Michelle Obama makes her mark on the style world

guardian.co.uk ^ | 02-12-09 | Hadley Freeman

[GOP_Lady]

The new Vogue cover star is turning her favourite designers into stars - much to the disapproval of fashion's old guard

Although Michelle Obama has admitted - shockingly, considering the context - that she is less interested in clothes than politics and children in her upcoming interview in Vogue, after less than a month in the White House she is already proving to wield greater influence over the fashion world than the industry has known in years.

[relictele]

Here's Hill and NY teacher's union mandarin Randi Weingarten.

Possibly a waxworks statue. In either case a little heavy on the rouge.

[GatorGirl]

I wholeheartedly agree on the choice of dress. I haven’t seen one on her that I like!

But I’d have to disagree about suits. She is larger on the bottom and they probably don’t flatter her AT ALL!

I find a woman can look extremely professional in a shift with a blazer or a-line dress. Not these frothy little things made in ugly colors. They are too young for her.

Fashion icon my patootie!!!

[kitkat]

***Their just playing their part.

None of the crap their shoving has any basis in reality, and in 4 years they will forget she even existed.****

You put it very well.

[kitkat]

***Good thing Michelle will now have something to wear to her next event!***

I hope she takes the curtain rod out of it before she wears it.

[GOP_Lady]

Jackie Kennedy was gorgeous throughout her entire life:

I would rather look like Jackie than one of the movie stars you mentioned.

[MHGinTN]

I think Laura Bush is one of the most genuinely beautiful, feminine First Ladies we've had. But Jackie is still numero uno.

[GOP_Lady]

Yes, indeed. Just simple class and grace and dignity...

[GOP_Lady]

[MHGinTN]

*sigh*

[GOP_Lady]

Now, compare the below pic with Mrs. Bush and Mrs. Kennedy, and tell me, who is really professional in their role as First Lady and takes the responsibility seriously:

[Captain Peter Blood]

Okay someone here has to say it; Michelle Obama has no fashion sense or anything else resembling style.
Further more she doesn't have the figure or grace to be viewed as such. Not to mention she is badly bowlegged.
Watching her walk is as painful to me as watching Julia Roberts and her clump style of walking. Neither had any lessons on style or grace.
Give me Sophia Loren or Claudia Cardinale any day of the week.

[GOP_Lady]

I'm not saying that every First Lady has to be like “Jackie,” but come on...

Hillary Clinton at least looks professional.

I was embarrassed to see what Michelle was wearing yesterday. It's like she didn't even make an attempt to look professional.

[GOP_Lady]

MHGinTN, I volunteered to take care of the Michelle Obama Fashion thread for our fellow lady Freepers. When I did that, I truly thought there wouldn't be much to discuss, because Michelle would surprise us all. And, man, did she surprise us with that dress she wore yesterday, and it's a true shame.

[MHGinTN]

Mrs Obama has a problem ... she is 'coarse of image', so it may be impossible to wear something that would bring her to ‘attractive’. As a single man in his sixties (two marriages were enough for three lifetimes), I really don't care much for discussing the unattractive, but I will make the occasional comment over the genuinely graceful and feminine First Ladies.

[GrandmaPatriot]

Thanks for the ping. I love these oh so fashionable photos of our first lady. (sarc/off)

[KosmicKitty]

she is already proving to wield greater influence over the fashion world

For those who believe in using household furnishings as clothing, anyway

[Rome2000]

That thing looks like a pin cushion.

[ktscarlett66]

Although I’m no O fan, I agree. She’s toned (dang, wish I had her arms!), she’s curvy. There’s nothing fat or huge about her. And I’ll never denigrate another woman just because she’s got a larger booty or bigger bust or heavier thighs. But she has a knack for picking things that just plain don’t look good on her. That red and black thing did not flatter her one bit, the emphasis was exactly where she shouldn’t have had it. Appropriate for the occasion is important too (no fluffy sleeveless dresses at a winter celebration where all other women are wearing floor length gowns). Slightly longer hemlines, below the knee at least, detailing on top, and learning how to stand in a more graceful way would all help her.

[GrandmaPatriot]

It looks like a knee brace to me. I remember her wrist being hurt but not her knee. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t hurt and in a brace though.

[Cinnamon Girl]

Yeah, she’s making her mark, but are they saying it’s a good mark? That dress looks like it’s made with bathing suit fabric.