Hidden Gems
Sunday, January 30, 2011 at 10:35 AM 
This photo is a reminder of how many fabulous, private White House events and parties occur without public notice. It was taken at a White House Christmas party. The President and First Lady are joined by Lincoln Restler, State Committeeman for the 50th Assembly District in New York, and his campaign manager, Sarah Baker.
Of sartorial note, the first lady wears two layered Fallon necklaces, the Victoria Royal Bib and Victoria Comet Bib. We saw the former again this week for Mrs. O's Oprah appearance. The First Lady has always been quite progressive in her use of accessories. The layering of necklaces here is simply brilliant. Does anyone recognize the fabulous emerald dress?
Thanks to reader Helen for the link to this story and photo, which follow here:
"Brooklyn 'Hipster' Politician Meets Obama" [Village Voice]
For a close-up view of the gorgeous Fallon necklaces:
FALLON
Reader Comments (16)
Lovely! And there's that fabulous mantle in the Diplomatic Reception Room!
That dustup with CFDA an Oscar really put a dumper on my mood about Mrs O fashion.
@ Helen (and anyone else feeling disheartened):
Why the downer? Dance for joy and bless America (and my own Canada) for permitting free speech. That's what free debate in a democracy is. Discussion of issues and problems. Considering things from many differing perspectives and entering into a dialog about it. Defending your position -- and being able to do the same for your worthy opponent's as well as being able to rebut and refute. At all times REASON must prevail.
EMOTION gets in the way.
Oh dear, nice, sweet Mrs. O who does so much for so many causes and is so intelligent. How can people say bad things about her dress/belt/blah blah? All that shouldn't enter into it. (Though it always does and that's what makes debate intense--the delicious heat!).
Neither should emotions plug our ears when we LISTEN to the case of "the CFDA and cranky old-had-his-day (ageism anyone?) designers speak up. And yeah, I called him a whiner designer, but shouldn't have and apologized. It's an ad hominim (against the person) attack, not a reasoned counter-argument of any of his or the CFDA points.
I think this whole issue is more about respectful listening and being heard as well as making reasoned responses to our dearly-held and divergent points of argument. It reminds me, in a way, about a time that POTUS admitted that he had failed to calibrate his words.
I also think that the fact that this has gone on as long as it has also indicates that fashion is anything but frivolous. Dresses speak, too. Loudly and long apparently! (Calibrating that language, by the way, is the very worthy job -- no less worthy than a tailor's -- of a stylist. To make sure the dialect and diction are appropriate to the person and for the occasion. But I digress.)
Rather than be down about the fact that a heated and vehement discussion took place, let's celebrate that we can have this kind of discussion in a public forum without being imprisoned or shot.
So I hope we can all--whatever our view--give a hearty "hip-hip hurray" for the land of the free and home of the brave and the like-minded neighbour to the north.
@Helen. This is exactly what is supposed to happen.
Mrs T,
I hope you will love this story I'm posting the link for you and perhaps will be able to elaborate in more details. I love Mrs. Obama recycling ideas.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/28/kara-ross-makes-jewelry-f_n_815381.html#s231880&title=January_2011
I don't recognize Mrs. O's dress. Does anyone have any info on it?
The framing of this picture makes me wish I could see the painted portrait above them! But anyway, yes, this is a very clever pairing of necklaces. I don't like the dress with them so much (a lower-cut neck might have worked better). Perhaps she'd had on a cardigan and taken it off--that would've framed the necklaces nicely.
Marilyne, I did post about that story yesterday! A few posts down. "Mrs. O's Bangles and More"
@Emily Schneider: It's a color portrait of George Washington. The reverse of what you
see on a dollar bill:) Google it. It's currently located in the Diplomatic Reception Room
of the White House.
Better yet, Emily, check it out here:)
http://mrs-o.org/newdata/2010/12/23/a-holiday-classic.html
Just one more comment on the Alexander McQueen gown. As we have all observed, Mrs O always chooses her clothing, keeping her audience in mind, whether it is those she is hosting, or those by whom she is hosted. It seems unlikely she did any differently on this occasion. I am sure she had done her homework on Chinese culture (and as someone who lived for eight years as an expatriate in Hong Kong) she got it right! For the many (possibly millions) Chinese watching their President being hosted by President and Mrs Obama, her choice of a red (symbolic of good luck and happiness) silk gown will have sent a stronger message about the desire for good relations between the two nations (that includes trade) than any gown she might have chosen, based merely on its designer being American.
At the same time Mrs O, perhaps, wanted to acknowledge that the anniversary of Alexander McQueen's death was not going unnoticed - a kind comfort to those who knew and loved him.
So often, when I come to this site, I am struck by the remarkable way, Mrs O uses garments to speak - I think she did it again here.
@Judy - I agree with you that Mrs. O seems to add her own research into the mix when she dresses for special occasions. And, maybe some of her reasons for choosing outfits and accessories may be completely personal. She is entitled to the privilege to have personal preferences.
Amid all this brouhaha, it did my heart good to hear Mrs. O stand up for her right to dress as she pleases, and to offer that as advice to all of us.
I agree with Emily Schneider, the necklaces are beautiful but not with this dress/neckline.
@Emily Schenider, if you recall, Mrs T posted the much larger photo originally, which shows half the room but not the necklace.
Aside from fashion, the most important thing here is that Lincoln Restler looks EXACTLY like Al Franken 20 years ago. Google tells me I'm not the first person to notice this.
I love the color of Mrs. O's dress here, but it does not appear to fit well around her torso. The necklaces are lovely on their own, but I don't care for the two of them worn together.