Michelle Obama Dress and Inauguration Day Fashion

by Terri Potratz | January 20, 2009 at 08:50 am

4442 views | 24 Recommendations | 11 comments

The inauguration of Barack Obama has drawn millions of people to Capitol Hill, as well as the most enigmatic figures in politics and popular culture. For some, this day not only represents a transfer of leadership and the turning of a new leaf for American people, but a fresh perspective on fashion thanks to Michelle Obama, a worldwide style icon.

Michelle Obama wore a pale yellow shift dress and matching coat by Isabel Toledo, a Cuban born designer based in New York. She paired the distinguished wool lace dress with bright green Jimmy Choo 'Glacier' kitten heel pumps, pale green J. Crew gloves and a striking necklace to celebrate the swearing in of her husband as the 44th President of the United States. A vision of optimism.

Mrs Obama, known for her bold choice of colours, has worn yellow tones in several previous public appearances. On the Tonight Show with Jay Leno last October she wore an entire outfit of co-ordinated yellow: a demure two-tone yellow cardigan over a yellow print blouse with yellow skirt. Then, just yesterday, she wore a different yellow cardigan for the We Are The Future Concert at the Verizon Center in Washington to honour military families.

Malia and Sasha wore brightly coloured royal blue and pink J. Crew coats, looking polished and much more mature than their ages.

Singer Aretha Franklin performed "My Country 'Tis of Thee" and wore a noble gray hat adorned with a bedazzled bow.

Michelle and Barack Obama are scheduled to attend 10 inaugural balls tonight, and it remains to be seen if the new First Lady will make any costume changes throughout the evening.

Since embarking upon the campaign trail, Michelle Obama has been identified as a style icon for her fashion-forward ensembles, unique style and affordable choices. She has made headlines for wearing J. Crew outfits and refined dresses by designers like Thakoon.

The tall and athletic first lady in waiting is known for her iconic style, which so far has emphasized kitten heels (Michelle Obama is quite tall at 5'11"), brooches, cardigans and sharp dresses and suits.

Mrs. Obama can easily transition from glamorous designer dresses to practical casual wear, and she has been a beacon of style for American women with her relatively affordable fashion choices.

The First Lady may be a fashion icon with a possible Vogue cover coming up, but she remains both practical and realistic:

The First Lady-to-be seems to prefer secrecy about her outfits. She wore a Maria Cornejo coat on Saturday on the train ride to Washington, which was a pleasant surprise to the designer. On Monday, Obama and her daughters Malia and Sasha then turned up in J. Crew and its children's label Crewcuts at the Jonas Brothers concert for the "Kids Inaugural: We Are the Future" event.

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158

at 10:03 on January 20th, 2009

I think Michelle Obama will be a great role model.

JeffHuang

at 10:57 on January 20th, 2009

I agree, I think so too

veronica hill (not verified)

at 14:23 on January 20th, 2009

I did not care for all the rhinestones Mrs. Obama wore with her dress today. Not appropriate for a day-time ceremony. Green shoes with yellow?

CJaye

at 14:25 on January 20th, 2009

Michelle Obama has the nicest taste in clothes,she's is a great role model.

realist (not verified)

at 18:44 on January 20th, 2009

She is classy, intelligent, fashionable and innovative. She looked lovely today and lovely in her gown tonight. She is a real person with great accomplishments and interested in fashion without being enslaved by it.

I admire her and her husband and appreciate their choices.

harringtola

at 18:58 on January 20th, 2009

I wonder if Michelle Obama will set the same type of style standards as Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy did as the first lady with examples like the pillbox hat. Many of her choices were new and different and opened up choices for the women of her time period.

Shelby (not verified)

at 06:42 on January 21st, 2009

I did not like Michelle's choices of fashion at all....gold dress with green shoes and gloves ....come on now ! She looked very awkward in the evening dress as she kept having to straighten it out all night .....I did not think the full skirt was becoming on her and the strap was way too wide... I have seen her look much more elegant ! A different hair style for the evening would have been nice too. I hope someone helps her get it together bec I do really like her as a person.

gag (not verified)

at 15:25 on January 21st, 2009

DAT SHIT WAS UGLY AS HELL HONESTLY IT WAS YELLOW PISS AND GREEN SHIT

ryj (not verified)

at 16:36 on January 21st, 2009

The woman is an arrogant frump,no poise, class, her mouth is always formed in this grim look. Someone should also teach her how to walk, certainly not first lady material for this country and will show her up when she starts meeting women from other countries. It never ceases to amaze me how black women are so proud of their heritage yet tv, hollywood, females all strighten their hair, dye it blonde??????????????????

SIS {not verified ] (not verified)

at 22:05 on January 21st, 2009

ryj.gag are haters because there not the first ladie Michell Obama is a chosen vessle GOD gave her to Barack Obarma to be a light to shine for the world to see , and sometimes the light of GOD is so bright it can blind you. So you will not be able to recognize class when you see it. We can all learn from our First Ladie how walk in the total blessings of GOD. SHE HAS BEEN CHOSEN AND CHOSEN VESSLES DO NOT DRESS LIKE WE THINK THEY SHOULD WE ARE SUPPOSE TO BE DIFFERENT IN EVERY WAY.SO HATE ON HATERS THIS JUST PROVES THAT OUR FIRST LADY IS WALKING,TALKING,DRESSING TO PLEASE THE ONE THAT MADE HER. AND IF HER HUSBAND LOVE IT THEN THATS ALL THAT MATTERS.

ntwatwa daniel (not verified)

at 08:30 on January 22nd, 2009

Haters can hate. and people who dont wish for others are always there. im so happy with every thing hers. as i plan to wed, i will try to ensure that my wife shines like her atleast.

i love the nature of the family she takes care of; i mean shes a christian and whatever she does reflects that.