What Michelle Obama should have worn: channeling Jackie?
Not to belabor the point (oh, maybe just a little), but this is what Michelle Obama should have worn to the Inaugural Ball. Although a different color might have been in order, the cut and drape would have been just perfect:
The dress has the added attraction of being historical: designed by Oleg Cassini, it was worn by Jacqueline Kennedy in 1962 at a White House dinner honoring Nobel Prize Laureates of the Western Hemisphere.
While looking for that dress, I noticed that all of Jackie’s clothes on display at the Met exhibit were beautiful. What taste that woman possessed (not to mention the money to indulge it)! And she had the model’s figure to go with them, both in the rarely-seen casual moment:
And on the formal state occasion (note her posture in the following photo, as well):
I’m not saying Michelle Obama needs to be Jackie Kennedy. She most assuredly does not (and for starters, remember that Jackie was only thirty-one years old when her husband was inaugurated). But during Obama’s campaign, Michelle showed a tendency to follow in Jackie’s footsteps in terms of style of dress, and it really suited (pun intended) her. Perhaps now she’s searching for her own fashion identity—but if so, she’s looking for it in all the wrong places.
Yes!
Personally, I liked the dress Mrs. Obama wore to the balls – it was very pretty but there are many other dresses that would have looked better.
The Cassini dress or something similar would have been much better – perhaps in a beautiful red, purple, pink, even white, doesn’t matter.
I also think for some reason, Mrs. Obama appears to slouch. I don’t think it is intentional at all – perhaps she is so close to being as tall as her husband that she just does it without even thinking. Unless it is a health problem, she needs to stand straighter and with her chest out and show herself off.
Jackie was lovely, tho’ her taste in men horrendous (boy, can I relate!) I took a look at your link to her wardrobe at the Met – every item is still wearable today. Michele O – take a look!
It’s hilarious, the woman at my office were criticizing her dress. They probably didn’t even vote but they’re definitely no Mccain supporters and they probably don’t even know where Alaska is. lol
I differ with you observation on what Michelle Obama should have worn. You are right – the Jackie Kennedy dress was gorgeous, appropriate, etc. Jackie has never been one of my idols, but the woman knew how to dress her body elegantly.
And Michelle Obama’s body is no Jackie Kennedy. Michelle has muscular shoulders, a small chest, and big hips. The dress she picked highlighted each of these- which is not necessarily a good thing. That is why she looked so bad in it. She needs to dress to de-emphasize the hips – which is another reason why the red and black dress looked so bad – it emphasized the wide hips. Because she doesn’t have boobs to match, a bare chest, or a v neck which would let the boobs (if she had them) balance the hips, won’t work.
She needs to find a stylist that understands body types first. Whoever picked the black and tan outfit surely did.
Carol Ward: Jackie Kennedy was of course thinner and less muscular than Michelle Obama. But Jackie was nearly flatchested, and her hips, although small, were big in proportion to her very slender upper body.
That, I believe, is why Michelle Obama looked really good in the retro-Jackie clothes she wore during the campaign. Her body is a taller, more muscular one, and she lacks Jackie’s grace and regal bearing. But Michelle’s form is not unlike Jackie’s in the relationship and proportion between/among its parts.
Take a look again at the photo above of Jackie in slacks; I have enlarged it.
There’s no doubt that stylists were tasked w/ “Jackie-O”-izing Michelle Obama, quite overtly for that matter, at the beginning of last year. (Before she was quietly removed from major speaking engagements and public appearances for a , long while, as she seemed off-putting with a giant chip on her shoulder.) She was clothed in tailored 3/4-sleeved short-jacketed suits which Jackie Kennedy was known for. They suited Michelle Obama because she is particularly short-waisted for a women of her size with rather large hips and very long legs. If the suit skirts were not too tailored, they looked great, as her broad shoulders balanced the hips, and the knee length left lots of long leg, which is a good feature (although I have to admit I still find the move toward bare legs jarring when dressed up; maybe it’s my generation — I’m 51, but I still believe hose/stockings enhance legs and bare shiny skin does not.). Additionally, the 3/4 length sleeves eliminate the problem of a sleeve hem falling too short on Michelle’s long arms.
