My Take on Michelle Obama's Narciso Rodriguez Dress
As an image consultant, I’ve been following First Ladies for many years. Most of them are “adopted” by designers who educate them and dress them in the worldly and sophisticated manner deserving of the wife of the President of the United States. Very few First Ladies came into the role with the look they left with, and Michelle Obama will probably be no exception. Even Jackie Kennedy, known for her style, was taken under the wing of Oleg Cassini and groomed and shaped to become the fashion icon she was known to be. She dressed in something close to a preppy style before becoming First Lady. It is likely that Michelle will choose designers she likes, but I expect her style will evolve. I loved her purple dress—it’s a great color for her; and Maria Pinto is a rising star. The Victory Speech dress by Narciso Rodriguez missed the beat, and I wonder if someone is already advising Michelle about her attire. The “line” of this dress was all wrong. It makes her hips look much wider than they are, and it makes her tummy look like it protrudes. Michelle has the most common figure flaw for women: wider at the “middle“—in other words, at the hips, waist and tummy. I expect she liked the design, thinking the black line at the waist would make her waist look smaller. It did, but at the same time, the red pattern was almost round; and round lines suggest roundness or fullness. For her figure type, this would be a No No. The colors were great, and I wish she had worn an all-red dress. She would look divine! Especially if she added red lipstick. It would make her face pop and her eyes sparkle!
I’d also like to add (as a corporate image consultant) that in order to look more worldly and elegant, Michelle should consider suits in jewel tones. She would look especially good in fuchsia, magenta, cherry red and more of those wonderful violet colors she has already worn. She should avoid orange and lime green, as they are food colors and not as classy as jewel tones.
Your thoughts?
Tory Johnson
Comments (16)
Well, she could be a 250 lb. I do not really care, however she can not wear what SHE wants and pleases.
If she wants to do so, she should of stay where she was before moving to the White House. But since she is First lady now and represents the greatest country in the world she absolutely must obey that common sense and the rules of what kind of dress to wear at any particular events. Everything should be chosen - colors, shape,accessories -everything. She obviously not an expert in it so she should of get herself a good image consultant like others did.Because world is watching and she has to be sure to not make a fool of herself and our country.
BTW. her choice of wardrobe for Europe tour was absolutely hideous.
— Posted by Igem | June 14, 2009 11:43 PM | Comment Permalink
I too am an image consultant with a background in fashion for over 30 years. I also am a Black woman from Chicago. I do not follow the mindset of 'wider'hips being a 'figure flaw'. Michelle Obama is not overweight and is healthy. I am so proud to see a woman that embraces a healthy lifestyle and her healthy body and is proud to show it off. The problem with the Narcisco dress was purely and simply a fit issue not a 'body issue. This dress was altered for Michelle and not done very well and not accessorized well with the crop sweater. I also approve of her style of showing her toned arms and wearing figure flattering dresses over those 'first lady'suits of the past. The Obamas ran their campaign on the promise of change and I hope that means in fashion also.
— Posted by Yvonne Daily | December 4, 2008 2:46 PM | Comment Permalink
The question is, who asked you? She doesn't need to look worldly and elegant, I think she has that one in the bag. But what doesn’t surprise me is, you are trying to disfigure the image she is comfortable with to make it your "own." You use the corporate imaging consultant as an excuse to prove some type of expertise. That is a subliminal excuse for saying, "Hey, I want you to tone it down a bit please...."
Now really, as an Image Consultant, I don't take away from my clients BUT what I do is work within the means. My question to you is, did you say the same thing about the model that had the EXACT same dress on at Fashion Week 2009? Which is you read interviews by the designer, is where Ms. Obama picked her dressed. So no, it was not specially made for election night...More than likely not, because the model was not curvy and her stomach wasn't protruding as you say....
So please stop it...you have to learn how to be worldly to know what I am talking about.
— Posted by SheWillAlwaysBe | November 19, 2008 10:12 AM | Comment Permalink
Ms fashion consultant...here's a bit of education for you. We love Michelle Obama's hips. We love her butt. We love her arms Her entire body. She represents beauty, brains and sexiness. Have you noticed Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, "Hips don't' lie" artist. They all have sexy beautiful hips and buttocks. We love that and especially when you add BRAINS to it. We like BEAUTY AND BRAINS! Michelle Obama please KEEP showing your beautiful body. DONT HIDE your body with the UGly LONG jackets that covers the hips. Michelle has the best body that any first lady has ever had!!!
— Posted by hannah | November 15, 2008 3:01 PM | Comment Permalink
I think the thing I liked most about what Michelle Obama wore was she stepped outside the box with style. It was a great dress. The public is not use to seeing our First Lady in dresses that are not the norm. She wore a style that the public is not ready for. She needs to keep us guessing what she is going to wear next. She has her on style that will get better and better. The main thing is she's proud of her body.
— Posted by Loretta Jarmon | November 14, 2008 7:02 AM | Comment Permalink
First thought as she came out was she looked shockingly like a black widow. The dress was actually very beautiful. But.... it took a bit to get used to. We aren't used to seeing this image on first ladies. I don't feel she meant to portray the image I got but nonetheless it came to mind.
