First Lady Elect Michelle Obama Shocks with Narciso Dress
Alisa Gould-Simon
November 05, 2008
Check out a video from Good Morning America on Michelle Obama's dress, including a cameo from our own Alisa Gould-Simon.
Following nearly a year of feverish anticipation (and a more recent inability to deal with some salacious feelings for a certain Senator from Chicago), Barack Obama has been elected president. While all eyes were on the President Elect last night as he delivered an intensely moving acceptance speech, the world’s collective gaze soon turned to future First Lady Michelle Obama as she joined her husband on the podium in Chicago’s Grant Park. And, what they saw will likely keep the fashion world buzzing for days. Whether you loved it or hated it, Mrs. Obama’s frock choice -- a red-and-black sleeveless sheath with a criss-crossed black satin cummerbund off Narciso Rodriguez’s SS09 runway -- definitely made a statement.
Michelle Obama’s decision to sport an American designer was no surprise; she’s been doing so with everyone from J.Crew and Thakoon to Mario Pinto throughout the campaign. But it was the latter’s significantly more conservative coral-red silk sheath with a high, pleated neckline that the most avid of Mrs. Obama’s fashion followers (namely the blog mrs-o.org) were predicting the future first lady would don. And, while on the aforementioned blog’s commenters went wild calling fashion foul and criticizing the choice, I’d argue Michelle Obama made her most commendable fashion statement as of yet. The dress was by all accounts unexpected, unconventional, and right on trend (the cummerbund detailing immediately calls to mind this season’s pervasive bondage theme, not to mention the skirt initially was partially transparent—a ubiquitous SS09 theme—though Mrs. Obama appropriately covered up so as to make it opaque). Like any true fashion icon, Michelle Obama knows how to push the sartorial envelope, and how to ruffle some fashion feathers. I just can’t wait to see what’s awaiting us come Inauguration Day.
See also: Michelle Obama: To Vogue, or Not to Vogue?, Michelle Obama’s Election-Night Dress on ‘GMA’, How to Deal with Your Feelings for Barack Obama, The Obama Family Style, Michelle Obama Endorses Fast Fashion, Michelle Obama Avoids Bolero-Gate
Comments (215)
Posted by Jill on Wed Nov 5, 2008 at 01.10 pm
I too, thought the dress was ugly. She looked like a black widow spider! Yikes!
Posted by ketura on Wed Nov 5, 2008 at 01.25 pm
I also agree with you, Gordon—love love love the Obamas and was crying with joy last night. But the dress was wrong wrong wrong—too complex for TV, too busy, too fashion-forward. She can and should (and WILL) be on trend but still needs to follow a few rules, i.e., what will translate to TV/Web, etc. Also, whattup w’that cardigan? That was almost the biggest problem!
Posted by neo prep on Wed Nov 5, 2008 at 01.41 pm
the dress was a bold and beautiful move reflecting perfectly her husbands refreshing take on politics. great to have a smart attractive woman unafraid of making a statement than a cliched social x-ray in Oscar de la Renta.
Its all about CHANGE.
Posted by BayDog on Wed Nov 5, 2008 at 01.49 pm
Does anybody know whether Michelle pays for her clothes, or do designers gift items to her? Or does the campaign pay for them?
All those public outfits must get expensive.
BTW--I didn’t think Michelle’s election night dress was at all flattering…
Posted by linia on Wed Nov 5, 2008 at 02.33 pm
Mrs Obama looked wonderful in her dress last night, the red&black positively complimented her beautiful figure---i can’t believe some of the comments i’ve read here--but then again, I know what I saw and Mrs Obama looked very appropriate and special, she made a perfect dress choice!
Posted by ana griffin on Wed Nov 5, 2008 at 02.51 pm
I absolutely love the dress! It is refreshing to see someone break out of the mold of boring and overly conservative! Black and red are powerhouse colors. Black is THE basic business color and red denotes energy and vibrancy. She and her family looked great! Fashion is part of our culture, and this is a new, progressive and changing world. We are breaking out of the stagnant dogmas of our past. Michele’s dress speaks volumes about a great new world, and thankfully, she had the forethought and insight to break out of the boring and “dare” to be herself and wear a beautiful dress.
Posted by k on Wed Nov 5, 2008 at 03.05 pm
I thought the dress was hot, and that she looked great. It’s an annoying double standard that female politicians, reporters, and family consistently criticized for their fashion choices.
I agree with neo prep’s response.
Posted by rayling on Wed Nov 5, 2008 at 04.38 pm
Horrible, hideous choice especially when she is tall,attractive, has a healthy figure; all attributes for wearing great looking outfits. Mrs. Obama has been sporting FLATTERING and attractive outfits. Awful, just awful taste.
