Michelle Obama’s Ball Gown

Sandra Rose January 21, 2009

According to the LA Times, the unsightly Inaugural ball gown worn by Michelle Obama cost $1,500 and was designed by 26-year-old Jason Wu.

Some bloggers expressed disappointment at Michelle’s fashion sense (again). But the LA Times raved about the frock:

The gown is an unusual choice. Obama is wearing white in the winter and white at night. (President Obama’s white bow tie and tux combo is even more unusual.) The gown could even be a wedding dress. But Michelle Obama is rewriting the fashion rules and she looks every inch the style icon she is becoming. The one-shouldered style is sexy and the powdery hue reflects the trends we saw on the Golden Globes red carpet. And won’t it look nice in the Smithsonian alongside the other first lady gowns? (LINK)

I said I wasn’t going to be so opinionated in the 09, and I’m sticking to my promise. So I will keep my opinions on the dress to myself.

PAGESINADIARY

she was beautiful!!!
heavn_sent

Perhaps you would have liked it better if it was creased and denim! Booooooooooo!
missmiami

I loved the gown. She has her own sense of fashion and doesn’t care what anyone says because she is a confident black woman. As for the President, he decided to compliment his wife w/the white bow tie.
mizzdallas

Michelle is too beautiful to wear such a disaster dress, she look like she was going to the Cotton Ball Festival, Michelle you must do better!!
lexdiamonz

she looked beautiful and i don’t think that is actual white more of an off-white her brows are the bomb aunt sandy our president is black boo-boo :notworthy:
licia

i’m not a huge fan of the dress, but she looked lovely nonetheless. :notworthy:
brwnsugga4you

i thought she looked better than ever!! besides who cares…it’s time to get back to what’s important…
Destiny

Figures you wouldn’t look the dress. I bet you if Rihanna or Monica wore that dress you would think it was stunning, lol. Extremely biased.
keely107

Yeah cause yall know “these people” are the AUTHORITIES on fashion!
sweets1530

Yea the dress was probably not all that, but Michelle wore the hell out of that dress and she absolutely looked stunning!!!!
shunda

I liked the dress it was just a little too long. I was afraid she was going to trip on it.
http://myspace.com/necee518 yvonne79

First Lady Michelle worked the dress but I think she could do without the sash going across her chest as the dress would look better as a halter. IMO
Anna

Love it or hate it, she wore it well.
luvly1957

Not comment on the dress but talk ish about her man. Sandra you are PATHETIC!!!!
Naima

For someone who praised the fashions of Tiny, no one cares to hear your opinion on the dress
Mississippi16

All Michelle needed was the red Koolaid in the front of her hair and a LV bag the size of a 6 year old.

Aint that right Auntie… see the raving reviews from the Monica and Tiny posts.
Amulet

Michelle is so classy, that I think she could make anything she wears look good.

However, I don’t too much care for the one-shouldered look.
keely107

Why are the comments off on the other Obama post? For a “pro-opinion individual” that was out of character Sandra.
h0tsauce

I thought she looked LOVELY!!! However I wish her hair was pinned up! I believe we could’ve gotten more of a WOW effect if it was pinned up.
licia

i was wondering the same thing keely .
shunda

This is getting pretty pitiful. Positive black people doing great things and all they get is a bunch of flack. This site is just not the same anymore. I thought anytime people change it should be for the better.
Daisy

I loved the dress thought it worked well with her height. I do see how some thought it looked like a bedspread. The dress gets an A in my book though.
Daisy

Aww man I just missed my Pastor on CNN speaking. I had no idea she was on the program at the prayer service this AM.

Shelly has on a green and black print dress it looks like today.
Fenix6376

I can’t lie. I did not like the dress. I was so excited to see what she had chosen for her inaugural gown and I was dissapointed. I don’t think it is the color that bothered me so much Greek off the shoulder toga feel of the dress. It was like a sheet with some flowers on it.

I thought the suit she wore to the swearing in was AbFab. I can not tell a lie. If I could cop it.. I would.. Gloves, shoes and all..