She really is a beautiful and classy woman and will do a good job as first lady. I just think it was shocking to most at first.
— Posted by Saloome | November 11, 2008 10:38 AM | Comment Permalink
If some of the people here who left comments actually read the article instead of getting defensive they would understand what was actually being written. When I saw that dress, I was horrified. I know Michelle has a great body and that dress made her look dumpy and fat. Read this statement clearly for all of you blind absentminded followers. Michelle Obama has a great body and THAT particular dress made her look unbalanced. Unbalanced meaning her hips and stomach looked MUCH larger than we know we actually are and way too big for the rest of her body. I HIGHLY doubt the above author has a problem with womens hips regardless of ethnicity. She is referring to wearing clothes that balance your body out. Just as if she was wearing pants tapered at the ankle...we all know how that makes the body very unbalanced.
— Posted by lora | November 11, 2008 10:18 AM | Comment Permalink
For the first time in American history, the image of the first lady will drastically change the way in which we perceive the qunitessential American woman. Michelle Obama's figure is atypical of more than 90% of the images that typify what's streamed through the media as beautiful. Tall and curvacious is, however, what constitutes beauty in the Black community.
I do agree with the comments re: jewel tones working best for Michelle's complexion, however, to diss her hour glass figure just shows a difference in how the author perceives beauty.
— Posted by Babs | November 10, 2008 8:12 AM | Comment Permalink
Without meaning to be offensive, I feel your comment on Michelle's body and clothing is coming from the eyes of a someone who does not understand the black woman's body. She is a typical black woman with a black woman's body - she's a middle age woman with a very good body for her age and height - just in better shape than the some in her age bracket. Michelle's has brains and intelligence - she probably has never tried to hide her azzets as she had more important things on her mind, which I'm sure Barack adores her just as she is. - Not all women want to be a size 2.
— Posted by Becca | November 9, 2008 9:27 PM | Comment Permalink
I disagree and kudos to Michelle Obama for wearing something she likes and embracing her curves. Fashion will pay more attention now and give us some better options. I'm not as tall as Michelle Obama; however, I'm anxiously awaiting those changes.
— Posted by Sharon R. B. aka MissB007 | November 9, 2008 6:42 PM | Comment Permalink
Congratulations on your comments! You are not only an excellent image consultant but you posted your comments on a very polite way.
— Posted by Maria Cristina Evans | November 9, 2008 5:48 PM | Comment Permalink
Though I realize there must be some attire guidelines for someone in the spotlight as any First Lady is, I feel quite underwhelmed with the focus of this discussion line. It takes ALL colors to make a rainbow. What a dull world this would be if we were to stay within boundaries that were set for us. But does anyone else feel silly for even discussing Michelle's wardrobe? Is anyone else concerned with what type of person she is? Does her X style dress mean that she is kind hearted or her purple dress have anything to do with her intelligence? May I respectfully submit - WHO CARES! Focus on something of importance!
— Posted by J6 | November 9, 2008 4:51 PM | Comment Permalink
Hi Sandi;
As this country will continue to learn the "rules" don't always work for everyone. I am sure that you don't realize this but many of us think Michele's hips are fine and we don't care if they look a little bigger--NO anorexia here.
I hope that you and other image consultants that have influenced the gatekeepers at jobs for years will realize that our bodies are not an issue to confident women. The kind of ideas you express may work fine for a stepford wife, but not for the fabulous Michele Obama. The First Lady (Michele Obama) will be fine and I am sure by now she is discovering what works on TV and what doesn't. BTW, she can still rock that Rodrguez dress, just not on televison.
I love everything about Michele's style because she is a poster child for the many beautiful women of color and we are no longer taking our cues from women that have been used to limit the definition of beauty to being blond, thin or wearing a certain kind of suit.
Embrace Michele, you might just learn a little something.
^
HOPE WON!
— Posted by DuchessP | November 8, 2008 1:54 PM | Comment Permalink
Michelle Obama is a good looking woman. She's smart and sophisticated. She capable of dressing with style and class. Her children looked great! Why did she look so bad? Why that ridiculous X dress? Was someone going for Malcom X symbolism? That was an expensive dress that made her look very cheap.
— Posted by gadfly | November 8, 2008 10:43 AM | Comment Permalink
Sandi, you're probably a TERRIBLE image consultant -- one I'd never hire. While I didn't particularly care for Mrs Obama's dress, I would NEVER call her figure unflattering. She's got a figure to die for! You should be so lucky to find clients who are are easy to dress as our future first lady, though I'm sure with your hot pink lipstick and bleach blonde hair, you're not exactly the poster child for appearance perfection. I applaud Women For Hire for posting these very real opinions and not letting you get away with that absurdity.
— Posted by marge lion | November 7, 2008 8:09 PM | Comment Permalink
Get used to the look of a full-figured, confident black woman. Did it occur to you that Michelle Obama LIKES her gorgeous wide hips?
Maybe the perfect little designer suit and pill-box hat era are OVER. Instead of being "schooled" by prissy designers, we may have a beautiful woman in the White House who actually thinks for herself and has her OWN sense of style.
Your views are insulting.
— Posted by Susan Bayer | November 7, 2008 7:29 PM | Comment Permalink