Republicans Are Outraged Because Michelle Obama Wears a Sleeveless Dress

44 of Michelle Obama's Most Significant Style Moments

A look back at the first lady's memorable fashion statements.

Clothing, Dress, Red, Formal wear, Style, Magenta, Pink, Purple, One-piece garment, Fashion,

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Over the course of eight years on the world stage, Michelle Obama has used the language of fashion to craft a near-infallible image of herself. She consistently has been assured in her choices and always has looked like herself even as her style has evolved. "No public figure better embodies that mantra of full female selfhood: Wear what you like," wrote author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

While it's easy to see a woman in her position and endlessly project meaning into every cardigan and kitten heel, it's not an exaggeration to say that some of the first lady's outfits have been more iconic than others, whether because they communicated a message of empowerment or because they represented rare missteps. These are 44 of some of the most significant of those fashion moments.

1. Rally in St. Paul, Minnesota, June 3, 2008

For her appearance at a rally in June 2008, Michelle wore a look that exemplified her signature style from this period. By this point in her husband's campaign, she had shifted away from wearing corporate pantsuits in order to soften her image (she had been perceived by some to be "angry" and "emasculating").

The dress, a sleeveless purple sheath designed by Maria Pinto, was professional, feminine, and sophisticated. Michelle accessorized with a wardrobe staple, her black studded belt by Azzedine Alaïa, and a strand of large pearls from Carolee.

"Every woman I talked to was saying how she has this confidence that is empowered," Mikki Taylor, the former beauty director of Essence magazine, told the New York Times after the rally. "The purple dress, the legs that I have to believe were bare and not wearing the prerequisite suntan stockings, all say, 'I'm here to do business.'"

Rally in St. Paul, Minnesota, June 3, 2008

After introducing her husband, Michelle gave him a fist bump, and the moment became a real thing, complete with insults and a controversial magazine cover. But for Barack Obama, the gesture was a reflection of the couple's relationship. "It captures what I love about my wife, which is that there is a reverence about her and a sense that for all the hoopla that I'm her husband and sometimes we'll do silly things," he said.

2. Democratic National Convention, Aug. 25, 2008

Michelle chose another sheath designed by Maria Pinto for the first night of the Democratic National Convention in August 2008. This time, the dress had three-quarter length sleeves and was inspired by '50s silhouettes. The color, Pinto said in an interview for the book Mrs. O, was one the designer knew her client "would look radiant in." Michelle added a turquoise brooch — another signature item — by designer Erickson Beamon.

The sheath is "idea for her body type," said Andrew Bolton, the head curator of the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in Mrs. O. "It expresses her youthfulness and athleticism, two of the traits that, traditionally, have symbolized the 'American Woman.'"

On stage, Michelle gave a powerful speech (that Melania Trump was later accused of plagiarizing), where she invoked her upbringing and the faith she had in her husband's campaign. "And as I tuck that little girl and her little sister into bed at night, I think about how one day, they'll have families of their own," she said of her children. "And one day, they — and your sons and daughters — will tell their own children about what we did together in this election. They'll tell them how this time, we listened to our hopes, instead of our fears. How this time, we decided to stop doubting and to start dreaming."

3. The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, Oct. 27, 2008

Just before the election, Michelle was a guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and wore lovely mustard-colored separates, including a pencil skirt, silk blouse, and cardigan. The host asked if her wardrobe was as expensive as some others that had been reported on in the news (namely, Sarah Palin's).

"I'm guessing about 60 grand? Sixty, 70,000 for that outfit?" Leno asked.

"Actually, this is a J. Crew ensemble," she answered. And, in fact, every piece of her outfit, except for the shoes (Jimmy Choo), were from J. Crew. "We ladies, we know with J. Crew, you can get some good stuff online. When you don't have time, you've got to click."

4. Election Night, Nov. 4, 2008

The immediate reaction to Michelle's election night dress was one of dismay. The "lava lamp dress" was "hell-covered," some said — and the black cardigan by Azzedine Alaïa didn't help, many thought. It elicited a strong, almost violent public response, but the dress — one that Narciso Rodriguez modified from a look shown in his spring 2009 collection — proved that Michelle was willing and ready to take fashion risks. The people may not have liked it at first but the dress has fared well over time.

5. Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, 2009

"Lemongrass" is what designer Isabel Toledo called the color of Michelle's inauguration day dress and matching wool coat, which, in its shimmering yellow-green, was meant to symbolize rebirth. "I wanted to pick a very optimistic color, that had sunshine," Toledo told the New York Times. "I wanted her to feel charmed, and in that way would charm everybody else."

