Michelle Obama's Turquoise Suede Boots - Stylefoul?
Filed under: CELEBRITY STYLE, Celebrity
The world has watched breathlessly as Michelle Obama establishes herself as the most stylish First Lady since Jackie O. But yesterday, "Shelly O" may have committed her first fashion faux pax while in office. She stepped out in a pair of questionable turquoise suede boots to talk community service with students from YouthBuild. Yes, she was braving a cold, muddy March day, and yes, perhaps the emerald-ish shade was to honor St. Patricks day, but regardless, the boots do seem to stand out like a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.
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In this economy it's refreshing to see that even the First Lady is economizing. Take note, AIG.
Style Evolution: Michelle Obama
Visiting families at the Iron Mike Dining Facility at Fort Bragg, N.C. First Lady Michelle Obama kept her clothing simple wearing a classic white button up and cardi combo. In what is quickly becoming her trademark style, Mrs O. mixed in one high end statement piece (in this case a studded Azzedine Alaia belt) to jazz up her outfit.
Gerry Broome, AP
The debate about the new First Lady's style choices continues with the release of her official White House portrait. Wearing a simple black dress and classic pearls would seem a safe bet except for the frock's lack of sleeves. Obama's reoccurring arm baring (think the cover of Vogue and the President's speech to Congress) has some calling her youthful and fashion forward while others find the look inappropriate for the office and the season. At StyleList we have to side with youthful and fashion forward. The dress is timeless and flatters one of Obama's best features. As for the First Lady's right to bare arms? It may surprise people to learn Jackie Kennedy wore a sleeveless dress to JFK's first State of the Union speech in 1963. Keep clicking to see Michelle Obama's other sleeveless style moments.
Joynce N. Boghosian, The White House/AP
Music legend Stevie Wonder wasn't the only one honored on February 26, 2009, at the White House - his wife, Kai Milla, received major fashion props from Michelle Obama, as the First Lady donned the fashion designer's emerald green silk-chiffon dress. Michelle channeled the 40's with the plunging V-neck dress and a glamorous black sash belt, punctuated by a voluminous bob - which her hair stylist undoubtedly achieved using old school hot rollers. We love how Michelle's really expanding her fashion and beauty reach as she's growing into her role as First Lady.
The First Lady made waves at President Obama's first Congressional Address on February 24, 2009, in a sleeveless plum silk dress by Narciso Rodriguez. The lack of arm-coverage raised some eyebrows in the fashion world, starting a debate on whether it's appropriate to wear a sleeveless dress to a formal speech. Our take? Washington, we have a problem - it's 2009 and you're acting like it's 1959. Women can wear what they want, when they want to - and we think Michelle looked both stunning and occasion appropriate.
Not one to change her locks very often, Michelle Obama nearly tricked us on Friday with a fake-out crop. The First Lady pulled back her signature shoulder length tresses, keeping the volume up front but pinning the back up into a flat bun. We like the hair variation, and think it looks glam with the ladylike turtleneck and suit Michelle is sporting.
Brendan Smialowski, Getty Images | NICHOLAS KAMM,AFP/Getty Images
The country's new fashion-forward First Lady is stunning as ever for the March cover of Vogue. It was only a matter of time before the stylish Mom in Chief scored face time on the iconic fashion bible -- from the campaign trail to the Oval Office, Michelle's dresses have made headlines nearly as often as her husband's policies. Here she wears Jason Wu, the talented young designer who created her gorgeous inauguration ball gown.
Read the full interview!
Vogue
Photographer Annie Leibovitz chose to show the professional side of Michelle Obama -- pictured here in a cardigan from J Crew, her staple for sensible style.
Read the full interview!
Vogue
Overlooking Washington DC from her office at the Hay-Adams Hotel, the First Lady wears a dress by Narciso Rodriguez -- the designer who created the controversial dress she wore on the night her husband was elected president.
Read the full interview!
Vogue
She claims she's not a natural-born politician. But, when it comes to fashion, America's new First Lady, Michelle Obama, seems to have a strategist's instincts for what will play in Peoria. Her secret lies in knowing how to mix high and low (and we don't just mean her heels). She wears dresses from pricey designers like Isabel Toledo (left), Thakoon and Narciso Rodriguez, whose pieces carry four-figure tabs and are sold in stores like -- yep -- Neiman-Marcus, Barneys and Saks. But she also showed up on the campaign trail wearing designs like the $148 White House-Black Market dress that she chose for "The View" last summer and the J. Crew sweater and skirt that she wore on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno," insisting in her best every woman voice, "You can get some good stuff online."
AP
Michelle Obama looked cool and casual at the Kids' Inaugural concert the night before her husband took the oath of office. Her daughters met their favorite musicians (The Jonas Brothers) and the soon-to-be First Lady pulled out one of her favorite labels: J Crew.
