There's nothing quite this stunning in all of the WH official portrait history

[bigtree]

. . . not by a mile.



Official portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama in the Green Room of the White House, Feb. 12, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/8491445521/sizes/c/in/photostream/

[beveeheart]

1. I love our First Lady, but

Jacqueline Kennedy looked great too.

[Baitball Blogger]

4. They were both women of their times.

[bigtree]

5. Jackie looked great

. . . she and her husband had an enviable sense of grace and charm.

[MynameisBlarney]

20. Ayup

She surely did.

[Fla Dem]

39. Both stunning women in their own times...................

[TheMadMonk]

41. Jacqueline ONASIS didn't do it on a President's salary. /nt

[cyberswede]

53. What do you mean?

She wasn't an Onasis until after she was First Lady.

[Hekate]

58. You are wrong. Jackie's style was simple clean lines, always, but the Kennedys were rich

Jackie Kennedy, when widowed, was still a wealthy woman. She married Ari Onassis -- and he was uber-wealthy. Her style, however, could have been produced for less money (and was, see below).

Both Michelle and Jackie wear notably clean uncluttered lines in their clothing and their hairdos. Both can afford garments in wonderful fabrics, Jackie even more than Michelle because, like I said, the Kennedys came from money. Michelle, in keeping with her more modest upbringing, wears less-expensive fabrics and designers, but still above anything I want to spend. Both have slender bodies and are graceful, with good posture.

The reason that "the masses" want to copy Michelle's style and wanted to copy Jackie's is that both women look SO good in whatever they wear -- and because those clean uncluttered lines were and are easy to mass-produce.

The Kennedys and the Obamas are the two most elegant couples in the White House in my lifetime.

[mopinko]

72. jackie was born to it. michelle learned it on the job.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

82. Very true.

What I learned from having a mom who was a fashion major: Wear simple clothes made out of excellent fabrics.

I also learned that from a guy who owned a fabric store--if anyone else remembers those!!

[Hekate]

85. I miss fabric stores!

I have to say, my own sense of style has always tended to the uncluttered line and clothes that don't go out of style....

Lucky you, to have two people in your life who knew fashion and fabric.

[maddiemom]

92. No Joanne's Fabrics in your area? Are here in western PA.

[maddiemom]

93. Excuse me. Jo-Ann Fabrics.

[Hekate]

102. >sigh< When the last fabric store left us, one of the craft stores kept stuff for quilters

The craft store has a good selection for those purposes, and some notions.

It's too bad, really. My mother sewed clothes for us to save money, but I could hardly scratch out the time while working full time when my kids were little. At a certain point I realized there was no saving money from home sewing any more, because clothes on sale cost less than the fabric alone, not to mention my time. That would have been the early '80s.

Somewhere in there I read an article in the LA Times about the demise of home sewing for those very reasons. They said mostly it was left to hobbyists, people who really loved sewing for its own sake. The only real savings to be had was if you were sewing your own haute couture, where the cost of the fabric was incidental to the final creation of something that would have cost you thousands to purchase whole.

[Motown_Johnny]

43. Agreed, but....

I think our current first lady has her beat. Not by as much as the OP indicates, but still.

[beveeheart]

48. Thanks for posting these pics.

[malaise]

49. What I love about both is that they weren't afraid to bare their arms

[lbrtbell]

59. Wearing pants is more important

I don't like this whole business of wearing dresses all the time. When your wardrobe compares to that of a First Lady in the early 1960's, it's time to remember that Hillary Clinton brought us kicking and screaming into the 20th century by wearing pants suits. In the 21st century...just no. Michelle needs to take the baton from Hillary, and show the world that women can wear the pants--literally!

[malaise]

61. I disagree

I wear both dresses and pants suits and women must wear what makes them feel comfortable. I'm for choice.

[xxqqqzme]

78. Hillary likes pant suits

because he dislikes her legs. You wear what compliments your shape and what is comfortable.

[SaveAmerica]

81. It's 2013 where (thankfully) women wear what they want to wear

I think way too many women in Congress were trying to be Hillary's mini-me and I love when people stand up and out and do their own thing.

[Number23]

86. What a strange comment.

[CTyankee]

84. Last Sunday, the NYT had a big magazine section devoted to style with Lee Radziwill on

the cover. If you can get a copy of that photo you can approximate what jackiie would look like today, they resembled each other so much and there was that "look" the two of them had. I was surprised because frankly I thought Lee R. was dead...

[roguevalley]

70. Jackie was a lady luxe just like Michelle. I loved them both. I also loved Eleanor

Roosevelt and Bess Truman. Integrity and beauty are the same to me.