Posted by anonymous on Wed Nov 5, 2008 at 05.07 pm
Ugly on Michelle.wonder if Gov palin had worn it what the critics would have said??Hmmm??
Posted by gerry on Wed Nov 5, 2008 at 06.08 pm
A brave bold and fascinating choice. Those who hate the dress don’t know much about fashion. Fashion shouldn’t just be pretty (Cyndi) or safe (Palin), it should be thought provoking and inventive. On those levels the dress was a huge success. Although, it would have been better without the black cardigan.
Posted by Kathleen on Wed Nov 5, 2008 at 06.30 pm
I was stunned when I saw Michelle’s red & black dress. History was made last night, that dress will be in photos of history books for generations to come. Michelle is a beautiful woman with a nice figure, what happened? This was a definite call for the fashion police!
Posted by beverly on Wed Nov 5, 2008 at 06.43 pm
I thought Michelle looked beautiful and proved that she is not a female that has to wear expensive well known designer clothes to look fabulous. She is a down to earth hard working woman, and chooses her clothes accordingly. She will be one that chooses the lesser known up & coming designers. She has her own beautiful style.
Posted by dee harris on Wed Nov 5, 2008 at 06.48 pm
If Michelle Obama was following nature’s lead in her choice of color and motif in her dress, she was screaming, “watch out, I’m dangerous”. Most poisonous insects and snakes sport red and black as a warning sign. Interesting choice - as well as a black dress for her youngest daughter? How odd. Something to think about.
Posted by eye of the storm on Wed Nov 5, 2008 at 06.54 pm
She is only displaying on the outside what is seething just under the surface. Obama Hussien may be scary in his
views but her hatred for anything American is the driving undercurrent of her soul. She is one hot lady, kinkled with the fire of hell.
Posted by mabelbrown on Wed Nov 5, 2008 at 06.59 pm
That family was coordinated. President Elect Obama with his suit and tie, their two daughters each with
their own expression of the same theme and yes First
Lady Elect Michelle Obama. Look at that family photo again. Well thought out selection that speaks diverse yet togeter.
Posted by Time Will Tell on Wed Nov 5, 2008 at 07.06 pm
The dress Michelle Obama wore on the winning night is hideous and will go down in history as such. The colors of the dress look satanic. The sash does not look good and the material on the sash does not match the dress. And the sweater does not match the dress at all. She could not have picked a worse dress to wear on such an important night.
Posted by Limie on Wed Nov 5, 2008 at 07.06 pm
Speculations that Mr. Obama is the anti-Christ is incorrect...it is Mrs. Obama. SCARY!!!
Posted by melissa on Wed Nov 5, 2008 at 07.07 pm
i’m so glad to see pictures of the dress on michelle and on the runway side by side. now i know for sure that the dress itself was always ugly and that it looked better on michelle than on the runway. (what the hell was the designer thinking?!?) i was worried that somehow she chose a dress not flattering for her; now i’m concerned that she picked a dress that was just straight ugly. the cardigan certainly didn’t help either. but barack the girls looked great! i’m so happy that we’ll be seeing this lovely family in the public eye for years to come. i’m sure she’ll do better next time.
Posted by bagzy on Wed Nov 5, 2008 at 07.35 pm
I think Michelle Obama is a beautiful classy lady...she looks great in whatever she wears.
Posted by KellyRusso on Wed Nov 5, 2008 at 07.38 pm
Michelle Obama is a classy lady no matter what she wears. She is also our First Lady and deserves respect.
The First Lady has a unique gripping visual look...set new standards....Some gal!
Posted by Sheila on Wed Nov 5, 2008 at 07.42 pm
First Lady Elect Michelle Obama showed the world that she is absolutely at peace with her image! I appreciated her look as well as her children’s outfits. She was lovely! I was glad to see that she was not dressed from the cookie cutter factory. Don’t hate, appreciate the diversity she will help bring to our great United States of America. It’s a long time coming!
Loved the dress and the way she matched her daughters. “Time for change” and the dress said those words. OBAMA!!!
Posted by Jennifer Rutledge on Wed Nov 5, 2008 at 07.45 pm
Michelle Obama looked horrid. I am sure the outfit cost more than my whole wardrobe, but please. Like Obama said you can put lipstick on a pig and it is still a pig!!! I have been waiting to say that one. A hooker could have made a better selection. What about those bowed legs. Mabelbrown is blinded by the 9% racial card. I would have to agree with eye of the storm. Maybe they should stop spending $500.00 for lunch and buy something more appropriate for a 1st Lady. I think the outfit says alot about Mrs. Obama and frankly I hope she shuts up. See ya in four years and we will see if you’re crying for joy.
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Posted by Gordon huser on Wed Nov 5, 2008 at 12.06 pm
OMG, Love Barack, Love Michelle, HATED THAT UGLY DRESS! Am I REALLY the only person willing to say that?