Is it a good fit? Weigh in on Michelle Obama’s inauguration outfit
No more speculating. Michelle Obama wore a yellow dress and matching coat for her first appearance on inauguration day.
The outfit was by Cuban-born American designer Isabel Toledo, one of her favorite designers. Speculation had been that she would steer clear of anything bling, given this country’s economic doldrums, but this ensemble had a bit of sparkle at the neckline. Finishing details were green Jimmy Choo shoes and green gloves from J. Crew.
Hamish Bowles, Vogue magazine’s European editor at large who curated the Metropolitan Museum Costume Institute exhibit on Jackie Kennedy in 2001, told the Associated Press that said he sees a resemblance in the inaugural styles between the two first ladies. “She’s off to an auspicious start,” Bowles said of Obama.
“Mrs. Obama’s choice today was appropriate, dignified and elegant but it also had a considerable element of fashion panache,” he added.
The fashion industry hopes Obama will lift the industry out of its sad state. Not only do American women relate to Obama’s more contemporary fashion choices, they like that she’s as likely to wear off-the-rack as designer. It will be interesting to see if that changes with a move into the White House.
Bowles said Obama has shown an ability to root out exciting and innovative styles in her backyard and there’s been no need for her to look at European designers. “She’s finding great American talent.”
Obama continues to mix up her looks, often choosing lesser-known designers. The fashion industry loves her bold choices.
Not everyone raved about the inauguration day ensemble, though. Stylist Robert Verdi called the color “ishy,” as in creamish, yellowish, goldish, and said it photographed sallow. Constance White, eBay’s fashion direction, liked that she’s putting American talent out front for the world to see. For the inauguration, she would have preferred to see Obama in the Narciso Rodriguez ensemble from Sunday because it was more elegant, polished and sophisticated.
So, do you like her outfit?
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Comments
Jill Biden looked great — on inauguration day and at the balls. It will interesting to compare the two women’s fashion choices during the next four years.
I certainly thought about creating a special outfit contest for politicians on outfitlandia.com and let voters decide on Mrs. Obama’s style. On the other hand, if you compare her to European first ladies, she certainly stands out from the crowd. And what a crowd that is (think Mrs. Sarkozy etc)….
What was with the color of the shoes? Given the temperature on the 20th, I can’t imagine how cold she must have been. Was this a “what price fashion” moment? The outfit Mrs. Biden wore was a lot more appropriate for the day–knee boots and a coat.