HARLEM LOVES » Michelle Obama

The Video: Beyonce – Move Your Body (Let’s Move Awareness Campaign)

Harlem — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 12:58:25 +0000

Beyonce works it out in Christian Louboutin popi lace-up ankle boots for Move Your Body, the fun ‘dancercise’ video she’s put out for Michelle Obama’s campaign to tackle childhod obesity in the US, Let’s Move.

I don’t know about you but I always reach for my Loubous when I work out… Well when I say Loubous I mean Adidas, although with a little red nail polish to the sole… OK I’ll just stop right there… here’s the video:

In other news whilst Beyonce reminds us “a little sweatin’ never hurt nobody!” the First Lady herself encourages the kids to “shoot some hoops”:

Love Michelle Obama, honestly love her

The Photograph: Michelle Obama Time Magazine Cover

Harlem — Fri, 22 May 2009 10:29:00 +0000

The iconic Michelle Obama covers Time Magazine. The sophisticated simplicity makes this one of my favourite covers of her to date.

The Style: Michelle Obama at Poetry Jam

Harlem — Wed, 13 May 2009 15:16:00 +0000

Amazing! The First Lady looks all over fantastic in this gorgeous top which she paired with white cropped trousers and silver sandals.

The outfit was worn to the White House’s first poetry jam. Would love to know the designer behind it.

The Style: Michelle Obama At TIME 100 Party

Harlem — Wed, 06 May 2009 16:30:00 +0000

I thought the first lady looked super sophisticated as always at TIME’s 1000 most influential people party last night. I just had to share.

[via YBF]

The Salute: Obama’s 100 days in 100 seconds

Harlem — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:07:00 +0000

Congratulations to President Obama for his first 100 days in office and here the BBC have managed to squeeze his journey so far into 100 seconds.

The Video: The First Lady At My Secondary School!!!

Harlem — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 08:51:00 +0000

Oh My Life! I am so stunned and so mad I wasn’t there! First Lady Michelle Obama was at my old secondary school, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson.

She might as well have been in my house it’s so close to where I grew up. I am both thrilled and sad I missed it but here’s the video below.

Whoop Whoop! EGA I Salute You!

The Photograph: President & First Lady Meet The Queen

Harlem — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 08:53:00 +0000

The President and The First Lady are in the UK! YAY!!! Even more so they are in London, my hometown! double YAY!

Unfortunately the chances of me seeing them before they’re departure on Friday is practically nil. BOOOOO! So I guess I’ll have to settle for this photo as a memento of this occasion.

The Photograph: Michelle Obama March 2009 Vogue Cover

Harlem — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 07:25:00 +0000

Michelle Obama becomes the second First Lady to cover Vogue. Here she is wearing a Jason Wu gown.

Personally I think they could have done a bit more with it and I prefered the Ebony cover but I think the dress was a a great choice.

[via Jezebel]

The Experience: Obamas Inauguration

Harlem — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:55:00 +0000

I had planned a fairly smooth schedule for inauguration day but it didn’t quite go to plan, nevertheless I won’t be forgetting it any time soon.

The idea was to start work early and take a late break at 3.30pm. I would then spend 30 minutes, driving to my mum’s where I would arrive in time for the 4pm start of inauguration activities and pick up work where I left off. Like I said, that was the idea but not quite what happened.

15:50pm
Myself and my sister are scrambling round my house. I’m fretting now and declare to my sister that unlike our experience of being late for New Years we can’t just park up and watch the events unfold from a field. In other words it’s time to go!

16:15pm
In my sister’s words, I’m driving like Cruella DeVille as we make our way to our mum’s. I’m frantically trying to find a radio station that can tell me what’s going on and am very annoyed to be hearing everything from Girls Aloud to some dude asking when will people realise that whales are more precious than cod.

16:35pm
I do a swift and surprisingly near- perfect park in the bay infront of my mum’s house. And rush in just in time to catch Rik Warren’s opening prayer. My responses to various parts of this ceremony are as follows:

Aretha Franklin – She looks lovely. The hat is risky but it really suits her. Go Diva Go! (Speaking of which, Aretha really doesn’t strike me as the female version of a hustler)
Joe Biden’s Oath – I think I quite like Jill Biden’s red coat
Musical Selection – How cute is Anthony McGill? Must google him later
Obama becomes President – Can’t believe this is happening. Did he just stumble on the oath? I wonder if they’re really nervous? (Later discover it may have been the other guy’s fault)
President Obama’s Speech – I bet this is going to be amazing. He’s sounding quite sombre though, like he’s trying to manage expectations and avoid the hysteria this moment could create. Overall a solemn but effective speech
Elizabeth Alexander’s Poem – Huh?
Rev E. Lowry – Wow this man is soooo old. His speech is good though. Hold on, is he rhyming? I love this guy!