Oh well, the gown was a misstep. It happens. I get to see what she wears for at 4 years. I am looking forward to it!!
Fenix6376

**oops** that should have been… I don’t think it was the color that bothered me so much, but the Greek off the shoulder toga feel of the dress.
http://myspace.com/thegameoncw Bird

Michelle is not a style icon and is not trying to be. I never love what she is wearing. Not even once and not last night. I think what is important to remember is that she is a very accomplished African American woman and you can’t get to where she has gotten if you are chasing labels all day long at the mall. Leave that mess to the rappers, jump offs and everyone else who thinks it’s important to keep up with the Jones’ at any cost. The Jones’ are trying to keep up with the Obamas. You better recognize.
Daisy

@Fenix for some reason most designers who submitted sketches had the one shoulder action going on. It did not bother me though.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=72503781 yanibunny02

i thought she looked beautiful but i didnt like the glued tissue paper look…she coulda went with vera wang or valentino…something like that…i see she was tryin 2 think outside the box and used all the tissue paper…lol
Naima

One thing I do feel sorry for Michelle is that she is gonna have a lot of miserable BW hating on her. Women who have never accomplished anything but wanna talk about every dress and pair of shoes she puts on.
h0tsauce

***Wonderin’ Why Sandra hasn’t post pictures of Tinnie in that Orange dress and Mink lookin***…well I’ll just keep my opinion to myself.
Daisy

@Bird wow you have never liked anything she has worn. I loved quite a few pieces over the last 2yrs including last night and yesterday at the swearing in. Some of the pieces I wouldnt wear but I have liked. She wears her clothes with confidence and in the beg. was compared to Jackie O so she is considered to be an up and coming style ICON!
shunda

@Naima
Say it! With her education and accomplishments I would wear a paper bag and not care. I am working on my Master’s now and hope to be fortunate enough to go to law school one day.
Daisy

@Naima I think thats a bit harsh and I like her sense of style. Not everybody is and thats NOT being a hater thats having an opinion. It has nothing to do with her being black and most of us on here being black. I liked some of Cindy McCains clothes some I didnt. Its a matter of OPINON and prefrence NOT hate. Overall black women love and give Shelly props more times than not.
Daisy

@Shunda I am in school working on my MPA. I am a little behind now since I been in DC so I will have my head in my books once I get back tomorrow..lol
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=72503781 yanibunny02

@daisy…i agree its just an opinion…i usually love what she wears but just wasnt feeling the dress 2 much…
Daisy

@Yani I loved the dress but I can see why you and others did not. Everybody has their own taste and style when it comes to most things esp. fashion and clothes. So its all good.
shunda

@Daisy
I am going for my MBA and at a liberal arts school so we have twice the workload of most programs. However, I am focused and determined. Good luck with your studies. I am trying to maintain my 4.0 so I will have my head in the books as well
Daisy

@Shunda my undergrad is in Bus. Admin. so good luck. I can’t wait to get into my Public Admin. classes im taking my last 2 core classes now.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=72503781 yanibunny02

@daisy…either way i thought she looked beautiful just i think the dress wasnt on her level so it kinda made her look a lil frumpy…idk its not a horrible dress but as i said i dont like that tissue paper look…i c it a lot and never really felt it….mayb if it was a different color mayb it woulda got a pass….but shes still a beautiful black woman…we all have made mistakes in fashion sometime or another…we just not in the spotlight like her….
uptopgrl

I thought the gown was pale yellow, I wasn’t a fan of the gown but I thought it was appropriate for the occasion.
shunda

@Daisy
My undergrad is in MIS so I am pretty much doing it with out the computers this time. The MIS degree helped me get out of any core classes. I am into the MBA classes now.
http://myspace.com/thegameoncw Bird

Naima Says:

One thing I do feel sorry for Michelle is that she is gonna have a lot of miserable BW hating on her. Women who have never accomplished anything but wanna talk about every dress and pair of shoes she puts on.
*************************************

Why feel sorry for Michelle? It’s the women who have accomplished nothing, but have the nerve to be focusing on people’s clothes that you should feel sorry for.

Daisy,

I have never liked anything she has worn and I don’t know about her confidence either. Some ladies and I were discussing the fact that she NEVER wears heels because of her height. One woman said she thought it was because she was afraid of overshadowing Barack whom she is shoulder to shoulder with even in flats. I have a friend who is 6’3 and she had that insecurity. She didn’t start wearing heals until she was in her 30’s and totally secure with her height. The fact that Michelle goes without them no matter what she is wearing makes me go hmmmmm. But we all have our own insecurities. She is still beyond dope as far as I’m concerned. Her clothes really aren’t important to me.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=72503781 yanibunny02

@shunda…well u go girl….i wanna go back 2 school soon…probably n tha spring sometime…i mayb a lil behind than everyone else but i want 2 get my associates in criminal justice…
Mississippi16

I thought she looked nice… although I didn’t love the dress.

