Kind of busy today- had to return the rental car, had a bunch of work, and then the festivities of the inauguration.
It’s kind of weird in that four years ago, this day was such a big day for me, and this time around, it’s just a sense of relief that we as a nation had the good sense to send a good man back to the White House. And while everyone was spending time talking about Michelle’s attire (I loved her jacket), what really hit me was looking at the kids. They were just middle school kids in 2008, but now you can see them both blossoming into beautiful adults. Malia is going to be supermodel beautiful, and reminds me of Hermione in Harry Potter when you just knew she would grow up to be beautiful. Sasha is the one I love, though, and you just know she is the ornery one. Every time the camera was on her she was fidgeting or giggling or pulling at her clothes- just adorable.
At one point, after they walked the parade route, the entire Obama family was under the heated review pavilion, and the whole family was sitting in a row under the watchful view of the cameras, and it just cracked me up because they are the most normal damned family ever. The girls were giggling and taking pictures of mom on the cellphone, mom was just doting on the kids and making sure they behaved in public, and dad was paying attention to his blackberry and occasionally look up and would smile when they pestered him enough. This is the face of America. The only thing missing was Bo taking an untimely dump on the promenade, and it could have been any family in America.
And it brought a tear to the jaded eye of this grumpy old man.
BTW- every time I see Jill Biden I know why crazy uncle Joe smiles so much.
General Stuck
I’m not much for the touchy feely stuff, being a manly man person. But this photo got to me, in a nice way.
tystik
Hear, Hear!
LT
I hav no idea who this “John Cole” person is, but nice post.
John O
Yep.
I saw a funny clip of Sasha congratulating her dad by saying, “You didn’t mess up.”
aimai
The various pictures of Sasha trying to get Malia to look at her phone, or the two of them taking pictures on their phones, were adorable. My daughters are basically the same age and share the same seeming personality traits with the littler one being a little sparkplug and the older one patiently mothering her.
SiubhanDuinne
I love you, John Cole. What a great post.
Lavocat
Holy shit, someone cut Cole off already.
No more Kool-Aid for you!
John O
I don’t get why people don’t acknowledge that Cole posts sloppy sentimental stuff all the time. Sure, he’s at his very best when ranting and raving, but all you have to do is search for “Lily” and you should know the truth…
Jade Jordan
Welcome Back neglectful blog father.
Mornington Crescent
I don’t know if this interests anyone, but I found it amusing.
The Museum of Forgotten Art Supplies
mai naem
I am glad we get this family for four more years. They are an altogether hawt family. I wouldn’t mind another eight years of the equally hawt Bidens and their kids. That Barack and Joe just come across as fundamentally decent non sleazy politicians is just a cherry on top.
Me being shallow(and a Dem) have to say that Michelle has really crappy taste in ball gowns(the 09 white one sucked even worse.) I know she’s trying to hide her butt but one does not have to pick frumpy dumpy ball gowns with tons of extra fabric to camouflage one’s butt. That is all I have to say.
Fluke bucket
Amen on the Jill Biden comment.
Citizen_X
This is a big fucking deal.
hitchhiker
All I can say is that watching them dance felt almost too intimate. This is a real marriage.
Nemo_N
And yet the right vilifies them, making every rational person wonder “if this family is not good enough, which one could possibly ever be?”
jayboat
@Mornington Crescent:
Oh. Hell. Yes.
Can’t believe how many of those items I have in the taboret in the studio.
Doesn’t mean I’ve used them in 25-30 years or so.
You talkin to me? 8-]
Morbo
They grow up so fast.
Fluke bucket
Since we have Black Jimmy Carter how about we consider Liberal Ronald Reagan?
General Stuck
We can only hope that someday, blog father will return for the purpose of managing his own blog. Like once upon a time, before surrendering to the trolls and hiding inside the insipid twitter machine. someday, I have a dream, or maybe a nightmare.
Anya
@mai naem: OMG. You’re awful. Why does she need to “hide her butt?” She’s fabulous and both dresses looked great.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
So the gelling CW seems to be that Obama deliberately popped Paulie Blue Eyes on the chin. Good.
