Designers recommend what Michelle Obama should wear to the inauguration events

[Waiting For Everyman]

November 11, 2008
SAMANTHA CRITCHELL / AP Fashion Writer

NEW YORK (AP) – Michelle Obama's to-do list before Jan. 20 surely is long, and somewhere on it must be choosing her inaugural wardrobe.

Whatever Michelle Obama wears first to the ceremony and then the ball celebrating her husband Barack as the 44th president, she and her outfits will instantly become two of the longest-lasting images of modern history.

And there'll be global reviews from real style insiders as well as armchair critics mere seconds after the public gets its first glimpse of the new first lady, who is already considered a fashion icon. To this day, people still talk about Jackie Kennedy and her stunning white gown with a chiffon-covered beaded bodice and her regal full-length cape.

This isn't a fashion decision to take lightly, says Bridget Foley, executive editor of W magazine and Women's Wear Daily, recommending Obama try on many looks before making her final choice.

"The dress will live in perpetuity and it will go into the Smithsonian," Foley says.


http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/fea/fdshops/stories/111108dnlivinauguraldress.12b8a79.html

[Sydnie]

1. No matter what she picks it will be better than any of Laura's drapery dresses

She is clearly a woman with her own style.

[Bobbieo]

9. Style - you've either got it or you don't. Michelle has it!!

[SoCalDem]

14. or laura's Kittycat dress from the governor-days

More Laura Fashion Flops

[Manifestor_of_Light]

70. She needs help.

Laura does.

The woman is stocky and needs some good foundation garments. She also needs clothes that emphasize the vertical. Sheaths with vertical lines, no belts.

I really like Hillary's indigo blue ballgown with the lace top. That is classy.

[AwakeAtLast]

24. You took the words right out of my mouth

Wow, does she have bad taste. Nina Garcia would NOT approve. ;)

[Midlodemocrat]

2. That woman's radiant smile and inner beauty guarantee that she will lovely

in whatever she chooses to wear. You can't fake class and she absolutely oozes it.

[Lerkfish]

3. she has the shape to wear anything, IMHO.

the one she wore to meet the disgusting bushes was stunning.

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

4. Thousands of little girls look up to her now...

I am one of those although I am not little, but I have been pinching myself seeing this dream become a reality for the past week. OMG .... I just had another moment...

I can't wait to see the pictures of Barack and Michelle Obama from the Inaugural Balls. She is going to look lovely!

[Cleita]

5. I think she would be stunning in a silk powder pastel

like the lilac mentioned in the article with elegant beading as an accent but not too much. I agree with the hourglass fitting but with a flounce or train from the knees to the floor.

[panader0]

6. Okay, I'm the last guy to ask about fashion.

Blue jeans and T-shirts and work boots here. But there was something weird about the dress Michelle wore to Obama's acceptance speech. The lighting made her look like two big red balls. She is statuesque, but that dress..........

[Cleita]

8. Watching too much Tim Gunn on Bravo, I

learned that black is a really bad color for the camera. It does strange things to the silhouette. I think that dress in person was stunning but the camera distorted the black part of it and it made it look weird. She needs a stylist who understands that she's going to be photographed in every media. Jackie was dressed by Oleg Cassini, who often designed for the movies as well so he understood what looked good for the camera.

[shanti]

13. that dress...

has been hashed and rehashed already....moving right along....

[SoCalDem]

7. She needs to look back to Jackie Kennedy's example..

simple is always better..and she has the height & body shape to carry any style off..

Jewel tones look great on her..

[Cleita]

10. As I stated above Jackie had Oleg Cassini.

Michelle needs someone like him who understands design for the camera.

[Sydnie]

17. I can't wait to see a WH with some color too. I am so tired of BEIGE!!

Bring the style Michelle and show them how it's done!

[SoCalDem]

21. I can see her in a magenta, or deep turquoise or even bronze..

Just no pale yellows or hot pinks..

I could see her in something like these:





the one on the right

[SoCalDem]

27. or this beauty

[Cleita]

34. I would like that in pale lilac silk. n/t

[Waiting For Everyman]

72. Or a bronzy-gold might be good.

Gold silk would look good with Barack's suit. I agree, something sheath-ish and classic would be great, with some draping, and some looseness toward the hem.

