What Recession? Michelle Obama Wears $635 Shoes on $4000 Per Night Hawaii Vacation

Monday, December 28, 2009 | Kristinn

[kristinn]

Photo: Huffington Post.

Photo: New York Magazine.

Barack Obama enjoys living like a king, so why shouldn't Michelle Obama live like a queen?

The First Lady was photographed last night in Hawaii wearing $635 per pair designer shoes by Maison Martin Margiela.

The shoe style is called "Leather open toe flat pumps." It features a "thin nude leather strap across the top of the toe."

A woman lucky enough to have a job in this economy and working for the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour would have to work 88 hours (without taxes taken out) to make enough to pay for Michelle Obama's shoes. If she can get them on sale, they would only set her back $445 for 62 hours work.

The Obamas are staying at an $8.9 million estate for an estimated $4000 per night. To cover the Obama's ten night stay, the minimum wage worker would have to work two-and-a-half years (before taxes) to come up with the $40,000 Obama is reportedly laying out.

Obama has lectured Americans about how they can not expect to live their lives as indulgently as they have in the past. He has lectured businesses about their travel and pay. Yet Obama and his wife live like kings and queens.

The news media has yet to call him out on his extravagance when there is 10% unemployment with no sign of the employment picture improving this coming year.

H/T maggief

[svcw]

$635 for half a pair of shoes.........no wonder these people think nothing of running the national debt into the trillions.

[hole_n_one]

Reminds me of what happens when Dr. David Banner gets angry..........

[Mamzelle]

It's like there's some plot to make Michelle look ugly. I don't like people who rag on politician's looks (although I admit I've made my share of remarks about Waxman and Grayson) as a habit of conversation, but why does she dress so badly? Even Oprah manages better than this!

If I were to set about to create a wardrobe that accented one's flaws and minimized one's advantages, it would be Michelle's Closet.

[cubreporter]

if she paid $635 for that pair of shoes...she was taken big time. I wouldn’t wear them anyway as there is no style to them but...if I did wear them I might give $9.95 but no more. $635????? Sinful.

[TypeZoNegative]

Let them eat cake.

[Blood of Tyrants]

I didn’t think they looked so great either, and I am a guy do doesn’t know about such things.

[Eaker]

[RightFighter]

There are shoes in that picture?

[ninergold3]

Them is some ug-uh-ly shoes. If one is going to spend a fortune on shoes, they should at least be cute. I know - I am a shoe-a-holic. . .at least that’s what my husband says.

[Blood of Tyrants]

To cover the Obama's ten night stay, the minimum wage worker would have to work two-and-a-half years (before taxes) to come up with the $40,000 Obama is reportedly laying out.

What? Obama ain't paying crap! That is MY money he is spending on HIS vacation.

[cubreporter]

no fashion in those shoes I can tell ya. THen again...most of what is referred to as fashion today is ridiculous anyway.

[Floratina]

I think she should be able to wear expensive things - she’s the First Lady. I also think those shoes are pretty weird.

[caveat emptor]

Poor thing. Stupid looking shoes.

There are plenty of attractive, light-weight, slipper-like shoes available, if that's what she wants, and if all else fails, there are these

and these

though both may be below her... er weight grade.

[fight_truth_decay]

I admit what shoes she wears, in the grandee scheme of things, is not so important to me when we have terrorists lurking behind every airplane wing. But, it makes for some funny lines, laugh relief, esoecially when you are The First Lady who has promoted JCrew in Pollyanna theatrics on talk shows etc, but we know Choo is Really Where The Heart Lies.

You don't wear shoes of that category with JCrew.

Desiree Rogers, her "Commes des Garcons-wearing" Social Secretary was often seen at fashion shows (weekdays on the dime) sitting between editors of big fashion mags..I suspect it was all for Michelle as well, and not just about Rogers own "preening and self-indulgent" ways.

I do admit they need not dress in rags and loafers..but at least seek help from stylists like Rachel Zoe.

[linn37]

Again how does she afford all the clothes and shoes on her husbands salary? He must have sold a lot of books.

[tumblindice]

At least half the cost of those horseshoes is after-purchase labor. They look even worse with the bells & whistles and back-up beepers required by the Department of Transportation to warn people to get out of the way.

[Semperfiwife]

I recsll seeing the Obama girls boarding a plane carrying Prada backpacks just as the President was telling everyone we could not keep out thermostats at72 and blah, blah, be AMERICANS any more. What a complete hypocrit as he keeps the Oval Office nice and toasty all year round cause he wants it like Hawaii.

[fight_truth_decay]

I believe Oprah sports bunions. Do you think the photo is real?

Dailymail

[Mamzelle]

I’ve worn some toe shoes (the pink ones) in my time, which have heavily plaster-reinforced toes. I have always been curious about the “ghilies” of your second photo, used in Celtic dancing. How do they work?

[Duchess47]

:) some very cool shoes. I have to admit, if I were 20 years younger, I'd be buying them. Shoes should always compliment and accentuate a woman's leg IMO. And I used to love 4” heels.