Michelle Obama, first lady of style

Move over, Carla Bruni, there's a new fashion first lady on the scene.

The black-and-red Narciso Rodriguez dress that Michelle Obama wore in Chicago last night was another daring fashion choice, a straight-from-the spring-runway style that she paired with a black cardigan. The blogs are burning up with opinions about it (most of them negative), but I liked it -- the symbolism of patriotic red bursting out of black like a firecracker out of the night sky.

Next to Jill Biden in her skirt suit, Obama looked like a breath of chic air. Something tells me that Washington is about to become a very stylish place.

The comparisons to Jackie Kennedy are really off the mark. Kennedy's style was rooted in Paris, in the haute couture dresses she worked with Oleg Cassini to replicate.

Michelle may know how to rock a strand of pearls, but she has her own approach to style. Over the past few months, she has mixed designer dresses from young American fashion talents such as Rodriguez and Thakoon Panichgul with cheap-chic finds from J. Crew and H&M, which is a much more modern way to dress than wearing head-to-toe designer. Even if you could afford to spend $150,000 in one month on a designer wardrobe, would you want to? Not if you are a sensible woman and a real fashion enthusiast, someone who enjoys the thrill of the hunt for that perfect $30 black-and-white Gap sundress Obama wore on the Fourth of July. (The Times' Stephanie Lysaght has pulled together a few fashion moments from the campaign here.)

Dresses are becoming a Michelle Obama signature. By choosing to wear them so much of the time, she has set herself apart from all the St. John pantsuit-wearing Washington insiders. Dresses look wonderful on her, accenting her height and her figure, showing off her legs. They are easy too, since you don't have to worry about a matching blouse or jacket.

Just think of all the designers salivating over the idea of making her inaugural gown. You can bet it won't be a traditional choice from Oscar de la Renta or Carolina Herrera, but it will be fabulous.

-- Booth.Moore@latimes.com

Booth Moore is the Los Angeles Times fashion critic

Photo: Joe Raedle / Getty Images

Comments

[tim snead]

I didn't like the criss-cross thing going on and the black back. The colors were vibrant, and the red fading into the black (or vice versa) was nice. It should have been red all around with the fade at top and bottom in complete circles.

She typed on her computer as she wore a stretched-out Tshirt and polyester pants.

[Sabrina]

I thought it was a nice break from the "traditional" suit that first ladies general wear. I've always thought Michelle Obama had good style and taste with remain true to herself. I look forward to seeing what she'll wear at the Inaugural ball.

[Jenny Hansen]

I did not like the dress at all on her. I understand wanting to make a statement, but I felt mixed about it. I like that she chooses simplicity and clothing items that are attainable to us, but this one didn't do it for me!

[Alain Le Brun]

I thought it was atrocious. Had there not been the belt or sash across the red, it might have carried.

In any case, she is a very good looking woman with an electric smile and strong grace. She will no doubt have much better fashion moments over time.

Not that it matters.

[JP]

This may be what's "chic" in LA, but she looks just like a black widow spider. First order of business when you get in the White House, Michelle: Fire your stylist.

[Therese]

Loved the gradual color flow from black to bright red. Hated the black sash in the middle--a brusque disruption of the flow. Was that part of the dress or was it added on?

[lyn]

i did not love the dress she chose to wear last nite but it made the statement of damn we won, it was a victory dress. i think she will dress in expensive clothes and in clothes from popular less expensive outfits as a first lady. i love her smile of i love my husband and family look and i think she is quite self confident as a woman. this is going to be so exciting to watch there lives unfold at the white house. i pray everyday for obama's safety and hope he has more security than any president has ever had. i want to love my country again and trust my president and for the world to have a greater opinion of us in the future. god bless america

[Steph W]

Unfortunately, I didn't like the dress--too halloween-y looking--maybe it would've worked better without that cardigan? But hey, it doesn't diminish the absolute love and admiration I have for the new first lady! I'm sure there will be more hits than misses to come!

[Bob]

Maybe the dress looks nice, up close...

[Allie]

The best part about Michelle Obama's fashion is the way the whole family matches. The girl's outfits from the convention were nothing short of adorable.

[desertwind]

I love the dress (and the matchy-matchy with the kids).

As a lawyer, Michelle probably has had her fill of suit-wearing.

PS - Booth, this is a lousy photo for judging the look!

[Dan in Arizona]

Was it just me and my wife, or were other people reminded of a black widow spider when they saw that dress? It was creepy!

[Sandy]

I like her fresh approach to life and fashion. I mix and match all the time. I am not a one sided coin and therefore, appreciate the blends.

For the most part, a true fashionista does not have a wardrobe filled with expensive outfits or accessories. But rather a collection of vintage, hot new stuff and classics.

