leave her alone people,she has a right to choose what to wear,its her money, not taxpayers money,get out of her closet

leave her alone people,she can wear what she likes,its her money,so stay out of her business,

Bet she is proud of her country now. Someone needs to tell the out-of-touch Michelle, that if she bought $100 shoes instead of $600 shoes, she could donate $500 to the soup kitchen.

A woman no matter what she or where she works. Should be able to buy what she wants as long as she can afford to do so. Leave her alone.

to all those negative comments on Michelle's sneakers on nydaily you guys are ignorant and need to rethink before uttering out words.its not her fault that president bush left us with nothing so she is supposed to deprive herself cause you cant afford a $540 sneakers, you guys are all jokers.you go Michelle U ROCK!!!!!!

M. Obama needs to realize that she's being watched everywhere she goes. It would be nice if the First Lady would stop posing for magazine covers and start assisting the President with his daily duties.

Linda S.

Sorry but i am disagreeing with most of you, I feel she should watch her pennies like the rest of us, and why would a pair of shoes be 540. any way, that is NUTS! Did she buy the same for the girls and were the shoes shipped in from ANOTHER country? Buy American, I am sure Browns shoe company would love to open a plant in missouri again so people could work and wear nice shoes.

If she started assisting the President with his daily duties you would start to complain that you did not vote for a 2 gor 1 deal. This woman is an attorney in her own right the price tag on whatever she wears or buys is not up for debate by you or any other tax paper since you're not paying for it. you sound like one of those right wingers so lest you forget...ENVY is one of the seven deadly sins.

Really? That's the hot political news of the moment? The first lady of the United States wore expensive sneakers? That's the big gotcha of the day? Would you have even written about the fact that this wife and busy mother of two is choosing to spend her spare time volunteering at food banks and soup kitchens if some fashion maven with too little to do hadn't "caught" her overdressed for the occasion? Does anyone know what Barbara or Laura Bush or Nancy Reagan wore to their volunteer appearances? I'm guessing there were some pricey duds involved, but WHO CARES?!

My mom just bought a $1000 LV purse. She wore it to work. She paid for it with her hard-earned money. Why begrudge someone just because they can afford to buy it? For someone who made millions of dollars in the year 2008, what's $540 out of that. As for the occasion, why not? In the end, she wore sneakers. She didn't go wearing a ballgown with glitters and stilettos. Now, THAT would be inappropriate.

No, actually most people are reacting to this little shoe story because most of us wouldn't be caught dead spending $540 on a pair of the ugliest sneakers we've ever seen. Of course, most of us are scrambling just to put food on the table right now, but it's nice she can go out and spend half a grand on sneakers, especially sneakers from France instead of a nice American company. It's called two-faced. It's called hypocritical. It's called being completely out of touch with the people that you are supposed to be representing. And to kathy up there at the top, I don't think Ms. BamBam is earning too much of her own money right now, so yes, it is our money that she is spending.

As far as I can tell this woman worked very long and very hard to afford the things that she has. She has the right to wear whatever sneakers she wants to. To make this any type of issue is both ridiculous and laughable. To the person who says that she should watch her pennies, like the rest of us, don't you realize that she mixes high and low cost clothing brilliantly and has felt very at ease meeting the prime minister of britain in J Crew! Give me a break!

OBNOXIOUS and no one is surprised, they have no class!
anyone who can just print money and thinks that is OK, is a true loser.

Yep, she is under fire. There is incongruence with $540 sneakers and a food bank. Sure she has a right to wear what she wants. No one is disputing that. But it only points to a larger problem. Food bank or expensive shoes? It is a move of symbolism over substance. Live the rich life, look down on rich folks, but tout identifying with the poor. It will never add up. Sorry Michelle.

I wonder if you all supporting Ms. Obama were as supportive of Ms. Palin when the media and public were "outraged" with the clothes the RNC bought for her campaign, that she later donated to charity. The Obamas ARE spending OUR money; in a big way too. Note B.O.'s expensive suits.

Dave: You, Sir, need to give it a rest. First of all, her name is not "Mrs. BamBam", it's Mrs. Obama, and she is the First Lady of the United States of America. Respect that. Secondly, you seem to be unaware of the fact that, prior to becoming the FLOTUS, Mrs. Obama was a successful woman who EARNED a six-figure salary. Oh, and let us not forget about the fact that her husband was a millionaire prior to becoming President. She has had the financial means to afford a $540 pair of shoes for quite a long time now. Third of all, I find it ludicrous to state that she is out of touch with the people simply because of the type of shoes that she chooses to wear. Give me a break!

I think Michelle is a great first lady, BUT I do think it is quite tacky to wear $540 sneakers when that could be somebody's rent or food for the month for their family in this day and age.