And to whoever called Scalia’s hat his Thomas More wannabe costume? Fucking brilliant. Can’t find a good picture of it, but I’m sure there will be better ones posted.
Okay, enough with the dancing.
Elie
@mai naem:
I completely agree with you, her ball gown choices sucked this time and even worse, last time. She has got a “thang” about this. Starting with the color but ending with the uptight design. So many other great choices were possible but OH WELL, right?
aimai
@mai naem:
I agree–but I don’t think it has anything to do with her rump I think there is something weird going on with the designers she favors and her chest–she likes these idiots who cut stuff straight across the top (some of the time) and this ridiculous one tonight with the cheesy loop at the neck. She has gorgeous jewelry and she sometimes gets someone who knows how to fit a bustier onto a gown in such a way that she looks drop dead gorgeous. Oh well. She still looks drop dead gorgeous and, as a poster said, the dance was almost too much. They have mastered what must be a very difficult feat–looking perfectly alone and intimate and happy while 1000 people hold up their iphones and even their ipads to take the video.
Valdivia
@mai naem:
I wasn’t a fan of the first Wu dress but she looked great in it. I have to totally disagree with you because tonight she looks stunning! That dress (the cut of the bodice, the dive into her back) is perfect. Also–her gowns are always incredibly bold choices–looks at the State dinners and the visits abroad. Michelle Obama has it going on–yes even in her not conventional style for formal dress. I so much rather have this than a stodgy Oscar de la Renta gown like those worn by former First Ladies.
Ted & Hellen
My tribute to Aaron Swartz.
MikeBoyScout
Right on brother John.
And thank-you my fellow Obamabots for all you did to give us this day and spare the world from another miserable failure.
PurpleGirl
@Mornington Crescent: I still have a bunch of tools I used as a production editor — the proportion scale, some spray adhesive, white tape, X-acto blades, pica ruler and line template, etc. I still use them occasionally. The site made me smile, especially when remembering the waxing machine and the stat maker.
Lyrebird
@General Stuck: Me too, thanks!
And thanks JC!
And thanks to whoever made a plug for World Book Night ( http://www.us.worldbooknight.org/how-do-i-get-involved/apply-giver-us )… I just applied, I hope I get to give away The Phantom Tollbooth.
Ted & Hellen
@Nemo_N:
No family. None. Ever. As long as the family is Democratic.
And then you realize, it matters not a whit who they like or dislike, and not an ounce of energy should be wasted in attempting to please them.
suzanne
@Valdivia: Concur. Hate the shit they usually wear. I love this dress. I think the skirt looks beautiful on TV.
John Cole
@mai naem:
I simply do not get statements like this. Michelle Obama does not have a big ass. No, she is not Alessandra Ambrosio with an ass that would fit in the palm of one of my hands, but she does not have a big ass. She’s 49 and as far as I am concerned, in pretty damned god shape for her age. I don’t think she is trying to hide her butt at all, and anyone who thinks she has a big butt has never been to a Walmart between Maryland and Idaho in the last 40 fucking years.
So please cut the bullshit. I know what a big ass looks like. I see one every morning when I shower. Please stop this unreasonable bullshit about people’s appearances.
And her jacket today and outfit underneath were of impeccable taste. I could see Kate Middleton wearing those.
Mike in NC
@Nemo_N: The Manson Family?
Chris
@Fluke bucket:
Nah. I’d rather have Carter’s name tied to this good president, than Reagan’s.
Anya
John, I love you most when you yell at us and tell us to get off your lawn. But this post is right on.
I love Sasha. She’s full of life and I think she’s really caring and intuitive. Also, too, the Obamas and the Bidens are really great people. I like how they really like each other. It shows.
hildebrand
@Valdivia: Bingo – here we are kvetching about the beautiful Michelle Obama – because her gowns are or are not quite what we wanted to see? You would rather watch Babs Bush dance again? Or Ann Romney? Sometimes we whine about the strangest things.
