Michelle Obama's edgiest fashion statement yet

The blue patterned cardigan that First Lady Michelle Obama wore to the Royal Opera House today was avant garde fashion with a capital "A." The sweater, with its one-sided check pattern and asymmetrical button placket, is by Japanese designer Junya Watanabe (is this the first time she's worn a non-American designer?), who started working under Rei Kawakubo at Comme des Garcons before launching his own label in 1993.

Watanabe's runway shows are always among the most artistic of Paris Fashion Week. He's showed sculptural takes on the tailcoat, the military jacket, even the jean skirt. For fall, he focused on the puffer coat, sculpting and molding it into elongated, Victorian-looking dresses and cropped shrugs.

With their odd folds and uneven hems, his clothes are not for the timid. They require work and imagination to wear. Obama paired the sweater with a traditional-looking teal dress by Jason Wu. It was a contrasting color but I think it worked. What do you think?

-- Booth Moore

Photo: Sarah Brown, right, wife of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, meets with First Lady Michelle Obama at the Royal Opera House in London's Covent Garden.

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Comments

[Andrea]

Ok, is it just me, or is Mrs. Brown in sore need of Spanx? Girlfriend definitely has back!

[ImagesbyMagoe]

From what I have seen of her fashion selections so far, she prefers a timeless style. Therefore, she does not need to follow any new fashion trend or style because she already has “Style.” Since the core of my professional expertise is image consulting, I feel that Michelle is going to wear what she feels comfortable in-no matter what others think. She can change outfits to create different looks whether it is a designer garment or a department store brand. Not many women in her position can copy her dress code, but I am sure they would prefer to be more comfortable and still look elegant!

We must not overlook the fact that her style goes much farther than just dressing in a fashionable manner. She appears to have great style in the way she lives, interacts with others, displays her manners and behaves toward everyone around her. She portrays all the signs of confidence in herself as a person, being complete on the inside as well as on the outside, and no one should attempt any changes in her appearance or behavior that would upset the image that she already radiates.

Michelle Obama should not be watched only for what she will be wearing everytime she steps out in the public view, or what trends she will follow, make or break thereafter. Instead, she should be watched for how elegantly she handles herself, her family and her life as the First Lady of the USA.

[CRaig]

I'm just curious why the press isn't demanding to know how much and who paid for all her clothes like they did Sarah Palin?

[Bubba Shabazz]

Somewhere there is an El Camino mussing its seat cover.

[Tom Jones]

She dresses like a fool.

[thefoodinista]

Ack! Are there no MIRRORS at 10 Downing Street???? No bras? No Spanx?

Love Michelle. And who is paying for her clothes? Don't First Ladies simply borrow and return?

[ericka]

@CRaig Because it HAS been reported again and again that she pays for her own clothes from their personal money.

[Miss Gleic]

Bad idea, that cardigan. At a glance, looks as though she buttoned it up wrong. Also seems too casual for the event.

[kar]

If the press had a clue they already know that the Obamas pay for her clothing as the White House has said repeatedly.

[dada]

It may look all wrong for an "Opera House", but they were there as guests to watch a morning rehearsal. I think many of the other ladies were over-dressed.

I loved the cardigan. It was an especially good choice for wearing to her next event which was at an all-girls English as second language school. I'm sure the girls loved it (as they seemed to love her)! It was warm and cool.

I also thought it was a fun nod to Gordon & Sara Brown, who are Scottish.

[dada]

Re Michelle's clothes purchases. After Nancy Reagan, "borrowing" is definitely out. I think she buys her own clothes.

I think the shoes might be the ones she wore on inauguration day.

[S. Coco]

CRaig, get over it and get over Palin. Everyone else has. Michelle Obama looked modern and chic in her sweater and it was the perfect outfit to take her from the Opera to the girls school. Love it!

[Dsquared]

The outfit, classic meets "artsy/hipster," is a knockout! Few women (if any) of "First Lady" stature could pull this off.

And how does she pay for her clothes? With her/family earnings, dimwits! Do you not realize that Pres. Obama's books (hardback, paperback) have sold millions of copies and are still selling, and are on the bestsellers' lists around the world--as they have been for nearly two years?

...Stop the hating. It's old-hat, self-defeating and toxic to your health.

[emmy]

A wonderful, eccentric, colourful clothing design. The Junya Wantanabe cardigan is a great deviation of an argyle cardigan. Mrs. O is a smart woman, and she chose something with a bit of imagination.

As for the naysayers, whatever happened for the American taste for innovation and good design?

[Lynette K]

What I absolutely adore about Michelle is that she makes each look her own and nothing ever seems contrived. And while, of course, there is so much more to Michelle than just her fashion choices, it's inevitable that people take notice of her style because she makes such confident choices and looks totally comfortable with them. It's great that she has used her influence to spotlight so many talented but under-the-radar designers, but this recent choice of Junya Watanabe blew me away all over again. I mean, JUNYA WATANABE!

[B. Matsumoto]

Totally funky, Michelle! Love it! :P

[Susan C]

I have two ideas for gifts for future visits with the Browns:
a pair of Spanx and nylons in a lighter shade of black.

[B. Acosta]

I am sorry to say but the sweater by Junya Watanabe for me is ugly! Mrs. Obama should not be wearing puff skirts for it will widen her hips more. She looks great in shift dresses and tunic tops and jackets like the one she wore at the inaugural parade.

[culprit]

C'mon it's not about style or funkiness, it looks bad. The cardigan is ugly. The dress is probably OK, and she looks good in a full skirt. It seems that she's a woman who knows her own body and how to dress to make herself look good. her fashion mistakes seem to occur when someone else dresses her.

mrs. Brown needs to wear loser clothing. the paunch is really awful

[Wade]

"@CRaig Because it HAS been reported again and again that she pays for her own clothes from their personal money."

Erika, you have to understand that Republicans love snide innuendo and the pointless, leading question. And even the wives and children of politicians are fair game.

They apparently are also very sore losers.

[Dan]

If you're not liking Junya Watanabe, you must not know how to dress yourself every morning. He has been running the show for the past couple years.

[Joey]

That outfit is rad. Kudos to Michelle!

[Blake Flint]

Really? Really?! "Funky?"
Good grief she looks like something out of some 1980's dystopia-future movie. The sweater is cute, but should never have been paired with that lamp-shade of teal.
Michelle proves once again that 90% of the time - she can't pick a flattering (or appropriate) outfit.

[Angella]

The person who should be critiqued is the lady standing next to Ms. Obama, for her ill fitting skirt and top and ugly stockings!!!! Bravo Yet Again Ms.Obama for a great outfit ! She shows the rest of the world that Americans can be stylish, trendy and classy at the same time !!!!!
And why is everyone so bent so out of shape about non -American designers she picks,,,,,most of the clothing that is on the Mass market is Made in China .