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Geek is chic.
The word comes from a misunderstanding of the phrase, taking it to be like "helpmate."
Isn't that "Frosted Coral" from the Doris Day Maybelline Collection David is wearing in his headshot:
http://creativeclass.typepad.com/thecreativitye...
I thought it was L'Oreal "because you deserve the very best."
I agree with what was written, but spare me that load of BS . . .
"Catting" over what she wears is pure sign of jealousy and fear of her power and influence over people!
She is confident, bright, attractive, and competent...
What's there not to hate in the eyes of Republicans?
Jackie Kennedy, State of the Union Address, 1963.
Google is your friend.
But we Americans are the worst-dressed people. Everytime I am in Europe, it is easy to spot the American: Shorts, crocs and/or flip-flops, and a crappy tee-shirt - all so wrinkled that one wonders if they have ever seen an iron.
Frankly, our obsession with youth makes for some funny looking middle-aged and old people. And why anyone with a belly thinks that they can wear midriff is beyond me. But then, humility went out with Karaoke.
Let's recognize that Obama and his family for once exhibit the youthful exuberance for life and living. Not some dowdy, pant suit wearing 60 something.
I like her fine, she isn't flashing nipples, she isn't showing her Brazilian, she is dressing in a very fashionable hip way.
Would a peep have been uttered had Michelle worn a lime green pant suit to the joint address???
I don't recall winger outrage over sock holes and dress pant smudge...
Jackie K at her husbands SOTU looking pretty sexy to me:
http://pro.corbis.com/search/Enlargement.aspx?C...
It is a shame these 'usual suspects' still have voices in the public arena.
I particularly liked this line of Rich's:
The level of taste flaunted by America’s upper caste at the bubble’s height had less in common with the Medicis than, say, Uday and Qusay Hussein.
The illusive qualities of taste and tastelessness require a level of well-read sophistication almost unknown among today's crusty upper classless MBA's and unreal estate tycoons raised in America's consumer-crazed late 20th century.
It is an unrecognized irony, indeed, that the early 20th century titans of public endowments (art, education, whatever) were, unlike their modern counterparts, self-made and largely self-educated men of vastly broader vision both for their employees, companies and the nation (world) going forward in time.
The power America of recent, sad memory profited by and from ignorance, from cheating the intellectually threadbare of thread.
Better angels are better served with broad uplift and not the damnable narrow intellectual focus that created the artless and bankrupt zombie pop culture that hisses over Michelle's cute, innocent arms.
After 19 years of Bar, Hillary and Pickles' hideous pastel pantsuits this criticism of Mrs. Obama seems a tad over the top.
Additionally, Washington, DC the hideous home of the most hideously dressed women in America (white nylons and navy skirts I'm looking at you) has some total nerve crabbing at any female over fashion.
Give Michelle some time to settle and for new catalogs to follow to her new address...after all, Jackie wasn't built in a day and Saint Laurent is dead.
Since when is the apparel of a youthful First Lady supposed to be the conventional, coverup dress or suit all the time? All First Ladies since Jackie O have been older than she is (maybe except Hillary) and dressed age appropriate. Michelle's not dowdy, she's not button down, she's Michelle Obama, young mother, professional, intelligent and busy First Lady. A real role model for women these days, not a fashion plate.
I can't wait for M. Night Shyamalan's "DC: Damned Couture'.
ROTFLMAO!!
I was way more offended by Cindy's grandma cleavage than I am by Michelle's beautiful arms.
True equality gives women the fashion right to be who they are!
Michelle is awesome leave her arms alone!
I am a woman, and I don't approve of women showing so much skin in such formal settings. Why? Think again about why showing skin is so uniquely "feminine." The roots of this tradition lies in sex. The suggestion of sexuality.
Sure, it is beautiful, it is gorgeous, but why isn't it as gorgeous and AS ACCEPTED for men? Because in a way that no one seems to want to admit, the "femininity" that is bare skin is a suggestion that we need to see her entire body in detail to deem her beautiful.
There are a million other ways for a woman to appear feminine and beautiful.
And why don't men need to bare skin to appear masculine? Get a load at how they look masculine - they cover nearly every inch of skin up in a form-obscuring, thick, opaque in every way SUIT.
