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Home › Politics

Politics | 06/20/2008 9:22 am

Mad Dash for Michelle Obama’s Dress

By The Staff at wowOwow.com
White House/Black Market

Like Jacqueline Kennedy a generation ago, Michelle Obama is causing a fashion sensation even before the election.

But this time it’s a metaphorical fashion statement made by her choice of a $148 black and white print dress carrying a label called White House/Black Market to wear on the popular TV show, “The View.”

The search is on among would-be fashionistas as well as savvy statement-makers for the sleeveless black and white tank dress that Michelle Obama wore on ABC’s “The View” this week. Purchased from a retailer called “White House/Black Market,” the very affordable $148 dress has unleashed a mad scramble on both the store and the website of Donna Ricco, the NYC-based designer of the dress. According to The New York Daily News, thousands of orders for the frock have poured into both.

The White House/Black Market website this morning features what they’re calling their “Road to the White House” dress on their homepage. One hundred percent cotton, wash ‘n wear. Sold out, but available in mid-August.

Yes, we know Michelle Obama is a full-fledged, Harvard-educated Woman of Substance. But now we also know she can use fashion in a way that disarms, makes subtle statements and even shows off upper arms to die for.

White House/Black Market? It just says it all.

Read more about: ABC, Fashion, Michelle Obama, Style, The View

45 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Snowbird Wannabe
What has happened to individuality? I don’t understand why women have to go find the exact same dress Michelle Obama wore. What is the big deal???
By Snowbird Wannabe on 06/20/2008 11:53 am
Get Sporty
She looked fantastic in the youthful and chic ready for anywhere dress. Would be a head-turner going to lunch in Beverly Hills, shopping in Union Square in San Francisco, or for an afternoon strolling in NYC. Like Jackie Kennedy she will be a trend-setter in clothes and in fitness. Jackie had those great sculpted arms too. And so fab in a ‘ordinary’ off the rack dress. Others pile on the expensive clothes, makeup, jewelry and could never look as poised and hip. Love it!
By Get Sporty on 06/20/2008 12:00 pm
beverly linens
off topic / Fluffy would you go back to the Jesus thread and take another shot at my question? I’d love to see what you have to say about the question I asked. Bev.
By beverly linens on 06/20/2008 1:44 pm
Deborah Sutherland
Having seen many advertisements for “White House/Black Market” clothing, I was interested enough to seek out one of their stores. Don’t know how Michelle Obama managed to find an all-cotton dress…Nearly every item I saw in their stores was synthetic and cheaply made, but way overpriced. I’ve seen better quality items at K-Mart for heaven’s sake! Ah, but the crux of the matter is: No matter your political leanings, any woman in the public eye is going to be judged on what she wears (hair style, clothing, shoes) rather than her intellect, abilities, accomplishments. Sexism is alive and well.
By Deborah Sutherland on 06/20/2008 1:28 pm
Lady Gator
Deborah……….Amen to that!
By Lady Gator on 06/20/2008 2:40 pm
Star Lawrence
They will take the vote away from women if we get too giddy over the clothes thang. The dress was OK—strobed a little on TV. More of her Jackie O thing, I guess.
By Star Lawrence on 06/20/2008 3:04 pm
My Two Cents
I thought the dress looked good on Michelle. Jackie wore designer dresses that were very pricy, seems like apples and oranges to me. I need dresses with sleeves, I wonder why there are so many sleeveless dresses, when there are so many baby boomers.
By My Two Cents on 06/20/2008 4:58 pm
im p
What’s wrong with having brains and looking good at the same time? Having to choose between one or the other is tiresome. Seems to me the two aren’t mutually exclusive. I admire the way Michelle Obama dresses and I admire her brains, accomplishment and other qualities as well. So far I haven’t seen her in anything I could criticize… and I was in the fashions business for many years. Hillary certainly progressed from the days early in Bill’s presidency when she’d arrive at a function looking as if she’d just taken the rollers out of her hair and not combed it. Used to make me cringe. I’m for looking as good as you can look.
By im p on 06/20/2008 9:51 pm
Get Sporty
Thank you im p—Agree. It’s nice to see someone with some actual style and without spending a fortune.
By Get Sporty on 06/21/2008 2:51 am
Diana T
Dear im p, You are spot on!
By Diana T on 06/22/2008 2:13 pm
C A Rose
I thought she looked great in the black and white number, and fabulous in the bright violet dress as well. She shows she’s comfortable in her clothes, practical in her purchases. I wish my arms looked as good as hers in a sleeveless dress. What’s funny is that here in AZ where we are a sweltering 113 degrees outside, anyone NOT wearing a sleeveless dress would cause greater comment.
By C A Rose on 06/21/2008 4:26 am
im p
My arms and hands are 73 years old… they are what they are. Not as good as some… better than others. I’m grateful I can still use them to bake bread, sail a boat, hug a grandchild, type this message.
By im p on 06/21/2008 9:58 am
Agyness O
On Michele Obama’s W/B dress on The View………What is all the fuss? She had to wear something so why not off the rack with a little style. Good arms…yeah. Let’s pick up the dumbbells and go for it.
By Agyness O on 06/21/2008 1:50 pm
Star Lawrence
Yup! And I, too, live in AZ, as one poster noted—sleeveless all the way! You know what we call those hanging skin things on the arms—Mermans! From Ethel Merman holding up her arms and belting out No Business Like Show Business! Flaunt it, my babies!
By Star Lawrence on 06/22/2008 11:36 am
Bonnie Oliver
The dress looked fine. But I have a suspicion that just about anything Michelle wore would have been fawned over and written about in the papers. There is a full-court press going on with reference to her new ‘make-over’ to make her appear less elitist and less…… well she used to complain a lot in her former speeches and some people took that as “whinny”. I guess we won’t hear anymore about how difficult it is to raise two daughters on a half million dollars a year. I thought she looked nice. I only watched a short bit of the program but she was pleasant and was able to accept the adulation being shown to her by the hostesses with poise and smiles. The makeover is working.
By Bonnie Oliver on 06/21/2008 2:32 pm
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