Notes on a Sweater
by Kelly
You’ve probably heard about the Obamas trip to Buckingham Palace recently. It’s been getting a lot of press – but oddly enough, the media is obsessed with the gifts exchanged (Obama gave the Queen of England an Ipod complete with Broadway selections) and, even worse, what Michelle Obama was wearing. As if there wasn’t enough coverage of the First Lady’s wardrobe already…
However, not everyone is happy with Michelle Obama’s J. Crew sweater-set. Apparently, famous designer Oscar de la Renta has admonished Michelle for wearing a sweater in the presence of the Queen.
Here are some quotes from the fashion designer:
“’You don’t…go to Buckingham Palace in a sweater,’ Oscar de la Renta told Woman’s Wear Daily regarding Mrs. Obama’s decision to wear a cardigan over an Isabel Toledo-designed dress for the private meeting.
De la Renta also said the first lady — who often sports relatively affordable American brands — should broaden her wardrobe and seize an opportunity to spur the flailing fashion industry.
“American fashion right now is struggling,” he said. “I think I understand what [Obama and her advisers] are doing, but I don’t think that is the right message at this particular point.”
“I don’t object to the fact that Mrs. Obama is wearing J. Crew to whatever because the diversity of America is what makes this country great. But there are a lot of great designers out there. I think it’s wrong to go in one direction only,” he added.”
My first reaction? Who died and made Oscar de la Renta an expert on etiquette? Just because he creates dresses that only the richest of the rich can afford doesn’t make him an authority on class and good manners. It seems like he is perpetuating the antiquated notion that those with wealth automatically have class – although anyone who has watched the Real Housewives reality show might beg to differ.
So Mr. de la Renta, our First Lady didn’t wear a designer dress to visit the Queen of England. Remind me why that matters? Last I heard, the monarch of England only performed ceremonial functions…it’s the Prime Minister who is the actual head of the government. So, by de la Renta’s logic, one must dress up when meeting aging figureheads. Damn, guess Michelle missed that memo.
What really irks me about de la Renta’s statement, however, is the idea that the fashion industry is “hurt” by the economic crisis and needs financial support. Oh, I’m sorry that Americans don’t want to spend their hard-earned cash on your luxury (read: useless) goods anymore. I’m sure that you’re struggling now to keep a roof over your head and groceries in your fridge. Here, why don’t we all go out right now and order a custom de la Renta dress. Then Joe the Plumber will don a tuxedo when he goes to work, and Sally the autoworker will wear her haute couture on the assembly line. Makes a whole lot of sense, doesn’t it?
- Dollface
So, what do you think? Should Michelle become a “better” role model for fashionistas by wearing more designer goods? Or do you find de la Renta’s comments ridiculous (compounded by the fact that CNN and I devoted so much time weighing in on this matter!)
P.S. I mean no personal offense to the Queen of England by referring to her as an aging figurehead. I just call ‘em how I see ‘em. Plus, I’m fairly certain that she was so distracted by her new iPod, she didn’t even notice Michelle’s sweater. ;-)
I totally mentioned this to you via AIM, but I’ll say it again… nobody criticizes what Obama wears because men don’t have to think about these “fashion” decisions. Dark colored suit, tie (and somebody probably picks the color/pattern for them). Women, however, are expected to reflect who they are by the way they dress. So Jackie Kennedy was all fun and high-spirited for being fashionable (despite the fact she could speak more languages than her husband), and Laura Bush was seen as prim and conservative for her modest, pastel colored suits. There is no implicit judgment in looking at men’s clothing because it is essentially the same for every man. What is more important is what the man is saying, doing, etc.
For someone like me who is totally inept at picking fashionable clothing AND a woman, I’d love to just pick out a black suit and blue tie when going to a formal function. But since I have a vagina, I have to agonize over skirt or dress, heels or flats, pastels or dark colors, sparkles or shine, blargh. Totally stupidz.
I didn’t realize Obama’s stimulus package was aimed at the fashion industry. If our international economy recovers to the point that our biggest problem is funding Oscar de la Renta’s ready to wear line, then I think we can focus on whether or not a J Crew cardigan is appropriate for a meeting with the Queen. After all, the reason the first family was in London in the first place was for an economic conference with world leaders.
At least Michelle is not wearing a sweater with a big “American Eagle” scrawled across it.
They’ve been trying to attack her visit with the Queens from so many different angles. I think the mainstream media is out to just pick Michelle Obama to pieces because she’s a smart, strong woman.
go Michelle for wearing whatever the f she wants! she always looks slammin’ (allusion to Prince’s “You’ve Got the Look,” which is in my head for some reason?).
If we don’t have fashion, what do we have?
…also @dolly I’m sad that men CAN’T dress in more than one outfit. Obama would look sharp in some pinstripes. I agree that the women+fashion pressure is absurd, especially since it’s the opposite on men. I mean even Obama in pinstripes would still be a suit, but would be crazy and inappropriate. Men have no options. It should be everyone has to fuss over everything or no one does. Silly conventions. I still think everyone should have to go all out, but I respect what you said about wanting just a suit and tie. It’s true that the fashion thing kind of distracts from the actual actions of the individual. It’s all packaging. I’d argue even Obama is a bit packaged, and he IS in just a suit and tie. That’s why the whole situation with visiting the Queen is a little absurd. I mean, she is, like Dollface said, a figure head, and the only reason to visit a figure head is for publicity. I know that the image of the president is important, but still!
All that having been said, I still think Fashion, industry aside, is one of the highest forms of artistic expression.
Oh, sh*t! A HUMAN BEING ACTUALLY SAID THAT ??!?
Oh-My-God! Michelle looks so BEAUTIFUL in that outfit, even a bit more than she always does! I read it twice to make sure I had gotten it right! I knew he must have said something bad, because of the way you started telling the story, but I could have never imagined something so… “person-having-a-whole-different-view-of-what’s-important-in-life-ish”. >:D
Did the mainstream media agree about what he said? I so hope it didn’t!
Well, I’ve met people almost like him, but never someone so far from what truly matters. I don’t know if I should pity him more than the people who have to live around him! :D