Florida Orange

Image by Hans Deryk / Reuters Pictures

Mrs. O was in Miami this afternoon to speak with elementary school students at Riverside Elementary School. The purpose of the first lady's trip was to launch a new initiative to put 6,000 salad bars in U.S. schools over the next three years. Mrs. O has support from The National Fruit and Vegetable Alliance, United Fresh Produce Association Foundation and Food, Family, Farming (F3) Foundation on the new effort.

For the appearance, Mrs. O paired a floral top with an orange pant suit (seen in June 2010, here) and vintage Hattie Carnegie silk flower pin. 

Update: Mrs. O wears a floral striped tulle top (seen here) and pant suit, both by Jean Paul Gaultier. Gaultier certainly seems to have an increasing presence in the first lady's wardrobe lately!

Fabulous to Fitness

Photo by Mike Segar / Reuters Pictures

First Lady Mrs. O visited Maple Avenue School in Newark, New Jersey today, where she promoted the "Let's Move" initiative with Newark Mayor Cory Booker. Mrs. O's next stop was the New York Police Athletic League's Harlem Center, where the first lady not only emphasized the importance of physical fitness, but got in on the action. 

With the change of venue came a change of wardrobe. Mrs. O began the day in a gray top, paired with a gray, gold and scarlet print skirt. A tassel necklace (the first lady's second in recent weeks!), a black belt at the waist, and black tights and boots completed the look. In New York City, the first lady turned to athletic wear, wearing the Potion Purple Define jacket by lululemon and black athletic pants. 

Update: In the first photo above, Mrs. O wears a Jacquard floral skirt by Etro. Thanks to Maria for the tip!

Photo by Stan Honda / Getty Images

Honor and Elegance

Image by Charles Dharapak / AP Photos

The president and first lady honored Army Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta (pictured above) with the Medal of Honor during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House today. Giunta is the first living soldier since the Vietnam War to receive the honor. To read more about Staff Sergeant Giunta's bravery and brotherhood in Afghanistan, click here for a Vanity Fair profile.

For the ceremony, Mrs. O dressed in a red brocade dress, paired with a cropped black cardigan and purple Alexis Bittar gem flower pin. The first lady's dress looks familiar, and yet I can't quite place it. Does anyone recognize it from last holiday season? Update: Thanks to the always fabulous Ari who reminded me of this Time magazine photograph taken by Callie Shell during 2009. Now we just need to sort out who made the dress!

Update: The first lady wears a magenta multi-silk pintucked dress by Michael Kors.

Best Dressed

Vogue has released a special "Best Dressed" edition of the magazine, on newsstands November 15, filled with 129 delightfully glossy pages, six of which are dedicated to the first lady's style prowess. Featured Mrs. O looks include pieces by Moschino, Alaia, Talbots, Jean Paul Gaultier, Barbara Tfank, Narciso Rodriguez, Tracy Feith, Peter Som and Tracy Reese. The message is in the mix! The feature also includes a favorite new quote from Andre Leon Talley:

"Style is not an afterthought to this wife and mother committed to national service; whether she is frolicking on the White House lawn in Converse or at an awards dinner in Michael Kors scarlet chiffon, she always looks elegant and appropriate to the occasion and to our modern times. Obama has made an interest in and love of fashion -- having fun with it, the way it can make one feel good about oneself -- accessible to all. But beyond her wardrobe, it is her confidence, sense of purpose, and grace she wears best of all."

Update: You can vote for Mrs. O as best dressed on Vogue.com, HERE. As of Wednesday evening, the first lady is trailing Lady Gaga, 290 to 3712. Oh dear!

A Special Treat from Carina New York

Many of you will recall the gorgeous blush Byron Lars dress the first lady wore for Paul McCartney's White House performance in July. Though a similar dress was previously available, the full-skirted version worn by the first lady, the "Michelle" dress, is now available through Carina New York, HERE. Mrs. O readers will receive a special 20% discount by entering "MICHELLE" at check-out. Enjoy!

To learn more about Byron Lars and his designs for the first lady, check out this interview from the Ms. Fabulous blog. To hear Paul McCartney perform "Michelle" for the first lady (and to see the Byron Lars dress in action), click here.