Valdivia
Just to underline the point. Here is a selection of some of her choices in the last four years. We don’t have to like each and every dress, but to say she has awful taste, that she does not know how to dress her body type? She is a fashion icon now, and will be for decades to come.
@hildebrand: thank you! Glad I am not the only one who feels this way.
Anne Laurie
@mai naem:
I respectfully (being a Dem) disagree — in fact, I just praised MO’s choices in a post that I’m now holding back since Cole beat me to it. Michelle Obama is a tall, fit, dark woman and Wu’s gowns have shown off her height, build & coloring to great advantage. Neither gown would look good on me or Ann Romney or Cindy McCain, but then, none of us are the First Lady, either!
Alison
Great post, JC :) I also just love watching this family be together. You can tell they have such close bonds and really *like* each other, in addition to loving each other like you do unless your family is awful. I adore seeing Michelle and Barack be cute and flirty with each other, too :)
And you people are nuts, she looked lovely tonight. I thought that color looked stunning on her, and the cut was appropriate for the event and for who she is. We can’t expect her to turn out in some boob-flaunting skintight number. And I doubt she’s trying “hide” anything (leaving aside that she has nothing that needs hiding) – she’s just wearing what’s comfortable and what she likes on her body. And looks better than 99% of us while doing so, IMO.
aimai
@Valdivia:
I love many of her clothing choices and I agree she’s a fashion icon and will be for years to come but even Homer nods, you know. Some of her choices are stunning and others are terrible. But she always makes me incredibly proud that she is representing our country.
jamick6000
***alertalert*** Mark Halperin is going to be on Charlie Rose tonight everyone gather your family around the TV set.
Is there a drinking game for this? (besides ‘bleach every time Halperin uses his puffy mouthparts to make words come out.’)
Just Some Fuckhead
Anyone know a shortcut for refreshing the mobile version of the site?. I’d hate to miss a comment about the first lady’s ass or clothes.
RareSanity
@John Cole:
That escalated quickly…
Heeeeee’s baaaaaack! Also, too.
Ted & Hellen
No, because ball gowns are made to be looked at and noticed and evaluated, which is why so much money, time, and effort goes into having one made or selected.
And when people look at and notice and evaluate things they are going to have opinions and then they are going to share them, as they have done since the dawn of humankind.
I love Cole’s comment in which he chastises us for commenting on peoples’ appearances AFTER making it clear that he has evaluated the appearance of Michelle’s ass, AA’s ass, Walmart asses, and his own ass.
Everybody evaluates fashion for god’s sake. If Michelle didn’t want to be evaluated, she could have worn a business suit tonight and left it at that. And then she would be evaluated for having done THAT. Goes with the territory. I’m sure she can handle it.
Montysano
@General Stuck:
Kids know; you can’t bullshit them.
Valdivia
@aimai:
We agree then. We don’t all have to love her choices, and even when we don’t she manages to look stunning and work the dress. I was responding both to the tone of some comments–she has crap taste–and idiot Sally Quinn saying she should have chosen like a real lady and gone with De la Renta who deserves to dress First Ladies, not these no-nothing young designers. Ugh.
Alison
@Valdivia: I know it’s not the same type of gown, but this dress is just HOT DAMN http://www.beautyisdiverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/michelle-obama-congressional-black-caucus-570×705.jpg :)
mai naem
@Anya: Jeez, I honestly don’t think I am being awful. It just seems to be what her choices point to. Most women dress to their body’s advantage. Some try to hide a waist. Some their butt. Some highlight their chest. I actually thought she looked awesome(like she generally does) all weekend until the ball gown. I think she would look better in a patterned more fitted ball gown.
@Valdivia: I think the top looks good its the bottom which is too big with nothing else going on.
Also too, I hated the black/red dress she wore in Chicago when he won the election in 08. The color blocking and the stage lighting gave it an apron looking illusion which I thought was especially awful for the first AA FLOTUS. I’m just being honest here.
Liberty60
@jayboat:
I still have the very first architectural lead holder I purchased in 1981, and have a wooden triangle that I am wierdly sentimental about.
