When I was in my late teens I had the most beautiful black, wool Chesterfield “walking suit”. It was a masterfully tailored 3/4 length jacket and below the knee straight skirt, toasty warm and when paired with a silk stock tie blouse, red riding hat and black suede riding boots, made a very warm, very comfortable and extremely classic presentation. I felt special when I put it on.
No riding hat for Inauguration, obviously, but could also be paired with a pillbox or cloche and do just as well. Something like that would have been so over the top — especially if she had chosen a brilliant color.
Mrs. Bush started choosing matronly outfits that made here beautiful figure disappear. That's no way to highlight what beauty God gave her as a gift. She was the complete package — class, beauty AND disciplined.
I think before Michelle buys any more clothes, she ought to have her colors done to determine which ones look better on her. That 'lemongrass' frock she wore for the Inauguration just didn't seem to be a good color for her. When I lost a lot of weight between our second and third kids, I had mine done, and since then, know which colors will highlight my face and eyes. I have a little wallet of color chips I can take, when I go shopping. It's easy, until you have a couple of years when your colors are not what the fashionistas have decided they want to feature. Then you go with what you have, adding a top or two in your color. Unfortunately, I gained a lot of weight with kids # 3 and 4, and the twenty years since then, so I had to buy new clothes to fit my ever growing frame. Having the color chart helped with that, so I looked nice, even though I was a big gal. ;o)
I love 3/4 length coats! I had to buy a new one this year, because I'd lost a lot of weight since last winter, WooHoo! I didn't want to buy a real heavyweight one, since we're planning to move back South, and I found a nice camel colored one that is light enough, that I could even wear it on really cold days in MS next winter, if it's not too big for me then. I told my hubby that when I get down to my goal weight, I want a nice leather 3/4 length coat and some knee boots! Now, I'm no spring chicken, but I don't see any reason why a fifty-something woman can't wear that!