Today in a stunning ceremony at the Smithsonian Museum of American History, First Lady Michelle Obama donated her fabulous inaugural gown to the institution. The gown was worn to the ten inaugural balls held in Washington, D.C. on that bitterly cold night in January. The formal induction of the gown was an invitation only event that included students from the Huntington High School Fashion Design and Illustration Program in Long Island, New York. In 2009 the school challenged its design and illustration students to create an inaugural gown for Mrs. Obama after students were inspired by her style and spirit. “She’s one of the most fashionable First Ladies,” one young designer said. The students sent a book of illustrations to the First Lady.

Mrs Obama’s one shouldered, white silk chiffon gown’s designer, Jason Wu, was there and told the audience that he didn’t know his gown, embellished with organza flowers and Swarovski crystal centers, had been selected until Mrs. Obama showed up with it on. He was very proud and honored that his design had been selected. Wu, based in Manhattan, as we all know by now was a relatively unknown designer. Known for his emphasis on the feminine hourglass shape and ladylike style, Mrs. Obama has purchased four of his dresses and worn them to interviews with Barbara Walters and to visit Queen Elizabeth.

Indeed, inaugurations are celebratory events for presidents but any accomplishment can be worthy of an inauguration. Think about it. How would you celebrate you or your spouse’s highest achievement? What would you wear?

Nisa Muhammad, Washington DC Correspondent

Huntington High School Fashion Design and Illustration Program

LOVES IT!. It reminds me of one of my favorite photos of the First Lady.

Posted by Aminah Hanan

Clifford Bryan

Michelle Obama Examiner

Forbes Magazine has ranked First Lady Michelle Obama number 40 on its’ list of the “100 Most Powerful Women in the World.” According to The Washington Post, the magazine ranks the women based on two factors: visibility and the size of the organization or country they lead. Michelle Obama was joined on the list by several other U.S. Government officials, including:  

2.) Sheila Bair, Chairwoman of the FDIC

35.) Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House

36.) Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State

48.) Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Supreme Court Justice

51.) Janet Napolitano, Homeland Security Secretary

54.) Sonia Sotomayor, Supreme Court Justice

55.) Mary Schapiro, Chairwoman of the Securities and Exchange Commission

56.) Kathleen Sebelius, Health and Human Services Secretary

When I first saw the stories about the First Lady wearing shorts I thought for sure they would pass rather quickly. But low and behold, almost one week later and there are still new stories cropping up about the First Lady’s “right to bear legs”. Who would have ever thought that one pair of brown legs could stir up so much controversy. It’s as if some people were not considering that it is August and the First Family was headed to Arizona.

According to the Associate Press,  an NBC’s “Today” show poll had over 300,000 responses with 83% giving the First Lady’s shorts a thumbs up. The blog post was the show’s most commented-on of 2009. A similar Huffington Post poll revealed the same with 58% giving a nod to Mrs O vacation fashion choice.

“Why not wear linen pants…more tasteful. She may have been on vacation — oh yeah I’m having a senior moment, she has been on a tax-payer-supported world wide vacation since the inauguration — but she should respect the Office of the President and the USA,” commented Charlie Smith of  Montgomery, Alabama on the Today Show site.

Question for Mr Smith, and the like: If you’re a senior, do you remember this photo?

 I guess Mrs O was channeling one of her predecessors, Jackie O, when she came up with the “strange” idea to wear shorts on a family summer vacation.

Robin Givhan, of  The Washington Post, stated that she was “ambivalent” about the first lady’s shorts — mainly because stepping off Air Force One makes it an “official” photo and so should, perhaps, be considered a more formal moment.

“I think in many ways it’s symbolic,” Givhan explained. “We don’t see first ladies looking informal, and I think it’s a wonderful thing that she’s bringing informality to that position. But we’re still grappling with what the first lady is supposed to be all about.”

In my humble opinion Mrs Obama looks fabulous in whatever she decides to wear. She is fabulous because she is a proven strong, confident, trailblazing woman who is very comfortable in the skin she is in and there are not many people that can make that claim.

Posted by Aminah Hanan

First Lady Michelle Obama has topped the Vanity Fair 70th Annual International Best-Dressed List.  This year marks the third time that the First Lady has made the list. According to Amy Fine Collins, special corespondent for Vanity Fair, Mrs O got more votes than anyone else on this year’s list. Collins stated that Michelle O has “brought the dress back and turned the world into her runway…” Vanity Fair gives kudos to the First Lady for the notable ensembles she wore to the Inauguration festivities and the black  Moschino organza top and silk veil she wore to the Vatican to meet Pope Benedict XVI.