Get over it! She is a beautiful woman all around!

[Gill's daughter]

From an X Designer's pov I believe the choice was excellent analytically, bcz for the billions of cameras upon her last night, the black side lining hid her larger hips & focused with the brilliant red into the center of her body. As this writer say's it gives the emotional impact of a fire works explosion for the future! & it's an American Designer! Go Michelle!

[olivia merlos]

Oh My Goodness! Get over it, are we that superficial that we are seeing living history in the making and we are talking a bout a DRESS...seriously people...Lets get things in prespective ......

[Jennifer Guzman]

I hated her dress !! I t was freaking hideous with a capital "H" !!! However, I do love the fact that history was made and Barack Obama was elected President ! I think Michelle Obama could have reconsidered her outfit.. come on lady your husband just won president ?!! And your gonna wear that ?! Hmm... everyone has different taste and styles...I think she could have looked better, appearance wise.

[anonymous]

Michelle is lovely. She is going to be one classy first lady.

[Jane Poordoe]

Wow a first lady that thinks for herself and outside the box. What a relief. It will be interesting to see if she can stave off the challenge and pressures to conform to mainstream womanhood and change the China patterns or play with the curtains.

It will even more interesting to see how the mainstream materialistic values handle someone making new artistic choices.

Do I hear the neurons screaming from the painful stretch marks already?

[Janet]

Michelle is neither a fashion plate or a trend setter. Her clothes can be seen anywhere. All comparisons between Michelle and Jackie O. are ridiculous because there is just no comparison. Having said that, does anyone really care what Michelle Obama wears? Perhaps we should wonder how much they cost?

[christine]

This is now the First Lady of the White House and our Country. I never thought of viewing her dress as patriotic red bursting out of black... you are right on though. What a classy couple they both are. I am really looking foward to the next few years of having class in the White House and most important, children. It's a new day and time for this country, and a long long time coming. Never have I been so proud to say I'M AMERICAN! I am still emotional today as I was last night. I pray for our new President Obama, may the Lord be with him always and protect him and his family.
God Bless America.

[Emily]

This dress looks like she ate the red states for lunch and let the juice spill onto her dress.

[julie]

I think it doesn't photograph well. Might have worked better without the cardigan, showing off the waistline. As it is it looks like ill-arranged blobs of color. No matter, though, she's gorgeous and classy.

[tincan]

She looks smashing and her girls are THEE most adorable sweet dolls I have seen in ages.
I wear dresses all the time and love her style.

Now, where are all the FEMALE cabinet choices, Mr. Obama?

Just because I love fashion does not mean I am not a serious feminist.

Because this election is all about male supremacy.

[Big Fan of First Lady O.]

I normally LOVE Michelle Obama's style but found this particular dress to be very unflattering. I don't care whose name is on the label... If it doesn't do her figure justice---and it really didn't---it might as well be from the clearance bin at Wal-Mart. C'mon, Michelle... We've seen you make much better fashion choices. Crossing fingers for a stunning inauguration dress! Much love.

[Ady]

I agree that it is refreshing to wear different types of clothing. However, the dress was not very becoming for a first lady. It looked like the side of a toy car. Why not be honest and just say that the dress was a off. There is no other designer who would dare to put such a dress on a first lady. Why do you object to traditional nice dresses?

[Katarina]

Think dress would have looked better without the cardigan.

[Jackie]

I thought the pattern was a little off. I did find it ironic that Sarah Palin choose a "blue" dress in Arizon and Michele Obama selected "red" for her color of the evening. When everyone was counting the "red" & "blue" states, how opposite and ironic. I kinda like it.

[gasolina]

What a beautiful description of her dress. "The symbolism of patriotic red bursting out of black like a firecracker out of the night sky." She looks beautiful.

[Rechelle Nettles]

AMAZING, Michele Obama I look forward to her making a difference.

[Nala]

I'm shocked. I mean come on Michelle, this is an international audience watching. It is absolutely not the time to experiment. However I will say, the fact that she can wear a dress as hideous as THAT and still be called "a breath of chic air" says a whole lot about that woman. You could put a plastic bag on her and the next day they would be flying off of grocery store shelves. You go girl.

[Mary]

Who is selecting her clothes? They are awful...and not too long ago her bra strap was showing on national TV (she could also use a new fitting too). Her dress on 11/4/08 looked like a Halloween costume. Also, I don't think a black dress on a child is appropriate (when not in mourning). This is not a good sign...

[sanifu]

I thought the outfit was refreshing change. It was definitely unusual and I think that sometimes we are used to seeing the same bland type of clothes. We combine styles and designers. We are all everyday people. ad We all need to give up our pre-conceptions about what a First Lady should look like and be thankful that we have a strong, intelligent and caring professional woman as First Lady.

