Bright and Casual as Campaign Closes

Photo used with kind permission from photographer Emily Ho

Yesterday one of our guests, Nina, commented: "I like how casual Mrs. O has been these last few days before the election. It projects confidence and I think endears voters to her." It's an excellent observation. 

In the past week we've seen Mrs. O repeatedly stick with very basic ensembles, pairing cotton tees and cardigans with colored jeans or cropped pants. After dazzling us with fancy frocks and tailored suits, why the shift as the campaign end nears? As we've tracked Mrs. O's style these past few weeks, we've noticed her schedule intensify with multiple campaign stops in different states all packed into single days. It's plausible that Mrs. O is simply knackered and has less time and energy to devote to her wardrobe. On the otherhand, the shift towards casual attire could be a more deliberate effort to relate to "normal people" as election day nears. Or perhaps even an effort to keep voters and the media focused on the most important issues at hand.

Deliberate or not, we agree with Nina's sentiments entirely. We've also noticed a streak of bright, spirited colors these past few days, which we can't help but think cue optimism. The day before the election, Mrs. O again dressed in a quite casual look. Above she wears a turquoise three-quarter length sleeve tee (which looks familiar from last Thursday's half hour Obama infomercial) paired with grey slacks, silver flats and her signature necklaces.

Date: November 3, 2008

Venue: Campaign rally, The College of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas, NV

A Casual Take on the Yellow Cardigan

Photo used with kind permission from photographer Brian Bjolin

On a warm Fall weekend in central Ohio, Mrs. O again wore J. Crew's Crystal-button colorblock cardigan in Silver Honey. A nod to the cardigan's versatility, Mrs. O wears it here as part of a more dressed down ensemble paired with a white tee and azure blue jeans. A trio of yellow and blue beaded pins pulls the look together and adds a personal Mrs. O touch.

Photo used with kind permission from photographer Mike Doel

We were a fan of this cardigan when Mrs. O wore it on The Tonight Show last Monday and love it again here. Dressed up or down, yellow is a fantastic color on her. And at the risk of reading too much into the ensemble, we can't help but feel the choice of color reflects Mrs. O's mood: bright and optimistic.

Date: November 2, 2008

Venue: Campaign rally, Ohio Statehouse, Columbus, OH

A Stand-out in This Season's "It" Color

Photo used with kind permission from photographer Criz

Skinny, purple pants are not the easiest to pull off, but here, paired with a striped purple fitted tee and deep purple cardigan, Mrs. O works them with confidence. In general, skinny pants tend to be polarizing. Some find them unflattering no matter what your figure. Others love the slim lines and ankle cropped length. As Mrs. O wears them, paired with ballet flats, the effect can be very Audrey Hepburn. Add purple to the equation, and there's bound to be an even greater difference of opinion.

Anyone who's shopped this fall is familiar with the rows of brightly-colored denim and cords that fill retail stores like J. Crew, Madewell and Uniqlo. Too much for some perhaps, but they add vibrancy to Mrs. O's ensemble above. Here, Mrs. O wears the "it" color of the season: purple. Even Mrs. O's petite floral earrings match the palette.

Date: November 1, 2008

Venue: Campaign rally, Union Avenue Historic District, Pueblo, CO

J. Crew x Two

Photo credit: Flickr user Barack Obama // Creative Commons

One J. Crew ensemble certainly has elicited much excitement. Following Mrs. O's Tonight Show appearance, the media is having a heyday, J. Crew sales are soaring and jcrew.com even has a page dedicated to the full ensemble. We love it! Who can forget the frenzy around the now famous Donna Ricco dress from White House Black Market that Mrs. O wore to co-host The View? As such, it shouldn't come as a complete surprise that this ensemble has garnered so much attention.

As if this wasn't enough good news for J. Crew, what did Mrs. O wear the day following her Tonight Show appearance? More J. Crew. Seen above at a New Mexico rally, Mrs. O wears J. Crew's Sketchbook roses Belle skirt paired with a purple cotton cardigan and violet shell. In fact, we've seen this skirt once before. Mrs. O wore it on October 7 while campaigning in North Carolina.

Date: October 28, 2008

Venue: Campaign rally, Las Vegas, NM and Sante Fe, NM 

Ruffles in Sin City

Photo credit: Flickr user Barack Obama // Creative Commons

After dazzling us in yellow for her Tonight Show appearance on Monday (presumably taped earlier in the day) Mrs. O jetted east to Las Vegas for an evening rally. Mrs. O kept things casual for this appearance, wearing a grey split placket top with purple ribbon and ruffle detail, paired with a three quarter sleeve black cardigan, slim black pants and her signature charm necklaces. We don't believe Mrs. O's second look of the day is J. Crew; does anyone recognize the ruffled tee?

Date: October 27, 2008

Venue: Campaign rally at Doolittle Park, Las Vegas, NV