Crazy Heels
Nina Ricci Fall 2009
It is safe to say that practicality wasn't high on Olivier Theysken's list of priorities when he designed his final collection for Nina Ricci. These platformed boots with a mini heels were just one of the many pieces of gravity defining footwear in his show.
Eric Ryan, Getty Images
Scherer Gonzales Spring 2009
The German designing duo had models tiptoeing through tulips (and Lucite encased orchids) at a runway show in Berlin.
Anita Bugge, WireImage.com
Mischa Barton attended the Christian Dior Spring-Summer 2009 Haute Couture Show in Paris on January 26, 2009 clad in (what else?!) head to toe Dior. Her shoes looked as tall and skinny as she did; though the platform heels,
a version of those shown at Christian Dior's Spring 2009 Ready-to-Wear Runway Show, were carved to mimic an African fertility goddess. Something Miss Mischa may need if she manages to lose another pound...
Vanessa Williams
In an outfit that would make Cruella De Vil jealous, the 45-year-old actress waits for her close-up in New York on the set of Ugly Betty. While we don't think Williams would wear such an ensemble, we wouldn't put it past her character, Mode Magazine Editor-In-Chief, Wilhelmina Slater, to show just how much of an animal lover she is by matching the furry footwear with an animal trimmed poncho.
Bill Davila/startraksphoto.com
Jennifer Connelly
The actress attended the premiere of her new film He's Just Not That Into You in this super chic look straight off the Balmain runway. The dress is eye-popping enough on its own but paired with those blingin' gladiator sandals, it's safe to say no one had more sparkle on the red carpet than Connelly!
Steve Granitz, WireImage | Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images
Christian Dior Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2009
These sculptural heels walked down the runway in a wide array of colors but nothing says spring like sunny yellow.
Chris Moore, Catwalking / Getty Images
Agynes Deyn
The smokin' British model rocked these red hot heels to the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund 5th anniversary party.
Brian Ach, WireImage
Heidi Montag
Everyone knows The Hills star will do anything for attention, perhaps that explains her choice of footwear!
Tiffany Rose, WireImage
Heidi Klum
The supermodel's 80s-inspired dress at the Golden Globes got so much negative attention that her massive Christian Louboutin bondage heels went almost unnoticed!
Steve Granitz, WireImage | inset: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images
Christian Lacroix Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2009
These Coral inspired kicks brought a whimsical touch to Lacroix's couture collection.
Karl Prouse, Catwalking/Getty Images
greekgirleleni 3-19-2009 @ 3:03AM
It's not so much the horrible boots, but why is she wearing such short pants? If her pants had been longer, it wouldn't have looked so bad. Plus, they're really too tight for that short of a cardigan set. I suspect some cameltoe was happening from the front. Also, what's up with the very UN-first ladylike side ponytail thing going on there??? YIKES! Get the stylist back, ASAP!
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pete 3-19-2009 @ 8:41AM
Yet another outfit MO looks terrible in. Just get the muzzle and leash out of the doghouse - it is the most fitting for her.
hhs333 3-19-2009 @ 8:45AM
what - no baring of the arms?
Higor 3-19-2009 @ 8:46AM
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prbbw 3-19-2009 @ 8:47AM
now there's a great fashion role model....NOT!
tinat 3-24-2009 @ 12:42PM
Michelle is so tall I'd assume most pants are short on her so she has adapted a style of tight cropped pants with boots or flats.
Matt 3-19-2009 @ 10:04AM
Dont any of you have more to do than comment on someones cloths, I am sre you all are fashion pro's. Get a life.
Ella Ervin 3-19-2009 @ 10:19AM
The Boots would have been ok, if they had been close to the color of what she was wearing. Everyone has their own unique way of dressing, and comparing her to Mrs. kennedy is unfair. During those day, cost was as not as expensive as they are today. We should be grateful that she is not a dress show off, eventhough she has money, but prefer to live down to earth as her admires do. This was really a childess survey, take the dress scope off of First Lady Obama and put it on something more important.
VKing 3-19-2009 @ 11:51AM
So what, get off of it. Michelle is her own person and owes no one an explanation of what she wears......Watch out next year all of the pants will be shorter.Concentrate more on your fiscal situation than worrying about how the first ladty dresses!!!!!!
carolyn 3-19-2009 @ 12:50PM
I dont care what she wears. She has no style no glamour, and is the most unstylish of first ladies since President Carters wife. How could a question even be asked "does she have the fashion of a Jackie Kennedy". That is ridiculous at best. I and my friends have seen nothing in her clothing choices that make her the least bit attractive. She really needs a new designer or at least someone to try to give her a decent makeover. She probably could look attractive if someone knew how to dress her.