Ted & Hellen
@Alison:
Yes, that dress is the awesome.
hitchhiker
@John Cole:
Thank you. Anybody who sees this woman move and still thinks she’s ashamed of her own body is not paying attention. She’s not trying hide anything, good sweet jeebus on a stick.
RobertDSC-iMac G5
Are you trying to kill me again? I’m only now just recovering from seeing them together in London. FLOTUS and Duchess Catherine are both to die for.
Anya
@Valdivia: I was rooting for Maria Cornejo or a totally unknown designer but she really looked fab in this gown.
JoyfulA
@Mornington Crescent: Someone in the museum pointed to a website that still sells haberules, which I’ve been looking for for 15 years. Unfortunately, that website doesn’t sell haberules. Oh, well. What little proofreading I do is on pdfs these days.
SiubhanDuinne
@mai naem: Gosh, really? I think she looked great both times. Have never thought she had an especially big butt, but if she does, so what? I wasn’t nuts about the 2009 dress, although I thought FLOTUS looked wonderful in it, I just wasn’t crazy about the dress — but I thought she, and that red dress, totally delivered it tonight.
Valdivia
@Alison:
:D I covet!
She has worn Soronen (I think that’s what she is wearing) a few times , he knows how to make women look sexy!
@SiubhanDuinne: see separated at birth! :)
SiubhanDuinne
@John Cole:
Thank you.
Roger Moore
@Nemo_N:
A white one that goes to an Evangelical megachurch and is complex enough to need a couple of Springer episodes to get all their problems in the open. You know, Real Americans™, like the Palin family.
waratah
I enjoyed seeing them and even loved the President chewing his gum.
The red dress was stunning and the coat and boots.
GregB
This day was the final nail in the coffin of the Old Confederacy. The Southern strategy is done with.
Good riddance.
The Obama family is America’s family.
scav
This photo rather captures something for me. Suits the speech and what comes next.
arguingwithsignposts
Jesus Fucking Christ on a Breadstick, look at all the fucking fashion police in this thread!
piratedan
@Nemo_N: exactamundo!
1) puts up with an endless amount of shit from the right and rarely raises an eyebrow about it in public
2) enacts their best ideas in hopes of bipartisanship and gets his hand spat on for his trouble
3) has a family that does the right things, supports the causes that all Americans believe in
4) has seen that the true depth of his opponents only goes skin deep and still lets the hammer of public opinion do his work for him
5) has to deal with a press corps that has the attention span of a squirrel on caffeine and the integrity of a used car salesman
no scandals, no mandingo, and yet the country is still here, still armed and still functioning despite the best efforts of the other side who seemingly can only win elections now by sabotaging the other guys.
Hill Dweller
@waratah:
Chris Matthews said it was Nicotine at least 10 times. It was Rain Man-like.
piratedan
@scav: well he’s done a lot in the last four years to unfuck what took place in the previous eight.
JoyfulA
@Ted & Hellen: Ann Romney has terrible taste in clothing. I could go to the Goodwill Store and come home with a better wardrobe.
I do not dress well and have very little interest in clothes. But even I can see a fashion mess in that thousand-dollar bird T-shirt and that fake leopardskin dress with enough drape to use on the windows.
Now I’m embarrassed to be so catty about someone’s clothes, but her friends, or the campaign, or somebody should have told her how unbecoming her outfits are. Or the press, which was forever sneering at Hillary Clinton’s quite sensible pants suits.
scav
@piratedan: Still a lot of cleaning to do which I took to be the point. And it’s a communal effort, not just the suited ones.
MikeInSewickely
Well, the whole family looked wonderful and, for a moment, made me forget how divided this country has become. Those girls seem to be under strict but loving control yet act like most teenagers these days. How can that be with such liberal, God-hating parents??
Let’s ask Rand Paul. Of course, I’m not sure if he was attending as I assume he had to go bail out his son. :-)
MikeJ
@scav: Very appropriate when you remember why MLK was in Memphis.
Warren Terra
Did you see the bit where Malia photobombed her sister snapping a picture of their parents kissing?
