Leaving London

Image by Tony Melville / AP Images

... and looking tres chic!

Mrs. O was at Stansted Airport this morning, as the President heads for the G8 Summit in Deauville, France. It's unclear whether the First Lady will be accompanying her husband to France, as media reports have offered conflicting information. We will wait and see!

In the meantime, Mrs. O has given us another delightful ensemble to admire, wearing a purple ombre effect dress and coat, closed at the collar by a vintage pink brooch. Berry hued pumps complete the look. 

It's safe to say that the First Lady has been on one incredible sartorial roll while in London. 

Update: First Lady Mrs. O wears a Peter Som Fall 2010 dress and custom coat. Peter Som has certainly become one of Mrs. O's preferred designers as of late! The pin is a vintage Henry Schreiner brooch from House of Lavande.

Regal Ralph Lauren

Photo by Charles Dharapak / AP Images

This evening the President and First Lady are hosting a dinner for Queen Elizabeth at the Winfield House, where the U.S. ambassador to the U.K. lives. For the occasion, Mrs. O has chosen an off-the-shoulder black gown by Ralph Lauren paired with absolutely knock-out jewelry by Tom Binns and a jade and diamond lattice ring by Yewn. Stunning!

The gown originates from the Ralph Lauren Fall 2011 collection, seen here. (Thanks BeeGee!)

Belted in McQueen

Photos by Ben Stansall / Getty Images

The First Lady is known for her Alaia belts, but less acknowledged is that several of her signature pieces are in fact from the house of Alexander McQueen. Today adds a new Alexander McQueen belt to the mix, this variety with a dash of Western appeal.

To address students from the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School at the University of Oxford, Mrs. O wore a white tunic with slim black pants belted at the waist. It appears the top is an Alexander McQueen Victorian Bustle Cotton Piquet Shirt from Spring 2011, seen here. An Alexander McQueen Double Buckle Western belt from Spring 2011, seen here, adds an exclamation point to the look. 

Clearly Mrs. Obama is using this trip as an opportunity to honor several of her favorite British labels. Wonderful!

P.S. I'm sure many of you will remember how students from the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School in North London touched Mrs. O in 2009. Click here for a trip down memory lane. 

Serving in Style

Photo by Matt Dunham / AP Images

First Lady Mrs. O and Samantha Cameron started their Wednesday by serving U.S. and U.K. military families at a barbecue held at 10 Downing Street. For the event, Mrs. O chose a black and white print dress featuring a sheer top and beaded belt by House of Lavande. Fancy! 

Update: Thanks to various readers who have spotted Mrs. O's dress! The First Lady wears Tracy Reese Pre-Fall 2011, seen here. For jewelry, Mrs. O wears an armload of moonstone, jasper, colored diamond and white coral bracelets all by Jordan Alexander and available at Fragments.

American Royalty

Photo by Chris Jackson / Getty Images

Mrs. O has arrived at this evening's state banquet at Buckingham Palace wearing a divine ivory gown and gloves. In an instant, this will become one of the First Lady's most iconic looks. The ivory hue conjures up fresh memories of the royal wedding. The long gloves dial up the drama further. The fit is perfection. 

Per the Telegraph's @HilaryAlexander on Twitter: "I think Michelle Obama's gorgeous white gown at Buckingham Palace, London, tonight might be Tom Ford." Peter Hunt, Royal correspondent for the BBC, is also reporting that the gown is Tom Ford. Wow! 

With the designer confirmed, Hilary Alexander has gone on to note that the gown is a "ingenious choice" as Tom Ford is an American designer with design headquarters in London. 

Reader Therese has shared this link, which shows Jacqueline Kennedy at Buckingham Palace in 1961. Perhaps Mrs. Kennedy's ensemble was a source of inspiration?

"Obama and Queen Elizabeth Trade Toasts" [Chicago Sun-Times]