First Lady Elect Michelle Obama Shocks with Narciso Dress

Alisa Gould-Simon

November 05, 2008

First Lady Elect Michelle Obama Shocks with Narciso Dress 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.

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?

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.