PurpleGirl
I think this evening’s red gown is gorgeous. And the bottom does not have too much fabric! It’s a goddess gown — fashioned after Greek styles of the ancient world. And it fits her to a “T”. The skirt is meant to sway and move. I think it flatters her beautifully.
JC– the post is great.
Donut
Paul Constant came across yet another “Mitt Romney haz a Sad” piece today. Good stuff:
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/01/21/mitt-romney-is-having-the-most-awkward-day-ever
Constant has found a few of these items about Mitt’s melancholy moods and awkward meals. I find them fascinating:
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/12/01/mitt-romney-is-a-sad-and-lonely-man-and-his-loss-will-haunt-him-forever
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/09/19/romney-losing-independents-listlessly-picks-at-his-food
The prophet Nostradumbass
@Warren Terra: I saw a still of it somewhere else, but that video is awesome.
Elizabelle
@Valdivia:
Love that Mrs. O site.
Michele Obama never takes a bad picture.
And I’ve liked some of the State dinner and event gowns better than either inaugural gown, but FLOTUS wears anything well.
dead existentialist
@scav: “I am a Man.”
Yeah, he knows about that. It’s why we love him.
Thanks for sharing; that photo says an awful lot about how far we’ve come. (MikeJ got it above.)
Also too. The girls are 14 and 11. Sasha is not a teen although she looks like a mini-adult.
Suzanne
@JoyfulA:
I have a hose beast of a coworker who is always bragging about how much money her husband makes and how much she loves to shop….and yet, she ALWAYS looks like she just rolled out of bed. Her clothes don’t fit, her hair isn’t brushed, no makeup, wears jeans to the office and things that look like they came out of the juniors department. It’s bizarre. You would think that someone who has as much money as she does and who approaches shopping as if it was a blood sport would look like she at least showered that day. And she tops all of that off with a Louis Vuitton handbag. Covered in logos.
Despite all of that, her personality is the worst part.
Suffern ACE
I was kind of hoping Aretha’s hat would make a second appearance.
trollhattan
Charlie Pierce, noting the darts the president had for the Republicans in today’s speech.
http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/Why_The_Speech_Was_Important#ixzz2Ig6D7IGm
Bring it, sez I.
Mnemosyne
I have to say, I did not have a good reaction to the still shots I first saw of the inaugural ball dress (I thought the waist was too high to be flattering), but it’s definitely a dress that looks better in motion than it does in a still shot.
Mike in NC
@Donut: Simply cannot get enough about the misery of the Duke & Duchess Rmoney. May they rot in Hell.
Joey Maloney
By coincidence I recently rewatched the ep of The West Wing where President Bartlett wins re-election.
I hope the Presidential bedsprings are getting a hell of a workout tonight. “Who’s your Commander-In-Chief?” “You are, Mister President.”
gex
Having a really tough night.
General Stuck
@gex:
The grieving process is a roller coaster ride. Give yourself permission to experience the trip and this too shall pass.
scav
@gex: Ah gex, we’re sorry. anything we can we do? discussing minutia of millinary clearly isn’t what you need.
Suzanne
@gex: I’m glad you’re here. Sending you my best thoughts across the miles.
Mike in NC
@gex: God bless.
Yutsano
@Suffern ACE: It’s in the Smithsonian.
Liberty60
@Mike in NC:
Whenever I am tempted to feel pity for the vanquished wingnuts, I think of their plans for my upcoming retirement, or my adolescent daughters college, or any one of the millions who would be- and in fact are at this moment- immiserated while the 1% ride prancing ponies, and I look around for a ever more rusty pitchfork.
Mnemosyne
@gex:
Lucky for you, this place is open all night. :-) Do you need to talk?
FlipYrWhig
@Suzanne: there was a woman JUST LIKE THAT on the most recent What Not To Wear. Would wear, like, a terry cloth beach coverup with $500 shoes and a Luis Vuitton bag with logos all over it. And the sourest attitude of anyone I’ve ever seen on the show. Stacy and Clinton were more frustrated than I’ve ever seen them.
Maude
@gex:
It feels like forever but it won’t be this bad for always.
