# I recognize that dress **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 27, 2014, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-recognize-that-dress/696683 "2014-08-27T21:01:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-recognize-that-dress/696683/1 "2014-08-27T21:01:15Z")
The front page of The Drudge Report [http://www.drudgereport.com](http://www.drudgereport.com) has a picture of Ms. Obama and I swear that I have seen that dress before. Am I correct? Does anyone else have a clear memory that she has worn that dress before? If so, it just seems kind of funny to me that she would wear the same dress on different occasions. I always figured she would wear a new dress when responding to different events. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-recognize-that-dress/696683/2 "2014-08-27T21:03:45Z")
Ferchrissakes, do you expect her husband to wear a different suit every time? Give her a break! ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-recognize-that-dress/696683/3 "2014-08-27T21:10:36Z")
Actually, Michelle Obama is well known for wearing the same dress on more than one occasion. Here is a [gallery](http://photos.essence.com/galleries/michelle-obama-repeat-fashion-moments/) of some of her repeat fashion moments. It’s considered eco-friendly. Hey, she could be [Angela Merkel](http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2014/08/06/angela_merkel_has_been_wearing_the_same_tunic_for_18_years_photo.html), who has apparently been wearing the same top to various events for the past 18 years. ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-recognize-that-dress/696683/4 "2014-08-27T22:37:32Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > The front page of The Drudge Report > > [http://www.drudgereport.com](http://www.drudgereport.com) > > has a picture of Ms. Obama and I swear that I have seen that dress before. > > Am I correct? Does anyone else have a clear memory that she has worn that dress before? > > If so, it just seems kind of funny to me that she would wear the same dress on different occasions. I always figured she would wear a new dress when responding to different events. Both the Queen of England and her daughter recycle outfits. I can’t imagine the criticism any woman in the public eye would get if everything she wore was new. ---
**Author:** ![Silophant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Silophant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silophant)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-recognize-that-dress/696683/5 "2014-08-28T00:23:08Z")
> [@Pai325](#): > > Both the Queen of England and her daughter recycle outfits. I can’t imagine the criticism any woman in the public eye would get if everything she wore was new. Especially Michelle Obama. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-recognize-that-dress/696683/6 "2014-08-28T11:43:41Z")
Yes the world needs someone to behave like this… Who needs a world where people are meant to have a new outfit even for “special” occasions. Where on earth did that come from ? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-recognize-that-dress/696683/7 "2014-08-28T12:23:32Z")
I don’t remember who, but there was a famous woman back in the 70’s and 80’s who always wore the same outfit. She wasn’t bothered by paparazzi much, as they’d take her picture and try to sell it as news, and editors would refuse to publish it because it was obviously from months ago… ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-recognize-that-dress/696683/8 "2014-08-28T18:42:23Z")
[Daniel Radcliffe?](http://www.cracked.com/blog/4-legendary-pranks-pulled-off-by-celebrities/) ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-recognize-that-dress/696683/9 "2014-08-28T19:25:21Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > [Daniel Radcliffe?](http://www.cracked.com/blog/4-legendary-pranks-pulled-off-by-celebrities/) Well, isn’t _she_ looking awfully mannish. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-recognize-that-dress/696683/10 "2014-08-28T20:09:41Z")
> [@Silophant](#): > > Especially Michelle Obama. It’s definitely one of those can’t win scenarios. Either someone is complaining that she’s worn that before or someone is complaining she’s frivolous with money ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-recognize-that-dress/696683/11 "2014-08-28T20:46:53Z")
I rotate three pairs of jeans, wearing each for three days unless I get really filthy. And that’s pretty much the only reason I’ll never be First Lady. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-recognize-that-dress/696683/12 "2014-08-28T20:50:33Z")
Just want to remind everyone that **Charlie Wayne** is [invested in](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17112420&postcount=28) and [disdainful of](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=719231) Michelle Obama and how she looks and dresses (much like I am with him and how he posts). He’d definitely be the first to tell you if she was spending too much on new ugly dresses. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-recognize-that-dress/696683/13 "2014-08-28T21:03:06Z")
Thanks, Z.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-recognize-that-dress/696683/14 "2014-08-28T21:47:41Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > Hey, she could be [Angela Merkel](http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2014/08/06/angela_merkel_has_been_wearing_the_same_tunic_for_18_years_photo.html), who has apparently been wearing the same top to various events for the past 18 years. AM’s shirt was tailored to conceal a brace of knives. Sometimes a president has to cut a bitch. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-recognize-that-dress/696683/15 "2014-08-28T21:59:44Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Ferchrissakes, do you expect her husband to wear a different suit every time? Give her a break! Apparently we expect her husband to wear the _same_ suit every time. Today he wore a different suit for a press conference, and there were [more than 4000 tweets about it.](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/28/obama-tan-suit_n_5732532.html?utm_hp_ref=dc&ir=DC) ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-recognize-that-dress/696683/16 "2014-08-28T22:14:54Z")
Mrs. JFK and a few other First Ladies would have famous designers _lend_ them gowns for special occasions, and the gowns would become a prop in the designer’s studio. The Ladies caught some flak over it, too. They weren’t paying taxes on the use of a fabulous gown (how do calculate the value of that, anyway?) ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-recognize-that-dress/696683/17 "2014-08-28T22:23:53Z")
> [@Moonlitherial](#): > > It’s definitely one of those can’t win scenarios. Either someone is complaining that she’s worn that before or someone is complaining she’s frivolous with money Well, that’s rather the point, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-recognize-that-dress/696683/18 "2014-08-28T22:44:07Z")
> [@AskNott](#): > > Mrs. JFK and a few other First Ladies would have famous designers _lend_ them gowns for special occasions, and the gowns would become a prop in the designer’s studio. The Ladies caught some flak over it, too. They weren’t paying taxes on the use of a fabulous gown (how do calculate the value of that, anyway?) On the other hand, it promotes the American fashion industry when the First Lady wears a designer’s clothes, particularly when she does so to a state dinner. (Sort of similar to the way that clothes and jewelry designers lend clothes and jewelry to awards show attendees.) It might seem frivolous of her to be seen in a fancy dress, but this is an industry that employs many people (thousands?). ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-recognize-that-dress/696683/19 "2014-08-28T23:18:45Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > On the other hand, it promotes the American fashion industry when the First Lady wears a designer’s clothes, particularly when she does so to a state dinner. (Sort of similar to the way that clothes and jewelry designers lend clothes and jewelry to awards show attendees.) It might seem frivolous of her to be seen in a fancy dress, but this is an industry that employs many people (thousands?). Yeah, but does American fashion industry employ them in the United States or in China. I think it’s great the First Lady recycles outfits. It’s something that should be encouraged. ---
**Author:** ![Monstera\_deliciosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monstera_deliciosa/32/109_2.png) [@Monstera\_deliciosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstera_deliciosa)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-recognize-that-dress/696683/20 "2014-08-28T23:21:41Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > I don’t remember who, but there was a famous woman back in the 70’s and 80’s who always wore the same outfit. She wasn’t bothered by paparazzi much, as they’d take her picture and try to sell it as news, and editors would refuse to publish it because it was obviously from months ago… Caroline Kennedy. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-recognize-that-dress/696683.md?page=2)