Worn with a delicate light green guipure wool lace coat and matching dress by Isabel Toleldo. Some news sources have reported that Michelle’s outfit was yellow, but I think its really a yellow green; and besides who would wear green gloves with a yellow lace coat? Isabel Toledo is one of my favorite designers, and this ensemble is different for her, she generally has that sharp Spanish style of tailoring, this coat and dress being softer than her usual work; this looks almost Chanelish. Given the bitter cold on the east coast right now, the First Lady stayed warm with a coordinating cashmere scarf and a cardigan with a lovely diamante collar. Sublime.
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THE SEWING DIVAS sewing, design, fashion 
Ooh, thanks for the photos so I can see the details. Michelle looked fabulous, every detail. What a proud day…
Comment by LindsayT — January 20, 2009 @ 9:01 pm
During the Inaugural, I checked a weather site to see that it was 27 degrees with a ‘real feel’ due to the wind of 8 degrees F. Whatever Isabel Toledo did in terms of the wool lace, netting, lining, interlinings etc., it obviously kept Michelle Obama warm throughout her day of standing, sitting, walking down the street, etc. because she looked warm and happy through the entire day. Given the effect that Mrs. Obama has had on the clothing sales (at least through certain designers and retail outlets), I suspect that phone calls were being made to suppliers today with requests of wool lace fabrics.
Comment by Toby Wollin — January 20, 2009 @ 9:04 pm
Loved the outfit, loved the day.
Comment by Gorgeous Things — January 20, 2009 @ 9:05 pm
PS, Love Isabel Toledo, and I always have!
Comment by Gorgeous Things — January 20, 2009 @ 9:05 pm
A beautiful outfit, but I so love her in vivid colors. I still say she was cold but too much of a lady to make it an issue. I would have died out there without a hat and scarf. And while we are talking hats, Queen Aretha sure had market on that concession! I loved her hat.
Comment by Bunny — January 20, 2009 @ 9:21 pm
On my tv screen and the report of the Dutch journalist it was a gold yellow outfit ( coat and dress in the same fabric is called an ensemble or complet in French) and I loved it, also I liked the green leather gloves and matching green shoes. Very stylish.
Comment by Els — January 20, 2009 @ 9:35 pm
I am looking forward to following Michelle’s fashion in the coming years! i love the beautiful unusual colors she chose.
Comment by sarabclever — January 20, 2009 @ 10:20 pm
Great pictures of an adorable outfit of the new First Lady.
I just read the newspaper this morning where somebody considered the fabric as a golden brocade, but the pictures show something different.
A great histotrical day for the Americans! Congratulations!
Best regards,
Katrin
Comment by Katrin — January 21, 2009 @ 2:59 am
Els already mentioned it, but yes, her shoes were green, too. They were a dark green, and the best part of the telecast to see them was when the Obamas arrived at the White House for coffee mid-morning. They were any terribly exciting shoe, not a super high heel, and the soles looked like she had worn them more than once.
At one point you could also see the inside seams of her coat, too. It looks like they might have been bound, not sure. The lining was white/ivory, but the seam allowance was the yellow color.
Regardless of those nit-picky details, I thought she was marvelously and appropriately dressed for her body, coloring and of course the events of the day.
Comment by Summerset — January 21, 2009 @ 4:56 am
Oops, meant to say, “not a terribly exciting shoe”.
Comment by Summerset — January 21, 2009 @ 4:57 am
I agree that she looked great. But this is the first time I’ve seen the President’s wedding ring: fabulous! Love it!
Comment by Belle — January 21, 2009 @ 8:27 am
America, I am proud of you all! You did good.
I just didn’t like the tie/ribbon on that dress. Why the constant empire waistline! She looks fabulous in regular waisted dresses or suits too. I think a nice, very slender self-belt with a jewelled buckle would have been my preference.
Love the colour and thanks for the close-up Phyllis because my media source didn’t show this at all. Now that I see it, the lace is grandeure pure. I don’t like the ivory lining much though.
Did anyone see the back of the coat? The cut is very stylish, very.
Summerset, if her shoes were previously worn, I think she made a wise choice in wearing them for this occasion, look at all the walking and standing she had to do, glad she wasn’t limping in the end.
The girls were wonderful, so poised and enchanted by the entire ceremony.
Aren’t they a beautiful couple? What’s not to love on them?
Comment by Gemma — January 21, 2009 @ 9:00 am
I thought her outfit was more yellow-green than really yellow, too. Looked great on her!
Comment by Isabelle — January 21, 2009 @ 9:16 am
Phyllis, I’m waiting for you to talk about the AWESOME hat that Aretha Franklin wore. I also think you need to manage the hat contest on PR 🙂
Thanks for talking about the gloves. I loved them. And I loved the fabric of the outfit. I did not love the cardigan. As for the ball gown, I thought a waist higher or lower would have been better. But, I love the choice of white and one strap. Love.
Comment by cidell — January 21, 2009 @ 9:37 am
I loved the dress except for the ribbon tie; it was distracting. Some reports are suggesting it was too formal looking for the daytime but she looked great and that is all that matters. She will be an inspiration to millions of women over the next years.
The one clunker of the day was Jill Biden’s knees. Her dress was very nice but too short. All I could see were her knees. And although she has nice knees, they shouldn’t have been the focal point of her look.
Comment by Linda T — January 21, 2009 @ 12:47 pm
I loved the ribbon tie — and loved that it was a subtle connection to the ribbons on her daughters’ coats. And the greens are beautiful – thank you for the close-up. The Italians say “all greens go together” — Michelle demonstrates it perfectly.
My only issue was the lack of a closure on the coat — made it uncomfortable for her — like wearing a wrap dress on a windy day.
Comment by Lainie — January 23, 2009 @ 2:16 am
michelle was perfect head to toe- be it green or yellow. not one first lady in history could have walked that parade better than she. equally perhaps- jackie o.
Comment by elise p — January 30, 2009 @ 3:24 pm
So none of you think she looks frumpy? The suit is more suited to a 70 year old woman!
Comment by scotbrit — February 2, 2009 @ 6:04 am