[MarthaMyDear]

54. She would look AWESOME in this...

..she has the figure...and the dress is SO dramatic! :)

[goclark]

62. Love it!

[clspector]

30. The Versace on the upper right

The color reminds of the dress she wore at the convention. It's youthful, but not precarious. (I don't think strapless is an appropriate choice for an event like this.)

For me Michelle Obama's skin is so lovely. She has this lovely glow that not many people have -- not many people have skin as pretty as hers. Anyway, I also envy her height and her figure. Sigh.

Oh, and someone mentioned Jackie Kennedy. Yes, she was an amazing style icons, but she had a few missteps along the way. I have a terrific clothes biography of hers. Yeah, there were a few stinkers in there...

[CTyankee]

52. I remember she wore a yellow SILK dress when she rode an elephant in Cambodia.

That was just a little strange to me...

[gblady]

58. yes,

I'm loving that Versace one also...
I can so see her in that style!!!

[Cleita]

32. Those would be fabulous on her. n/t

[Ilsa]

64. I like the Versace for her, but in the color of the Bill Blass gown.

I had been thinking something in a deep red violet would be lovely on her. But her dress should not be as as tight as on the model. The model's dress is too tight through the torso, IMO, for a First Lady.

The blue dresses are too plain, and the Bill Blass dress shows too much, I think. Medium color in hue. I don't know if she'd be as pretty in a pastel.

My bet is that she'll have a dress with alot of crystals or something on the bodice, empire style or body conscious from bodice to waist, and a beautiful matching wrap or cape.

I'm really looking forward to the pageantry of the inauguration.

[political_Dem]

11. I just hope that the style of dress she wore on Election night is not into consideration.

I'm sorry, but that dress was rather ugly. Even the runway picture didn't do it justice.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

12. "Smithsonian" Oh, no pressure here! Timeless and Classic would be the best bet.

Wonder what Barack will wear? Tails and a Top Hat? That would be cool. Off to see what is usually done at these events for apparel.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

15. Previous Balls

Article from 2005 gowns.
http://www.cbsnews.com/elements/2005/01/14/in_depth_us/photoessay667112.shtml


Taft.

[TrogL]

16. She needs to outdo Jackie in style and class

[blogslut]

18. Something simple yet elegant

Personally, I think no beading or shiny fabric. Perhaps a nice panne velvet in a lovely color like this:

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

20. But how would velvet photograph? If it's silk velvet

might pick up better. I am so enjoying this. That's periwinkle, no? Great color.

[blogslut]

22. You've got a point about how it would photograph

Maybe not panne but definitely no shiny fabric or extraneous glitter. She is a striking woman who needs no embellishment. I hope she wears her hair down too. As for jewelry, super simple. No more than a string of pearls and single pearl earrings.

Yeah, it's a periwinkle blue. Personally, I would rather see her in a red shade but I chose blue because it's more Democratish. :hi:

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

23. How about this? In Periwinkle.

Cassini's designs were very beautiful. For an April 29, 1962 dinner at the White House honoring Nobel prizewinners of the Western Hemisphere, he designed a "liquid, columnar dress...suggestive of ancient statuary," according to the catalogue. It is shown above and the catalogue also shows a black-and-white photograph of Mrs. Kennedy wearing the dress sitting next to Robert Frost.

end.
Just look at the art of this, the drape~Perfection. Kinda Grecian. Love it.

[blogslut]

28. That's neat

I dig the idea of a Grecian sort of thing. As long as she stays away from prints, lace and bedazzling, I'd be happy. :)

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

31. No foofoo. A good idea indeed.

Foofoo tends to bite ya on the ass.

[scarletwoman]

55. That is gorgeous! I think it's my favorite out of all the designs on this thread.

Periwinkle would be stunning!

sw

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

57. The b/w pic available does not show well

I do adore this style. Purple to blue is always good, Periwinkle.

Michelle could easily carry this with her shoulders and great skin.

[scarletwoman]

59. It's great to see the lower portion of the dress -- what exquisite drape!

It looks like an utterly sumptuous fabric -- any idea what it was?

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

67. My guess, Silk Crepe.

[Ilsa]

65. Stunning. I'd like to see ehr in a red violet color, not too dark.

I think it would look rich and regal on her.

