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Michelle Obama's election night dress ... ?

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Ok. So what did you think? Michelle Obama, whose fashion has shined throughout this long presidential race with her classic, often unique sense of style (from designer dresses to J. Crew outfits!), got on stage with the family Tuesday night in a red and black dress by Narciso Rodriguez (the designer who created Carolyn Bessette Kennedy's wedding dress).

The dress is from the spring 2009 collection and, as you can see, was altered a bit from the runway version.

I love red, especially on Michelle. I wonder what the dress would have looked like without the black cardigan? With it, the look seemed a tad off balance, especially with the asymmetry of the print on the dress.

 

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would you people effing get

would you people effing get a life!

sheesh...

Michelle Obama's dress

Study Bhantu culture. It's a black widow's dress. She was sending a message, loud and clear, to the Neocons, to not take out her husband, like they did JFK.

Michelle is regal and

Michelle is regal and gorgeous no matter what she wears. She is a career woman and a mother -- a real woman, not some anorexic runway mannequin. I thought the dress was fine. And I imagine she didn't spend too much time thinking about it, because she had a lot more important things on her mind. The critics really need to get a life.

i wonder who paid for that dress?

what's good for palin ought to be good for michelle. glad to see some of you getting frustrated with much ado about scrutiny of a woman's fashion now that your candidate won. where were you when the media had a field day with palin?

Michelle Obama aka the devil's dress

perfect for the wife of the anti-christ!!!!

bizarre dress

Michelle Obama can look so much better that I was annoyed with her for choosing this bizarre style. It might have just made it, if she did not break up the line by wearing that cardigan and stubbing the effect. And, the dress that was originally designed on the runway model was much much better and sexier. The version she wore was over worked and tamed down to the point of being pointless. Michelle, I expect better from you in the future! If you are going high style, then go for broke, don't put your taters in the master's stew.

Michelle's Dress

I think Michelle's dress was hidious and very inappropriate for the occasion. Michelle needs a emergency make-over by a top fashion expert. Her hair and make-up also need an update. Michelle is now a high profile women and she must portary herself as such. Hurry-up and get with the program!

Michelle's dress

While I agree with you about the dress,your spelling is not up to par.portray not portary

Michelle's dress

It was horrible and ill advised. Much too busy and too juvenile.

I just think that the

I just think that the cardigan ruined the dress. If it wasn't so cold then she wouldn't have worn it and the dress would have looked better. But hey even the best dressers make mistakes.

Actually...

I loved the dress at first, back when I thought it had long sleeves. There's nothing worse than taking a dress that's meant to be seen and dulling its impact by putting a boring cardigan on top. However, I think it's refreshing that her choices are a bit more fashion forward than the same old sheaths and suits you might expect. She seems to enjoy being feminine, and knows what flatters her. I look forward to seeing what she'll put on next. I'd like to see her in Zac Posen or Tuleh, or maybe Michael Kors.

black widow spider

I was expecting something phenomenal from Michelle for election night. But the design of this dress had the markings of a black widow spider!

Michelle Obama's Election Night Dress

I would not have worn that dress. I also would never have purchased it. Although I am not into the Jackie O look, I thought that adopting just a tad of the classic Chanel look would have stolen the show. I could have seen Mrs. Obama in an olive colored, double breasted silk suit that buttons on the side (off-center). Of course the skirt would have been pleated for added effect. Matching olive colored cocktail slippers from Sergio Rossi with an up-do with bangs. A pair of black glass pumps from Ralph Lauren may have worked just as well. It would be nice if Mrs. Obama would embrace her position as including fashion consciousness. What you wear is very important also.

Michele Obama's Dress

I absolutely love her dress and feel it breaks out of the mold of being overly conservative.  In today's world, personalized fashion is acceptable, and what better than to wear things that express one's personality. 

I am amazed that the media is all over a dress, as arent there more important things to discuss in the world than a dress?

I believe if you have nothing good to say, then leave it alone when it comes to such trivial matters as a dress.  

Your article was fine and offered insight as to options, but the massacre of a simple dress that Ive read and heard about today otherwise is abhorring! 

Obama dress

I didn't care for the outfit when I saw it, but when I realized that Michelle Obama was wearing a cardigan over what is meant to be a sleeveless sheath design, I guessed -- correctly, as it turned out, that the dress was rather more interesting than it looked on her. It would have been much more striking without the little cover-up, even with the higher neckline.

Election night dress

Oh, I hated it. And was so sad. I wanted her to look amazing and classy. She has this elegance that comes across, even in JCrew skirts and sweaters. I didn't realize that was a cardigan;I thought the dress sleeves were black. I think maybe that's what made the look so strange. Off balance for sure, with attention to the hips and tummy. She can carry off sleeveless, but I know it was cold last night. Maybe she should have opted for an amazing suit. And the girls are delightful, but I don't like black on little girls....

I was definitely not crazy

I was definitely not crazy about the dress. She looks so beautiful in more color (like the purple!), and I think that would have stood out more. But, it was nice that she matched her daughters.

Michelle Obama Dress

It does NOT do her justice. Yuck!

I think the dress was

I think the dress was tacky..... and RED? Can you say "RED STATE"??? A much more classic look, or even a J. Crewe outfit would have been more appropriate. Wonder what the inside of the White House is going to look like?

You've Got to Be Kidding ...

It appears her taste is all in her mouth. Man I hope the White House doesn't fall victim to such tacky drapings.

Love Michelle, hated the

Love Michelle, hated the dress.

Michelle Obama's Election Night Dress

I think that a red or black pashmina shawl would have worked better than the cardigan. The pashmina would have provided a more elegant look; the cardigan made her ensemble appear unbalanced.

This was not her best choice.

CONGRATULATIONS United States of America on electing
our 1st Black President. A historic and amazing time in history.

She usually makes decent choices, and I know that as she improves her image, and as the years go on, she will sharpen her image even more.

As far as her dress last night. Here’s the problem, I felt it was too distracting, and upstaged her family. Although she looked stunning, and her family was absolutely glowing, her choice in dress was off. I do not know who approved this dress, but it was waaay too much. At the end of the day-the dress does not make a woman, a woman makes a dress.

She looked fat and pregnant.

She looked fat and pregnant.

michelle's dress

i guess now that the election is over she can finally ditch the J.Crew and retract her hypocritical comments about Palin

AMEN !!!!!!!!!

AMEN !!!!!!!!!

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About the blogger

Samantha Smith has been covering fashion for the N&O for four years. She came to the paper in 1999 and was the retail reporter before taking on the fashion beat.

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