Mrs Obama is joined on the list by her husband, The Commander-In-Chief, and fellow First Lady of France, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. To view a slide show of the entire list click here.

Posted by Aminah Hanan

I watch with fascination each time First Lady Michelle Obama wears an up do, because inordinately those not familiar with the amazing versatility of Black hair will immediately crow that she “cut” her hair. So this happened last week as well.Well now the Chicago Tribune is weighing in with some CRACK investigative journalism regarding the First Lady’s hairstyle. James Oliphant makes fun of the media hub hub because the First Lady did not inform the media. Paging Erin Aubrey Kaplin!

FLOTUS stunned certain corners of America last week when she arrived at a country music event at the White House sporting what appeared to be a bob.

This set off an avalanche of speculation, including a story about and pictures of the “bob” right here in this space. Had Obama cut her hair without informing the media? Just where was all the transparency we were promised by this White House anyway? The Daily Beast speculated that Obama had been inspired by, of all people, Kate Gosselin. (What’s next? She’s going to ditch the layabout husband?)

At the country music event, Mrs. Obama had her hair pinned up. She did not have it cut,” Semonti Mustaphi, Obama’s deputy press secretary, said of the apparent faux bob. “Maybe this clarifies the confusion?”

With all due respect to Mustaphi, we’re really just at the beginning of this inquiry. We’re going to need all documents pertaining to hair-care products used, along with identification of the alleged pins involved. Chicago Tribune

This was not the first time reporters made this mistake. I can remember at least two prior occasions, once when she visited a federal agency and the night she hosted the first formal White House Dinner, reporters breathlessly gushed that the First Lady “cut her hair.”

A bobby pin is a type of hairpin. In British English it is known as a “hair grip”, or “kirby grip”. It is a small pin or clip, usually of metal or plastic, used in coiffure to hold hair in place. Typical bobby pins are plain and unobtrusively colored, but some are elaborately decorated or jeweled. A bobby pin is a double-pronged hair pin that slides into hair with the prongs open and then the flexible prongs close over the hair to hold it in place. Bobby pins became popular in the 1920s to hold the new bobbed hairstyles. Wikipedia

Its called an “Up Do” which is accomplished with a wonderful invention called the “Bobby Pin”. Now despite the fact that First Lady Obama has subsequently been seen with her hair down, people are still pondering whether she cut her hair?

She did not. She just pinned it up. I admit when I saw the first picture from the front, I wondered if she had cut her hair, but from the side, you could clearly see it was pinned. IF she ever did cut her hair to chin length, no Black hair dresser on planet Earth would let her leave their chair without also tapering aka, SHAVING, off the hair on the nape of her neck. I know this because my hair has been every length under the sun and “let me clean up you neck” are the famous last words you will receive before getting out of the chair with short hair. In fact you know that you no longer have short hair one you stop hearing the buzz of the clippers at the end of each visit.

The style was cute, but I doubt Mrs. Obama is going to cut her hair anytime soon because chin-length hair is WORK. Plus, she would have to give up her ponytail. I just don’t see that happening.

This now concludes the Michelle Obama Watch Word of the Day.

Posted by Gina.

PPS, if you are wondering where I’ve been, I went to Blogher09 this weekend in Chicago, right across the river from where the President was speaking

She said goodbye to Russia, after charming the Russians…

Ciao to to Italy…

First Lady Michelle Obama meets with Italy’s First Lady Clio Napolitano

Toured Rome with the weeMichelles…

Chatted it up with Olabintan Nwanse, wife of International Fund for Agricultural Development President…

Donned a veil to meet with the Pope at the Vatican…

The NY Daily News reported that Italian luxury goods manufacturer VBH rep Kelly Vitko boasted that the First Lady carried their black manila alligator clutch, valued at $5,950 in Moscow earlier this week. After the White House clarified that the First Lady was carrying an $875 VBH patent leather clutch. The VBH rep then stated that she’d made an assumption and misidentified the bag and went on to say, “it’s definitely ours (manila bag).”

Barbara, of Mommy Life, accused the First Lady of being as arrogant as Barack (The President) and later issued a statement to Michelle Obama Watchers:

“btw, to all the MichelleObamaWatch fanatics visiting here and accusing me of being racist, unchristian, etc – I would be criticizing ANY American leader who behaved in such an arrogant/elitist way while the rest of the country is struggling. Christlike leadership is humble and servantlike – not raising itself on the backs of the people.”

