I SUPPOSE it was only a matter of time. After months of building her up as the most stylish thing to happen to the Whitehouse since Jackie Kennedy, Michelle Obama has taken her first fashion lashing.
Just a few months ago, as she stood on Capitol Hill in Washington in her gold Isabel Toledo dress and coat, then swirled around the floor at one inauguration ball after another in that breathtaking, white Jason Wu ballgown – it had appeared that the new Mrs O, like her husband, could do no wrong.
But now, just as he has discovered that even smashing through the biggest barrier in the world of politics does not make you immune from criticism, the style snipers have decided to take a swing at the self-styled “Mommy-in-Chief”.
“What could her sartorial hanging offence have possibly been?” I hear you cry.
Did she wear a fluorescent micro-mini to the opening of Congress? Has she gone and got herself a tramp stamp? Maybe she streaked her hair purple?
Thankfully none of these fashion crimes have been committed.
But Michelle has had the audacity to reveal her arms in her official First Lady portrait, pictured below. The photograph, taken in the Blue Room of the White House, was released to the world this week and has split the States.
In it, although much has been made of Michelle’s fondness for non-designer clothing and her love of high street store J Crew, Mrs Obama wears a black dress from Michael Kors’ spring 2009 collection (the dress has apparently been in stores since January – although I can’t imagine you would get one for love nor money now that Michelle has modelled it).
The main thrust of the criticism being directed at Mrs Obama seems to be that the sleeveless look is too informal for the seriousness of the occasion and that it is inappropriate to be showing her arms given that spring has barely sprung.
I personally think Michelle, who last month became only the second First Lady to grace the cover of American Vogue, looks great in the picture.
The dress’s lines are sleek and sophisticated and the look is a million light years away from the stuffy suits we got used to seeing on the likes of Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush.
And if you are going to flash some flesh then it doesn’t come much safer than your arms does it?
But it seems conservative America is not at all happy at having to view Michelle’s toned triceps honed from hours training in the gym with her super-fit husband.
Sounds like they don’t like her flexing her muscles literally or figuratively.
Ironic though isn’t it, that in America, of all places, a woman should be pilloried for her right to bare arms?
