Honoring Sargent Shriver

Photos by Cliff Owen / Getty Images; Chuck Kennedy / The White House

Yesterday, Mrs. O attended a funeral service for Sargent Shriver at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Potomac, Maryland. For the occasion, the First Lady wore a Fall 2008 Jonathan Saunders dress, paired with a black turtleneck and floral pin at the collar. Mrs. O was seen with Shriver's niece, Caroline Kennedy, as they left the funeral service.

To read more about the life of the great Sargent Shriver:

"The Loss of a Good Man" [NYT]

"R. Sargent Shriver, Peace Corps Leader, Dies at 95" [NYT]

The State Dinner in Photos

 

Official White House Photos by Pete Souza

P.S. Check out Dr. Jill Biden in gorgeous, dark blue Reem Acra, covered by Isabel Wilkinson of The Daily Beast, here.

Final Words on the State Dinner

Hope everyone is having a fabulous start to the weekend! Enjoy these choice readers on Mrs. O's state dinner style. What does everyone make of Oscar de la Renta's sentiments?

"The Hu's Who of White House Fashion" [The New Yorker]

"Oscar de la Renta on Watch" [WWD]

"Don't Wear British!" [Vogue UK]

"Oscar de la Renta Doesn't Understand Why Michelle Obama Wore McQueen to the State Dinner" [NYMag]

"Michelle Obama Signals in a Red Dress" [NYT/On the Runway]

"Michelle Obama in Alexander McQueen: Lady in Red" [The Daily Beast]

"Best-Dressed of the Week" [Red Carpet Fashion Awards] (Mrs. O leads in the weekly poll for Best-Dressed. Add your vote!)

Mrs. O and Walmart

Images by Cliff Owen / AP Images

It's back to work after a glam-filled evening for Mrs.O. Walmart President and CEO Bill Simon announced today that Wal-Mart would make a comprehensive effort to provide healthier and more affordable food choices to customers. The First Lady was on hand to support the effort, declaring, "It's a victory for parents. It's a victory for families, but most of all, it's a victory for our children." Walmart has said that the First Lady's "Let's Move" initiative was catalyst for the new commitment. 

For the speaking affair, Mrs. O wore a grey tweed, collared sheath dress, paired with knee-high brown suede boots. A new wavy hairstyle completed the look. 

"Michelle Obama and Walmart Join Forces" [ABC News]

Update: This is a big fashion week for Mrs. O! The First Lady wears a Marc Jacobs Trompe l'Oeil Double Face Mélange Wool dress from the Marc Jacobs Fall 2010 collection, seen here. Mrs. O completed the look with Kara Ross Omega Earrings. 

Mrs. O in Alexander McQueen

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.