Two First Ladies Honor 9/11

Photos by Jim Watson / Getty Images

First Lady Mrs. O and former First Lady Laura Bush were in Shanksville, PA today to commemorate 9/11 and honor the victims of United Airlines Flight 93. It is the first time since the inauguration that the two first ladies have shared a stage, marking the day with "somber words on a windswept hillside," as noted by Nia-Malika Henderson for the Washington Post. For further Washington Post coverage on the event, click here.

Mrs. O dressed thoughtfully for the occasion, choosing a slim, clean-lined, blue silk shantung suit by Narciso Rodriguez, adorned only with a small diamond flower pin at the left shoulder -- a look that projected somber strength. Former First Lady Laura Bush wore a natural-hued boucle skirt suit, accented by a strong red lip and pearl earrings. 

A Garden Tour

Video courtesy of America's Heartland 

Thanks to my friend Daniel Bowman Simon of People's Garden NYC who pointed me to this fabulous video, in which the first lady gives a tour of the bountiful White House kitchen garden. The video was shot for the public television show America's Heartland. For the full scoop, head over to Obamafoodorama -- the go-to blog for all White House food matters. On a fashion note, how fabulous to see Mrs. O in her striped Sophie Theallet dress again! A great sartorial note as the summer season comes to a close.

Charming New Orleans

Image by Cheryl Gerber / Reuters Pictures

Image by Chris Graythen / Getty Images

Mrs. O was in New Orleans today to support the NFL's Play 60 clinic, which encourages children to move at least 60 minutes per day, and aligns with her own "Let's Move" initiative. Earlier in the day, the first lady also made an appearance at Brock Elementary School in Slidell, Louisianna to launch a new phase of "Let's Move," focused on nutrition.

The back to back events required a quick change of outfits for Mrs. O. To speak at Brock Elementary School, the first lady wore an embellished, chartreuse dress by Moschino, first seen at a White House Cinco de Mayo event in 2009, here. For the NFL event, which included a game of flag football, the first lady dressed to suit, changing into a Run:Revitalize tech top by lululemon athletica (thanks Claire!) and athletic pants.

The White House Dance Series

Image by Jonathan Ernst / Reuters

Image by J. Scott Applewhite / AP Images

Image by Jewel Samad / Getty Images

First Lady Mrs. O hosted The White House Dance Series this afternoon, beginning with a student workshop, followed by a tribute performance to Judith Jamison, the artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater who will retire next year. Addressing the audience, Ms. Jamison declared, "Dance is the soul of this nation!" The New York Times has a lovely summary of the program, here.

For the event, Mrs. O turned to a black and white palette -- an increasingly frequent choice for the first lady -- highlighted by a mix of prints and textures. A full skirt was balanced by a printed sheer top worn over a white camisole, all belted at the waist of course. 

Update: Mrs. O wore a leopard lace dress by Byron Lars, available here through Carina New York, paired with a perforated leather Alaia belt for yesterday's event. 

Monday Mrs. O

As the first lady prepares for her daughter's return to school, and we enjoy the tail end of Labor Day weekend, it seems like a good chance to catch up on a few recent articles focused on Mrs. O (many of which were first shared by all of you!).

(1) From the New York Times, "First Lady Plans a Careful Return to the Campaign Trail"

As quiet as Mrs. O's official schedule has been in August, there have been a range of reports hinting at the first lady's plans to increase her policy work, and appear on the campaign trail in support of Democratic candidates come September. The New York Times provides a comprehensive look at the anticipated evolution of Mrs. O's public role, and clues us in on a few upcoming events.

(2) From the Washington Post, "First lady Michelle Obama's travel attire is picture of a fashionable tourist"

Those who were upset when Robin Givhan criticized the first lady's choice of shorts for a trip to the Grand Canyon will be happy to see the Washington Post writer is praising Mrs. O's 2010 vacation attire, which she writes "struck all the right chords." Further:

"Through her vacation apparel, with its mix of Banana Republic and Narciso Rodriguez, Obama threw down the gauntlet, providing folks with a high-profile lesson on how to be a well-dressed tourist who does not cause the locals to flinch in dismay. Yet she still managed to convey a middle-of-the-road Americanness. She represented the populace in a manner that was approachable but savvy."

(3) From the New York Times, "A New Look for the Oval Office"

While not Mrs. O-focused, this article does pertain to White House style. For those who missed the previous discussion in the comments, have a peek at the recent Oval Office makeover.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Labor Day weekend!