It is her money and she can certainly do what she wants with it, it's true, but it conveys an insensitivity to the state of our country and many people's lives, and undercuts her image of authenticity and compassion for the 'every day people', she purports to empathize with.

Hypocrisy at its finest! MO is wearing shoes that cost a pretty penny. Where is the outrage parallel to what SP got? O! That's right! It's a double standard!

Oh, really people? So, leave Michelle Obama alone in this case...but let's oooohhh and ahhhh over her sleeveless dresses and her spindly damned arms. Moreover, where were you kool-aid drinkers when Sarah Palin was being berated over the clothing that she wore? You people make me sick. While most of you are sick in the head and will never get a grip, many of you are simply denying that "something's wrong"... This is akin to wanting to get a divorce upon returning from the honeymoon trip...you don't want to throw it all away without giving it a shot... You folks will soon see that you screwed the pooch by voting for hope and change and electing this classless bum/idiot. Hopefully by the time you've lived with the forthcoming hyperinflation and excessive taxing (oh, it's gonna happen...with a 3+ trillion dollar budget and a shrinking income to the government, Barack's rosy estimate for economic growth that the Congressional Budget Office warned us about will all play out...bigtime!) hopefully you'll see before 2012 that you screwed up and took us all down with you...you friggin' drones.

Since I'm Canadian, this might not be my business, but think about it... she is the first lady of America... would you really want to be represented world wide by someone that buys her clothes at Walmart ? Give me a break. And by the way you should check the Obama's budget (cant find the url right now) they are giving $300K to charity. I think the lady won the right to get her comfy shoes.

She looks ghetto. Money can't buy class! This is a perfect example.
The media is biased even when it comes to fashion of these people. So sad!

Does anybody remember how much Sarah Palin's clothes cost, hair and shoes just to campaign in???????? Michelle Obama pays for her own clothes and always have! She can wear w-h-a-t e-v-e-r she danm pleases!!!!!!!!!!! Got that. How much does ya mama pay for her(STUFF)Dave??? Don't answer cause who gives a @$%*$#@ anyway.

It's highly hypocritical of Michelle to be wearing such expensive shoes when she has been pretending to be such a thrifty "average" person.

It's disingenuous.

I don't see why anyone would defend such insincere behavior.

Typical liberal hypocrisy.

I cannot believe it. Are you certain this was our first lady doing this. And she did the same thing last week at a tree planting. And she wore these when she chose to go to a food bank?

I voted for something better than this kind of arrogance. While she is a representative of the people DURING A RECESSION I am not exactly happy (to put it mildly) that my first lady would choose to be seen repeatedly around town and around the country at events wear humble people are in attendance (not state events) in attire like this. Shameful display and I voted for it. Yuck. I won't a second time around. Bet on it. Tired of the Obama's. Tired. So very tired.

Uh-huh. Goes to a food bank with a pair of $550.00 pair of shoes on. The President says that we will aaaaaaaaallllllll need to tighten our belts at his press conference.I guess that means that we don't all need to tighten our shoes. But McCain was out of touch with the common man and Michelle Obama thinks that her nation isn't so nice. Well, it's apparently been fairly nice to her. I live in a trailer and worked for a food program as a volunteer for 2 years. I don't have $550.00 shoes. Maybe we need a system where if you are able to buy expensive shoes the government should force you to share them with people who are less shoe fortunate. Are any Democrats embarassed yet--or are you waiting for the latest definition of "is"???

I am surprised that more has not been made of this but maybe not. If this had been a republican first lady you never would hear the end of it.

Merci, Michelle has style. Lanvin sneaks are the ish.F* nike..Btw there are no "American" shoe brands..everything is made in China.

Kids spend a lot of money on sneakers that could definitely better be used elsewhere. M. Obama is a role model whether she likes it or not. Her wearing those expen$ive sneakers enforces teenagers' beliefs in spending frivolously to bow down to peer pressure and wear status sneakers.

It is irresponsible of our first lady to encourage children to wear status sneakers. She should encourage them to use their sneaker money for other purposes, like feeding the poor.

