The 44th president, Barack Obama, isn’t the only one on a honeymoon with the world press. The 46th first lady, Michelle Obama, has drawn wide bipartisan support as well for her inauguration ensemble. Her choice of designers — the previously underappreciated Cuban designer Isabel Toledo for the day and the up-and-coming, now-officially-arrived Jason Wu for her feathery white evening gown — has been called courageous by Forbes, bold by Time magazine and [insert fawning adjective] by [insert major news outlet]. Our own Cathy Horyn wrote that, as evinced by her clothes, in Michelle Obama we find “a bolder woman, a serious woman from Chicago and Harvard who is not afraid to express herself with fashion.” Robin Givhan of The Washington Post goes further, calling Mrs. Obama “the leader of the fashionable world.”
The president, sadly, didn’t fare as well in the rapacious eyes of fashionistas. His inauguration suit went unlauded, save for speculation that it was bulletproof. His evening tuxedo, by the Chicago suitmakers Hart Schaffner Marx, was judged with reproach and redbaiting. According to the Slate correspondent Jesse Sheidlower, the President not only overdressed — wearing white tie when ironically black was called for — but dressed wrongly. “Obama was wearing a white bow tie and a tuxedo with a notch collar,” Sheidlower writes. “There are many things wrong with this.”
For Mrs. Obama, the only mote of discord in the universal fawning was what to call the hue of the Isabel Toledo dress-cardigan-jacket combo. The designer herself called it lemongrass, but that hasn’t yet been adopted globally. (Perhaps because lemongrass is native only to “warm temperate and tropical regions of the Old World and Oceania.”) The Guardian, in the very untropical London, called the color “glinting, greenish-gold.” The Wall Street Journal saw instead a “pale gold hue.” Time, however, sees “creamy yellow” instead of gold. This all leads to the question: Would lemongrass by any other name look so sweet?
Only three days in, Michelle Obama has shown more fashion chutzpah than did Laura Bush in the entire eight years of her husband’s reign. Obama’s worn Toledo, Wu and Fieth as well as J. Crew, Jimmy Choo and Sonia Rykiel. If she maintains this breakneck speed, she’ll be wearing Margiela by March. But beware: Just as President Obama has been anointed savior of our planet/the free world/democracy and whatever else, the first lady has been tapped to bail out American fashion. It is an expectation that begs confounding. So far, however, she’s dressed the part. Three days down, only 2,917 to go.
From 1 to 25 of 35 Comments
Is the Obama child on the far right wearing the Kanye West LV sneakers?
— Lyle VosWithout a doubt First Lady Michelle Obama is set to lead in the Fashion world. She dresses with such flair and presence, yet it doesn’t take away from the strenght of her character. I think she is a fitting match for our brilliant leader, this new perception of the American culture as projected by the First Family is a change in and of it self.
— Haitiana4ObamaClearly, there should be 2919 days to go, since 2 of the years in the next 8 contain 366 days.
— STWhy is exactly is she the 46th if he’s the 44th? Did some presidents get some divorces in the white house???
— SenseJesse Sheidlower is absolutely incorrect regarding President Obama’s white tie. It would have been inappropriate for him to wear a black tie.
— vamp23Black tie is considered semi-formal, and the inauguration is a formal state event. White tie is considered standard for formal state occasions. John F. Kennedy wore a white bow tie to his inaugural ball, so did Nixon, Ronald Reagan, etc.
Bill Clinton and George W. Bush chose the less formal balck tie for their inauguration balls, however these were inappropriate choices. As JD Stein cleverly writes, the Obamas were tapped to bail out American fashion…it’s time for Americans to re-familiarize themselves with fashion etiquette, notably Jesse Sheidlower. Cheers to the Obamas’ good sense of style!
I think the objection of some to the white tie has to do with wearing it with a tuxedo/dinner jacket instead of evening tailcoat. Having said that, I always think it’s cute in dinner dress such as Pres. Obama’s when the man’s tie complements the lady’s dress (or his cummerbund). He accomplishes this. She’s wearing a ball gown rather than a dinner dress, so for him, old school tie & tails could be called for. But I think he looked just fine, myself. He doesn’t seem like a white tie & tails guy to me.
— Charlotte KWhite tie is ONLY appropriate with tails. And it should also be worn with a wing tip collar. And although I appreciate Mrs Obama as a strong, smart, and modern First Lady, her role as fashion icon is at best highly debatable. Finally, isn’t Jimmy Choo an English company?
