Ball gown - Southern belle frou frou on an elegant, tall, statuesque, 45 year old woman?

[fed_up_mother]

What was her designer thinking? It's a pretty dress, and she sure does look lovely in white, but that design? UGH

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

1. I think she looks beautiful.

And she wears that frou frou well!

[TeamJordan23]

2. she looks elegant. nm

[fed_up_mother]

7. Michelle would look elegant in sack cloth and ashes.

But that woudn't be her best style, either. :)

[JohnnyLib2]

9. This male votes with you.

Scary thread, though. :evilgrin:

[EmeraldCityGrl]

3. The fit is perfect and beautifully shows off some of her best features, her arms and

shoulders and neck.

[Genevieve]

4. oh tsk.

[sandnsea]

5. She loves frou frou

She chose it, 100%. She loves this stuff. I don't like the dress either, but totally get why Michelle does.

[Retrograde]

33. She does go in for flourishes

but she can carry them off. I like the dress on her: on me it would look like I fell into a cake. If I were in charge of her wardrobe, it would be more tailored outfits with all the interest in the couture details, but Michelle has the height and grace to carry off just about anything.

[camera obscura]

6. It's gorgeous and it's very in-tune with the Winter/Spring 2009 trends

black & white and one shoulder dresses... both very popular right now

[Hepburn]

8. It is gorgeous...and I wear "preppy."

Not frou frou at all...but VERY elegant and graceful in the way it flowed on her body.

[kwassa]

10. can we cut the snarky fashion threads?

If you want to find a petty subject for this incredible day, it is your opinion on Michelle's dress.

[fed_up_mother]

12. Opinions seem to be freely shared here. I LOVED her outfit for the concert

Absolutely classic and stunning, imo, and her inaugural outfit was lovely, as well.

[kwassa]

23. how many threads are there criticizing her dresses so far?

it is all unnecessary bullshit.

[Bluebear]

11. "It's a pretty dress- but that design? UGH" - - I don't get it.

How can it be pretty if you are criticizing the design?

[fed_up_mother]

13. Read my thread title. southern belle frou frou doesn't fit her body type, IMO

Obviously, others disagree.

[Bonobo]

14. The Green-Eyed Monster rears its ugly head (again). nt

[fed_up_mother]

19. PHEWEY. I remarked the other night that her concert outfit was "stunning."

She's a statuesque, gorgeous woman, and that dress does NOT do her justice. She has the looks and presence to go down in history as one of our most stunning first ladies.

[smalll]

15. Someone else here said it looks like cotton-balls stuck to it, and it does, at least on TV.

Her yellow ensemble during the day was GREAT! But this cotton-ball thing strikes me on TV as bad, and I guessed because it was another pseudo "avant-garde" misguided attempt (like the black widow thing on victory night) - some kind of "deconstruction" of a ball gown this time. I can't see it close up.

[TTUBatfan2008]

16. I think she looks great...

but then again I'm just a dude (pretty clueless on this as you might expect, LOL!). :)

[Tatiana]

17. There is nothing wrong with the style, color, or fit of the dress. It's perfect.

A different fabric would have suited her better, but Michelle still looks great.

[Barack_America]

18. Michelle is daring and she's going to do fashion her way...

Get used to it.

And, by the way, I think she looks lovely. Are there more beautiful dresses out there? Sure. But Michelle chose to highlight a young American designer and I applaud her for doing that.

[EFerrari]

20. Michelle could wear cut offs and a tank top and be the best dressed woman in the room.

Seriously, I think it's time for some of our friends to get their vision tested.

[Beregond2]

21. I don't see anything "southern belle frou-frou" about it.

It's very simple and classic, with those little added tufts for some drama. Is it what I would have chosen for her? No. But I still think it's lovely.

[Th1onein]

22. I don't like the dress either. And I don't think it's pretty.

She does not look good in it.

But I could care less. She and her husband are gorgeous together. And she has got one fine looking man dancing with her.

I think he'll make a wonderful president and she a wonderful first lady. No matter what they wear.