[UtahLib]

2. I agree. I think her natural and honest personality outshines them all. n/t

[tblue]

3. Oh yeah? What about Barbara Bush?

Not knocking her looks but I do believe she's evil.

Now as for our current FLOTUS: Beautiful, sweet, brilliant. Michelle is human perfection to me. I just adore her.

[Bandit]

30. They thought so much of her they put her on the dollar bill.

[jmowreader]

47. The Quaker Oats box too

[awoke_in_2003]

74. I was about to say...

that I have to look at that every morning.

[jmowreader]

83. The advantages of bulk oats

A. Cheaper for equivalent quantity
B. Better for the environment
C. Get exactly what you need
D. No free Barbara Bush portrait

[Mnpaul]

80. Such a class act

The only first lady to make death threats on CNN.

I'm not kidding, she really did this.

[IdaBriggs]

96. How did I miss this? Tell! nt

[Mnpaul]

100. On Larry King Live

BUSH: Motherly. And fatherly. I mean, that's just a normal reaction.

But the same would be true if something happened that was difficult for Jeb or for Doro or Neil or Marvin. And you can criticize me, but don't criticize my children and don't criticize my daughters-in-law and don't criticize my husband, or you're dead.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0310/22/lkl.00.html

[lunatica]

6. I'm very proud of our First Lady!

[ChisolmTrailDem]

7. Barack is one lucky guy! eom

[madokie]

8. Pretty woman inside and out

With her it comes from the heart.
Best First Lady ever.

[workinclasszero]

95. Totally agree with you

I love Michelle Obama. So pretty, classy, kind and wonderful lady. She just radiates love and kindness, to me anyway.

[Whisp]

9. Beautiful person and best FLOTUS ever. Love you, Michelle. n/t

[cali]

13. sorry, much as I like Michelle Obama, the best FLOTUS ever is Eleanor.

No one comes close to her.

[Whisp]

14. we can have an arm wrastle over that some day. with a beer or 9. hah n/t

[davsand]

27. Reminds me of the debate about Arwen and Galadriel in Lord of the Rings.

Both were beautiful. One was the Morningstar and the other was the Evenstar. How do you choose between the beauty of dusk and that of the dawn? (Sorry, I couldn't find the exact quote!)



Laura

[fizzgig]

32. just because i am a tolkein nut

gimli to eomer

"You have chosen the Evening; but my love is given to the Morning. And my heart forebodes that soon it will pass away for ever"

[zipplewrath]

45. Oh, I don't know

Abigail Adams is often overlooked. Alot of suggestion that she was the "brains" behind it all. He had the legal training, alot of often poorly focused passion, and the ambition. But it was in his discussions with her that the logic and potentially brilliance came out.

Then of course there is Dolly Madison.

[MoonRiver]

10. She is a wonderful person and beautiful woman!

And I do like the new bangs.

[cali]

11. Great photo of a wonderful First Lady but not the most stunning

heck, I like the previous official portrait of her in the black sleeveless dress better than this one.

And there are some fantastic paintings of 19th century first ladies and some stunning pictures of Jackie and I love Eleanor's face, even though lots of people consider her homely.

[bigtree]

12. heh, 19th century

. . . you're cracking me up!

Eleanor was an absolute darling.

[MoonRiver]

15. Yes, and she was quite pretty when young.

[bigtree]

19. there it is

. . . soulful eyes.

[MoonRiver]

23. One can see why Franklin fell in love with her.

Apparently he liked her serious, studious manner, which contrasted dramatically with the silly, flippant girls he had dated before Eleanor. Too bad he had to betray her.

[pink-o]

52. Actually, I think Eleanor was gay

Even before I read about her girlmance letter exchange with a "good friend" my Gaydar was sounding. I also think that motivated a lot of her progressive feelings and compassionate acts.

So maybe she and Franklin has an arrangement: you can have a mistress and I will too.

She really is one of the greatest women of the 20th century. This quote alone qualifies her:

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."

[MoonRiver]

66. I don't think so.

I've read a few biographies of them and she was totally devastated when he cheated on her. Due to her Victorian upbringing she was very uptight about sex. She told her daughter that sex was a horror women had to endure (or something like that). There were rumors about her and a very close friend, which I still think was a sexually platonic relationship, although it may have had major romantic overtones. Anyway, that's my take. I just adore Eleanor!

[Enrique]

22. Nancy Reagan as well

and Eleanor I agree took some great photos.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

16. I've always liked the one of JFK:

It goes beyond the typical headshot and is arguably the closest to actual art.

The way he's looking down gives something of a sad, meloncholy feel to it. Fitting given the tragic end of his presidency.

