Michelle Obama's Isabel Toledo Outfit

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Jan 20th 2009 at 2:06PM

While the speculation on what Michelle Obama will wear to the inaugural ball continues, we can comment on her first fashion choice as first lady, the Isabel Toledo sheath dress and matching coat she wore to the inauguration. Mrs. Obama paired the golden ensemble with green gloves from J. Crew and green Jimmy Choo heels (her daughters, Sasha and Malia were also dressed in J.Crew coats).

Isabel Toledo, who is married to artist Ruben Toledo, is famed for her ornate and intricate looks. She had her own line for years and then became the creative director for Anne Klein in 2006. That job seemed to not be a fit for Toledo's bold style, she was let go from the job in 2007. This is not Michelle Obama's first time in a Toledo outfit, she wore an Isabel Toledo outfit of a black tunic and palazzo pants to a fashion event last June. In October, Toledo told the NY Daily News that she had been contacted by Michelle Obama's representatives and sent her some clothes. At that time she expressed delight to hear that Mrs. Obama was a fan saying "think of it, this girl from West New York, N.J., is designing a dress worn by the possible next First Lady."

The first lady is right in step with one other trend arbiter. Pantone, which chooses a color for the next year each December. The company has deemed 2009 the year of Mimosa, a vivid sunny yellow.

Filed under: Apparel, Celebrity Shopping

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

just me Jan 20th 2009 2:19PM

I love her look, she is just radiant and confident and beautiful today. Very proud.

Beth Jan 20th 2009 2:55PM

Awful, just awful. That color doesn't look good on anyone plus a rhinestone choker in the morning? Nobody had an etiquette book? A nice coat and expensive boots are what is expected on a cold winter morning and not an outfit that looked like it was made out of Scarlett's couch (I saw it in the living room and just had to have it). Will somebody PLEASE guide this woman who is supposed to represent the females of America!

just me Jan 20th 2009 3:39PM

Oh stop being so petty and narrow-minded. It's not a rhinestone choker--it's the neck to the blouse. And she's going to a formal luncheon immediately following the swearing-in. The color may not work on you, but it works on her and I'm sure a lot of other women too. I don't look good wearing black, a "color" that most people wear well. This tone of yellow would look bad on me, but it's nice on her. You're just being mean.

lo_lo Jan 23rd 2009 1:49AM

I'm flooded with relief that I'm not the only one who thought so. I was starting to feel bad for wondering what was going on.
The cut of the coat with the empire ribbon accent was wonderful, but the color washed her out. Did you get to see the sweater underneath? It looked like something off of a twin set and made her fantastic carriage look shlumpy. I've seen her do much better than this on the campaigne trail.

beth Jan 20th 2009 4:20PM

I think Michelle usually does a good job, but this was way too much bling for a daytime outfit. One simply does not do rhinestones for a morning event. I am hoping it gets better for the balls!

erin Jan 20th 2009 5:19PM

It was super UGLY!! She does not photograph well at all!! I'm not excited to see her as the 1st Lady and definitely not excited to see what she wears every time we have to look at her.

BARBARA Jan 21st 2009 1:14AM

DO I SENSE A LITTLE JEALOUS HERE GOD KNOWS WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE AND YOU FEEL YOUR BETTER LMAO

amee logan Jan 20th 2009 6:37PM

Was the rhinestone trim appropriate 4 that time of day? Hoped maybe it had belonged to MT Lincoln and that was the significance.
Thought the real accessory was the bible.
Always wondered y my Mom was so adamant about the right undergarments. Tummy, tummy, tummy.
Shoes and gloves should have at least been of the same tone.
No matter...she still rocked it!

Vickie Jan 20th 2009 8:44PM

Mrs. Obama's outfit looks okay. For her size, she would have looked better in darker colors.

