Michelle Obama's Dresses
From LoveToKnow Womens-Fashion
Even before Barack Obama clinched a historic victory in the 2008 U.S. presidential election, there was much interest in Michelle Obama's dresses. Fair or not, First Ladies come under intense scrutiny for their fashion choices, well before they make it to the White House. It was no different in the hotly contested presidential election of 2008.
The New Jackie O.
With many comparisons between the Obama family and the famous Kennedy clan and administration that was often referred to as Camelot, it's no surprise then that Michelle Obama is being compared to the late Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis on a style level. Jackie O. preferred classic, timeless pieces, including elegant pearls and dresses that showed her trim figure to maximum effect. Michelle Obama also favors pearls, and her style of dress shows a distinct confidence in her abilities.
On the campaign trail, Michelle Obama wore dresses by well-known designers, but she also wore easily accessible fashions from J. Crew, proving that she's a smart shopper who doesn't have to break the bank to look like a million bucks.
A Rundown of Michelle Obama's Dresses
Whether her particular choice leans toward bold or more subdued, the First Lady prefers classy dresses that are also classic. They are modern without being too trendy, but look appropriate for the time and occasion. Some of the more talked about dresses that Michelle Obama wore were:
The Purple Sheath
On the biggest night of 2008's Democratic party convention, Michelle Obama wore a purple sheath dress with a wide black belt and matching black shoes. She also sported the big pearls that are fast becoming her trademark. The simple lines of the dress lent her a classic and elegant look.
White and Black
The floral black and white dress Mrs. Obama wore on the TV show The View in June 2008 was a stunner. Known to favor floral prints, the statuesque First Lady has no problem pulling off patterns that may swallow a more petite woman.
The Election Night Dress
Style mavens around the world wondered what Michelle Obama would wear when the news went out that her husband was elected president. As the Obama family emerged on stage in front of a crowd of elated thousands, Michelle came out in a red and black Narciso Rodriguez knee-length dress, with a cardigan layered on top. This style move wasn't as enthusiastically received by the fashion press, but Mrs. Obama's confidence in not always making the safe choice is undeniable.
The Michelle Obama Inaugural Gown
It was a chilly day in Washington, D.C. when Barack Obama was sworn in and his wife's clothing choice was fitting. However, she wasn't bundled up in a heavy, dark coat. Instead, she wore a fresh lemongrass dress and matching coat along with brilliant green gloves and green shoes by Jimmy Choo. When the news spread that the gloves were sold at J.Crew, the store's website was swamped and the gloves sold out in record time.
Michelle Obama's inaugural night gown was a white, floor-length, one-shoulder dress that featured a fitted bodice and flowing skirt. Again, echoes of Jackie O.'s inauguration gown were brought up as Mrs. Kennedy also wore white when her husband was inaugurated.
Both of Michelle Obama's dresses that she wore on the inauguration catapulted the designers to fame. Previously, Cuban-American Isabel Toledo and a young Chinese-American Jason Wu were relative unknowns in the fashion arena, but with the new First Lady's choices, both found themselves the talk of the town. Neither knew beforehand that their designs would be worn on such a historic occasion.
Emulating First Lady Style
While the Narciso Rodriguez dress Michelle Obama wore was straight from the runway and not available in stores by election night, other styles the First Lady prefers can be found in easily accessible stores. You can shop J. Crew and White House/Black Market for ready-to-wear styles that don't require a Hollywood or First Family budget. As with many dresses that receive a lot of press, there will probably be designer knockoff dresses that imitate her choices. Fashion lovers all over the U.S. and even the world are ready to keep an eye on Michelle Obama's style, wherever she goes.
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