JUST IN: Michelle Obama's first Inauguration outfit by Isabel Toledo!
Forget Barack Obama's race with John McCain - the fiercest battle of the American election has been between the fashion designers clamouring to dress Michelle Obama for today's historic Inauguration. And the first outfit's HERE. Michelle has JUST emerged in Washington wearing a yellow embellished dress and matching coat by Cuban American designer ISABEL TOLEDO. More info to follow and we will be frock-watching for the next 24 hours!
UPDATE: Style Director Paula Reed on what Michelle's Inauguration outfit says about her...
So now we know who did it......it was Isabel Toledo, the Cuban born New York based designer who dressed Michelle Obama for her husband's inauguration. Mrs Obama has proved herself to be a woman with single minded fashion sense who tends to dress herself: no great claim to fame in normal life, but among the ranks of people in the public eye, attended by stylists every step of the way, it is a proud achievement. However, as much as we want to approve of every Obama move today, we are just not sure about the heavy fabric, the dull colour and the frumpy silhouette. And we have been wondering all afternoon, on whose friendly advice and when did she she decide to ditch the hideous white shiny tights that she first accessorised it with? Were they ditched in the loo or a secret service agent's glove compartment after a desperate text message from a stylish friend? She looked way better with bare legs and her chic Jimmy Choo 'Glacier' pumps. Michelle Obama has in the past favoured the edgy, Maria Cornejo; the classic French, Azzedine Alaia; even the preppy, J Crew. Given that she has scored more style triumphs than setbacks, all by herself, we are more than willing to cut her some slack for this frumpy choice. But in future ma'am, please, lay off the upholstery fabric.
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- Hmmm... Usualy love her style but it's not the most flattering length, is it?
idmarrymarcjifhewasntgay - Please tell me that is a bad-angle photograph. She looks frumpy and her skirt stops at the wrong point - makes her usually fab legs look hefty. No!
KDB - Love her but do not love this. What's going on? And who is Isabel Toledo anyway?
Tigerlili - It's like something that the Queen would wear on a good day!!
SJF
sarahjane - Perhaps she's trying not to upstage him by wearing a dress the colour of dust?
Hanwah - ok ok so it's really frumpy and the wrong length but when all the eyes in the world are looking on you can't really go out all legs and cleavage - and they may get better as they day goes on this is only the first one!
melchester - Its quite a classic style (very Jackie O), but I dont think the colour suits her, and the shoes are too boring!
cookinmummy - This is just awful - who is getting married and its added 10 years to her what drugs are her fashion advisors on
maryCM6 - SORRY - WHAT IS IT? IS THIS OUTFIT LAYRED. SOMETHING DOESN'T LOOK RIGHT AT THE NECKLINE AND THE HEMLINE.
CLEA MYLONAS
Clea - It's like something that the Queen would wear on a good day!!
SJF
sarahjane - Bit of a shocker! I really hope they get better as this is a shambles - unsurprisingly she still manages to look attractive though.
Rachelobyrne - At first glance thought she was wearing a cardigan!
youngjax - Beautiful colour on Michelle but far too dressy for a day outfit. Hopefully her gown this evening will be a stunner.
dharding
dharding - Unfortunately, it looks like she's borrowed from Nancy McCain's wardrobe. Drab and dull, and not a patch on her former style statements.
Mitch12 - The picture itself isn't a great shot to be able to make a judgement. She is in shadow and therefore the colour looks very flat, maybe once she is in daylight it looks better? I agree that the length is a bit off for her.
I don't think she looks horrible though, she's in her 40's and is dressing for her age and the occasion. Remember, although all the female eyes of the world will be taking notes on her outfit, today she isn't really important, it's her husbands day and maybe she realises that and wants to appear demure, which makes a nice change from other wifes of countless people.
ness14 - I think she looked the part. She has the next 4 years to show the world her dress sense.
Joan
joanjoan - Oops - such an opportunity to shine sadly wasted. I think she needs a word with her stylist. The neck, bust,waistline and length all look wrong. This outfit makes a normally confident and stunning looking woman look quite uncomfortable. Presumably she was cold as well and had to add a cardie?
Joholliday - Give the woman a break! In power five minutes and you're trashing her already. It's ladylike. An historic occasion. One where you don't want to cause outrage and still have the footage look reasonable when looked at in 20 years time. Fashion can come later.
Sass - oh please!! put your claws away!! unique choice befitting unique occassion. very early 60's/jackie o...loved that she had sense to wear gloves too...ladylike & cosy it was freezing there!! all things considered she looked great.
shoequeen - Well said Shoequeen. Michelle is an inspiration to working women everywhere. Who cares if she gets it wrong - Barak clearly thinks shes awesome!
mooncakes - ....and so do I!
mooncakes - The outfit was great, it was heavy fabric because it was freezing! It was classy and a great colour for her skintone; maybe Paula Reed doesnt like it because she knows she cant rock that colour or perhaps the First Lady should have worn something like Grazia perennial Aggyness deyn
foxyb - Shoequeen - hope you don't think I have claws for Michelle! I was trying to say the same as you! She has style. Why was Laura Bush never scrutinised like this? Michelle rocks!
Sass - For someone without the slimmest of legs the dress length is right to be sitting on the knee but the coat is hitting the heaviest part of her calf. She is much better in outfits with a waist, a belt would have helped. The vest and cardigan layers look strange. The colour is not helped by the dark light and standing next to her husband in a black coat, stronger colours suit her. Why are there seams showing on the coat? The lining should have covered these and the lining being white is making the outfit look a bit summery. A paler shoe colour would blend with the outfit more. It definitely nicer in close shots when you can see the beading around the neckline and the texture of the material.
Marie13 - sorry dont like the outfit. it might just be the angle but it looks slightly funny not sure if it is the all coordinated colour that is making her look like one big blob of yellow dust fabric or if it is too many layers or something but i think she could do better. However i think she was on the right lines with her ouotfit just went a bit to matchy and too much fabric or something. beautiful women though xxx
3hats
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