20:??pm
Sad to hear of the collapse of Senators Ted Kennedy and Richard Byrd at the luncheon.

21:??pm
I enjoy watching the Obama’s walk/drive parade especially when they get out on foot. I’m also in awe of the security that surrounds them and soon believe that should they all decide to holiday together they could quite easily sink a small island.

22:??pm
I sympathise with Malia and little Sasha as they appear to be wilting with the longevity of the parade. At this point my mum somehow manages to extract a very reluctant me from in front of the TV to do a quick late-night shop for some groceries. Not surprising that I go about it like it’s Supermarket Sweep.

22:??pm
I return to find the parade is coming to an end and Malia and Sasha have disappeared, hopefully to rest from the long and weary day. I’m not quite getting the NASA float? Where’d the astronaut go with the flag?

01:00am
CNN end transmission??? What the Elois! I hunt through TV and internet to see who’s still following. Manage to get CNN coverage online. Phew!

02:00-ish am
When I nearly give up hope of capturing a glimpse of ‘The Gown’, all the news channels come back to their senses and show their arrival at the first ball. Am waiting with baited breath to see Michelle Obama’s choice for the inaugural evening gown. It’s a surprise but it doesn’t disappoint.

02:30-ish am
It’s time to head home and we hit the road with every intention of grabbing sounvenir editions of the newspapers. Finally, I spot a 24-hour shop where the shopkeeper looks more than a little amused when I present him with the many copies I wish to purchase.

04:something am
After arriving home, and updating my blog post on the First Lady’s inauguration gown I slip into a deep and satisfying sleep knowing I’ve taken the day off work tomorrow.

The Style: Michelle Obama Inauguration Evening Gown

Harlem — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 01:41:00 +0000

Awww the first dance was so beautiful and what a gorgeous dress too. Finally the months of anticipation were rewarded as Michelle Obama wore a white chiffon gown by designer New York based designer Jason Wu.

The choice of designer seems to be in keeping with her trend for choosing emerging and non-traditional designers and I like the fact that she’s bringing these unexpected names to the forefront. For 26-year-old Wu this must be quite a day for celebrating.

Personally, I thought the one shoulder aspect, colour and flow of the gown were all together stunning but was a little less keen on the fluffy applique which from a distance gave the dress an unfortunate bobbly appearance.

Nevertheless she looked fabulous and her husband definitely thought so as he started his address to the Neighborhood Ball at Washington’s Convention Center by saying: “First of all, how good-looking is my wife?”

The dress will eventually be donated to the Smithsonian but with 10 balls to go to, you can’t say she didn’t get any wear out of it.

The Memories: Newspaper Souvenir Editions

Harlem — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 23:27:00 +0000

So my mission for today, which I most definitely choose to accept, is to get several copies of the souvenir editions of our UK newspapers.

On my hit list are The Guardian, The Times, The Daily Telegraph and The Independent all of which are displaying highly collectable front pages for their Wednesday January 21, 2009 editions.

I think The Independent cover is my favourite

The Giggles: Mum and Sister On Obama Outfits

Harlem — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 21:06:00 +0000

So we’re watching the President and First Lady (WOOHOO!!!) continuing the parade on foot and my mum and sister have the following exchange:

Mum – “Look Michelle’s wearing gold and green”

Sister – “And Barack’s wearing red”

Mum – “And black… together they’re wearing red, gold and green, and black! I love the way they represent”

Love my family.

The Style: Michelle Obama Inauguration Day

Harlem — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:51:00 +0000

I plan to summarise the full experience of this day a little later but for now a quick post on Michelle Obama’s day oufit. She. looks. fabulous.

Finally, a decision was made and America’s First Lady (WOOHOO!!!) chose an exquisite pale gold outfit by Cuban-born US designer, Isabel Toledo, made of Swiss wool lace and lined with French silk.

The outfit was accessorised with green gloves and matching green Jimmy Choo shoes. She has sooo much class.

