A Degree of Elegance
Monday, May 16, 2011 at 8:50 AM On Sunday the 15th of May, Mrs Obama was in Georgia, delivering the commencement speech for Spelman College. Greeted with rapturous applause and cheering, she went on to give a typically warm speech encompassing the issues of service, mentoring (especially the less fortunate), and finding the path that gives your life purpose and meaning.
True to form, Mrs O was wearing a very fetching gown – sadly for us, a scholar’s gown! While looking pretty marvellous even in academic regalia, she left us with just a pinch of pink, peeping out from the neckline.
Without pictures from Mrs O’s arrival it is hard to tell if this is a hint of previously worn pink dresses (Prabal Gurung, Talbots, Diane von Furstenburg, Jason Wu, Maria Pinto are all candidates), or a simple top.
While we can only speculate, I leave you with the very lovely Mrs Obama at her inspiring best - and that teensy glimpse of pink...
Images by Eric S. Lesser / AP Photos
Reader Comments (24)
There is a video of the speech at The Daily Motion - the link is as follows:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xiq07c_first-lady-michele-obama-commencement-speech-at-spelman-college-may-2011_news
The sound is not terribly good, but enough to follow the speech.
The first lady never fails to deliver when it comes to inspirational speeches. Eight more sleeps until they arrive next week - can't wait !
I don't think I looked this good in any of my graduation robes. Even this "little black dress" looks good on Mrs. O.
I wonder why she's not wearing her doctoral hood. She's a J.D.; she's entitled!
I thought the doctoral hood was just for PhD's but I may be wrong.
There is a 43 second video on theobamadiary which shows a peek of pink at knee level as well.......sooooooooooo,....it's a dress.......I think.
Fantastic speech (as usual) though.
JD's do indeed wear a hood indicative of their degree and with their school colors, as do master's.
Thanks Posh! Just lovely.
HydeParker and babs, I think she's not wearing her Harvard J.D. hood because she was receiving an honorary Doctorate of Letters from Spelman College as their commencement speaker. And yes, she is definitely entitled to wear her 'colors'!
Her speech was beautiful, I may or may not have welled up at my desk! :)
Thanks for posting Posh!
Looking so scholarly Mr.s O!
A "Degree" of elegance indeed! :0)
@ Hyde Parker, Mrs. O normally does wears her hood; I'm going to agree with Isonpride, she more than likely did not wear hers because she knew she would be receiving an honorary from Spelman.
Could this be Mrs. O's Michael Kors melon dress? Not sure the neckline on the MK is as high as this dress seems to be....hmmmm.
Here's the link to the honorary hood (don't know why it's so long, sorry). http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.karenvaughn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/michelle_obama_spelman_grad.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.karenvaughn.com/2011/05/first-lady-michelle-obama-debbie-allen-and-phylicia-rashad-celebrate-with-spelman-grads/&usg=__JxL3bXh7fOglOpxqkxEeb09DXCU=&h=333&w=500&sz=48&hl=en&start=0&sig2=oYDVTjKXUt5w3cesViGmug&zoom=1&tbnid=8fOMkfWsZWXsqM:&tbnh=145&tbnw=190&ei=r87RTZn-EsXcgQeb3eDcCw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dmrs%2Bobama%2Bat%2Bspelman%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox%26rlz%3D1I7ADRA_en%26biw%3D1345%26bih%3D595%26tbm%3Disch0%2C39&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=874&vpy=202&dur=312&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=170&ty=102&page=1&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:11,s:0&biw=1345&bih=595
How about a shout for this very well written, articulate post by Posh! Very well done!
Mrs.O gave a very inspiring speech to the Spelman graduates. But then, I expected nothing less.
No hood, but she does have on a doctoral gown: three velvet stripes on the sleeves and black velvet facing on the front.
I saw some of her speech earlier today. She's such a prolific speaker who speaks from her heart. I just adore this about her.
Thanks Posh, you're doing a great job!
Hey Posh,
You got skills:) Enjoyed the way you set up this post. Keep it up:)
This is my favourite picture... http://www.kansascity.com/2011/05/15/2877668/star-shots-best-photos-from-may.html#slide-18
This appears to be a photo of the dress from waist up:
http://www.fox41.com/story/14648683/first-lady-welcomed-at-historically-black-college
You go ahead with your bad self, Posh Tater! Sassy Caption! Thanks for filling in for Mrs. T.
Amanda - the photograph shown with that article is taken from an article published on the 1st March 2010. Mrs Obama was addressing the School Nutrition Association about Let's Move.
Granted, this may well be the dress worn in Atlanta (the Talbots dress I refer to above) but thus far, no photographs have emerged without the gown.
http://mrs-o.org/newdata/2010/3/2/tickled-pink.html
Posh, I love this post. I knew you would do a great job. Now, I just wish Mrs. O would come out more this week so that we can get more of your fabulous posts!!
Looks more coral than pink to me.
Nice work, My Friend.