Boutique owner Ikram Goldman, a fashion adviser of Michelle's, reached out to several designers for looks that could work for the inauguration. Toledo's design won out. (The leather gloves were from J. Crew.) To make it, Toledo rush-ordered the lace and used four layers of fabric to keep Michelle warm, writes Kate Betts in her book Everyday Icon. "I knew it was right," Toledo said. "I knew it. I knew better than she probably, because I took into consideration so many things that nobody else would."

6. Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, 2009

For the inauguration day balls, Michelle wore an ivory silk-chiffon one-shoulder gown designed by a relatively unknown designer named Jason Wu. He was just 26 years old at the time. Wu, who became famous overnight, created a dress that had thousands of organza flowers and millions of Swarovski crystals sewn onto it by hand.

It might have seemed a conventional or boring choice for any other fancy party. For an inauguration gown, it couldn't have been more out of the box. The previous two first ladies had worn long-sleeved dresses — Hillary Clinton wore blue, then gold, while Laura Bush went with red, then silver. By contrast, Michelle's choice was less fussy, more innocent, and much like the fresh new era she represented.

7. State of the Union, Feb. 24, 2009

Michelle wore a deep purple sleeveless sheath by Narciso Rodriguez to the president's first State of the Union address. Her dress looked unsurprisingly like something she would wear — because in fact, she already had, to Arlington National Cemetery in January that year — but more important, because she had established that the sleeveless sheath is a look she prefers. And still, people lost it over the sight of her toned arms.

The editor of Glamour magazine, Cindi Leive, emailed the New York Times: "Oh my god. The First Lady has bare arms in Congress, in February, at night!"

State of the Union, Feb. 24, 2009

"Should Michelle Cover Up?" asked the Times's Maureen Dowd in a column. "Let's face it," she wrote, "The only bracing symbol of American strength right now is the image of Michelle Obama's sculpted biceps." Dowd called out her colleague David Brooks, who said of Michelle, "She's made her point. Now she should put away Thunder and Lightning." He went on, in case there was any doubt about his feelings: "Sometimes I think half the reason Obama ran for president is so Michelle would have a platform to show off her biceps."

The shock dissipated and Michelle continued to wear sleeveless clothing throughout her eight years as first lady.

8. Buckingham Palace, April 1, 2009

For her first meeting at Buckingham Palace with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Michelle wore a sleeveless black and white dress by Isabel Toledo and a black cardigan to cover her arms. Some suggested that she wore a muted look so the Queen's pink dress could stand out. Others, like Oscar de la Renta, sniffed, "You don't go to Buckingham Palace in a sweater."

Buckingham Palace, April 1, 2009

Of course, this moment is famous not so much for the clothes Michelle wore but what she did while wearing them: She put her arm around Queen Elizabeth's back in a quasi-embrace. The gesture, which would have seemed so natural coming from tactile Michelle, was actually a violation of royal protocol.

"But the Queen made the first move! This is the most astounding thing, because the Queen is not known for being touchy-feely." said the author Charles Moseley on CNN. "The big deal is that the Queen is an almost sacred person. In monarchies, there's a sacredness that surrounds the sovereign."

9. Sojourner Truth Bust Unveiling, April 29, 2009

Mary Tomer wrote in her book Mrs. O that the cotton Sophie Theallet shirtdress Michelle wore to dedicate a new bust of Sojourner Truth at the Capitol building reflected Michelle's "simple origins." The design was "inspired by French peasant clothes," Tomer explained.

Sojourner Truth, an abolitionist and women's rights activist, is the first African American woman to be honored with a bust at the Capitol, according to the Washington Post.

When Michelle spoke at the ceremony, she said, "I hope that Sojourner Truth would be proud to see me, a descendant of slaves, serving as first lady of the United States."

10. Grand Canyon, Aug. 16, 2009

File this outfit under one of Michelle's fashion regrets. When she and her family went on vacation to visit the Grand Canyon, she deplaned from Air Force One wearing her Grand Canyon clothes: Short-sleeve check shirt, white camisole, and gray shorts. People couldn't handle her legs any more than they could her arms. The shorts "created a huge stink," she said on BET's 106 & Park. "People were like, she's wearing shorts getting off of Air Force One ... I've avoided shorts getting off of Air Force One [ever since]."

11. White House Lawn, Oct. 21, 2009

For journalist Kate Betts, Michelle's glamorous fashion moments weren't as interesting as the more down-to-earth ones, like this outfit that she wore to a Healthy Kids Fair. To run through an obstacle course on the White House lawn, Michelle took off her shoes. "She seems remarkably unintimidated by traditions that have subjugated women for centuries," Betts wrote in her book Everyday Icon. "She's not afraid her dignity might be compromised by a barefoot dash across the white house lawn. ... Her gospel generally falls along the lines of empowering women for what they might make of their lives. It is a gospel that is rooted in the substance of style, a gospel that defines style as knowing who you are and being unafraid to show it to the world."

