Comments on: Fashion Police Question Whether Michelle Obama’s Bare Arms Are “Appropriate”

By: Kristine

Kristine — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:14:54 +0000

I don’t think the issue is sexist. Would anyone be defending Barrack if HE had shown up in a sleeveless shirt?

By: Betsy

Betsy — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 22:27:15 +0000

Aside from being flattering and an expression of her personal style, the sleeveless dresses may be a practical choice. She has broad shoulders, buff biceps, but a slim torso and may find that sleeves don’t fit well. I had this problem when I worked out a lot…I could never wear non-stretchy clothes with sleeves. Back then I was built much like Michelle, same height, etc.. Or maybe she gets hot easily.
Regardless, I think the focus on “appropriateness” is all about maintaining appearances and is superficial and out-of-date. It is an easy way for people to ignore the actual issues, like what the president is SAYING or what his foreign policies are. And, like someone said above, it gives the media and the GOP something to gripe about. One of the things that has made the Obamas so attractive is their approachability and the way they are trying to break down these old, often pointless, traditions. The sleevelessness may just be one small way Michelle is bringing politics to the people. Internet campaigning, fiscal stimulus package, and sleeveless dresses: the new grassroots movement.

By: La BellaDonna

La BellaDonna — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:28:46 +0000

Oh, for Pete's sake. If I was attending a speech by the President (whether he was my husband or not), I'd go wearing a sleeveless dress, or a sleeveless top and skirt. I might carry a jacket, just in case, but these days, I almost invariably go sleeveless, because I now enjoy my own personal summer. Maybe Michelle Obama is, too. And for the people who are carrying on as if it was the first time a middle-aged woman's upper arms had been seen in public: it's NOT. No, I'm not talking about Jackie Kennedy. I'm talking about Dolley Madison - a First Lady who helped her husband win the Presidency, and who was seen in public in teeny puffed sleeves that bared nearly the entire arm. She wore the self-same teeny sleeves when she acted as First Lady to Thomas Jefferson, too, in 1801. For pity's sake, more than two hundred years has elapsed since then. Are people still shocked that women have arms? Just imagine if Mrs. Obama had worn a neckline like Mrs. Madison's, too.

By: Angela

Angela — Fri, 08 May 2009 19:21:33 +0000

Malkia: I don’t necessarily believe that if she were white she wouldn’t be getting harassed about her choice to go sleeveless. I mean, I know that people think Hillary Clinton’s outfit choices were a bit severe, and people in my own family have actually commented that they were happy to see Michelle Obama because she actually wore dresses (this coming from a generation of people in which you weren’t “dressed up” unless you had a skirt or dress on).

Frankly, I think Michelle is always dressed very well, she is an adult who has held a job in which professional attire is important, i think she can handle this and make her own decisions. Sleeveless in winter, hell yeah maybe it was cold, but thats her own body temperature and thats for her to deal with. But other than temperature, she looks professional, beautiful, and strong.

I also know that in my family they made a HUGE deal over Obama not wearing a suit jacket and even (OHMIGOD) rolling up his sleeves. I personally looked at my family like they were whackadoos, and just said “why do you care? he’s doing his damn job, and thats what matters. some foreign dignitary isn’t going to give a damn whether he rolls up his sleeves, they are going to care if he is a moron or not, like our former president”.

Frankly, I think that since Obama has yet to make mistakes like those of George Bush, the media are just seeking out whatever they can get their hands on to bitch about. They did just end a media rich presidency, I think they are still out for blood.

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By: Chip Bell

Chip Bell — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 07:51:07 +0000

Believe you me I have about had it with this gender segregated clothing shit my self. I absolutely love spandex tights. They are sharp, sexy , comfortable and they even support my legs when walking on a hard surface. However since I’m a man when ever I wear them I sooner or later run into some ignorant moron that wants to walk behind me and give a running commentary to their partner on how disgusting my choice of clothing is, You would not believe how disgusting some of thease comments get. For what ever reason it’s typically it’s some conservative looking woman who starts it . Men seem to keep it to dirty looks, or if their drunk and homophobic enough I have gotten wolf whistles from some thugs. I really feel for Michelle

By: hypatia

hypatia — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 06:01:44 +0000

“I find it lame that she copies Jackie so much.”

“Umm. Oh, oh…I get it. Jackie was the only other woman ever to wear dresses. Forgot about that!”

Yeah maybe it’s the generation gap but I get really tired of the comparisons to Jackie O. “Oh my god they have both worn pearls with a black dress! How dare she copy!”

Let’s face it the majority of women in the White House since Jackie have been women in their fifties and sixties. Her and Michelle’s similarities end at the fact that they are both younger women who are fashion conscious.

By the way I’ve seen the pictures, my great aunt was out-”jackie-ing” Jackie when Mrs. Onassis was still in diapers.

By: Cara

Cara — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:45:10 +0000

Read it just fine, JZ. You compared wearing a sleeveless dress to the SOTU to wearing pj pants to a funeral. Meaning that you compared a woman showing her arms to not getting dressed in the morning. Seems pretty clear.

Now I’ve had my laugh, and I’m done engaging you. The only times you’ve ever commented on this blog were in order to purposely be a nuisance. Go do it elsewhere.

By: jz

jz — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:39:32 +0000

@cara,
Please read for comprehension.

By: Cara

Cara — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:34:31 +0000

Well CLEARLY my bare arms are the equivalent of not getting dressed in the morning! Mercy me! Both my fingers and neck are getting sore from such necessary pearl clutching! When will women learn that daring to show their shoulders — of all things! — means you might as well just not have gotten dressed at all?