Susan Jan 20th 2009 10:53PM

If any celebrity wore this ensemble on the red carpet at the academy awards or emmy's, they would be torn apart by ET, Joan Rivers, Cojo, CNN Fox, and every news commentator out there as having made a huge fashion faux pas. She would immediately be on the top 10 worst dressed list for 2009. This is not stylish, not current, and not fashion. It made her look 50 pounds heavier, the color was not complimentary to her. The green gloves and the green shoes weren't even in the same green hues, they clashed. She didn't set a great example, and everyone is being nice because it's her first day on the job. What a fashion crisis she had, today!

Valerie Jan 21st 2009 12:24AM

I agree with you "just me" on both posts.

just me Jan 21st 2009 11:22AM

Thanks Valerie.

BARBARA Jan 24th 2009 5:07AM

EXCUSE ME SORRY I THINK MR AND MRS LOOKED WONDERFUL TONIGHT

sofronia2 Jan 21st 2009 7:41AM

well come on now, shes been dressing just fabulorsly in the past, and so with her beautiful tan skin tone, the dress was stunning, with the moss gree gloves, and shoes, she was dressed with a tone of excitement, and pride, like a special occasion, so give her a break, big event, bigg event. now the ball gown, well, i can get a little critical here. Jason Wu, you can see his ethenticity comeing thru with the soft yellow and flowers, stems whatever all over, a wide, sash over one shoulder, would been nice for a bust uplift, to portray the woman of her age, like a bit posture, in perportion to the full skirt of the dress, so yeah id say, much to be desired here, but the day and night was so well rounded out with actaivities, i hardly had time to give it a second look ;) as ever, this granny has spoken;)

wanderinglady Jan 21st 2009 3:35PM

I actually liked the color -- she should have had matching gloves and shoes as well. But the fabric and design? It looks like something my mom would have worn back in 1964. Bleh!

Melissa Jan 22nd 2009 8:38PM

The dress was okay, but what the hell was that underneath it? The jacket should have had buttons because I got so sick and tired of watching her swing it close all day long. The green gloves were not the same color as the shows - I mean you pair JCrew gloves with Jimmy Choo shoes? What was she thinking. Hate to say it but she should have put on what she had on in Grant Park. I mean did she think they were in Florida? It was cold in DC and you don't have on a coat? Tacky. Just tacky. Mrs. Biden was on point. Boots, a nice red coat and black gloves.

First Lady Michelle - please stop shopping for yourself and hire someone to help you pick your clothes because right now, you're 0 for 2.

Mariah Jan 22nd 2009 10:07PM

Michelle looked marvelous. Hmmm, an intelligent African American female in the White House. I know that makes some of you ignorant racist mad--boo hoo--get over it. Michelle represents women of America-get a life. Ignorant people who hate Michelle only makes her say, "Wow, people like you remind me of how blesssed I am that I'm not stupid!!!

Michelle is the first lady--get over it. Those bigots who don't like get your lazy ---away from the computer and move to another country. GET TO STEPPIN STUPIDS

Patrice Jan 22nd 2009 10:44PM

Erin sounds a big baby who needs her diaper changed. wa wa wa--I'm not going to let mean Michelle play with my swastika. Is Hitler your daddy?

Another Erin Jan 22nd 2009 10:14PM

I'm embarrassed to know that there is an stupid version of Erin running around outside of the crazy house. Every time she has to look Michelle. Be thankful Michelle shouldn't have to look at your @#$$%. I agree with Patricia-are you Hitler's daughter?

ann Jan 23rd 2009 12:33AM

The color was not the issue, it was the bling bling in the morning, as Beth said, the rhinestone trim on the dress was too much for before 5pm and the fabric itself was too sparkly for the time of day, it looked liked a mother of the bride dress or a matronly cocktail dress ensemble. I agree that it would have been better with buttons, cause she kept having to close it.......I doubt she was warm enough........it was not substantial enough for the season/temperature..... The Inaugral Ball gown was better, but I thought a little too "promish" for someone in her position, what with those little puffy things all over it. Oh well, it can only get better from here.......one hopes

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