12. India State Dinner, Nov. 24, 2009

Michelle chose a strapless champagne and silver chiffon dress by Naeem Khan for the Obamas' first state dinner in honor of the Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur.

Khan, an Indian-born American citizen, put a team of 40 people to work on the dress, which was intended to evoke the look of a sari. He was thrilled when he spoke to the Wall Street Journal after the event. "Why it was so important, apart from it being our First Lady, was the coming together of India and America, which is me," he said.

The many bangles she wore on her arm were a nod to her guests. "What she did with her hair and I love the idea of all those bangles, because it's very traditional Indian," Khan said. "You know, Indian women do not live without their bangles."

13. Meeting on Fighting Childhood Obesity, Feb. 2, 2010

For a meeting with Cabinet and congressional members on the topic of childhood obesity, one of her causes, Michelle wore the jacket from a tweed suit by Peter Soronen. The suit was one that she had worn in January 2008, when she celebrated her husband's South Carolina primary win. Back in the early days of the campaign, Michelle's approval ratings were low enough to be concerning, and part of it was an image problem. She was seen as too corporate, too outspoken, too fearsome. But she channeled that when she kicked off her Let's Move! initiative.

According to the New York Times, "For Mrs. Obama, the campaign is a chance to complete her transition away from being the mom in chief to taking a more active policy role within her husband's administration." The ambitious plan needed a show of strength from Michelle and she brought back a power suit to help.

14. White House Correspondents Dinner, May 1, 2010

For the White House Correspondents Dinner hosted by Jay Leno, Michelle wore this arresting off-the-shoulder draped dress by Prabal Gurung. With her short, straight bob, Michelle looked like she was going to an awards ceremony in Hollywood — and in fact, she was hosting much of Hollywood in Washington.

"She's worn different kinds of styles," Gurung told the Huffington Post. "She's worn strapless. She's worn bigger skirts. The way this matte jersey is draped and hand stitched — and you haven't seen the back part of the gown — is incredibly beautiful. When I was doing it, I thought it would perfectly enhance the type of woman she is. It's modern, not vulgar, very chic, very beautiful."

15. Cinco de Mayo Reception, May 5, 2010

This multicolored Thakoon dress fit the celebratory nature of the reception, which happened just before a state visit from the president and first lady of Mexico. Michelle loves a print, and this was a fun, vibrant example (maybe the best example) of one of her style signatures. She accessorized with open-toed strappy yellow sandals and big hoop earrings.

16. White House Kitchen Garden, June 4, 2010

As part of her Let's Move! initiative, Michelle invited chefs and kids to the White House kitchen garden for a harvest. It's one of many harvests she had over the years, but this particular image encapsulates the energy and intent the first lady brought to her program. Wearing a green Lanvin top and black pants, Michelle was willing to work, pulling fennel bulbs out of the ground, getting right in the dirt, and perspiring under a hot sun.

17. China State Dinner, Jan. 19, 2011

Michelle chose this dramatic silk organza dress for the occasion of a state dinner in honor of President Hu Jintao of China. Designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, the gown was praised for its glamour and symbolic color.

But then, Oscar de la Renta, who until that point had not been asked to design a look for the first lady, groused (again) about Michelle's choices. "My understanding is that the visit was to promote American-Chinese trade," he told WWD. "American products in China and Chinese products in America. Why do you wear European clothes?" Following that statement, the CFDA came out and expressed its disappointment in Michelle's choice of a British designer over an American one.

In response, Michelle said, "I like to patronize American designers, and the vast majority of the clothes that I wear are [designed by Americans]. But there are a lot of other designers that have cute stuff too. I don't think that I'm any different from any other woman, other than the fact that people see what I wear and then they talk about it."

18. The Today Show, Feb. 9, 2011

Like her Tonight Show appearance in J. Crew, Michelle wore a mass-market brand for a wide-ranging interview on the Today show in 2011. The dress was a $34.95 navy blue polka dot selection from H&M, one that she modified by adding sleeves and removing the sash that came with the dress. She wore it with a red belt and yellow heels. The dress got picked off the racks very quickly, and the price of H&M stock went up 1.43 percent, or by $384 million.

19. State Banquet at Buckingham Palace, May 24, 2011

Back at Buckingham Palace for another casual visit with Liz and Phil — you know, just another state banquet with the Queen — Michelle truly nailed it in a white silk georgette gown designed by Tom Ford, who has a studio in London. The white opera-length gloves did not cause the fuss that Amal Clooney's did at the Golden Globes in 2015, but instead played off the crisscross neckline of the dress to show off her shoulders.

