President Obama and the First Lady welcome Chinese President Hu Jintao at the White House on Wednesday. (Jim Young/Reuters)
The right-wing fashion police once again are going after Michelle Obama's fashion choice. First it was her right to bear arms of the sleeveless kind. Now, it’s the dress she wore to last night’s White House State Dinner honoring Chinese President Hu Jintao.
The first lady rocked a bright red Alexander McQueen dress with flower petal prints. It had a little asymmetrical action going on in the collar. Very dramatic, and just stunning. But, she got a bunch of flack for wearing the color red itself — a symbol of good fortune in the Chinese culture. One pundit suggested she did so to honor "Commie Red China." Puuuulease.
Everyone has different tastes. For instance, Last Word staffers Danielle, Casey, Clare and I debated the merits of her gown’s overall style, and were totally split; fashion is, by nature, a subjective thing. Saying that wearing this dress makes some deep political statement is a stretch. We’ll have more on this in tonight’s Rewrite.
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Michelle is not a runway model or movie star. She is free to wear what she wants to. Oh wait, that's in the constitution. Funny, if Michelle exercises her constitutional rights it's wrong. If others do it then it's a right.
Note to everyone: This is the First Black FLOTUS. People of color wear things that compliment their skin tone. She is not white. White folks can pretty much mix and match colors as they please. People of color can't do that.
Fashion designers and fashion pundits are basing her clothing style on their ignorance.
She is beautiful in that dress...what the heck if she wore traditional Afrian Regala she would get massacred over that too. I am native american, I have light skin, and I get raked over the coals for being a wanna be.....good lord..get a life. She represents us with poise...geez.
If the First lady and President Obama found a cure for cancer, the reichwing would whine about it being 'Unconstitutional'.
Toned and simply STUNNING!!!!!
I am a conservative, Republican, and I have no problem with the color Red. In fact come election night on November 6, 2012 I hope to see a LOT of RED! Good for Michelle, the color looks very nice on her and I agree she should wear what she feels most comfortable and confident in. Some individual with an opinion opens their mouth and people want to say see all those "fill in the blanks" are alike. Come on it's 2011 I thought society had progressed far enough to stop judging a book by it's cover. Don't you just love free speech!
If only there were more conservatives like you...
A department within White House exists by the name of the Office of the Protocol. The Office of the Protocol forbade Nancy Reagen to wear a red dress during arrival of the Soviet delegation in the 80s. She switched to a blue dress at the last moment.
Should USA's official policy be to defy China, Michelle would have never worn a red dress. These days, however, economic reality is such, that we depend on China, and wearing red, ends up, indirectly, being in 'fashion'.
The color of the dress is no coincidence, and frankly, it looks super lovely on our First Lady. Well done. Too bad that Alexander McQueen is no longer around to cherish this moment.
the dress is stunning just like Mrs. Obama!
I almost cried when I saw it, just beautiful.
Lawrence,
The negative reaction to First Lady Obama's dress color is a prime example of how some people will never understand the importance of understanding any culture other than "real America."
Red is considered an auspicious color in Chinese culture, ancient and modern; representing good fortune, success, joy and happiness.
I once heard that it took Chevy a long time to figure out why the "Nova" wasn't selling well in Mexico.
Love the show.
"I once heard that it took Chevy a long time to figure out why the "Nova" wasn't selling well in Mexico."
Oops, link didn't post.
snopes.com/business/misxlate/nova.asp
Thanks, Izzardfan!
Always nice to know the actual facts. Interesting how these stories become common knowledge, even in marketing instruction.
I still find it interesting that some people ignore other cultures even when trying to deal with them.
You missed "Reagan Red" in your list of Republicans wearing red -- I think Nancy Reagan herself coined the term.
The First Lady represented the United States very well. I thought she was stunning and classy!
I loved the dress... I personally think she is wearing it because she is pregnant! Wouldn't that be awesome!
You know what I noticed about the dress and picture above? Americans are tall on average.
I think Lawrence is 6'2" and some change. I'm 6'1" and wish I as 6'5"
Makes me wonder about the GIANTS in our past history.
Michelle's clothes usually qualify her for "best dressed". This is the first outfit that she's worn that I absolutely didn't like. Fashion is subjective, but it was the asymetry of the dress that lost me. It had to happen sooner or later.
The FIRST LADY is a class act,unlike her crictics who have none