Hidden Gem

While in Africa, the President and First Lady attended an official dinner at the State House in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. For the event, Mrs. O wore a Carolina Herrera tangerine stripe ball skirt paired with a Zero + Maria Cornejo white blouse. The skirt can be seen in Look 17 of the Carolina Herrera's Spring 2013 collection, here.

Thanks to Vivienne, Kathie and Dr. Cheryl for bringing this to my attention.

Comments

[BB]

I really like this combination. The metallic belt pulls together the outfit so nicely. Orange has been a great color for Michelle this trip.

[Philly]

This is an amazing skirt. Thanks for the link to the full view. I'm with BB on her comments, but I'm not feelin' the top. The one on the model is more in keeping with the vibe of the skirt.

[Mrs 2S]

Ditto BB.

Like the crisp white blouse against the exuberant skirt.

[Kathie]

The skirt is so airy and beautiful on the website and the color looks great on her, but I'm still not feeling the white blouse.

[Eduarda]

Carolina Herrera loves white shirt.

[Drjcwash]

Thanks, I wanted to get a better view of the skirt. Very lovely.

[Kathie]

I'm wondering if she had one of the collection's coordinating tops and felt she would be over dressed at the last minute. The coordinating tops are very shimmery-silky and the white blouse obviously takes the outfit down a notch.

[Fern Gullie]

Just a magical belt. It adds drama and life – brightens her outfit!!!

[Eleroy]

Fantastic!
I love Carolina Herrera and I'm so happy to see our exquisite and beautiful First Lady wearing her!!!
Looks like Mrs Obama also wore a few more Carolina Herrera pieces on this trip. Looks like she also wore look #25 from this collection (with pants)in South Africa -

http://www.style.com/fashionshows/complete/slideshow/S2013RTW-CHERRERA/#25

http://www.reuters.com/video/2013/06/30/obama-arrives-in-cape-town?videoId=243679880

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://ewn.co.za/-/media/Images/2013/06/30/10/42/130630Obamafamilyjpg.ashx&imgrefurl=

http://ewn.co.za/2013/06/30/Obamas-arrive-in-Cape-Town&usg=__DdvK5h3SV3ko45i_1P70pmvwKjw=&h=311&w=520&sz=23&hl=en&start=5&zoom=1&tbnid=XxVRA946dcSk6M:&tbnh=78&tbnw=131&ei=06vcUYLMF-XCigL84oCQAw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dobamas%2Barrive%2Bin%2Bcape%2Btown%26um%3D1%26sa%3DN%26hl%3Den%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&sa=X&ved=0CDQQrQMwBA

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://ewn.co.za/-/media/Images/2013/06/30/10/42/130630Obamafamilyjpg.ashx&imgrefurl=http://ewn.co.za/2013/06/30/Obamas-arrive-in-Cape-Town&usg=__DdvK5h3SV3ko45i_1P70pmvwKjw=&h=311&w=520&sz=23&hl=en&start=5&zoom=1&tbnid=XxVRA946dcSk6M:&tbnh=78&tbnw=131&ei=06vcUYLMF-XCigL84oCQAw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dobamas%2Barrive%2Bin%2Bcape%2Btown%26um%3D1%26sa%3DN%26hl%3Den%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&sa=X&ved=0CDQQrQMwBA

[Vivienne]

I'm with you, Fern Gullie that belt is awesome...especially when you look at it with the bangles she was wearing (as shown in the still picture that Kathie provided) those accessories complement each other perfectly and really make the outfit. It looked as though she was also wearing gold hoops but the view of those wasn't as good as the belt and bangles. Personally I prefer white metals and very rarely wear any yellow metals...but I loved those choices FLOTUS made! When it's right, it's right and she makes a lot of right choices :)

[Eleroy]

As lovely as the top worn with the long skirt by the model is, we've got to remember that our First Lady had to err on the side of what is culturally sensitive and as usual, respectful of the peculiar sensibilities of her hosts and host country!!!
The African countries they visited and their peoples seemed to run the gamut of modern/fashionable and traditional/conservative, and the First lady played it just right!!! She even walked behind her husband when the host country required that the wives do so!!! LOL!!!
It was more important that she came away at the end of this trip downplaying her fashionable side, but having successfully accomplished the purpose of their mission to the continent -which she did fantastically!!!
That her clothes were consciously, mostly under-stated and low-key on this visit to what are really third world countries - many still struggling economically, was in the end, completely unimportant in the scheme of things!!!
It was a very successful trip and she played it perfectly!!!

[ANN50]

I like the blouse on the model much much better, but I take the point re dressing for the culture you are visiting...

[Auntie Mom]

A very nice skirt; I like the blouse and belt with it. Our First Lady is so smart and knows what to wear, when to wear it best, and how to wear her clothes. This was a wonderful trip and the fashions were all exciting to see what, when and how she wore them.

[Chris]

The outfit is crisp and neat looking, and white blouse is a good choice to show respect for modest dressing standards in that part of Africa. But I don't like the high-waist of the skirt and the belt which only calls attention to Mrs. Obama's short-waisted build.

[vik]

reminds me of when sharon stone wore a vera wang ball skirt with her then-husband's white, button down shirt to an award show. It was a chic look then, and still is now!

[Fashion With Compassion]

The belt looks like a Nikhil Thampi obi metal belt seen on many Bollywood stars lately. FLOTUS looks gorgeous!

[CateS]

Do we know if Mrs.O wore it long as shown on the website, or was it shortened? Just wondering.
Thank you Mrs.T