[Tarheel_Dem]

19. Michelle has her own good taste to fall back on, but I'll bet a stylist

will be provided, hopefully someone like the fashionistas who designed and styled Princess Di? Michelle & Diana are/were both the tallest women in the room, however Michelle is much more curvy than Diana, so that should also be taken into consideration.

The dress she wore for the meeting yesterday, was gorgeous.

[KittyWampus]

25. Something from Alexander McQueen

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

29. That dress looks like it is moulting. and how would one walk in it?

[jazzjunkysue]

35. I didn't know Cher's husband was elected president!

OK. Really not this one.

[ecstatic]

44. Not just no but hell no! :)

Would look great in a sci fi movie though

[gblady]

60. oh my!

that one brought to mind wood shavings
or matted cat hair....

[scarletwoman]

63. Miss Haversham, mouldering away amidst the cobwebs...

[SmileyRose]

26. she would wear what she likes - this is THEIR moment, not history's - not yet

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[Beacool]

36. I like the Tracy Reese gown.

It's better than the other choices.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

38. Agreed, that is the best dress at the article link.

Much more works of art to check out, thou.

[Beacool]

39. The color is also a good one for Michelle.

:D

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

41. A cross between blue and purple? Periwinkle.

talked about up thread. Great color.

[tigereye]

37. I love her style - bold, somewhat geometric and colorful

it will be interesting to see how that develops when she is first lady.

[Kalyke]

40. Why do we worry about what she's going to be wearing?

I find this whole topic sexist and degrading.

How come we're not discussing what Barack's wearing or Biden?

Michelle Obama is a brillant woman. I don't care if she wears a burlap sack with a rope belt - it won't effect her intelligence.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

42. Cause it's fun. And it is important, the dress has to photograph well

for the History Books yet to be printed.

[blogslut]

43. Costume history is a fascinating subject

The clothes people wear in contrast to the events of their times is very interesting to me. I find it neither sexist or degrading. Her dress will appear alongside the gowns of all the past First Ladies of the United States. The original African American First Lady. Sorry you don't like the idea but them's the breaks.

[jazzjunkysue]

45. Found a bunch of pics here!

Norwegian inaugural:

Kennedy:

[blogslut]

46. Wow

Merkel was rocking the decolletage, wasn't she? Good for her.

[scarletwoman]

47. Norwegian inaugural? Isn't that Angela Merkel, the PM of Germany?

In any case, that's some cleavage... :wow:

[jazzjunkysue]

49. Hey, Scarlet. I don't know. The word Norway was there....I'm not up on all

the european leaders. You're probably right.

Don't ya love Bill inthe mirror?

[scarletwoman]

53. Bill in the mirror -- what the heck was that about?

Just, kinda... strange...

As for Merkel -- well, more power to her and her tits! :D

sw

[jazzjunkysue]

61. Bill is pretty silly sometimes. I'm sure he knew that would get out.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

48. Looking at the Jackie dress, it was simple et plain, and Jackie pulled it off.

Michelle has the body et poise to wear the classics with style.

[jazzjunkysue]

50. Women forget to drape these days. We wear everything too tight.

Jackie knew how to wear a dress right. Any dress.

[MarthaMyDear]

56. I hate to say it...but probably she could wear anything...

...because she weighed 110 lbs. Most of us can't carry off that look, speaking as a 155 lb, 5' 9" gal myself! I'd be a PINK NIGHTMARE! :)

Height and weight does play into whether I can wear a draping dress or not...just sayin' ! :) :(

[scarletwoman]

51. I'd like to see Michelle with a lower neckline and barer arms. Yes, Jackie pulled it off, but

Michelle has such gorgeous skin and such a great body, I'd hate to see so much of it covered up. The dress in Jackie's photo is way too boxy for Michelle.

sw

[KittyWampus]

66. I LOATHE the sleeves on Jackies Inaugural gown.

[tishaLA]

68. Isabel Toledo.

Something in sapphire, body-conscious, exposing some of her back, with half-sleeves.

[Hekate]

69. This is a really fun, pleasurable thread. Nothing to add beyond that. Carry on! nt

[mollymongold]

71. I don't want her to be too conservative. I think she should do a color pastel yellow.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

73. Morning kick.