Thank you

[Lorelai]

Note to Obama Transition Team: Red looks HORRIBLE on video! Every amateur video production designer knows this.

[Fran]

I liked that Michelle wore a dress rather then a suit however, she made a bad choice in both color and style. The dress was not very flattening at all. She has a sense of style and does dare to be different but she didn't pull it off this time. Hope she comes up with a better ball gown!

[Linda Love-Jones]

Yes, I thought her dress was different, but it was ok. I was so happy that Barack won that I really didn't concentrate on it at the time. But the day after, all I can say is, I'm glad none of them decided to wear green (tee hee!).

Now that Michelle Obama is the First Lady, she'll have designers coming out of her ears, just dying to stitch up anything the First Lady likes in exchange for the opportunity to say that they designed any outfit worn by the First Lady of the United States of America. Sounds pretty nice to have on your resume.

NOW, MORE THAN EVER, BARACK OBAMA!

[Laura]

Mrs. Obama needs a new fashion advisor as well as someone who will teach her to walk, how to stand and how to handle her legs and feet when sitting, particularly if she is wearing a dress and generally, polish her into a First Lady. I realize she has probably been working hard in her career~ wearing pants and more casual clothes but now she is in a powerful position where she needs to be much more "presentable."

[Lisa K.]

I thought this was a funny assessment by my sister, a writer... Maybe the dress was a Les Mis tribute? Because of that Red & Black song. Such appropriate lyrics!

http://www.nudecelebritydeathsuv.com/2008/11/the_michell_obama_decree_a_war.php

[Bonnie Lee]

Dude I loooooved this dress, and I didn't even think about it in a symbolic way! She's tearin it up!!

[Alberto. from Spain]

Michelle Obama es una mujer muy hermosa. Cualquier vestido le sienta bien. Felicidades EE.UU.

Michelle Obama is beatiful woman. Any dress suites her. Congratulations, USA.

[Failin' w/ Palin]

I cut myself off the chablis when the shimmering red splotches on her abdomen appeared to be some sort of malfunction of my TV set. I had the toughest time figuring out what she was wearing. I generally think highly of her fashion sense, but this time I was dumbfounded. I guess she tried too hard to match Palin's $150k wardrobe on a lower budget.

[vina rangel]

It looked really bad!I I am disappointed with her sense of fashion and what looks good on her.
Come on MIchelle, take photos with your dresses before appear in public and judge better what really looks good on you.
I am expecting greatness in fashion at the Inaugural day!
V

[Gwen C]

I love that she does not feel the need to dress like a man to be taken seriously. Women's business suits are designed to hide the fact that you are a woman. Why can't we be taken seriously and dress feminine ...

[Susanna]

This woman and her daughters need complete fashion makeovers before they go to D.C. There's no chic in Chicago anymore, if they are to model it as is.

[Kathy]

I thought her dress was hideous. They are a beautiful family, and what they wear shouldn't be an eye sore that takes away from that beauty. Any good designer should have forseen how silly that dress would look from a distance. Michelle is our future first lady..... not a billboard for show and tell. Note-the Art Institute in Chicago has talented students in design that could have seen that coming.

[Itsumama in Dallas]

I really didn't care for it. She always dresses to the nines and I love ALL her looks, but this dress was awful. It made her look FAT. Although I read about the dress and the designer and the reviews of the dress, It REALLY was bad. If the designer or the person who was in charge of her fashion for the evening looked @ it and saw that the black panels on the sides came too far around the front and with that awful criss cross...it was not flattering.

[Kari]

What the heck is she wearing? Did she forget Halloween had passed? She needs a new stylist, fast!!!

[uron]

Hey...it's a Black Widow spider dress. Obvioulsy a subliminal message for America.

[Jimmy]

This dress looked like a retread from what must have been a lady bug costume she wore for halloween. I'm just glad she left the beenie cap with antennae, and the red puff shoes home this time. Hated, hated , hated it. To me it was a horrendous choice to wear at a time the world was watching an otherwise momentously historical event. She is an attractive woman, but this outfit made her look gigantic in all the wrong places.

As one other blog said, I'm sure she will have other highs and lows fashion wise. I hope she chooses clothes in the future that represent the true chic her new position requires.

[GAIL]

GIVE THE GIRL A BREAK....THIS IS A DAY TO REMEMBER... FIRST BLACK FIRST LADY...SOMEONE WILL HELP HER UNDERSTNAD HOW TO DRESS. HOPEFULLY!

[MPJ]

They are a beautiful family but that dress was awful IMO. She wears clothes very well with her stature and figure but it looks like a sewing class project to me. I agree with other posters it was a bad choice and showed poorly for t.v. and photos. The Obama ladies are very pretty but need some fashion assistance. The overly fussy gowns on young girls - out.