Michelle Obama, Eclipsed by Her Suit at the Olympics in London

The conservative media criticize the price of the outfit that she wore at the Queen’s reception. Nonetheless, Michelle’s loving gestures toward the athletes did not go unnoticed.

The controversy around the uniforms and the Olympic Games continues to be a hot topic for the United States. With the indignation that generated from a check this weekend that proved that the uniforms of the American team, designed by Ralph Lauren, were made in China, the €5,560 jacket ($6,881) that Michelle Obama picked for the reception given by the Queen of England last Friday to the heads of state in London has generated controversy, eclipsing the moments that the First Lady has shared with the Olympians of her country.

Closed at the neck and with a print embroidered in silver, the raglan sleeve jacket that the wife of the U.S. president picked for the reception in Buckingham Palace, was as praised by fashion critics as derided by the conservative media and politicians. In the middle of the electoral campaign for the presidency of the country, all gestures are analyzed in detail and the price of the outfit of the First Lady did not go unnoticed. The Gateway Pundit, a conservative blog, published on Saturday that: “the jacket cost more than the average American family makes in a month ($4,284). And she does this as Americans continue to suffer through a deep recession and record unemployment.” The White House declined to comment.

Michelle Obama’s garment is an exclusive design from the 2013 collection of J. Mendel that can be purchased on the website of Moda Operandi until it goes on sale in the fashion stores on Oct. 10. Notwithstanding, there is someone who applauds the choice of the First Lady. “She isn’t just wearing a $6,800 jacket—she’s supporting the commerce of the nation,” said Robert Verdi, top celebrity fashion stylist of Eva Longoria and Hugh Jackman among others. [The company, though founded in Paris, is American.]

Beyond her attire, the presence of the First Lady last weekend in London supporting the athletes in their competitions has also not gone unnoticed. On Sunday, Mrs. Obama attended the basketball match between the American and the French selection. “It was a very special moment, for her to be sitting over there and supporting us, we just wanted to thank her for coming,” said the forward for the New York Knicks, Carmelo Anthony, in a declaration to the Associated Press.

The basketball player’s hug was not the only one the First Lady received during her stay in London. On Friday, Elena Pirozhkova, who competes in wrestling, was not satisfied with hugging Michelle Obama; she quickly picked her up, a moment that was immortalized and publicized by her teammate Clarissa Chun’s Twitter account.