— PuckWell, André Leon Talley screwed up….he is the Obamas’ “fashion advisor,” however I agree with Charlotte K, the white tie looks good with a dinner jacket regardless. Besides, tails are NOT required with white tie, however it does look nicer, especially with wing tip collar. Reagan wore white tie, no coat tails, as do many other fine english gentlemen I have seen. That said, I think Obama would have looked great in tails…maybe he’ll sport them for another occasion.
— vamp23Michelle is the modern day Jackie O. I actually think she’s better.
I think the President and First Lady are just exquisite. After 8 long grueling years of ma and pa kettle it is time for the people to enjoy having intelligent people who really do have “family values”…..as far as fashion, they looked great!
— Kathy@ Sense:
John Tyler’s first wife Letitia Tyler died in 1842. He remarried Julia Tyler (neé Gardiner) in 1844. Similarly Woodrow Wilson’s first wife Ellen Louise died in 1914 and was replaced with Edith Galt Wilson (neé Bolling) in 1915.
— joshua david steinThis is ridiculous–I recall the media, including the NY Times, ripping apart Sarah Palin’s wardrobe spending a few months ago because it was supposedly “outrageous”–and she was in the public forefront more than Mrs. Obama. And now what, we are lauding the first lady for her expensive taste? “Only three days in, Michelle Obama has shown more fashion chutzpah than did Laura Bush in the entire eight years of her husband’s reign.” Who cares? The former first lady was extremely active in social affairs and contributed greatly to this country. Her job was not to be a fashion plate. We have more than enough skinny girls walking down runways to fulfill that job.
I’ve become disgusted by the hypocrisy shown in mainstream media over the past six months.
— Katherinewhy do people keep talking about Michelle Obama as some kind of fashion icon. I think she looks frumpy, like most politician’s wives!
Now, Obama, that’s another matter. When will Tom Ford send him a suit?
http://www.gentrystyle.com
— Giothere is nothing new coming out of the mens’ fashion collections in Paris.. Baracks’ white tie with a dinner jacket is new and exciting- a modern version of white tie and tails.And so beautiful with his skin and dazzle smile! Black men are the only ones setting male fashion trends.. see singers and rappers and men on the street of all ages and incomes..Watch for more of this white bow tie with dinner jackets and tuxedos..From MR, ex fashion editor in Paris for Vogue, WWD, and Elle.
— Mary russellI’d like to see President Obama jazz it up a bit in Louis Vuitton & Lanvin!
— CSMHate to be the naysayer, but with the exception of the camel Rodriguez look she wore to the Sunday concert, Mrs. Obama has consistently missed the mark, clothes-wise! The inaugural day outfit would have been o.k. had Toledo given her a better color option – as it was, the lemongrass made her look a little jaundiced. And Wu’s evening gown didn’t flatter at all – it was clear she was uncomfortable with the length. And why, o why did she wear that schmatte to the prayer service and Oval Office the next day? The silhouette, print, shoe choice – should I continue? Wish she’d go shopping with Ms. Rogers, her social secretary: from what I’ve seen in pictures so far, she has a terrific sense of style, tailored without being momsy.
All this said, in the end it matters not a whit – she could appear in sackcloth and ashes and still lift my spirits!
— david# 1 Lyle–
— LindaThe Obama child (Sasha) is wearing red Mary Janes, if you look at the photo carefully. Sneakers of any make would be totally inappropriate for this occasion, no matter how ridiculously expensive they may be.
In response to “Lyle Vos”, Sasha Obama was not wearing the Kanye West LV sneakers, she was wearing some type of flat Ballerina type show with bows, they just don’t show up well in most photos taken of her that day.
— GeoerdieKin~Jude
That inappropiate white tie appears to be one that he did not even have to tie.
— AFummm, what was the point in standing the little one on that ‘step box’?
— wwwwMichelle Obama, is an intelligent, educated, smart, strong woman.
Please, Please, Please: lets stop calling her a fashion icon or fashion savior.
— steveThe only one in the photo who came out nice and with taste was the older of the sister.
In 5 years the younger sister is gonna look back on that photo and cringe with embarasement.
Barrack needs to fire his tailor, or higher one…not sure.
Michelle, well…….’we love Michelle’
— stevePresident Barack Obama, an icon of truth! he’s God-sent!
— Festus GreenwayPresident Barack Obama is an epitome of Leadership. He his the custodian of the 21st century democracy.
— adeyemi jonathanI love your subtle reference to eight years. Excellent.
— LaurenBarack and Michelle Obama are two people who deserve the utmost respect, admiration and support, no matter what they wear! We Americans are privileged that such fine people are willing lead our country out of the mess of the last 8 years. Don’t the readers who poke holes in their attire have better things to do with their time??
— Jill