Michelle Obama in Narciso Rodriguez at State of the Union Address

First Lady Michelle Obama at the 2016 State of the Union address before members of Congress in the House chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC.

FLO knows the value of symbolism in her style choices. She’s never obvious about it, which is something we admire about her style, but she does tend to use her style to either make subtle statements or express a simple concept.

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She somewhat famously (to fashion watchers, anyway) stepped out on election night 2008 for the first time as the next First Lady, wearing a Narciso Rodriguez dress that, in retrospect, set the tone for her style for the next seven years: bold, modern, graphic and occasionally unexpected. For this, her last appearance as First Lady at the State of the Union address, she returned to the designer to put a capper on the promise made by that first dress of his she wore. She likes that sort of symbolic symmetry.

This is a simpler look in a lot of ways, but no less bold in its color. And of course, like so many of the dresses and gowns she’s worn in her time as FLOTUS, it’s sleeveless, which is something we tend to think she does on purpose now just to burn all the people who harrumphed over a woman having the audacity to show off her arms. It’s a lot less flashy than many of the dresses she’s worn – even for the State of the Union – but again, that feels kind of right for the moment. It’s confident and declarative, but relatively quiet. Nicely done.

Now if only we could’ve gotten her to raise the hem a few inches.

Style Credits:
Narciso Rodriguez Marigold Sleeveless Banded-Bodice Wool Crepe Midi Dress from the Fall 2015 Collection

[Photo Credit: Getty Images, neimanmarcus.com]

• Michelle Obama
• Narciso Rodriguez