How can women ever be equal when they have to male themselves?
Republicans are stuck on stupid and mired in the past. This focus on Michelle Obama's beautiful, brown, well-toned arms says more about the out of touch pundits, and idiot bloggers than it says about Mrs. Obama.
Maybe it's just because I'm a gay guy and so the bare arms don't make my brain shut off, and they don't overwhelm my perception of her eloquence, or make me forget the Ivy League degrees or the professional accomplishments. I've just been watching the pretty much flawless way she's taken on the role of First Lady. She's managed to combine impeccable style with truly meaningful substance, and done it in a way that doesn't distract from her husband's agenda.
Honestly, I was an early Hilary Clinton supporter. I was really skeptical of Obama's experience. Maybe it's just the zeal of the converted, but I think both of Obamas are representing our country with intelligence, class and style.
I'd hate to seem them change something that, in my opinion, is working terrifically for all of us.
Actually, I'm more upset about her cinched belts. She's entirely too curvy for them.
And the colors she wears!
Fuchsia?
Plus the hussy colors.
She is the best dressed first lady since Jackie Kennedy. Sleeves wouldn't cover what makes Michelle both sexy and worse, scary. Michelle is a total woman and confident in everything that entails. Deal with it boys.
Brooks is pathetic. As I was saying to my husband, we haven't had such a young first lady in a long time and your pic proves it.
And as Joe says: And, you know Michelle has better biceps than David Brooks and most of the other cranky conservatives. Rush probably doesn't even have biceps.
That line nails the catty comment's origin. Pathetic and flabby.
Not only a brazen display of shoulders, but shiny lips as well!
Lord have mercy, are Mrs. Obama's arms and choice of fashion so important we have to discuss it? Let's give this crap a rest. Let the woman pick her clothes and wear whatever she wants.
I can't even believe this discussion. It's mentally deficient.
BUT just think for a second, why it is absolutely acceptable for women to bare skin (arms, chest, legs and more) in just about any situation, even a formal one, but NOT FOR MEN. Why don't we ever get the chance to debate a male politician's choice of sleeveless dress shirt?
Ah, you say because baring skin is "feminine." But why is baring skin not also "masculine?" Heck, I'd love to see some male bicep at the inaugural ball, or some well-cut calves hanging out there next to the podium.
Bare skin for women but not for men has its roots in a truly sexist take on how sexuality is important for our perception of a woman's worth. In the meantime, we judge men not so much by how they look, but by what they've got upstairs.
All you cheerleaders for the sleeveless attire during winter...if you don't think it's also ok for the men to show a little pec at formal events, then maybe you should reexamine why you think it is ok for women.
"Pardon me, Speaker Gingrich, but your man boob is in the cocktail sauce."
Please!
Leave typing alone until you understand the positions of people you imagine yourself opposing.
I write so often here I sometimes think my support for the the President and First Lady is a given.
I have read countless blog comments talking about how Michelle is inspiring a nation of fat people to take nutrition and exercise seriously. If some men and jealous women are discomfited by the site of her toned, beautiful and powerful arms, I think that it's their discomfort is what we should be discussing.
Both.
I did do a mashup with Michelle Obama as Rosie The Riveter:
http://dowdreport.blogspot.com/2009/03/right-to...
That said, teevee tells me that Michelle gives BAD gifts too.
PS I doubt David Brooks has a black woman on his good list other than Pearl Bailey and Aunt Jemima.
Perhaps Brooks should stop acting like a fucking kracker and stop disgracing the race.
I guess it's okay if your white. IOIYW.
unfortunately, America has the sexual maturity of a nine-year-old boy.
lord. can we grow up now?
At the risk of sounding a bit like bitchy David Brooks (who knew?) I would say, rather, that Americans are unused to a beautiful and sexy First Lady and predict the public will adjust rapidly to this new state of affairs.
That said, I'm betting right now that Mrs Obama will be the best First Lady since Eleanor Roosevelt and not because of her considerable physical beauty.
Seriously, check back and look at how many of us have checked out on John and only revisit americablog because of what you post. Just wanted to give you a shot of confidence: When you're ready to do your own thing, we'll all be happy to follow you to your new site.
