Michelle Obama's sleeveless style sparks controversy - is it inappropriate for her to show her arms?

[MmeLindt]

Here

I thought that the dress she wore to the Stevie Wonder concert was fabulous and have not problems with her showing off her arms.

Is a sleeveless dress still considered racy?

Not a dig at you MmeLindt. It's the press....

Thanks for those pics of JK (can't say Jackie O!). She is indeed a true icon, and is obviously inspiring Michelle O, excepting the big grins.

BigGitDad - too right I am using her as cover.

As you well know, absolutely no man should make anything other than positive noises about what women wear.

Some the best rows me and my wife have ever had occured after I said something slightly less than positive about a piece of clothing she wears.

I try to look away when asked and mumble something before quickly walking out the room... I can never win.

I think it's part of the backlash tbh.

I really think attacking women for what they wear, is part of a possibly unconscious effort to undermine them for what they are.

It's a pincer effect - if you can ridicule their hair, dress and make up, you set them up for making their views less viable as well.

No one ever wanted to undermine Jackie K. Because politically, she simply didn't matter. Michelle Obama matters. So they attack her at the first port of call - her appearance. A few months of that, and then they will start attacking her for more important stuff. Having already undermined her public image.

TheDads
You should know that the only appropriate response to "What do you think of this outfit" is "lovely"

or perhaps "that colour really suits you"

Well, she does have a constitutional right to 'bare' arms, doesn't she? [wind]

And besides, she looks fabulous!

oops. I mean

pmsl at your mistaken emoticon.

We ought to have a [wind] emoticon.

Given the fart thread earlier....

ByTheSea - good one!

Oh dear, sure messed up my own joke!

lol, ByTheSea. More of a [groan] at the joke, reminded me a bit of my Dad's jokes.

I'll just bet she's been flashing ankle, too. What a brazen temptress.

Alternatively... what the flarp is this all about? Michelle Obama's arms? Talk about a non-issue stoked by misogynist twunks.

They'll be complaining next that her head's bare. You would think they would have more to worry about!

Some journos really have far too much time on their hands. (or a very scary editor)

Most of the coverage she gets is unbelievably positive so really don't worry about it! She does love to dress up, and has a very definite style (which is mostly fab) set off by being very tall and very sassy, so of course it is going to get comments. Remember in the US she is the First Lady, so a ceremonial head and representative of America. It does seem silly to say that what she wears matters, but it does (especially for those who design the clothes she wears).

Nooka
I like that she wears a lot of young designers rather than playing it safe with established designers. I read that the designers of the clothes she wore on Inauguration Day have been swamped since.

I lurve Michelle Obama. And she looks bloody great.

I think Michelle Obama is brilliant, a real role model for young girls in a way Cherie Blag-it-all Blair could only have dreamed of.

She has class whereas Cherie was just crass.

By The Sea - still laughing at your humour - it's the first time I've laughed all day.

Just realised I will be 35 this year and now facing a life of cover-up cardies. Love Michelle Obama too.

Michelle Obama is an intelligent and beautiful woman who is comfortable and confident in her own skin and with her own dress sense.

That is what these nitpicking, feeble brain journalists can't stand.

Abetadad, I'm 44yo with toned arms and I go sleevless all the time. Nobody can dictate to me to do otherwise because quite frankly, how I dress is none of their darn business.

I have odd upper-arms and I am under 35. They look alright still, but I can feel the ghost of a 'wobble' when I move them now. Still doesn't stop me wearing geek t-shirts, though. If I actually had any class, it wouldn't stop me wearing sleeveless shift dresses either.

wtf?