YOU SAY OUT OF TOUCH WITH THE PEOPLE!!! She is risking her life, marriage, and her children's lives to help lead our country out of a deep hole. She could have told Barrack its too dangerous to become president but instead she supported him with a concern for the future of America. She knows that there are people who can't put food on the table, thats why she campaigned her butt off for us. JUST FOR THE RECORD, Michelle Obama is a Harvard law school graduate and the former Dean of students at the University of Chicago, Mrs. BamBam was able to afford those sneakers way before the thought of her being 1st lady became a reality. She could have been another statistic having kids young, no education and expecting welfare handouts. SHE DOESN'T NEED OUR MONEY, she built her own foundation and I think she deserves and earned to wear a pair of $540 sneakers to a charity event. She so rich that she can donate money and still afford to buy herself nice things, aren't u jealous. First ladies are known to dress in expensive clothing, IT'S THE PRESIDENTS WIFE! No one talked about what other 1st ladies whore to charity events because we weren't in a recession at the time so its just broke people taking out there anger on the women who wants to help get us out of this mess. She represents how far an education can get u in life. TAKE NOTES!!!

Actually, New Balance and Okabashi make shoes in this country. And for a LOT less money than these ugly things. She should be wearing American made shoes, and spending a reasonable amount to do it. This is ridiculous.

A quote from above:

"...where were you kool-aid drinkers when Sarah Palin was being berated over the clothing that she wore?"

This is obvious, but I guess it bears repeating: Michelle Obama didn't run for office. Her clothes, which she pays for herself, are not a public affair. Sarah Palin's campaign wardrobe was bought with taxpayers' money and worn to sell her as a political candidate. The 'kool-aid' part was a classy touch, though.

Would someone who disapproves of Mrs. Obama's shoes please tell me how much one should spend on the shoes she wears to feed the homeless?

Let's be honest -- except for Nancy's, maybe, no negative comment in this thread is about shoes. I'd like to see a map of where people disapprove most strongly of Mrs. Obama's expensive sneakers. I'll bet anyone here $520 that this map would line up beautifully with a map of slavery's popularity in the 19th century.

Why do people treat this as a coincidence? The cruel, arrogant ignorance that established slavery and Jim Crow laws -- that fights against gay equality! -- is alive today, throwing 'tea parties,' threatening to secede, and pretending to be fashion critics.

i cant believe it, but i am standing up for her! i am sure they were given to her, by the designer,,, i will bet anything that she didnt go out and buy them... i even think she has no idea how much they cost, it was poor taste, but she has a stylist,, and it was the stylists job to dress her appropriately ,, probably has things laid out for her,,, give her a break, this is all about haters,, hating on her, i dont like her personally,, but this is just lame, to give her crap over a pair of shoes,!!! i can imagine, that she is giving that stylist a ton of grief about those shoes lol

i cant believe it, but i am standing up for her! i am sure they were given to her, by the designer,,, i will bet anything that she didnt go out and buy them... i even think she has no idea how much they cost, it was poor taste, but she has a stylist,, and it was the stylists job to dress her appropriately ,, probably has things laid out for her,,, give her a break, this is all about haters,, hating on her, i dont like her personally,, but this is just lame, to give her crap over a pair of shoes,!!! i can imagine, that she is giving that stylist a ton of grief about those shoes lol

WHY NOT DONATE THE SNEAKERS-FOR AUCTION?[TO BENEFIT NEW JERSEY
FOOD PANTRIES]

What a bunch of hypocrites the Left are. Nancy Reagan was raked over the coals for her expensive taste but Obama shows up at a food bank (of all places)in $540.00 runners and she is supposed to get a pass? Michelle and Barry never worked a real day in their lives, they have always fed off the public trough. They don't give a damn about the average American, except in so far as they can pull the wool over your simpleton eyes, which I must say they seem to be very good at. People are losing their jobs and their homes and hopey-changey first lady shows up in $540.00 sneakers? They feel your pain, while they send their kids to a private school at the same time they are canceling school-voucher programs and force other kids to go back to the broken public school system? If you think Michelle Obama gives a damn about you or any other average American, you really need to give your head a good shake! Hypocrites!

With comments like 95% of those on this board, Obama's second term is a shoo-in. To those who came to the First Lady's defense, did you show similar outrage over the trillions of dollars we Americans are now saddled with, for generations to come?

No, I didn't think so. "Do as I say, not as I do" seems to be the mentality both here and in the White House.

Damn. You Republican nit-pickers are loosing your minds. If Michelle Obama showed up at the shelter wearing rags, you would accuse her of being patronizing. Being fake.”Look at her, she knows she doesn’t dress like that. She is acting for political pourposes. Outrage! Where are my teabags?!!!!!!” You KNOW you would. No matter what the Obamas do you people criticize. This constant sniping and harping WILL NOT win you elections. You need to worry more about what your party is NOT doing than what the Democratic party is.

Tacky.
And New Balance makes 70% of it's products in the US (the other 30% is in the UK).

CNN did an in depth report on McCain wearing $500.00 shoes, and as many pictures of McCain with the President Bush as possible. And there were constant attacks on Cindy McCain. This makes the actions of FLOTUS appear to be extremely hypocritical.

