Michelle Obama wears vintage dress at Christmas event

[NYCGirl]

This may be the first time a FLOTUS has worn vintage. Not inexpensive, but pre-owned nonetheless.

http://ny.racked.com/archives/2010/12/17/michelle_obama_wore_a_thrifted_dress_from_new_york_vintage.php

After two years with Michelle Obama as first lady, it's hard to remember a time when the president's wife was expected to wear nothing but red skirt-suits. At this point, nobody blinks twice when Mrs. O shows up in a deconstructed Japanese cardigan or a dress by an up-and-coming twentysomething designer, but this weekend she managed to make fashion news again by wearing vintage to TNT's Christmas in Washington taping. The Huffington Post thinks this may be the first time any first lady has worn a secondhand dress in public, and as much as we enjoy picturing Barbara Bush sifting through the racks at Beacon's Closet, we're pretty sure they're right.

The dress, a black 1950s number with a full skirt, was designed by Norman Norell and purchased at New York Vintage in Chelsea. It might have been pre-owned, but it probably wasn't cheap: While store owners wouldn't reveal the price, the New York Post estimates that a quality piece from the designer could go for $2,500.

The owners of New York Vintage, who regularly dresses celebrities from their collection of labels like Chanel, Elsa Schiaparelli, and Halston, told HuffPo that they were "truly honored" by Obama's choice. And while this might be the first time a first lady has worn vintage, they say it won't be the last: "Other dresses from the archive have been scheduled for use by the First Lady later this year."

[MrsBrady]

1. she looks gorgeous as always

vintage is cool :)


edit:
i found another picture here
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/michelle_goes_old_fashion_rj0dvqEemFTOKENmlYSIPJ?CMP=OTC-rss&FEEDNAME=

[Alameda]

12. They said it was a thrift store find! How stupid. That's like calling

a Tiffany a junk store lamp.

[GoCubsGo]

21. The Pest...errrrr...Post is a Murdoch rag

The comments were vile. To be expected.

[marshall]

30. "Thrift" is a relative term

It all depends on the size of one's budget.

[Raine]

2. WOW! Very cool

Michelle as usual looks BEAUTIFUL! :bounce:

[MichaelHarris]

3. cool!!

I just did a photoshoot for a vintage dress store:


the rest are here: http://www.palousephoto.net/Fashion/Lilybees/14738808_9GBVg#1098301633_YC3Z9

[NYCGirl]

4. Great photos, Michael! NT

[MichaelHarris]

9. TY!

:)

[Raine]

7. VERY nice!

:thumbsup:

[MichaelHarris]

10. Thank You!

[Lucinda]

18. Wonderful work!

[toddwv]

5. Yeah, the right-wingers are having a fit over this $2,500 dress.

Remind them that Nancy Reagan's ensemble for her husband's inauguration was thought to come in around $65,000 (adjusted for inflation) and they completely ignore it.

[NYCGirl]

6. They'd be having fits no matter what she wore. They just

don't like her.

[Raine]

8. Yeah and I remember what some of Cindy McCain's

outfits cost and she didn't look that good either. :wow:

[inna]

11. who cares

[Raine]

15. Apparently the RWnutz do

they have their knickers in a knot ... which it makes it even better. :rofl: :evilgrin:

[young but wise]

23. ......

Obviously you care because you clicked on the link to write this.




She looks beautiful as usual.

[Clio the Leo]

13. She looked Betty Draper ... scrumptious!

I have a feeling the President's more of a "Joan" man, but either way, I bet he agreed that she looked gorgeous.

http://blogs.amctv.com/mad_men_season_2_publicity_photos/Betty,%20Joan,%20Peggy.jpg

[Pirate Smile]

14. Clio did a rather amusing photo thread called Herding Elves from that night. More pics of the dress

& the Obamas attempting to corral that little blond elf.

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x562070

[CTyankee]

16. It's lovely, but I wonder how much the dress was altered to fit Michelle.

Michelle is somewhat taller and bigger than women were in the 50s and 60s, so I wonder how much there was to take in or let out...but of course we have no way of knowing...just seems to me that sizing in women's clothing has changed over the years, judging by my vast experience of course (I'm old)!

[bettyellen]

32. Norell was couture- would be made with very large seam allowances

built to be altered in the future, if need be. and a lot of those full skirts were ballerina (a bit above above ankle) length and look better a bit short anyway.
she usually sticks to American designers too.

[vaberella]

17. I'm not a big fan of black on Christmas but that dress is hot.n/t

[Phx_Dem]

19. Die. Best dress ever!

She looks stunning

[blogslut]

20. I drooled over that dress when I first saw it on her

Now I know why. I loves me some fifties vintage. I used to have quite the collection that I wore proudly with my punk hairdo. I'd hit the Goodwill and the fledgling vintage shops and practically cry for all the beautiful pieces.

You go, Michelle!

[JI7]

22. that is probably one of her best looks yet

[Kurovski]

24. I love to see beautiful, well made clothes.

And I don't give a rat's ass whether anyone thinks it's petty or sexist, or what the fuck-all-else.

It's art and skill, for fucks sake.

[AtomicKitten]

25. Just beautiful.

Michelle looks exquisite. I must admit I'm prejudice because I collect vintage dresses. Beautiful fabrics, excellent construction, and timeless styles.

K&R

[BeyondGeography]

26. She's looking great

[rasputin1952]

27. Couple of things here...

For starters, she could make potato sack look good...:D

Second, her sense of dress is fantastic, she has taste.

But I really like the fact that she can get along w/kids and adults without missing a beat...this woman is a treasure. She has a warmth about her that just draws you in.

Thinking that the alternative might have been a near corpse-like McCain and his Ice Queen...we're doing exceptionally well on the First Lady scoreboard...:D

[Kurovski]

28. Awww, I kinda like Mrs. McCain.

Sure, she hung back during the campaign and ultimately follows the commands of the RNC, but i think a Dem lurks in the depths. She is a warm person, kind at her core.

I'd love it if she came out as a Dem one day. :evilgrin:

[rasputin1952]

29. I always saw her as icy cold...

but I'm open to various opinions...:D

[Beacool]

31. It's a beautiful dress and she wore it well.

It's a classic dress and it's lovely in its simplicity. I don't always like what Michelle wears, but I think that she looks fantastic in this dress.

:-)

[Mimosa]

33. I LOVE vintage fashion!

It's wonderful to see that classic clothing design principles -which flatter women and men- are coming back.

To a degree, the movie Chicago ignited it. Then came Idlewild. Black guys had started picking up on the glam factor of hats well over 10 years ago.

[politicasista]

34. Kick. She looks great! n/t

:kick:

[mfcorey1]

35. Kick and rec