"America's First Lady played a masterstroke in trans-Atlantic style," wrote Hillary Alexander in the Telegraph. "She shimmered in an ivory 'goddess' gown by the American designer, Tom Ford, which underscored the 'special relationship' between the two countries."

20. APEC Luncheon, Nov. 13, 2011

To host a luncheon for the wives of world leaders attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit on Oahu in Hawaii, Michelle wore what many described as a "tropical print" dress from Jean Paul Gaultier Femme. The luncheon's location, where part of Jurassic Park was filmed, overlooked the ocean, and the drama of the vista coordinated nicely with the beautiful print of the dress.

21. "Christmas in Washington" Special, Dec. 11, 2011

Cushnie et Ochs designed this dark green dress, which fit Michelle and the occasion perfectly. Michelle's choice of label followed a pattern of highlighting the work of lesser-known designers. "Stores that thought we were too risqué before have booked market appointments after seeing Michelle Obama in our dress," designer Carly Cushnie told the New York Times. "We booked approximately 25 additional appointments for the upcoming fall collection, including Harvey Nichols Hong Kong."

22. The BET Honors, Jan. 14, 2012

Michelle was on hand to present the Literary Arts award to Maya Angelou at the BET Honors in 2012. The first lady wore a red one-shoulder J. Mendel gown that hugged her curves instead of hiding them. There's a reason this was significant, whether it was intentional or not.

When Michelle spoke at Angelou's funeral in 2014, she said this: "The first time I read 'Phenomenal Woman,' I was struck by how she celebrated black women's beauty like no one had ever dared to before. Our curves, our stride, our strength, our grace. Her words were clever and sassy; they were powerful and sexual and boastful. And in that one singular poem, Maya Angelou spoke to the essence of black women, but she also graced us with an anthem for all women — a call for all of us to embrace our God-given beauty.

"And, oh, how desperately black girls needed that message. As a young woman, I needed that message. As a child, my first doll was Malibu Barbie. That was the standard for perfection. That was what the world told me to aspire to. But then I discovered Maya Angelou, and her words lifted me right out of my own little head."

23. Kids' Choice Awards, March 31, 2012

She's not a regular mom-in-chief, she's a cool mom-in-chief. To the slime fest known as the Kids' Choice Awards, Michelle wore a metallic houndstooth tunic by Wes Gordon with foil-wash jeans by Helmut Lang. "Michelle Obama Wore Skinny Jeans and I Sorta Died," read a headline on xoJane. Not only that, Malia and Sasha got to hang with Taylor Swift, who was peaking in popularity at the time.

24. Iowa Campaign Rally, Aug. 15, 2012

Michelle wore a $93.34 dress from online retailer ASOS for the second time when she appeared at a campaign rally in Dubuque, Iowa. The red check print paired with a blue belt said "America," while the shape of the dress said "new archetypical wife and mother." The president and first lady were the picture of affection at the event. One photo from that day became the most retweeted photo in Twitter's history at the time. Scout Tufankjian, the photographer who captured the image, said, "They have a deep love and respect for one another, and I find that deeply inspirational."

25. Democratic National Convention, Sept. 4, 2012

For her DNC speech in 2012, Michelle wore a sleeveless brocade dress with a fitted bodice and flared skirt custom-designed by Tracy Reese. (The dress was later made available for sale and retailed for $398.) The pink shoes were from J. Crew. Writing in Vogue, André Leon Talley called her a "political dynamo." She looked "like a modern-day Jackie O with Lady Gaga's taste in nail colors," according to The Hollywood Reporter. Michelle's manicure, which read as lavender or greige to some, silver-blue to others, might have been the biggest hit of the evening. (The polish was Artistic Colour Gloss Soak Off Color Gel in "Vogue," if you must know.)

26. Presidential Debate, Oct. 16, 2012

At a town hall debate at Hofstra University in New York, the president faced off against his opponent, Republican candidate Mitt Romney, while Michelle went dress-to-dress with Romney's wife Ann, who, exactly like Michelle, wore the pink of Pepto-Bismol and Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Presidential Debate, Oct. 16, 2012

Michelle's sheath and blazer were by Michael Kors, while Ann wore a fitted dress by Oscar de la Renta (complete with blue manicure!). The situation — with both women trying to avoid being caught on camera at the same time — was awkward enough that it was dubbed "Pink-Gate."

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Source: https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/fashion/g8475671/michelle-obama-style-moments/

Republicans Are Outraged Because Michelle Obama Wears a Sleeveless Dress

44 of Michelle Obama's Most Significant Style Moments

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