Now presenting: Michelle Obama's closet

[babylonsister]

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/DC-Decoder/2010/0319/Now-presenting-Michelle-Obama-s-closet
There's a good slide show at link~

Now presenting: Michelle Obama's closet

Chronicler of first lady fashions, the Smithsonian displays Michelle Obama's inaugural threads. She's a bit embarrassed by all the attention.


First lady Michelle Obama poses besides fashion designer Jason Wu, as she donates her 2009 Inaugural Ball gown to the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington, March 9.

By Peter Grier, Staff writer / March 19, 2010


Most of us figure the Smithsonian will never exhibit our clothes. It’s not as if it’s putting on a show called “Sweat Pants of the Middle Class: A Retrospective.”

But things are different if you are Michelle Obama. There she was March 9, watching as the Museum of American History unveiled a display featuring one of her dresses.

It was her inaugural gown, that white one-shouldered swoosh by designer Jason Wu. You’d figure that by now she’s used to being a celebrity. But she said she was a little embarrassed, and, truth be told, she looked it.

“I’m not used to people wanting to put things I’ve worn on display,” she said. “All of this is a little odd, so forgive me.”

Many first ladies have found the role of national fashion icon to be both exhilarating and a pain in the bodice. One moment barely anyone (definitely not Joan Rivers) is looking. Then – whammo! – suddenly you’re in the White House, and your outfits are a subject of fascination.

And you can’t win for losing. You’re too glamorous (Washington is not Hollywood!) or not glamorous enough (Washington is not Dubuque!). Thus Nancy Reagan, a former actress who knew how to dress elegantly, got in trouble for taking fancy duds from her old pals. Rosalynn Carter took flak for wearing a previously used outfit to Jimmy’s 1977 inaugural.

Mrs. Carter wasn’t being cheap. She’d worn the sleeveless embroidered coat over a blue dress to her husband’s first swearing-in as governor of Georgia, and she wore it again for sentimental reasons.

Maybe Edith Roosevelt, Teddy’s second wife, handled the pressure best. Weary of reporters asking for details about her clothes, she deputized her stepdaughter, Alice, to describe the dresses to the press.

Alice knew her stepmom wore only a few outfits. But she described each one differently each time it was worn, calling it “sky blue” one time and “periwinkle blue” the next – so that the media thought Edith had a much more impressive wardrobe than she really did.

Reporters. They’re so gullible.

[Clio the Leo]

1. Can't wait to see what her next Inaugural gown looks like...

;)

[babylonsister]

2. I thought of you specifically when posting this; glad you saw it.

I know you are 'the' fashion maven, plus the slide show pix were good/brought back memories. :fistbump:

[Clio the Leo]

3. Awww...

.... and because my mama raised me right, I will carry my TRUE thoughts about that dress to my grave. :)

[babylonsister]

4. ...

:rofl:

[CTyankee]

9. She looked like she was on the verge of tripping on that dress.

It made that dance she did with Barack very awkward looking. It was a little uncomfortable to watch...

OTOH, I spent WAY too much time wondering about what she would wear to the Balls and nattering on about it with my daughter and my gal pals (we were all certain that she would wear a jewel tone!)...it was fun, tho!

[Cha]

14. ..

Better it should be in a museum? }(

[cornermouse]

5. The inauguration gown looks like it was made from a

chenille bedspread. Michelle's had some pretty clothes. That dress wasn't one of them.

That said. What the First Lady wears isn't that important.

[whathehell]

7. Disagree...I thought that gown was beautiful and that she looked beautiful in it.

and I'm not alone in that opinion.;-)

[CTyankee]

10. IMO she would look beautiful in ANYTHING!!! nt

[whathehell]

15. Yep, that's probably true...but I thought the gown was great and looked great on her.

[CTyankee]

17. Oh, she looked fabulous! I just hated to see her have to negotiate the train of that dress

before she started dancing with Barack. Perhaps it should have just gone to the floor and not had the train. I realize the train was there to give it regality but it has to have some practicality and that dance was so special...I just loved it...I know that the pukes were just burning up with envy at the spark between the Obamas...ah, what a nice memory that dance was!

[whathehell]

18. That WAS a wonderful moment...An English woman I know watched it all the way from the UK and

called it "magical".

I honestly didn't notice the train..Just the body of the dress.

[DevonRex]

16. That's what I read on a couple of other sites. Ones that can't be mentioned here anymore.

:eyes:

[cornermouse]

19. Like I said.

Michelle has worn some pretty clothes. That dress isn't one of them.

[Beacool]

20. Yeah, plenty of people thought the same thing.

I didn't care for the puce outfit with the mismatched shoes and gloves she wore earlier in the day either. I've seen her look much better on other opportunities. The one thing that I wish she would do is get rid of those darn belts that she's so fond of and wears way too high above her natural waist. The outfits usually don't need them and she would look much better without them.

Regardless, she's doing a fine job as First Lady and her fight to prevent childhood obesity is a worthy cause.

:-)

[WorseBeforeBetter]

22. The gown was beautiful, but a very poor choice for dancing. (n/t)

[Bluenorthwest]

6. FIrst Timothy 2:9

"In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array"

Of course, all the words of the new testament that apply to them get cut out or rejected or just ignored, while any slight word that can be read as 'against' gay people means we have to suffer under unequal laws which take our money and treat families as if we were strangers.
Modest apparel indeed.

[whathehell]

8. Who is "them"?

[Bluenorthwest]

12. They are those that spew verses against equal human rights

while skipping any verses that apply to themselves. People who pretend the Bible speaks to the lives of others, but their own lives and behaviors are above such Biblical rules and teachings. People who are anti equal rights because of teachings in a book that they otherwise feel free to pick and chose from. I did not write that stuff about costly array. I don't believe it. Those that do claim to believe and live by that book when they attack equality, well, they need to do so, or shut up about their faith. Live it or stow it.

[whathehell]

13. Oh.

I thought you were talking about women -- not exactly a priviledged group themselves.

[CTyankee]

11. Nothing new here...remember the history of the "sumptuary laws"...nt

[tishaLA]

21. Jason Woo was on (I'm ashamed to admit I watch it) The View on Friday

and he was the most charming, adorable man--kinda like the ultra-nerdy fashionista gay friend you never had. And he has beautiful lips.