Michelle Obama's Fashion Home Run

CBS News: Michelle Obama's Fashion Home Run
Choice Of Outfit For Big Speech Widely Praised
NEW YORK, Aug. 26, 2008


Michelle and the Obama daughers, Sasha, 7, blowing a kiss to her dad, who was on a big video screen, and Malia, 10, on the podium (AP/Charlie Neibergall)

(CBS) Michelle Obama's big speech at the Democratic convention Monday night was being anticipated not just for what she'd say -- but for what she'd wear. The would-be first lady's fashion flair is already grabbing attention -- she's being closely watched as a possible budding fashion icon -- and most observers the outfit she selected for the big event clicked.

Among those whose keen eyes were trained on Michelle is Laura Schwartz, a former adviser to the wife of former Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, Teresa Heinz Kerry. Schwartz also worked in the Clinton White House. In the convention hall Tuesday, Schwartz told Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith Michelle "succeeded. (She did) exactly what she was going for, because today, we're talking about the message more than just the overall bling." Schwartz was guessing Michelle would wear a dress, despite talk she'd wear a suit. "She looks fabulous in dresses," Schwartz explained, "and you know she's going to wear something she looks great in, that she feels confident in. And that's what we saw. And she pulled it off very, very well."...The dress was striking, Schwartz observed, but very calming in color -- a shade of blue-green, which evokes calm and trust.

Maria Pinto, a designer in the Obamas' hometown of Chicago, created the dress. Pinto built her company from the ground up and is another Chicago success story. Schwartz says Michelle may have picked her as her designer in part because Pinto also represents achieving the American dream, which is what Michelle wanted to portray herself and Barack as having done. Michelle has used Pinto for a long time.

The large pendant on the dress, Schwartz adds, came straight from Michelle's jewelry box, and was reminiscent of Barack's rising sun campagn logo. The pendant was placed over Michelle's heart, so it might have symbolized that her speech was coming straight from her heart....

Once again, Michelle reminded onlookers of Jackie O, Schwartz says. She was wearing long, clean lines again, the length of the dress and even the sleeves looked like something Jackie O would have worn....

It's likely that Michelle won't change her style if she makes it to the White House, Schwartz says. She already looks like a first lady; her style is so clean and elegant, she won't need to change anything.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/08/26/earlyshow/living/beauty/main4383954.shtml?source=mostpop_story

Pretty pictures for the public. I don't need it, but appreciate & hope it worked. It sure looked charming.

Love the whole look. She's chic without being snooty.

frilly or fussy. She has a certain body type, short-waisted, and she looks great in dresses and tunics, anything with a "long top" look. A tunic with a loose hip belt would look elegant on her too. Color was great. The brooch was awesome. She looked perfect. Or should I say, perfectly beautiful.

I read one assessment of her use of sleeves - large and gathered - very flattering. And I happen to love her in sleeveless outfits - she has the world's greatest upper arms!

She's VERY savvy about fashion and what it can say, too. She knows what is flattering and she looks great in strong, vibrant colors. And I noticed the other day when Joe Biden had his formal introduction, she wore flats. Either she noticed, or one of her staffers noticed, that Jill Biden wasn't nearly as tall and thought it might be a little more elegant and subtle for Michelle not to wear heels. Seemed rather considerate, to me. She has a great awareness of what looks good, and I really like her style. She does indeed already look like a First Lady.

AND there's something about her choice of dresses. Dresses are feminizing, for whatever it's worth. Pantsuits are great, too (I happen to like them myself), Hillary's trademark, but some people have trouble with what they think a woman is subliminally telegraphing when she "wears the pants." I'm just guessing here, but I suspect that more of those who feel this way might tend to be from the other side of the aisle - where the women walk three steps behind their husbands, stay home pregnant and baking cookies, and know their place (which to them, women like Hillary and Michelle do NOT). But Michelle wears dresses, breaking that stereotype. It's very subtle, very under-the-radar. And I'll bet some of the folks who feel this way are a little perplexed by her. They're reading what message she's sending and they're not really getting it. All they know is - she's not fitting the appropriate stereotype and she doesn't even wear the appropriate uniform, it's making them feel like something's just "off."

unless a pant suit is very well made and fitted most pant suits do nothing for a woman.

michelle has her "flaws" but she has the class and instinct to wear dress and pants that make her look well tailored. and it`s dam hard to pull off the no sleeve look...

all in all the fashion of jackie kennedy and the class of rosalyn carter....

i think our days of criticizing the first ladies fashions are finally over. it was fun while it lasted...which was way to long...but now we get to comment on how well the first lady and family dresses..

it was hard work but we had to do it....
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