Malia and Sasha were dressed in coats by J. Crew. Malia wearing the cutest coat in periwinkle blue with Sasha picking up on one of my favourite colours for the new season with a coral dress peeking out from under her salmon pink overcoat

The Photograph: Michelle, Barack and Abraham Lincoln

Harlem — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:01:00 +0000

I do love this photo. It just has monumental written all over it.

The Quote: Barack Obama on Michelle

Harlem — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 08:10:00 +0000

In a recent interview (the President – in – eight – days – and – counting) Barack Obama said this about his wife Michelle…

“If you look deep into her eyes, there’s a certain vulnerability. In any case, I see it even if most don’t realize it: she goes through life tall, beautiful, confident, very able…

“There’s a part of her that is fragile, young, sometimes scared, and I think these are contradictions that attracted me to her. And she makes me very happy.

“She is very familiar to me and so I can be myself around her, she knows me well, I completely trust her, but at the same time in certain respects she remains a mystery to me.”

Isn’t that just one of the most beautiful and insightful statements you’ve ever heard a man make about his wife… just beautiful.

[via Necole Bitchie]

The Style: Obama’s Inauguration Dress 2

Harlem — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:09:00 +0000

Yay! More sketches of Michelle Obama’s inauguration gown have been revealed…

From left to right below are a few of my favourites from Oscar de la Renta, Monique Lhuillier, Diane Von Furstenburg and Karl Lagerfield for Chanel. To see the full 42 sketches (yes 42!) see WWD.

The Photograph: Obamas cover Essence

Harlem — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:40:00 +0000

So it looks like Essence beat both Ebony and Vogue in the battle to have Michelle Obama on the cover of their January issue…

Furthermore the president-elect himself also gets his own cover. What a souvenir! Now all I need to figure out is how I can get my hands on one…

The Style: Obama’s Inauguration Dress

Harlem — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:48:00 +0000

Designers are apparently clamouring to design the inauguration gown for the new First Lady, Michelle Obama and I can’t wait to see what they come up with.

Rumours as to who could be in the running have ranged from Cassandra Broomfield to Diane Von Furstenburg.

Eitherway a few design sketches have started appearing across the net and I thought I’d share them with you.

To be honest, I’d be surprised if it did turn out to be any one of these but it’s interesting to see what people are thinking.

The Style: Michelle Obama

Harlem — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:55:00 +0000

I’ve been meaning to post about Michelle Obama for a while, having become a fan since I watched her on The View and even more so since she’s become First Lady (Woo Hoo!)

In addition to her recent status upgrade (I can never say that word without hearing Beyonce), Mrs Obama is now rumoured to be joining the ranks of that other fashionable First Lady, Jackie Kennedy.

So much so, that she is being fought over by Essence, Ebony and Vogue magazines who are all hungry to have her on the cover of their January editions in time for the inauguration.

Stephanie D. Smith at WWD Media said: “Despite Vogue’s best efforts, Ebony might get to the Obamas beforehand — the Chicago-based title is quickly assembling a special January issue dedicated to Barack Obama’s candidacy.

“… Essence is also said to be working on a special package for its January issue, but details have not been hammered out.”

All I know is whichever one it is, I’ll be buying it!

Michelle Obama – The View

What do you think?
Are you a Michelle Obama fan? Which magazine cover should she choose?

The Politics: Dizzee for Prime Minister?

Harlem — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:12:00 +0000

Watching Dizzee Rascal talk about politics to Jeremy “The Hassellhoff of Politics” Paxman made me both cringe and giggle yesterday…

I can’t entirely blame him for his performance though, I blame the political editors who sourced him for interview. I mean seriously, Dizzee Rascal!?! They must have been rolling on the floor during the whole thing.

It has however, made me realise that I’m not the only Brit gazing jealously upon our US counterparts whilst tapping an impatient foot at our own political system.

I’ve already been invited to a ‘Trevor McDonald for Prime Minister’ group on Facebook and though his political awareness could work in his favour I can’t help but wonder who our other contenders might be.

Could June Sarpong’s ex David Lammy MP get the vote? Not only has he met Obama but he’s studied at Harvard. His wife, whom I sure is lovely, isn’t a Michelle Obama though so I may have to go back to the drawing board… What’s Kwame Kwei-Armah up to these days? He’s become quite political since leaving Casualty…

Dizzee Rascal vs Jeremy Paxman

What do you think?
Who would get your vote to become Britain’s first Black Prime Minister?