[karynnj]

46. I 've never seen that one - it is great

I was also struck by the resemblance to his grand nephew who was just elected to Congress.

[Grateful for Hope]

63. I also have always loved this portrait

I have felt it's as if the artist was capturing what was to come.

It also captured his physical struggles.

[lpbk2713]

17. We're not worthy. We're not worthy.

[treestar]

18. Agreed, lovely portrait

She looks beautiful as always.

[iandhr]

21. I LOVE HER

[Paper Roses]

24. Beautiful and gracious. n/t

[WinkyDink]

25. Au contraire:

[amandabeech]

34. That photo captured Jackie's mysterious quality that people just could not get

enough of.

Michelle is equally beautiful, but the portrait released today shows her straight-forward, honest quality.

Not that Jackie was dishonest.

It is too bad that the two First Ladies cannot talk in this plane of existence.

[Aristus]

35. It's a shame, but Jackie Kennedy was a heavy smoker.

So she may have been beautiful to look at, but she can't have been very appealing up close.

Mrs. Obama is simply stunning, though...

[graham4anything]

26. Another portrait to come in the future- President Michelle Obama 46. 2024,2028

[WinkyDink]

29. Get real.

[graham4anything]

31. I am fully serious.n

No reason either of the two won't happen.

Taft went from presidency to the White House
Hillary went from first lady to the 45th president

Michelle can run for senate in Illinois in a couple of years then run for President after.

Necessitating a second portrait, Michelle's as President herself.

BTW, I would put Rosalind Carter as #2.
Jackie was cold and above it all.
Michelle and Rosalind are people persons.

[cali]

36. Actually, she was not cold and above it all. I knew her slightly

she was lovely to me. she was gracious and kind and had a way of really listening.

You clearly know nothing whatsoever about her.

[graham4anything]

38. I had the pleasure of meeting her at many benefits in NYC

I stand by my remark.

No need to whitewash my opinion.

The pleasure was my meeting her.(not vice versa).
She sure always seemed to want to be elsewhere then mingling with nobodies.


If she knew you then that would be different.
And people's attitudes if it was in California can be very different than in Manhattan.


Rosalind Carter was very warm, gracious, hospitable and friendly. A regular person.
Same the one time I met Michelle Obama. The beautiful smile is 100% genuine.

But why does it have to be a competition anyhow?

[cali]

87. Meeting her at a benefit or two? not the same thing.

I worked for a very close friend of hers, prior to going out with one of her nephews. I was a nobody; an au pair girl. From the first time she met me, she remembered this nobody's name. When she called, she always asked how was I doing. I had the opportunity to converse with her on a couple of occasions.

And it's not a competition. YOU started with slagging off someone you never knew.

[graham4anything]

88. That is correct. NOT the same. Nice memories. But I stand by my remarks.

You were in a completely different situation that was personal/ professional vs. chance encounters.
A person drops their guard among friends/friends of friends. That is family sort of.

Chance encounters and what is seen in the news are 99% of the public's only knowledge of
a first lady.

So the thoughts both ways are correct. Your answer and my answer.No singular answer to it.

It is why personally Barack and Jack are different from each other, even if the two are politically in synch.
Michelle and Barack are different than JFK and Jackie, and why the two have relationships that are personally different from each other. May that love and specialness last forever.

Barack and Michelle, like Rosalind and Jimmy really appear to be soulmates with each other.

But someone else bought Jackie into the thread before I did.

(and of course, Eleanor Roosevelt and Hillary were also not mentioned, and neither was Lady Bird Johnson and LBJ).

[tpsbmam]

104. cali, ITA. I also knew her very slightly....

JFK and Dad worked together in DC and I was around her on a number of occasions both before JFK was assassinated and afterward when she was working for Doubleday. She was always lovely to me, also remembered me and asked after my family.....warm & gracious are the two adjectives that come to mind when I think about her.

[Grateful for Hope]

65. Wow, cali

Interesting to hear a personal assessment. I always liked her as I think she was an excellent mother. From what I saw, she raised her children to be real people, despite the fanfare that always followed them.

[cherokeeprogressive]

54. Hillary went from First Lady to what???

[Capt. Obvious]

40. She has to wait her turn

She can run after Hillary, Chelsea, and the Bush twins finish their terms.

[graham4anything]

55. 46 comes after 45

[AtheistCrusader]

60. Why not? She's a lawyer.

Princeton, Harvard. Associate Dean for the University of Chicago. Intellectual Property lawyer. Quite qualified.

Ronald Reagan was a fucking actor.

[GiveMeFreedom]

75. Ronald Reagan was a fucking actor.

Great!

[MFM008]

28. awesome

so glad she represents this country!