[ruggerson]

24. That's what happens when you piss off gay people

(a joke, people, a joke)

[Odin2005]

25. I think it's nice. Don't see the problem.

:shrug:

[hlthe2b]

26. If I were dressing her, it would be classic, color, quality-- in that order

She could carry off the most simple designs with the elegance that few could and the attention would be on her, rather than the appliques, lace, embroidery, ruffles or bows. But, that would be my choice.. The designers love to work with texture and texture does not show well on tv. That's why the most beautiful dresses on the awards shows show so well-- because of the wonderful fabric, the color, and the extremely well-fitting designs.

I think she looks lovely, regardless. But, Jill Biden's dress proves my point... BEAUTIFUL red silk--simple design. It is the color and the quality fabric that makes the dress when it has been selected and fitted so well to the wearer.

[Doremus]

27. You've been outvoted .... by REAL fashion critics.

"Michelle Obama once more does something new and fresh—working with an emerging fashion star and turning Jason Wu overnight into a household name. This type of dress silhouette is something that's completely unexpected. It's vibrant and aspirational, full and gorgeous. In the past, no one has been this striking or this ravishing. She's bringing sexy back." —Sasha Charnin Morrison, fashion director, Us Weekly

"I actually gasped when Michelle Obama came out in that dress. And the fact that it's by virtually unknown, twenty-something designer Jason Wu makes me love her (and it) even more. The gown hits the mark between classic (flowy and goddess-y) and inventive (floral appliqués and sparkles). She looks so radiant, elegant, and best of all, totally comfortable in her own skin which makes her that much more alluring."—Emily Hsieh, Lucky contributing editor

"This Jason Wu dress makes me very happy. I thought the lemongrass brocade piece she wore earlier today was just shy of matronly, but her one-shoulder gown is lively and fun and flattering—if you have arms like Michelle's you should certainly show them off. I also love the fact that she's supporting an up-and-coming American designer again. This is the second time she’s worn a piece by Wu who once interned for Narciso Rodriguez."—Sarah Bernard, host of The Thread

"For evening Michelle Obama veered from her love of strong colors to don an off-white shade with an ultra-feminine goddess silhouette. The one shoulder look of the season gave a traditional gown a totally on-trend feel. (We saw plenty of this particular detail most recently on the red carpet at Golden Globes.) Her accessories were simple and totally current—drop earrings and bangles. Just right!"—Avril Graham, executive fashion and beauty editor, Harper's Bazaar

"Michelle Obama dazzled on the dance floor in an elegant, one-shouldered ivory gown embellished with Swarovski crystal rhinestones. It was a modern yet classic look that will stand the test of time."—Joe Berean, fashion director, InStyle.com


"Leave it to our new first lady to recognize and support emerging talent like Jason Wu, and to be a true leader even when it comes to style. When the president and the first lady made their first appearance tonight, it was picture-perfect sophistication. Her white dress symbolizes a fresh, new beginning."—Sydney Wasserman, fashion editor, Interview magazine

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/beauty/countdown-to-the-gown-live-blogging-michelle-obama-s-inaugural-style-the-gown-is-by-jason-wu-354416

[JanusAscending]

28. First off.......it's not white,

it's pale yellow. The color of sunshine seems to be in today. What better color than sunshine yellow after all of our 8 dark dreary years??? The only fault I find with her gown is that the train is too long to dance in. She should have tried dancing around the house in it before deciding on it. Easy fix, if she chooses to ever wear it again. I think she looks lovely, and evidently, so does her husband!

[Lyric]

30. It's actually cream, according to the fashion critics

who presumably have some "inside info" straight from the designer himself, Jason Wu.

[JanusAscending]

32. You're so right!!

I've been switching around to different channels, 'cause I got tired of Chris Matthews babble. The first channel switch, it really looked like it was butter yellow. I put it back on MSNBC, and it's definately not yellow. I did this after I read all of the design experts comments. Thought I was going color blind (which would be very bad for an artist!!) Thanks!:fistbump:

[derby378]

29. I think she looks gorgeous, and so does her hubby

It works for her. What can I say? I'm as far removed from Michael Kors or Tim Gunn as you can get, but I still understand what it means to make an ensemble "work." And this does.

[Fire1]

31. It SCREAMS 'Bo Peep". That's what's wrong with it.