Barbara’s original post stated:

“Once again, while Barack is on government business, Michelle and the girls are touring in high style – yet another big tour at taxpayer expense. Extra planes, vehicles, accommodations, security details.

Doesn’t it seem like aristocratic/elitist behavior to be touring Europe in such high style – with stylists in tow a la Madonna, carrying a 6000. handbag for a walk in the woods – while people at home are grappling with unemployment and no money for their own humble vacations?

And once again, the White House is refusing to release the costs for the enormous extra expense involved in Barack and Michelle’s Great Adventure. This from the administration that promised transparency and above-board politics. Now spending like there’s no tomorrow while killing the American dream for the citizenry.

What a pair of opportunists!”

I need a little help here. Can anyone recall the cost of any of the former First Ladies’ wardrobes being so strongly scrutinized?  Have any of them ever been accused of being elitist or aristocrats for allowing their young children to accompany them on trips abroad? Are the First Lady of the United States and her children supposed to ride a public tour bus? Hmmm arrogant, could that be a code word for something else?

An old rumor resurfaced. Jennifer Roche of About.com: Chicago wrote:

“This morning I was reviewing photos of Michelle Obama while on her trip to Russia, and something seemed amiss.

The usually indefatigable, radiant First Lady looked exhausted. Even nauseous. And, then there’s the possible bump. Maybe she just has a bad case of flu, but apparently others noticed it and the rumor that she might be pregnant has been flying around DC, too.

If true, imagine what a nationwide journey and 24/7 non-stop media blitz for seven months that will be…”

As much as I would love to see another weeMichelle (or Barack III) in the White House, my mother always taught me it was rude to ask a lady her age and completely unacceptable to ever ask if she’s pregnant.

And now MOW heads to Ghana…

The First Lady and weeMichelles arrive in Accra with the President   

Posted by Aminah Hanan

Yes, she has worn ball gowns, but managed to look confident AND comfortable at the same time. When pitted against a Queen in Europe, Michelle managed to look sophisticated, yet comfortable in a sweater cardigan. Granted, she took a lot of flak for the incident, but from designers and not ‘real’ moms and women of the US. From the Daily Star:

The time had come to break the mold of the first-lady uniform, says Hal Rubenstein, InStyle fashion director. “I say this with real snarkiness: They all wore ‘that suit.’ That Adolfolike suit that was glued onto Nancy Reagan and Laura Bush, and Hillary [Clinton] did her best to fit into it. It became the political wife uniform … and it was dull.” Mrs. Obama has an air of modernity, he says.

Michelle should take these compliments on her way to the mall!  Real working women and moms can relate to her.  Country officials love her style.  Fashion editors compliment her.  It can’t get much better than that for a woman in a high profile, political position.

Photo source: Daily Star

Posted by tinamarie11.

First Lady Michelle has spent her first 100 days espousing her message of family, opening the White House to America, reaching out to children, visiting federal agencies, and promoting national service. The First Lady’s commitment to service is no secret and nor is it short lived. From her days as the founding Executive Director of of the Chicago chapter of Public Allies, an AmeriCorps program that prepares young people for public service to volunteering at soup kitchens, she continues to do more than “talk the talk” – she “walks the walk”.

In fact, on her 100th day, First Lady Michelle was a volunteer at the Capital Area Food Bank in Washington, D.C. Yet, it appears that no matter what the FLOTUS does – someone will always find something negative to report. And her 100th day was no exception. It seems that volunteering at the food back to mark her 100th day as First Lady was far less important than the sneakers she wore.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the sporting tennis shoes worn by the First Lady and designed by the French designer Lanvin retail for about $540. The Star points out that the blogosphere is all a buzz with the First Lady’s choice of footwear at the event:

One writes, “Pricey sneakers to volunteer at a food bank in tough economic times invites criticism.” Another rushed to the First Lady’s defence, noting, “Previous first ladies have worn labels like Oscar de la Renta and Badgley Mischka at everyday events, those hardly come cheap. Mrs. O isn’t dressing any more extravagantly than any other first lady.”

I understand that the First Lady is a fashion icon and that she has certainly made a much needed statement (imo) on style. But, knowing how much she pays for her clothes or shoes is just not high up there on my priority list. Besides, is there anyone in the entire world who really thought that the First Lady takes advantage of the bogo sales occassionally offered by that less-pay chain.

All I can say is thank goodness none of the reporters following the First Lady have x-ray vision; because then folks would no doubt be talking about how much she pays for a push-up, under-wire, padded, or unpadded. Which is way TMI for me.

Posted by SjP of Sojourner’s Place.