Fashion + Beauty

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

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Why does Michelle Obama always go sleeveless? Also: Who cares?

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Getty Images

Last night, Michelle Obama attended the President's address to Congress wearing a sleeveless Narciso Rodriguez dress, one that showcased her much-discussed "well-toned" arms. But, the thing was, it was cold in D.C. last night! Oh My Gerd! And she didn't have any sleeves! Was she or wasn't she cold? Is our first lady obsessed with showing off her arms? Just what kind of message does Mrs. Obama's bare arms send to the nation?

These are the kinds of questions heating up the blogosphere today. And, sweet lord, they are stupid.

Over on the New York Times' Caucus blog, a writer wonders if Obama's arms are "a reminder of everything about her we can’t see....In two years, she has shown us a great deal of herself, more than most of us would share, and yet right now, we actually don’t know that much about her...In a few years, will she still look as confident as she did last night, or will she reach for cover? And is she comfortable as she looks in those skimpy tops, or is she actually freezing?"

The Huffington Post suggests that The Arms "Inspired a Presidential Address" and that Michelle revealed
Getty Images

Getty Images

her "flinty Chicago toughness" by eschewing sleeves.

Come on, people. Could we possibly be over-thinking this? I'd bet Michelle Obama chooses sleeveless outfits because they look good on her and make her feel confident. It's the same way some of us turn to A-line skirts or wrap-dresses or bell-sleeves. We all want to feel the most comfortable and attractive in our clothes that we possibly can, and, hey, if this is the first lady's thing, so be it. It's not like she's sporting major cleavage or wearing inappropriate mini-skirts, or worse, dressing in head-to-toe orange pantsuits (sorry, Hillary). Also, the last time MO wore a cardigan over a dress that was not supposed to be worn with a cardigan, the world went crazy with style hatred. Remember that?
Source: NY Times, HuffPo

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From the Community…

Comments 1-10 of 808
  • Girl in Seattle's Avatar
    Posted by Girl in Seattle Wed Feb 25, 2009 3:00pm PST

    Just what kind of message does Mrs. Obama's bare arms send to the nation?

    Are you serious with this question? I wish people would stop posting this kind of negative outlook on any kind of female body part. Seriously! Grow UP!

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  • Jennifer Romolini, Shine staff's Avatar
    Posted by Jennifer Romolini, Shine staff Wed Feb 25, 2009 3:04pm PST

    Um, Hilda M.

    That's my whole point. Writers are going crazy over the secret message Michelle's bare arms are sending and it is really, really silly.

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  • Girl in Seattle's Avatar
    Posted by Girl in Seattle Wed Feb 25, 2009 3:21pm PST

    Thanks Jennifer. That's who I was directing it towards... the writers of such silly silly comments. Sorry if you thought it was intended for you. I read the article and just got so heated.

    Thanks for your article.

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  • biscuiteater's Avatar
    Posted by biscuiteater Wed Feb 25, 2009 3:27pm PST

    She is trying to say, "Mess with my man, and get the business end of these guns, baby!". Just kidding, I noticed that she was sleeveless, but I didn't infer some sort of secret code or hidden meaning from it, lol!

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  • Devonia's Avatar
    Posted by Devonia Wed Feb 25, 2009 3:53pm PST

    I'm a SHINE blogger. I draw my heart out illustrating current events/issues that I think might be of interest to women. I try not to take sides - just let the responses/ captions to the illustrations that SHINE users contribute speak for themselves. AND, Jennifer is right, Michelle showing up at the big Congress thing in February - sans sleeves - caught national attention.

    As of course it would; Michelle was sleeveless amid a sea of men and women dressed in heavy winter fabrics and long sleeves. If you react to visual stimuli, it leaped at you.

    Nine hours ago, Michelle was off my drawing board and posted on SHINE as another Add-A-Caption illustrations. Michelle looks like a beautiful Winter Queen in the illustration, nothing negative; in fact, my first thought was - HOT FLASHES. MIchelle is just the right age to be going through menopause and could very well have decided that she was going to risk a flash where she needed to suffer or start peeling layers in public. If so, that is a very supportive message because there are legions of women out there to sympathize.

    The drawing still needs a caption: Example - Michelle's HOT!

    http://shine.yahoo.com/blog/atiiN2IGbfJxhEzTjv62BL5LpgIJ6rUFipSap/

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  • ladybella04's Avatar
    Posted by ladybella04 Wed Feb 25, 2009 3:59pm PST

    Maybe the secret message is that women should wear what is comfortable and makes them feel good about themselves and everyone else should just shut up about it. Now, all the women who wish to bare arms during the Winter can feel free to follow the first lady's example and do so. They no longer have to live in secret shame of their exposed arms. An important step forward for fashionistas and feminists everywhere, I'm sure. Good thing we're discussing it.

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  • CarolB's Avatar
    Posted by CarolB Wed Feb 25, 2009 5:34pm PST

    I agree with Devonia above, she is proably starting menopause and gets hot flashes.

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  • who me?'s Avatar
    Posted by who me? Wed Feb 25, 2009 5:53pm PST

    her arms are too long to wear sleeves

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  • girlheel's Avatar
    Posted by girlheel Wed Feb 25, 2009 6:13pm PST

    maybe she spilled something on her jacket. maybe in that crowd, the room gets too hot. she looked fabulous again. and business like, and appropriate. and not like (what the heck was she wearing) Nancy Pelosi, who usually looks great, but last night looked a little like grandma on the bingo bus.

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  • always wondering's Avatar
    Posted by always wondering Wed Feb 25, 2009 6:22pm PST

    She has nice arms :)

    To show off

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