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This story originally appeared in the Jackson Free Press. It was added to the Mississippi Free Press website in 2025.
Note that any opinions expressed in legacy Jackson Free Press stories do not reflect a position of the Mississippi Free Press or necessarily of its staff and board members.

Maybe people are bored after the election, but we have something new to talk about. And itโ€™s not just the puppy question. Fashionistas may love it (I at least like it), but others are complaining about the dress first lady-elect (or FLOTUS) Michelle Obama chose for Tuesday night. Care to weigh in? See the dress here

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Here’s another take on the dress: NEW YORK โ€“ The Obamas’ first official appearance as first family-elect will be long remembered for many weighty historic reasons, but it could also signal another new beginning: An entirely different fashion sense in the White House. The Obama family took the stage in Chicago Tuesday night in color-coordinated outfits, all with touches of red or black. For Michelle Obama, no stuffy suits or demure pastels here: Instead she wore a striking red-and-black dress designed by well-regarded, but not-so-mainstream, Narciso Rodriguez. The dress is actually really flattering, I think, and the ensemble works for the new first family. How does the song go? “Happy days are here again…” ๐Ÿ˜‰


I liked the dress. Yes, the dress isn’t your typical mainstream look, but “Mimi” isn’t your typical mainstream woman.


It thought it was ugly. Reminded me of a black widow. I know she has better fashion sense than that.

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The Mississippi Free Press produced this story through the MFP Solutions Lab, supported by the Solutions Journalism Network. This series digs into Mississippiโ€™s systemic issues and sheds light on responses to them in other communities. Beyond just reporting on problems, these stories interrogate their causes and inspect potential solutions.

Founding Editor Donna Ladd is a writer, journalist and editor from Philadelphia, Miss., a graduate of Mississippi State University and later the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, where she was an alumni award recipient in 2021. She writes about racism/whiteness, poverty, gender, violence, journalism and the criminal justice system. She contributes long-form features and essays to The Guardian when she has time, and was the co-founder and editor-in-chief of the Jackson Free Press. She co-founded the statewide nonprofit Mississippi Free Press with Kimberly Griffin in March 2020, and the Mississippi Business Journal named her one of the state's top CEOs in 2024. Read more at donnaladd.com, follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @donnerkay and email her at donna@mississippifreepress.org.