I have been a fashion designer for most of my professional life, so am intimately informed re: proportion. Neo happened to pick the perfect TYPE of gown for Mrs. Obama: no defined waist, and flowing, though not full to look as if it’s obviously hiding large hips. Another lovely evening look for Mrs. Obama might be a 2 piece gown: a silk shantung in a solid pure color ] or an irridescent crosswoven effect in silk gazar cut in a shirtwaist look with a lapel neckline that stands up in back of her neck. She has a lovely long neck and his would elongate the appearance of the length between her head and waist. Then a full cut ball gown skirt, perhaps sitting just a bit below her naturally high waist, cut in a silk plaid on the bias — because of her height, she can handle bold pattern. It would hide the wide hips, and accent a smaller waistline. A simple strand of good size pearls would finish off the look. Away with the fussy earrings — just because they are in style, doesn’t mean they have to be HER style. This could become a great signature style: fresh, tailored, yet special occasion.
The mistake so many “fashion victims” make is seeing a outfit — a “look” that is great on a model or mannequin, but they does not transfer well to the average woman’s figure. In fact, mast catwalk show clothing is for effect and actual merchandise for sale is cut in a much more modified form. A timeless style, would seem to suit Mrs. Obama’s logical approach. Though her lifestyle is in for a major change, she represents a career woman with a family, as opposed to the consummate socialite, and I think she can be glamorous while still wearing clothes that appear attainable — as she dresses her children. Additionally, mix and match pieces always get more bang for the buck, and require somewhat fewer shopping trips, fitting, and all that entails, while making for much easier travel. Although most women want to feel pampered during the shopping process, more expensive does not necessarily mean better looking, and it seems Mrs. Obama has not in the past — not yet, anyway, deemed designer couture the only way to go.
Now that she is first lady, designers will be in line clamoring for her to wear their product — the worth in advertising of one front page picture in the news is incalcuable. Often clothes are provided at cost, or very little, because of this. Oleg Cassini built his career on being Jackie O’s primary choice in designer; Nancy Reagan wore Oscar de la Renta often.
The key is to find a designer and/or stylist who wants to create a “Michelle Obama” style as opposed to imposing their own taste on her. I assume Mrs. Obama would appreciate this, as well, and I think it would result in a more relaxed and confidant appearance.
As for her posture — many very tall women tend to develop that affect, as girls often grow faster than boys and being the tallest person around can be unnerving. More than her posture, I find her stance — a more mannish legs apart position moe off-putting; her walk, too is awkward, I do not remember reading if she has a history of athletics, but often very athletic women walk and stand like this. It is not the most graceful. But she is who she is — and there is no need to completely remake her — just give her a fresh signature look with which she is comfortable and confidant.
Someone else mentioned her hair. I agree that a fresh look can be quite exciting for a woman, and a great hair stylist with vision can often come up with a terrific new look which often changes one’s entire appearance. I think it would have to be someone with whom Mrs. Obama could develop a rapport. That can be a big step, and tho’ hair grows, if it’s something that turns out badly, one can be stuck with it for quite a while! (It took Hillary Clinton a while to metamorphose from the long-haired headband wearing preppy, to the smart short, yet feminine look she sports today, and she’s never looked better. Only time will tell)
Neo
Thanks for enlarging the picture. I am still not so sure about Jackie’s hips/ proportions, but I admit that I will pay closer attention to pics of Jackie O (Why do I think we are in for a Jackie O/ Kennedy revival??? Obamalot.).
I could definitely see Michelle Obama’s body type in the tailored shirtwaist/ lapel two piece gown.
Most important, thanks for the opportunity for diversion. Your piece above on the relationship between Obamania and BDS is the usual, insightful commentary I enjoy at your site. Every now and then, though, I like a little fashion fluff.
Cheers.
I liked the dress she wore, really vibrant red.
Also, i’m not sure that this dress was of suited Michelle’s figure which is much fuller.
Good God! to compare this woman(Michelle O) with Jackie Kennedy is such an insult. Jackie Kennedy was a woman who knew how to hold and handel herself. Her style is and always will be timeless. JKF at least knew where this county stood political obmah does not! I come from a long line of vetrans who i must say are so ashamed to have a comander and cheif or his wife even think of compareing himself or herself to past presidents. I fail to see how they expect to lead this country when their biggest concern is “who made they tie or dress Jack or Jackie wore?
I for one am HAPPY that Michelle stopped channeling Jackie and got her own style. Michelle’s dress was absolutely beautiful. It suited her, it was modern and the white was symbolizing a lot of things. Jackie did have an impeccable style but Michelle has class of her own with her own identity, so wearing a designer Jackie wore would have been . . . a bit much.
To settle the question of Jackie’s proportions, according to Oleg Cassini’s book about Jackie’s clothes, “A Thousand Days of Magic”, on page 23 he gives all of her measurements (are there no secrets for First Ladies?): Bust 35 1/2″, waist 26″, and hips 38 1/2″.