For example: I'm a woman and while I will wear pant suits to a job interview, I would never dream of going without a suit jacket. I would never dream of wearing short sleeves. I would never, ever wear flashy jewelry to such an occasion.
While the First Lady did look lovely, sleeveless dresses at a formal Congressional occasion don't quite seem to fit. Especially one being held, basically, because the economy is in a tailspin and the country's freaking out. That's all. She would have done better to simply wear a jacket with the dress, even a simple one with 3/4 length sleeves or something. She did not have to wear a "power suit".
A lady doesn't wear jackets merely because it's cold. Sometimes, we wear them because it's respectful of the occasion, the people, and the place.
It 'fit' in 1963. And it 'fits' in 2009.
Know why? Because the First Lady gets to decide what 'fits'. She doesn't have to follow fashion. If she wants to (and she's the first one who's wanted to in almost half a century), she gets to lead it.
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=formal+...
Are you sure you know what you're talking about?
Nancy Reagan was a B-list Hollywood actress with a anti- intellectual streak and a snob's attitude. Fuck her and Barbara Bush and Pat Nixon and Mamie Eisenhower. This is new and real and fine and John, stop being such a scardy-cat.
See for yourself - and try not to lose your lunch:
http://www.foxnews.com/photoessay/photoessay_63...
ewwww
I find the discussion of Michelle's sleevelessness interesting. I too reacted strongly, but because i would be COLD at this time of year in a sleeveless dress. I assumed she was going sleeveless because her interior furnace was running on high. Which, for those of you who are not menopausal women, is NOT a sexy condition.
Michelle is just an attractive and strong women, and she is making the scene. She loves color, and she loves dresses, and I'm with her all the way. When she had those community college students down to tour the White House kitchen I thought this is my kinda woman. You go girl!
Nancy Reagan:
http://z.about.com/d/marriage/1/0/m/K/c268-1.jpg
Mamie Eisenhower:
(Her Inauguration gown) http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lft4-Vo2qbM/Sad2EKAuD...
(A younger portrait, with shoulders totally bared) http://retrorenovation.com/wp-content/uploads/2...
And as for Dems, apart from Jackie Kennedy who wore sleeveless dresses numerous times, there was that wanton hussy Eleanor Roosevelt: http://www.raabcollection.com/_images/inventory...
While she is young, she should dress exactly as she chooses, there'll be plenty of time for long sleeves and scarves covering crepey necks latter in her life. BTW regardless of sleeves or not, Michelle wears clothes beautifully, and with panache, so covering her arms won't change her.
was looked on as something shocking
and now God knows
anything goes.
This is a professional woman with more book smarts than the average bear; and definetly as much as the average congressman who's been sheltered on capital hill.
It amazes me with everything that's on the front burner and near collapse and President Obama has only been in office less than 2 months, and David Brooks is being so petty as to comment on a dress of all things!
He's an insult to transvestites Everywhere!!!! (Most transvestites would admire her just for her sheer courage.) If he's THAT jealous of her (arms) body in that dress he should seek counseling. What a freakin idiot. Just because Michelle doesn't come out the gate looking like his mother. People thought Jackie O was quite controversial in her day as well. Get over it Brooks!
And may I just say that if I had Michelle Obama's arms I would burn every jacket, coat, and long sleeved anything I own.
(They probably picked on him in high school.)
WTF?? Aren't the people commenting on this blog Americans? What's NOT relevant is stupid chatter about Michelle's arms--"to bare arms, or not to bare arms," gee, now there is a story. Freaking out over Michelle's choice of clothing is about as important as Obama's decision to go shirtless in Hawaii, which also created more gasping and sputtering.
Brooks, and all the other "concerned" pundits, (including John's comment) simply have nothing left to talk about.
Sleeveless is not a big deal. It reveals ones ARMS. Did you hear me? ARMS. WTF? I think that the first lady should present herself in public in a dignified manner. No plunging necklines (unless it's a formal evening event where one would wear something like that), no hooker clothes. If she goes for a jog on a hot day, I would expect her to wear jogging shorts and sneakers, not daisy dukes and a tube top.
It's like that picture of Barack at the beach with no shirt on. What do YOU wear at the beach? Common' people, get over yourselves.