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The Etceterist | 04/02/2009 10:05 am

Why Didn't Michelle Obama Bare Arms at Buckingham Palace?

By Billy Norwich
© Getty Images

Wearing silk satin crepe dress with black skirt and white bodice by Isabel Toledo, did First Lady Michelle Obama feel pressure to cover her arms — reportedly a black Azzedine Alaia cardigan — when she met Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace yesterday?

If Jackie Kennedy could go sleeveless all those many years ago to meet the Queen, what happened that our brave, 21st-century First Lady covered up? Inquiring fashion theorists want to know …

In Washington, the First Lady has pretty much stopped baring her well-toned arms ever since they threatened to steal the spotlight from the White House’s economic policies. But in London, after meeting the Queen, she was sleeveless in her Toledo outfit posing for photographs with President Obama on their way into a Jamie Oliver-prepared dinner at Downing Street last night.

Pressure? Protocol? Frightened of the Queen? Well, according to a close fashion-world confidante of the First Lady, the deciding factor on the covering cardigan was simple: It is cold inside Buckingham Palace! To save British taxpayers extra expense, the Queen keeps the heat way low — the temperature today in London was a brisk 54 degrees — and the palace is very drafty. Goose bumps or cardigan, Mrs. Obama? Cardigan, of course.

And then there is the most interesting cardigan twist: It is made by a French designer, Azzedine Alaia. So what do you think? Is there some fashion diplomacy happening here? Since Mrs. Obama was expected to wave the flag of American designers exclusively in her official wear, this bit of bonjour to Paris — if indeed the cardigan is Azzedine, and I do trust my source 95 percent of the time — could be interpreted as a diplomatic gesture to the French people and President Nicolas Sarkozy, especially, who has threatened to walk out of the G-20 Summit if his demands for new, tighter financial regulations are not met.

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

f p
In the long view of history does this question really mean a damn thing?  just sayin’
By f p on 04/02/2009 10:15 am
Z ****
Even for today, does it mean a damn thing?  =)   Wink, wink
By Z **** on 04/02/2009 10:19 am
Catherine Kaiman
Yep..you betcha! ( wink wink)
By Catherine Kaiman on 04/02/2009 11:54 am
marita dorr
as i am english i applaud her for showing courtesy  
By marita dorr on 04/02/2009 10:26 am
DeBúrca obj
After living in Ireland and knowing London has a very similar climate, I would assume the sweater provided warmth.
By DeBúrca obj on 04/02/2009 10:36 am
Kelly In Texas

I totally agree, how ridiculous that anyone would wonder why someone would wear a sweater in cold weather! Besides, Michelle Obama’s arms are not so "buff" that they would offend anyone.

I do think that she should have worn American designers as she promised to do. Her decision not to, was a disappointment.

By Kelly In Texas on 04/05/2009 5:36 pm
deber B
I agree, Marita dorr, Michelle did, in fact, show courtesy with a traditional outfit.   Although I thought she was somewhat underdressed for the occasion I was glad she was not sleeveless for this particular occasion.
By deber B on 04/02/2009 10:36 am
Rachel F
That makes two of us.
By Rachel F on 04/02/2009 10:49 am
EKA -

I agree, it LOOKED a bit underdressed, but the coat was satin, the dress was silk crepe, the sweater was cashmere, and she worse a crinoline under the skirt that peeked out below, first time I’ve ever seen that. Check it out in the slide show here 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/01/michelle-obama-debuts-new_n_181…

However she wore something to the opera last night that was really ugly.  Does any of this matter ???? NO, but women like it.

By EKA - on 04/02/2009 11:55 am
deber B
Actually, it really doesn’t matter.   We all have different tastes in clothes.   I’m glad the coat was Satin…didn’t look like it in the photo.   Satin is dressy!    Thanks for the link.
By deber B on 04/02/2009 12:32 pm
caj p
She dressed appropriately for the occasion and she looked very elegant, it was a very nice picture of them all together. 
By caj p on 04/02/2009 10:58 am
M J
Fuss, fuss, fuss, why all the fuss? Did anyone bother to critic Mr. Obama’s outfit or the Queen’s or Prince Phillip?
By M J on 04/02/2009 11:33 am
Catherine Kaiman
It doesn’t matter what Michelle Obama wears, the Reps on this site would find something to be critical about.  Underdressed, overdressed, wrong color, arms showing, arms not showing…for some she will never be good enough to compliment.
By Catherine Kaiman on 04/02/2009 11:57 am
Mel Berg
You got that right, we have the fashion police, the gift police, speech police…there is not one article about the Pres. or First Lady that doesn’t become a dumping ground for insults. OH, but don’t say anything about Ms Palin….that is just a love fest with her, she can do no wrong!
By Mel Berg on 04/02/2009 12:57 pm
S.J. Morgan
Actually…I have bigger issues to deal with than to worry about what she is wearing today!  Yawn!!! 
By S.J. Morgan on 04/02/2009 12:58 pm