Michelle Obama's dresses panned

Ooooh, this is rich! Michelle Obama, who's been compared to Jackie Onassis about 10 zillion times, is being criticized for her inaugural wardrobe. First, there was her Isabel Toledo dress, which Newsday describes as "jewel-collared, pale yellow-gold lace coat, sweater and sheath dress ensemble," but which Amanda Carpenter describes thus:

The utter lack of ooh-ing and ah-ing over Michelle Obama's inauguration wear should tell you something. It was bad. . . . That split-pea/yellow color she wore . . . is impossible for 95 percent of women to carry off. I'd say Michelle is included in that number. She sure does seem to like that chartreuse-y tone, though.
The famous JCrew outfit she wrote on Jay Leno has the same color scheme.
If that particular hue becomes a crayola crayon, I think it should be named "sour sunshine."

Ooooh! Now, you may want to attribute Amanda's criticism to ideological bias, but when it comes to Mrs. O's ball gown designed by Jason Wu, the criticism was not limited to Fox News regulars. Newsday:

The dress, with a strap across one shoulder, ruched bodice, fluffy appliqués and sparkling beading, will (as tradition dictates) be donated to the Smithsonian. . . .
Not everyone loved it.
"It's an inauguration, not a prom," fashion personality and stylist Robert Verdi said.

And, as might be imagined, Amanda also gave thumbs-down to the gown:

I have nothing against an off-the shoulder, white gown (Nancy Reagan looked great in hers) but Michelle's ballgown was simply not flattering. The cut didn't do her statuesque figure any favors, in my humble opinion. . . .
Barbara Walters . . . said on The View, the other day, "I think you can tell what the Administration is going to be like by what the First Lady wears."
I wouldn't go that far, but it is fun for political women to talk political fashion. For all you men out there, understand clothes and makeup are like football for women. We can talk about it with anybody, it's a good icebreaker, it's always fun. We'll be saying "What did you think of Michelle's dress?" at the water coolers while you all are crying about your NFL team not making it to the Superbowl.

Or Alabama getting beat by Utah. But don't bring up those painful memories again, Amanda.

Ace of Spades: "Hey, nice dress. Who shot the curtains?" As Dan Riehl says, "So much for the new Ace for the new age.' "

UPDATE: Theodora Blanchfield:

Michelle Obama’s Isabel Toledo dress-and-long-coat combo, while beautiful, and a bold statement, I think was overkill for daytime. Too much sparkle.

It's like a fashion Rashomon.