[Cha]

33. Taken on Lincoln's birthday and Pres Obama's SOTU

Thank you, bigtree. Michelle Obama is my favorite First Lady for her grace, resolve, and an inner beauty that comes shining through.

She's such an amazing, inspiring role model for women and girls of all ages.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

White House Announces First Lady Michelle Obama's Schedule For Let's Move! Third Anniversary Tour

Mrs. Obama kicks festivities off with TV blitz, and travels to Mississippi, Chicago and Missouri for events spotlighting school lunch, food deserts and physical fitness; Rachael Ray, Kelly Ripa, Robin Roberts, Bob Harper, Serena Williams, Gabby Douglas, Paul Rodriguez will participate...

http://obamafoodorama.blogspot.com/2013/02/white-house-announces-first-lady.html

I appreciate what Michelle and Dr Jill Biden are doing to for our Military Families

First Lady Michelle Obama & Dr. Jill Biden to America's Governors: Support Our Military Families



http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/02/28/renewing-our-commitment-americas-military-families

“I want to send a very clear message to the men and women who are wearing – or who have worn – our country’s uniform and to their spouses: when you have finished your service to our nation, you’ve got 2,000 great American companies ready and waiting to bring you on board”
– Michelle Obama, August 22, 2012

.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/joiningforces

[lpbk2713]

37. I honestly believe MO never took a 'bad' picture.

And this one in your post is certainly no exception. She looks terrific.

[Denninmi]

42. Very Nice.

I really like her new hairdo. I know she got some flack for it, but I think it's very beautiful. As is she.

[rivegauche]

44. LOVELY. Every bit of her, nt

[mountain grammy]

50. Loved reading this thread and viewing the pictures..

Eleanor will always be my personal favorite, but it's really not a competition, every First Lady has contibuted in her own way, some more than others. Michelle is outstanding, an all around woman!
I hope someday soon we will be discussing the First Gentleman and his contributions.

[Gorp]

51. Best ever. You rock girl!

[blkmusclmachine]

56. wardrobe, handlers, money,

who wouldn't look great

[Scurrilous]

57. K & R

[Hulk]

62. Simply charming!

Once classy lady. And a great side note is that her character is driving the teabagger nation NUTS!!

[michigandem58]

64. Jacqueline Kennedy has her beat

but that is a nice picture.

[Grateful for Hope]

67. This is an amazing portrait.

It displays Michelle's beauty, grace, and, above all, her intelligence.

[spanone]

68. wow

[one_voice]

69. I love this thread...

the pics of the extraordinary women...

[calimary]

73. Indeed!

Kick n Rec!

I'm old enough to remember Jackie Kennedy. I kinda liked Lady Bird Johnson for her "Beautify America" campaign. Even while being GOP, I loved Betty Ford. And Rosalind Carter. I'm a huge admirer of Hillary Clinton, and now we have the glorious Michelle Obama!

I'm not old enough to remember Eleanor Roosevelt, but everything I've read and heard about her tells me she was a towering, courageous, and inspiring light! I heard a story about her - that she was the first First Lady to hold a news conference. And only women were allowed to ask questions. Which opened doors for women to go and staff news events for the first time. That was REALLY NEAT to hear. Made me think that I'm one of many women in the news biz who owe her their careers.

[blackspade]

71. The lighting on her face is odd.

It makes her look a bit like Two-face....light on one side and dark on the other.
She has a great smile!

[Lint Head]

76. All I have to say is, Dam-yum! She is beautiful inside and out. Barack is so lucky.

[klook]

77. If this is what a "midlife crisis" looks like

can I start mine now?

That is one gorgeous and sharp woman.

[Pachamama]

89. Yeah, I will have what she is having....

All of it...

Yes, she is the whole package and a role model....

[marew]

99. LOL!

Beauty inside and out!

[NBachers]

79. Michelle just whacks me in my heart every single time I see her.

[AndyA]

90. I think Michelle Obama and Jackie Kennedy rank at the very top

They were both very smart, stylish, and represented the United States in the very best light.

[mwooldri]

91. Nothing to see here guys ... just move on...

... to more wonderful pictures of Michelle Obama Sadly I don't have them.

[WCGreen]

94. From what I gather from reading about the founding of our country

Many believed that the vivacious and engaging Dolley Madison was quite the looker...

http://www.biography.com/people/dolley-madison-9394952

[efhmc]

98. She's gorgeous but still don't like the bangs.

[Smll_Ax3]

101. favorite flotus so far

started paying attention around '78........

[Smll_Ax3]

103. She's beautiful

Inside and out.
As long as she's FLOTUS, I think that position should be a lifetime appointment!