The first First Family fashion faux pas
As wide-eyes, stared with awe, anticipating the first on-stage victory lap from the next first family and the culmination of the most symbolically historic election ever, I can’t lie, my moist eyes were a bit bewildered.
Two words about Michelle’s dress: No likey.
Yes, yes, I’m a horrible fashion editor type person who is too hooked on superficiality. But this dress was not flattering. It actually made her look bulky in areas where one does not want to look bulky.
And might I add that Michelle is not bulky.
It’s hard to explain but you would think that the dark fabric around her thighs and waist would be slimming, but it’s not. I’d like to blame the sheen of the fabric but I’m not sure that’s it. For whatever reason, the odd dotted, red pattern, which looked fine on the runway, just didn’t work in the real world creation.
The dress is based on a design from Narciso Rodriguez’s Spring 2009 collection. He adapted it from his designer line and I think he should have stayed closer to his original look.
Michelle wore it with a cropped bolero-style cardigan that didn’t enhance matters. If she anticipated being cold, I think she should have selected a different dress — something monochromatic and belted.
It’s OK to have a signature style and I think Michelle needs to embrace the look that works best on her lovely, hour-glass figure. That look is bold, solid-colored (no likey all that pattern-jazz with ribbons and bows, yuck), jewel-toned and fitted dresses. When weather permits, she has great arms and she should flaunt those.
And on a positive note, thank you, Michelle, for rocking the flats. My aching arches applaud you.
In the photo above President-elect Barack Obama (wearing a dark, custom-made suit by his favorite Illinois tailor Hart Schaffner Marx), his wife Michelle and two daughters, Malia, 7, and Sasha, 10, who look adorably age appropriate but a little staid, wave at the election night victory rally in Chicago, Tuesday night. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Meanwhile, Jill Biden. Thumbs up. Cindy McCain. Thumbs down. Sarah Palin. Thumbs up.
A wayward soul from Las Vegas, Nevada, who now calls St. Louis home and believes that fashion is relative and capricious, but style is always in favor. 
I agree. The dress did not flatter our new First Lady.
Ms. Obama is gorgeous in what ever she decides to wear!!
I was expecting something more, well, Michelle Obama! The girls were adorable and had they switched spots, the contrast would have been awesome! Congratulations to the Obama Family
I agree…that dress was not flattering to her. I think it will be a rare misstep, though…overall, she has a good eye and a decent idea of what flatters her figure. She and the fashion industry should get along just fine!
Though I was not a fan of the dress, it did not detract from her overall radiance. What a gorgeous family!
How much did it cost, I wonder? Betcha the media won’t care about her clothing allowance, along with dressing those 2 darling girls.
Are you kidding me? Her husband just won the Presidency and you are commenting on his wife’s dress?! Probably cost more than Palin’s wardrobe!
Narciso Rodriguez (sorry, I spelled that wrong above), is sold at the likes of Bergdorf Goodman and I generally love his color-blocked and boldly cut creations. They sell for about $1,500 to $2,000 for similar evening dresses.
I didn’t like the dress and I saw it as a Confederate flag in black and red instead of blue and red. Do you think Ms. Obama realized that?
Charlie
Look, I voted for the other guy…but the Obamas are an incredibly attractive family, and I was shocked that Obama’s people allowed the future first lady to go out wearing something that made her look like a pregnate hippo. If the dress had been solid red, I don’t think it would have the same problem. It’s just a weird optical illusion. It looks good on the model because those poor girls have no hips - the dress will give a stick the illusion of a figure and person with a good figure…well, it’s not flattering.
I wondered if and when anyone would comment on The Dress. I don’t think it flattered our new first lady, but I LOVE that her taste in clothing is a bit funky and WAY original. She is herself, you know? Not a Kennedy.
I think some of us (me too) had her typecast and expected her to be a fashion icon a la Jackie Kennedy, perhaps patronizing a favorite designer and keeping the press busy reporting on her latest couture choice. But as I read Michelle, she enjoys the heck out of her own fashion sense but doesn’t really care all that much about being a fashion plate. Another good message from Camp Obama: be an original, not a carbon copy, and the world will get the best you have to offer.