Michelle Obama: Right to Bare Arms?

on March 1, 2009 at 7:00 AM

Photo by Alex Wong/Getty

At President Obama's first address to the joint session of Congress, First Lady Michelle Obama looked very elegant in an eggplant dress. I was so glad to see that she hadn't cut her hair -- there were rumors that she had.

I'll admit, I was a little taken aback about how modern the dress was for an event like this just because of what I was used to seeing in the past -- but it was refreshing.

She's a young mom of two school-aged daughters and is First Lady of America in 2009. She doesn't have to dress frumpy.

CafeMom spicymama.sc posted an article from USA Today in The CafeMom Newcomers Group about the sleeveless outfits Michelle has been wearing. She wondered if others thought it was appropriate.

According to the article in USA Today:

40 percent said yes, she's a modern first lady.
11 percent said no, it seems too informal.
49 percent said who cares? It's her decision.

Some of you weighed in and I love WhiteTigerLily's response best: They're arms not boobs!

What do you think? Is a sleeveless outfit inappropriate for the First Lady?

*Note: Bear arms was originally written as title. Now Michelle Obama has bare arms, not bear arms, which is a good thing or Barack would be in trouble. My mistake.

About the author Michele Zipp

loves vintage and will defend skinny jeans to the death though she is highly superstitious and "death" is probably a bad word choice. She has a touch of the hoarding disease and enjoys sleuthing, the worst reality shows, and wearing high heels, even at the playground. She's an AP mom of twins, slightly crunchy but with a pedicure.

Filed Under: clothes, in the news, style

Comments (15)

bagjmama

on Mar 1, 2009 at 8:07 AM

I think Michelle Obama has class and is very stylish! It's time the White House got an update!

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cmarielin

on Mar 1, 2009 at 8:27 AM

Why not? Besides, her arms are toned and look nice. Might as well, if she wants to.

FudgeBrownie

on Mar 1, 2009 at 10:14 AM

If you got it, flaunt it. I wouldn't mind having a first lady sex symbol. She's very attractive. I love that she wears something a little more sexy than what we're used to. We're in 2009. Women should be able to dress however they want to...including the first lady.

RanaAurora

on Mar 1, 2009 at 1:43 PM

I think she has every right to bear bare arms. It doesn't look bad and it's not sexual at all.

Mom401

on Mar 1, 2009 at 8:29 PM

She looks great but I do not "get it" as to why she would want to go sleeveless in the winter on such cold days. Perhaps she gets overheated or maybe she just likes the freedom of arm movement without sleeves binding her. Being an Easterner with the "fashion rules" drilled into me as a kid, I was surprised to see her wearing sleeveless attire in the middle of winter in the fashion-conscious New York down to D.C. region. Then again, women going to fancy social events wear strapless, sleeveless gowns, so I suppose it is no difference to apply the same rule to everyday wear. It just makes me shiver to see it!

SpiritedTigress

on Mar 2, 2009 at 1:27 AM

I try not to think about anything they do >__>

JoyandLove

on Mar 2, 2009 at 10:50 AM

She can wear what ever she likes. It is her money and her prerogative.

emslala

on Mar 2, 2009 at 2:45 PM

I don't see what the problem is... It's a tasteful sleveless shirt, not a halter top or something.
Michelle Obama is a lovely & intelligent modern woman, and her sense of style reflects that. She is not trashy, and is a good role model for young women today. I would MUCH rather my DD look up to her than Britney or Angelina!!

callmeann

on Mar 2, 2009 at 5:21 PM

What is an egglant dress? if it was supposed to be 'elegant' then you should have proofread it. This is a featured blog on a site with a large following and you have been chosen out of thousands of women who could have been picked to to participate. Also, your title should have been "Right to Bare Arms" if you were drawing on a reference to the Second Amendment and the fact that her arms were bare. You are a professional writer. This isn't just some post to share with your internet friends.

on Mar 2, 2009 at 5:23 PM

As for the portrait. Her dress isn't inappropriate, just a tad casual for an official portrait of the First Lady. The first couple is as close to royalty as we get and I think they should dress accordingly for official roles.