Did anyone care what Laura Bush wore to the Inaugural Ball? Michelle is human and if her man like what she’s wearing, that’s all that matters.
http://myspace.com/thegameoncw Bird

Shunda,

Can you believe my ex got through undergrad and graduate school and still doesn’t even know how to do the freaking job which I think has to do with IT? What a waste of money. He got his masters 4 years ago and has yet to work in his field of study.
Daisy

@Bird I dont think Namia has to feel sorry for anybody and you were one of the women who didnt like her dress/clothes so I feel she was dissing you and others who dont like her sense of style.

As far as her wearing flats that drives me BATTY but she did have on a slight heel during the day yesterday. She has confidecne heels or no heels.
Naima

True Bird, true
shunda

@Bird
I have been very fortunate and blessed. Most people I know do not work in their field. I was determined. Also the heels may not have anything to do with height I wear heels but hate the way they make my feet feel and I am only 5’3″.

@yanni
It is never too late. I love school I will go at all times. My family laughs and says what are you going to school for now? As long as I go I will never have to pay back those loans I got in undergrad haha.
Daisy

@Shunda I took all my core classes in undergrad but umm thats about 10-12yrs ago so I couldnt test out.
Daisy

@Shunda I only had 4 core classes anyway.
shunda

@Daisy
I hate those time limits. My prof had to do 120 hours for her PHD because her master’s was 1 semester too old. If it wasn’t she would have only had to do 60.
Anna

have never liked anything she has worn and I don’t know about her confidence either. Some ladies and I were discussing the fact that she NEVER wears heels because of her height. One woman said she thought it was because she was afraid of overshadowing Barack whom she is shoulder to shoulder with even in flats. I have a friend who is 6?3 and she had that insecurity. She didn’t start wearing heals until she was in her 30’s and totally secure with her height. The fact that Michelle goes without them no matter what she is wearing makes me go hmmmmm. But we all have our own insecurities. She is still beyond dope as far as I’m concerned. Her clothes really aren’t important to me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I think she was/is a Tomboy. When they first started campaigning she was wearing khacki’s did not wear makeup and her hair was in a pony tail. Also, some women do not like to wear heels.
Daisy

Sherri on the View can IRK me sometimes. I love her on the show but some days I just want to pull her to the side and say girlfriend….
shunda

@Daisy
What did she say crazy now?
BLACKBARBIE404

IT’S SO EASY TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN THE WORLD TODAY. I THINK ALOT OF THESE RECENT POSTS AND COMMENTS CONFIRM IT.

BUT LORD KNOWS, IM A BELIEVER AND I AM SO HAPPY TO HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO SEE THE FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT TAKE OFFICE TO UNITE AMERICA.

I’VE READ THE COMMENTS FROM ALL THE BANNING THAT WENT ON AND I THINK IT’S SUCH A SHAME THAT THERE IS A DOUBLE STANDARD.
VAALLDAY

I think she looked great. The dress was a good choice. Everyone has there own opinion…but then again who cares what the haters think!!! :lolsign:
Keita01

Michelle, looked stunning and she complimented her man very well. I love Barack and Michelle!!!

Black love is beautiful, baby.
bk2atl

Hey Fam. I liked the dress, but I LOVED the fact that she went with a virtualy unknown designer, who will definitely reap the benefits of her choosing to wear his design. There’s something so altruistic about this woman and I love it. Also, I think she was making a statement by wearing a dress, that by fashion industry standards, was affordable. IMO, it shows that she is sensitive to the economic climate of the average American (woman) today.
ChokLitFactory

After I’ve had time to digest the dress and see close-up pictures of it…I can say, I didn’t care for it as much. But Michelle can still do no wrong in my eyes!! She looked beautiful with her husband and I am so proud!! :cry2:
babysoft15

Oh Gosh…another Obama post…. ! I’ll just be until this obsession ends! I mean heck…we’ve moved on past Beyonce….this too will subside!
Fenix6376

OMG!!! I don’t think talkin gabout the first lady’s fashions is some horrible gesture that takes away her accomplishments as a block woman in America. If you have followed politics any time before Barack Obama’s announcement that he was running for office, you would know that a first lady’s fashion has always been a topic for discussion. The inaugural gowns of every frist lady is actually on display at the Smithsonian.

The reason so many people are interested in her fashion is becasue of the media’s need to compare this first family to the Kennedys. Jackie Kennedy lead the trends in fashion back in the 60’s and many are wondering if Michelle Obama will do the same.

I just didn’t like the dress. That has nothing to do with her accomplishments or being “crab in a barrel”. It’s not that serious..
jazi65

I didn’t like the shoulder strap but overall she looked fabulous!
terika83

I LOVED the gown on her…it was very pretty.
rochele08

^cosign @ 63

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