Denisem57 3-19-2009 @ 11:40AM
First of all her hair is not in a pony tail. The pants are cropped that is why they are short. The sweater set and cropped pants are often worn together, it is a current style. READ your fashion magazines! She is outside on a cold day, so the shoes are not a issue and they are appropriate for what she is doing. If she walked around in overpriced boots, I am sure that you would find fault with that also.
Regardlesssssssssss of all of that. Which has no significance ANYWAY. Her intelligence an beauty supercedes her style. THAT IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT! After all she is Harvard Law School Grad! How many of you would be admitted!!??
natalie 3-19-2009 @ 1:41PM
LMAO! i agree completely
Vegans Rule 3-19-2009 @ 2:12PM
Isn't it amazing that LOSERS who find themselves posting on the internet at 3:03AM think they actually have something important to say about the way someone with an IVY LEAGUE LAW DEGREE dresses? LMFAO! Just imagine the internet losers sitting in their damn trailerparks typing bullsh*t while wearing a pair of dirty underwear with holes in them. LMFAO! Yeah, I bet Michelle Obama really gives a rats ass what you think....NOT! Just like the rest of the country, no dobut she's rejected you too. By the way...MCCAIN AND HIS CRACKHEAD WIFE LOST! GET THE HELL OVER IT! LMFAO!
jb 3-20-2009 @ 5:28AM
Hideous outfit. The boots (yikes) and the pants (ouch!). It's amazing to me how blind the press is. Truthfully, I think this woman has more misses that hits. She's constantly wearing things that cut her off (torso wise), like belts that look like they're an inch below her breasts, emphasizing her short waistedness and making her look like she's all leg. She is a large woman and thus should wear things that are slenderizing and minimizing her hips and buttock. The little flower dresses are immature looking. All this to say... she needs a stylist in the worst way. She doesn't have to spend a fortune to look polished. We know she has been embarrassed by this country, but now she is a representative of the greatest country in the world and I would love it if she weren't so stubborn about looking the part of a leader. It's like the hillbillies moved into the White House. I'm now thinking they are a disgrace on so many levels. I didn't drink the cool-aide. We get she wants to be "just like one of you", but this is not leadership. She doesn't look like a Leader. Leaders lead and are not embarrassed to do so. Lead on a budget, but look the part. Like Mark Twain said... "Clothes make the man... Naked people have little or no influence on society". The same goes for ill dressed people in high places. She could better get away with bad hair.
Marie 3-20-2009 @ 3:17PM
I agree with you on the pants issue - they should have been longer. The boots don't really go with the cardigan set, though, and the pants should have been a darker grey if you want to go really in depth. If she was wearing jewel tones, that would be another matter, but she wasn't. The hair... yeah, but let's just call it an off day. What's the big deal? I mean, who hasn't gone out in something unflattering to be comfortable once in a while?
jen 11-03-2009 @ 5:48PM
Half of this country drank the cool aid and think this couple walks on water... they've convinced themselves of all sorts of questionable things, of which, this is minor. But for heavens' sake, Michelle, have a stylist dress you, so you don't even have to think about co-ordinating. You need to learn how to have assistance. It's a class thing, you might not have been born into it... but you're here now. You are a representative of the highest positions of this country. How you look shows your respect for that position or not. People should be more focused on what you're doing, but we get distracted by the cover you wear. The media obviously is making a job for themselves by focusing on your achilles heal. Just delegate.
Kendall 3-22-2009 @ 11:13PM
There's something deeply troubling about a world where ANYONE gives a [censored] about what kind of shoes the first lady wears.
Carol 3-22-2009 @ 11:03PM
What is this? You are the fashion police? Where is your civility, maturity, and good manners? Why is it important what you think? Go out and do something good in this world. Stop blah, blahing, on these blogs. Be classy stop tearing others down that ARE doing something good in this world. AOL needs to stop these infernal blogs that just pit us against one another. It is shameful, and the rest of you that think that, should stifle them in any way we can. Let's work together on this and stop the madness on the internet.
Dan 3-22-2009 @ 11:55PM
How about the vegtable garden article at the White House? Michelle looked absolutely rediculous. As if she's ever even been any closer to a garden than the grocery store. I mean come on. Do you honestly believe that Michelle or Dumbo are going to do any of the work in the garden? I think that the White House staff just got saddled with another job and the only time Michelle will put in an appearance is when it's harvest time and some staff member has already picked/ cut and cleaned the vegtables and put them in a basket for her to pose with. Beside who gardens in designer boots, slacks and a sweater dress/ jacket? She looked sooooooo fake!!!
Sherry 3-19-2009 @ 6:32AM
Michelle Obama is our first lady and deserves our utmost respect. She has earned that title and lives up to it.. The media needs to report things of interest..is this the best they could come up with? If so why couldn't you interpret this correctly? She has some fun in her style, why don't you appreciate her and stop picking everything apart.
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