shoulder...
The dress is actual pink. Here is a picture of her and Oprah. Both women look lovely.
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20460967,00.html
Annette de la Renta's mentor, Brooke Astor, would probably have taken Annette to task for allowing her husband to make incessant remarks about Mrs. O's choice of clothing. What First Lady of recent memory, including Jackie, did so much for the US fashion industry in terms of boosting sales and setting trends? This is so petty when we think of the bigger picture and the weight of Mrs. O sitting next to the family of the fallen child in the wake of the Tuscon disaster.
Mr. de la Renta has no filter, nor sense of propriety.
SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL, LOOKING GREAT AS USUAL. LUV HER HAIR
@ Leslie
"His collection, incidentally, features a beautiful formal gown in red with a dropped shoulder..."
Maybe that is the problem
The FLOTUS looks Perfect! I think the more ODL grouses, the less likely she will wear anything of his. She has worn American designers and people still complain. Oh well.
This is such an understated and elegant dress that brings out that beautiful complexion of our Michelle. When I saw this at first on my television it looked white for some odd reason. I really like her in sheath dresses and this one does not disappoint. I like how she used those lucite bracelets to keep the overall look light and fresh. This was a home-run. Man, I'd sure hate to be under this type of microscope, but our FLOTUS seems to handle it with great stride and class. Beautiful!
Leslie, the problem with oscar and the wrap dress designer is that they disregard all the good the FIRST LADY has done for the fashion industry with one lie. This is a Fox TV lie in which you repeat a lie repeatedly it becomes the truth. Also what if the FIRST LADY wore MCQUEEN as a tribute to a great fashion designer. oscar and that other woman are so focused on themselves that they can't see she wanted to pay tribute to a designer many people including herself loved. I have lost all respect for these people who get rich yet produce their garments in non-American countries. Lastly the FIRST LADY cannot win...she has to look perfect but not spend any money, she has to buy American, but she gets NO allowance from the american people who throw a fit because she has assistants like any OTHER First lady in history.
@sylishgurll regarding your description of Oscar, I 'm hearing this crude expression WAY too much lately. You can surely express your opinions better than that. I respectfully request that you limit your language here to what you'd use when speaking to your grandmother. Thank you.
Stylishgurl, yes I deleted the first comment and second. The phrase is offensive to some and frankly, does veer into disrespectful territory. Such a comment directed at the First Lady would not be tolerated, and that's my blanket guideline, no matter the subject. I hope you understand.