Official White House photo of First Lady Michelle Obama
February 27, 2009 | 2:56
pm
The White House published the official photo today of First Lady Michelle Obama, in a black sleeveless dress. That apparently is scandalizing some people who don't realize how hot the Hawaiian-born new president keeps the Oval Office.
Since they're married, we're also re-publishing the official White House photo of her husband from a January Ticket item. Scroll down or click on the "Read more" line below.
-- Andrew Malcolm
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Photo credit: Joyce N. Boghosian / The White House (Michelle Obama); Pete Souza / The White House (President Obama, below).
Jackie Kennedy also wore sleeveless dresses, I don't remember anyone being critical of her. Jackie also often wore dresses and suits with the hem above the knee, again, I do not remember anyone condemning her for it! So why all the criticism of Michelle Obama? Frankly, it is nice seeing a first lady that is not frumpy and who doesn't have to hide her figure in ill-fitting suits or hide flabby upper arms in long sleeves!
Posted by: NinaK | February 27, 2009 at 04:27 PM
I think she looks great in that dress, it's very flattering and since the dress is black, the pearls are white and the background has no black in it; it's a very striking picture.
Posted by: hms | February 27, 2009 at 06:41 PM
Don't you just love it when a President yammers about sacrifice and he keeps the thermostat high enough to grow orchids, flys in his helicopter to get cigarettes and hops on the HUGE Presidential airplane to fly to Denver to sign his name. Boy, what a hypocrite. He squanders energy while we foot the bill. Maybe if he quit smoking and chewing nicotine gum he wouldn't be so cold. Nicotine constricts the blood vessels, hence cold and can't think clearly either.
Posted by: alibe | February 27, 2009 at 07:17 PM
Nancy Reagan wore sleeveless gowns. Didn't Raisa Gorbachev once wonder aloud why Nancy didn't cover up her 'withered arms'?
Posted by: Nancy | February 27, 2009 at 08:52 PM
Maybe because we're all so god-awful sick and tired of Michelle essentially saying -- hey! I've got great arms! Want to see?
The woman never saw a mirror she didn't like.
Posted by: beth | February 27, 2009 at 09:02 PM
Michelle potrays style and class. The naysayers should get a life.
Posted by: luv2berite | February 28, 2009 at 01:09 AM
Sleeveless dress? BFD. She looks like millions of American women.
Fashion isn't what bothers me about our new FLOTUS.
Posted by: Jones | February 28, 2009 at 02:40 AM
Michell, please stop wearing black. It seems someone has gotten to you and made you neutral. I loved when you wore colors and it was more real. You look great in your picture by the way but don't let those around you make you ashamed of having a figure. Show your hips and parts, what's wrong with being a woman? Don't let them beat you into submission so you can be bland like them.
Posted by: sherri | February 28, 2009 at 02:45 AM
She is stunning. Great choice. I've started lifting to get those arms.
Posted by: tina | February 28, 2009 at 04:27 AM
Our Michelle Obama, our 1st Lady is smoking smart & hot! Let's all imitate her instead of trying to diminish her luminous and sincere smile with useless and senseless criticism: abut how well she can dress a sleeveless hot black Michael Kors dress. How superficial could this cheap talk be! MICHELLE ES FANTASTICA! Michelle is fearless, too! How many of you can exhibit healthy and stunning arms like Michelle does. Who are you kitting?
NOW, get ready to applaude Mrs. Obama for her already great contributions to this nation's conversation on key social issues. Also, let's revere her for nurturing such an exquisite fashion taste, her practicalityabout life issues, her parental skills, her bright mind & fit bodyand her great ideals for the advacement of all men and women of this country.
VIVA MICHELLE OBAMA!
Posted by: C. Yanqui | February 28, 2009 at 05:18 AM
A very lovely and elegant portrait of Mrs. Obama.
Posted by: Siti Nowak | February 28, 2009 at 07:29 AM
That's a descent enough picture of MO. I noticed they are doing the same thing with her that they did to Hillary in the first days. Ramp up the femininity. Remember Hillary in a pink suit with a headband? LOL!! But personally for me I just can't get past the comments she made on the campaign trail, that we have to change the way we view history, we have to change everything we've ever known, that we have to make great sacrifices so that others can have a piece of the pie.
[re-education]
well...thank you michelle, I lost HALF of my 401k, HALF my profit sharing. Everything I have WORKED for so that someone who has never worked, or refused to work can have my money [re-distribution].
You can put lipstick on a socialist.....but she's still a socialist.
Posted by: chardonnay | February 28, 2009 at 08:13 AM
Obama keeps it hot enough in the Oval Office "to grow an orchid" according to various news sources and David Axelrod.
So why was Obama preaching to us that "we can't keep our thermostats set on 72"? (Yes, he really said that.) He thinks 72 is too decadent and wasteful for the little people but keeps his own set at 78? What happened to practicing what you preach?
Posted by: JHM in NC | February 28, 2009 at 10:35 AM
Michelle Obama is one classy first lady. She looks fabulous is everything she wears; from the color to the style.
In fact, she is the most beautiful first lady we have ever had, and the world is excitedly waiting to see what she will be photographed wearing next.
Congrats to Michelle on her style, grace, and beauty.
Many blessings to Michelle and her fine husband, (our Mr. President), as well as their beautiful children.
Pamela
Posted by: Pamela | February 28, 2009 at 10:50 AM
I am so sick of the press and Michelle flaunting her arms. It's nothing wrong with her wearing sleeveless but, come on all of the time. Also, she is not as stylish as everyone makes her out to be because she looks exactly the same all the time just in a different color. We can predict that for whatever event, a formal occasion or a social setting she will wear sleeveless. This is not style--it's called being stuck in a rut.
The big problem is that while everyone is hurting and can not afford to buy food, she seems to take great pride in saying "look at my arms, aren't your jealous." She should get a life and do something useful.
Oh, and for those of you who don't think her arms were airbrushed or photoshopped, you are the same ones who think we will get a balanced budget. Please dress to represent the great old USA.
Posted by: Marie | February 28, 2009 at 07:15 PM
What is all the debate? She is doing what most smart women do when it comes to fashion. She accentuates the positive and camoflages the negative. Everyone who thinks she is doing this because of egocentric motives are just jealous. The reason most stylish people have their own look is because they know what looks good on them. Lets face it.. she has well toned arms that look great when they are shown, so she shows them. It's that simple. You may also notice, she wears a lot of long 'A' framed skirts to camoflage the bottom and flatter her long legs. Any woman who has any kind of fashion sense at all would be doing the same thing. Let it go already. She is beautiful!
Posted by: jane | May 11, 2009 at 11:43 AM