Her Royal Thighness

Michelle Obama's Air Force One hot pants are still a hot issue pushing people's hot buttons. As Americans we expect more from our politicians and spouses whom many of us hold to a higher standard. I shudder to think what Amy Vanderbilt or Emily Post would say about a First Lady making a public appearance in ghastly wrinkled garb, not to mention inappropriate.

The Mainstream Media defend Michelle Obama - recently named to Vanity Fair's International Best-Dressed 2009 list. The zenith of media Michelle Ma Belle fashion rationalization is in TIME "The Shorts Heard 'Round The World" by a one Belinda Luscombe: "For women, Michelle's shorts were long on significance. They give accomplished, glamorous people license to do what the power brokers at Vogue do, and that is to wear whatever the hell they like sometimes. So, ladies, get out your least flattering outfits — your terry shorts, your oversize T-shirt, those extra comfortable arch-supporting shoes — and wear them with pride. All the fashionable women are doing it.

Unlike France's First Lady Carla Bruni Sarkozy, Michelle Obama listed no "style icons, but Favorite Boutique: Ikram, in Chicago. Signature Wardrobe Item: Cardigan sweaters. Jewelry: Double-strand pearls. Shoe Designers: Jimmy Choo, Puma, Lanvin. Favorite Bargain-Hunting Locale: J. Crew. Causes: Education, health, and veterans’ affairs.

In March I was in Chicago and went by Ikram to see what all the fuss was about. The door is locked, like most haute couture boutiques. You have to knock and they'll decide whether to let you in. Maybe there's a secret Skull & Bones signal.

My take? Michelle Obama wants it all ways - just like her husband. I don't see any consistency here other than their way or the highway. It's like the "fuck you" fist bump. Mrs. Obama's "first" - a photo op in shorts - rates high on my list of dubious distinctions.

USA Today AP story: Mrs. Obama is no stranger to public scrutiny over her fashion decisions, including exposing her bare arms or wearing expensive sneakers to a soup kitchen. When Anya Strzemien, style editor at The Huffington Post, saw Obama's shorts, she knew there would be interest.

"I thought the fact that she wore shorts was newsworthy because she's the first first lady to wear shorts on Air Force One," Strzemien said. "I was interested as a newsperson because it was a first. A lot of things the Obamas have done have been firsts."

She posted a poll for readers to explain what they thought: Most were in favor of the outfit, but others thought the shorts were inappropriate or too short.

NBC's "Today" show poll had similar results with a whopping 300,000 people responding to the vote. The blog post was the show's most commented-on of 2009, said Dee Dee Thomas, a "Today" senior producer.

What does this show?

"That people love talking about Michelle Obama," Thomas said. "She's pushing the envelope on how we see the first lady."

And it's clear the media loves talking about Michelle Obama, too. Many news outlets rallied to the first lady's defense, noting that she was on vacation when she wore the shorts over the weekend, in sweltering desert heat.

"What should she have worn to the Grand Canyon? A tweed pantsuit? A ballgown? What do you wear on your summer vacation?" asked Elizabeth Snead of the Los Angeles Times.

But others wondered from whom, exactly, the media was defending the first lady.

People steeped in fashion protocol like me. If Michelle Obama wished to don shorts for a trip to the Grand Canyon, she could've chosen a classic top and shorts by Theory (left, right Theory clamdiggers) worn with comfortable flats or sandals. "Good manners are said to be the oil that greases the wheels of socity.... Far from being artificial, good manners are the natural attributes of a civilized person." Mary Jane McCaffree & Pauline Innis, "Protocol: The Complete Handbook of Diplomatic, Official, and Social Usage."

Having said that, I don't wish a return to the days when women were warned to NEVER wear a sleeveless dress to the White House under threat of permanent social ostracization.

Michelle Obama should consider putting the dignity of her role as First Lady first and develop a consistent personal image. It's a safe bet if Michelle Obama were Republican, the issue of shorts on Air Force One would be running on an endless loop cable news cycle.

h/t Michelle Malkin

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