Wow. At first look I thought this golden dress and coat was merely brocade, but a closer look reveals a white lining so it appears to be an eyelet lace. It was later reported that the fabric was a Swiss wool lace. Michelle Obama paired it with green patent Jimmy Choo "Glacier" pumps and green J. Crew gloves. It's another strong look for the new First Lady, but with an innovative twist (and this yellow outfit really looked best without the coat). And it's by another Cuban-American designer, Isabel Toledo (Narciso Rodriguez is also Cuban-American). Our fabulous About.com Guide to Antiques, Pam Wiggins, also tipped me off that the brooch (some reports had called it a necklace) was a vintage piece from the Victorian era purchased from Carole Tanenbaum. I'm happy because I had hoped she would wear yellow at some point during the inaugural ceremonies (it's such an optimistic color and it's also the "It" color for spring). All that said, it's not my favorite look on her because the intricate eyelet fabric detail was lost on the cameras and, well, it's just a bit matronly. What do you think? (Photo Credit: Joe Sachs, Pool/Getty Images)
Michelle Obama Inaugural Outfit #3: Yellow Dress and Coat
By Cynthia Nellis, About.com GuideJanuary 20, 2009
Wow. At first look I thought this golden dress and coat was merely brocade, but a closer look reveals a white lining so it appears to be an eyelet lace. It was later reported that the fabric was a Swiss wool lace. Michelle Obama paired it with green patent Jimmy Choo "Glacier" pumps and green J. Crew gloves. It's another strong look for the new First Lady, but with an innovative twist (and this yellow outfit really looked best without the coat). And it's by another Cuban-American designer, Isabel Toledo (Narciso Rodriguez is also Cuban-American). Our fabulous About.com Guide to Antiques, Pam Wiggins, also tipped me off that the brooch (some reports had called it a necklace) was a vintage piece from the Victorian era purchased from Carole Tanenbaum. I'm happy because I had hoped she would wear yellow at some point during the inaugural ceremonies (it's such an optimistic color and it's also the "It" color for spring). All that said, it's not my favorite look on her because the intricate eyelet fabric detail was lost on the cameras and, well, it's just a bit matronly. What do you think? (Photo Credit: Joe Sachs, Pool/Getty Images)Explore Women's Fashion
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i think it is hideous
Loved it! It correctly says goodbye to matronly red and blue Inaugural day attire!
Stunning! Bold choice of color, and a modern-yet-classic cut. The fabric detailing was beautiful up close. And the green gloves and shoes… risky, but it worked really well.
My only problem with it was that once it got windy, the tie-front jacket didn’t hold down – a button-down might have worked better in the weather.
The next Jackie O., no doubt!
I thought it was gorgeous!!! It just sparkled and was a big break from the drab past.
Beautiful! Perfect choice for the day. She looks great in that color. Green shoes and gloves were a funky touch.
The color was all wrong for her, the diamonds were too much for an afternoon event, and the shoes were the wrong color green. I think she should have coordinated more with her girls as well.
Michelle Obama shouldn’t be having all these bad clothing days. I would think they could afford someone who could dress her to look great, she’s either dowdy or she’s over dressed or the clothes make her look awkward and clutsy or something. This is the best she’s had, but hey, it’s just kind of dowdy and frumpy looking. A real shame.
I loved the color but the material and gaudy “diamond” neck was too much for a daytime event. Does she have a fashion advisor?
This was not my favorite outfit. She looked beautiful. I was expecting something else. I think the shoes were the wrong color green for that outfit. Love her the color was a good color for her.
So far I saw the only outfit for Michelle was the tan and black suit. That was the wonderful outfit and very elegant for her. The yellow dress looks like made from curtain fabric and style looks like for old grand -grand mother.
I would have liked the outfit better in another color – geranium pink, perhaps, with black accessories….and WHY do these ladies have to chose foreign designers; we’ve got very good ones in the U.S.A.!
m continually wears outfits that draw attention to making her small upper torso not in porportion to her wide hips…. her upper body should be fashioned so that it brings it into proportion with her lower body…..wider shoulders….. no belts on her high waistline… bring the two halfs into proportion.. the yellow and toilet paper dress were wrong…. she spent the whole night stepping on and worrying about her “train”… did they not know she would be going to 10 balls?!!!
I almost feel sorry for her. If It were me I’da said even if I weren’t sure. “Is this the do tha greens match?” then “I feel Like Im gonna fall” OR “I have a beautiful black formal I got at Ross tha Im really comfortable in” then I would go to my frind who ALWAYS looks well put together for advice. she will never live this down like his dance moves:)
Too much material around the hip area. Unflattering. She really looks heavy. I like the color; don’t care for the fabric.
Megan Romer got it just right!
I loved the look of this outfit. I wasn’t doing flips over the color of the shoes and gloves, but AT LEAST they matched each other. Michelle is tall w/a different shape and she wears dresses to play that up. I liked her inaugural ball gown, not loved, but liked, at any rate, HOW BOUT THEM ARMS? – the FLOTUS definitely has a wonderfully toned upper body so for me that made up for whatever the dress lacked. And she gets away w/wearing dresses because her stomach is in good shape too…at least she gives us something to look forward to and to me she always looks graceful and she’s pretty bold to rock the prints – not like Hillary who I never say in anything other than a suit, even to this day. I will have to google what she wore to Bill’s inaugural events.
Michelle Obama is a pretty woman and this designer made her look like queen of England its just so awful on her its not her style. Time to get a new designer.
I think this dress was ok, but I did not like the shoes. How come a person with so much money could not buy matching shoes or something more in accordance. This woman needs to hire a fashion consultant. She also needs botox and a plactic surgery for her face.
I propose what Lizz said, a whole woman like her who has money over the world should’ve ordered a good designer to do it. Not this thing that i am seing on her. Michelle Obama is a pretty woman and she deserve pretty thing too.