You did so well and you deserve peace. Been thinking of you.
gex
Just wanted to say that and let it out. I have to tuck some things away so I can be ready for tomorrow’s show without losing it. Then I can dig back into them again.
Yutsano
@gex: They get tough. Then it gets a bit easier. Then when you’re not looking or ready…it gets tough again. All I can say is hugz and otter wuv.
sharl
{{{gex}}}
My best thoughts and wishes for tonight, tomorrow, and beyond.
joel hanes
Michelle Obama in torn and paint-splashed sweatclothes has more actual class than Nancy Reagan in whatever showy and expensive crap they hung on her, because Michelle Obama has intelligence and personal dignity, while the second Mrs. Reagan had only narrow cunning, grasping ambition, and ostentation.
Ostentation is a sign of the absence of class, not its presence.
amk
Under all that bring-it-on tough guy image, you’re just a softy aren’t ya, you big lunk?
It has been a great day indeed, especially when you think what has been dodged.
Paula
Michelle Obama wears stuff from different cost brackets. I wouldn’t call her clothing accessible for most women, but her ability to mix H&M with designer stuff means her wardrobe is a lot less stuffy than women who have similar or larger incomes.
Also, she’s young enough that she isnt self conscious about showing off her style and being worried that she’ll be taken less seriously, like the women of Hillary Clinton’s generation. Which means she occasionally takes risks that don’t work. Like the belts! And the constant poufy skirts. But, it’s silly to say she doesn’t know ball gowns. A fire red from Alexander McQueen’s last collection, FFS.
I like her ball gown more this year than 4 years ago, which looked more appropriate for a wedding.
Goblue72
@FlipYrWhig: their makeover of Blossom is still the best.
PurpleGirl
Gex: {{{hug}}}.
It’s 11 years since I lost one of my closest friends to cancer. I still miss her. There are times I want to talk to her so much and I know she’s not there. On the other hand, I later think of things we did and experienced together and while I still miss her, I know she had a good life. Remembering the good times makes the tough times easier.
gwangung
@gex: Hey, say what you want. We’re here for you. We’ll help you bear your burden.
cckids
@gex: All I can say, is do what you need to for you & don’t let anyone tell you differently. You are moving into uncharted territory for your life & no one but you knows what you need & how you need to react. I know the lot of us here haven’t met you IRL, but we do care, & are thinking of you.
FlipYrWhig
@Goblue72: They do really good work with nerds and heavy women. They struggle with the ones who are defiantly trashy.
FlipYrWhig
@gex: I don’t remember if I sent my good wishes or not. In case I didn’t, well, grief sucks. Feel what you feel and don’t be self-conscious about it. Hurt, heal, find your own way.
Narcissus
Jeez Malia is getting tall.
Gemina13
@John Cole:
Agreed, wholeheartedly. And frankly, I don’t care what Michelle’s measurements are; she’s a beautiful, fiercely smart, loving woman, and that makes her fabulous in my eyes. The dress isn’t one I’d wear, but I’m not the First Lady and therefore don’t have to wear it. Again, I think she’s fabulous. Furthermore, I think she could wear any garment Ann Romney ever slung on her back and make it look good by dint of her own incredible self.
For what it’s worth, why the hell are we criticizing Michelle Obama’s dress? It’s not the Oscars, and nobody even gives a damn about that; it’s the Inaugural Ball, and the only two people allowed to have an opinion on what the First Lady wears is the FL herself, first of all, and her husband the POTUS, second. Even he might not have the privilege of saying so, and if not, that’s Michelle’s business, not ours.
ruemara
@mai naem: Actually, yeah, you are being awful. You said she has a big butt and lacks taste. Your opinion, but frankly, most disagree with you. She looked lovely and both gowns were gorgeous. You didn’t like them. Fine. The hiding her butt thing and the lack of taste thing, no. her taste differs from yours, that’s about it.
Gemina13
@General Stuck:
I’ve been frustrated with PBO many times, but I have a great affection for him, Michelle, and the girls. You can’t underestimate the effect a loving pair of parents have on children; when kids know their parents love and respect each other as well as themselves, they try to emulate and achieve it. Malia and Sasha are happy girls, and that’s part of why they’re so beautiful as well.
I think this is also what pisses off so many on the Right. When they think of black families, they think of stereotypes, and the Obamas are just a normal, loving, upper-middle-class family. Look at how they howled when Malia put her hair in braids, and I swear, if I’d heard anyone in my immediate circle refer to that sweet child as a “ghetto whore,” as many did on RedState, I’d have cut me a prime asshole from neck to groin.
We’ve got a long way to go, folks, and it’s just begun with Obama’s second term. But the fact that a black man is now a second-term President can’t be ignored. It signals the death of the far right–it’s up to them whether it’s a slow death or a quick one.
James E. Powell
Nobody ever talks about Obama’s suits, shoes, or why he’s almost always wearing a bright blue tie. I think he started that. Most of the time politicians wore red, a few yellow/gold. But since Obama, I’ve noticed a lot of them wear bright blue.
So anyway, about the suits, Armani? Hugo Boss? Bespoke?
opie_jeanne
I like this red dress on Michelle very much, especially the color; the skirt has a lot of fabric but it drapes around her beautifully and moves in an interesting way. She’s tall, she has a great figure that the dress compliments, and damn I wish I looked half that good.
This is just my opinion. I owned a costume design business in the SF area and I dressed all sorts of figures for everything from ice skating to cabaret shows to dance studios to musicals, and I got very good reviews for my stage work from the most terrifying critic who ever worked for the Chron (so I’m pretty good). I love clothes and finding the right design for other people, but I don’t care about the way I dress enough and I should. I tend to wear ill-fitting jeans most of the time because I hate shopping and have trouble finding a pair that fits right, and I wear them with tops from Lands End, and a Coach bag and sneakers. The bag was on sale at the Coach outlet in Lake Arrowhead and it’s cute, and it will last a very long time. I dress for comfort, not for show most of the time.
Patricia Kayden
Awww John, such a nice post. Nice day to be an American.
And to Gex, sorry for your loss.
WereBear
@Mornington Crescent: I loved it, and am passing it on to My Art Director, Mr WereBear
arguingwithsignposts
@Gemina13:
I think we all know the correct answer to “Dear, how do I look in this dress?”
:)
Closeted epistemic (formerly Lojasmo)
@gex:
Glad you’re here. Wish we could help.
Skepticat
@Mornington Crescent: Wow, an absolute blast from my past, which included owning an advertising agency for more than a quarter century. I loved it; thanks.
schrodinger's cat
@John Cole: She does not have a big butt in the absolute sense but she has the same problem I do, that her top half and bottom half are two different sizes. She looks great, has a great body especially arms. She
has her own style, she has hits and misses, she is willing to risks. That’s what I like about her fashion.
However, I am not a big fan of some of her choices, including huge flouncy skirts, that remind you of the early Mad Men era, the too tiny shrugs and her propensity to belt everything. I think she would look great in a fitted body conscious dress without a belt.
For me at least her outfit at the Dem convention was one of her best choices. The coat she wore yesterday had a great fit but the pattern reminded me the Romulan uniform, as did the hair. Not that there is anything wrong with being Romulan.
As for Kate Middleton, she does always look good, but her style has been safe and boring ever since she got married.
donnah
@Mornington Crescent:
Thanks for that link! As a former art student and college art major, it brought back a lot of memories. I got a job in the early 1980’s as a jewelry designer and I had to use a Leroy lettering pen to label all of my designs. I haven’t seen one since.
Very fun, very much a walk down memory lane.
rikyrah
Joey B takes care of business…that’s why Dr. Jill looks as good as she does
J R in W Va
@PurpleGirl:
I have a pica stick, and a tool that we used to scrape little bits of lead off lines of hot-type. Yes, people used to do layout with lead objects for a whole shift, 5 days (or nights) a week.
Why, Linotypes would sometimes squirt a gout of molten lead-alloy into the air, onto the iron machinery, and then into your lap, which is why you were wearing thick denim pants AND wearing a heavy apron. This all went away in the 70s, except for collectors and steampunk makers.