You know, I am not a huge Fan of Obama, and I was very critical during the election. But I find it disgusting that we are waging a war against being successful. She should be able to wear whatever she wants, as long as she pays for it with her own money.

Now, I do wonder about some of the people that are also supporting her, were they also saying the same thing about Sarah Palin when she supposidly went on a shopping spree and spent 100"s of thousands on a new Wardrobe?

I bet some of you who are now saying its OK for Obama....were ALL OVER Palin for that.

So, I just wish people would be consistant. You know Im right and those of you who ripped Palin, but defend Michelle...should be ashamed!

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If I'm going to be told by a government official and his wife that me and my family need to "sacrifice" as a way to make me more pliable to pay higher taxes for who they deem poor and needy, then they for damn sure need to lead by example!! The blind admiration for these two is unbelievable!
We were in a recession in the early 80's and the MSM was relentless in criticizing Nancy Reagan's wardrobe or choice of housewares in the White House. MANY Americans are sick of the very obvious hypocrisy; a conservative official is ridiculed in the media based on spending, but Democrats aren't?! They just keep digging the hole deeper and deeper...

KriyQ, you're wrong! do some research on the china set that Laura Bush bought for the White House last November. There was one article about it run in passing in the Washington Post, despite the fact that the set cost upwards of $40,000. If the "mainstream" media have such a terrible prejudice against extravagant republicans, why didn't they emphasize that story?

And culzie, thank you for showing the strength of mind to distinguish between two separate points. The point you stick with, though, is pretty weak. You think there's no difference between a $150,000 wardrobe bought by the RNC in a desperate bid to win an election and a $500 pair of sneakers bought with one's own salary as a lawyer? Remember, Michelle Obama does not hold an official government position. She was not elected -- her husband was. Sarah Palin, on the other hand, was running for vice president.

People weren't angry about the price of Palin's wardrobe -- they were angry about its provenance.

All is good in the White House. Please do not question the First Lady when those pair of sneakers for more than 100 meals for some homeless people. But as Michelle sees everybody is reflected in her shoes. If you question her, or dont agree with her. You are below her. By the way what was her thesis paper on again?

I believe that she has the right to wear what she wants. The clothes she purchased during, before, or after the Presidency has nothing to do with the actual cause. Honestly she is not the first. I work for a non-profit agency and we see the wealthy come to assist all the time in expensive gear. My point is they are volunteering and assisting where others aren't. What they wear is not my business anyway. She didn't have to even volunteer at the event, but she did. So stop emphasizing on the type of shoes she has on her feet and be glad that she has volunteered her time to assist the less fortunate. And if everyone really wants to get in her business, read about her and you will find out that she has well gone above and beyond to help the less fortunate in the past.

Adam,

your a fool if you think there is a difference.

The RNC isnt tax payer money either.

I think your hipocracy is so thick it would choke a Roosting Chicken.

I think both are OK, and thats consistant, I am being fair minded to both. To attack either is just more class warefare and your ability to parse out a difference just exposes your Bias.

Your words carry no weight with me.

Culzie,

I hope you don't really think that having consistent thoughts is more valuable than having insightful thoughts. You're too smart for that -- I can tell, despite your shrill tone and goofy, barnyard analogies.

It so happens that I agree with part of what you're saying. I don't think there's anything morally objectionable about expensive clothes (at least Lanvin doesn't use sweatshops!) Also, I agree that for most people, this isn't an issue about immorality in the textile industry, but rather about which political candidate they like.

What was so ugly about Sarah Palin's shopping spree was that it was designed to mask her lack of qualifications. It was a sleight of hand. I am not saying this because I don't like Sarah Palin -- it's the other way around! I don't like Sarah Palin, or the Republican Party, because they think that $150,000 worth of clothes is a legitimate way to try to win an election.

I got the feeling that my words carry no weight with you; you didn't have to tell me. You won't address my good points; you'll accuse me of using a 'semantic' argument or something ridiculous like that; you'll close your heart to the news we got, just this morning, that our economy is on the road to recovery.

Is there anything you said that I didn't address? I'd be happy to.

It is just WRONG to flaunt such expensive purchases when so many of us are struggling out here! What's wrong with purchasing a pair of tennis shoes from Walmart? Most of us have to do that. P.S. our tax dollars pay her husband's salary and the family's room & board.

But it wasnt like they were poor or financially challenged to begin with. He's the president of the united states, highest office in our country where people do pretty much whatever they want. you have a problem with expensive shoes? what about corporate CEO's and their cries about their bonus losses "oh my now we're going to lose the lawn on our fifth villa." this is all just media trying to deter societies image of the "Presidential Family" and label them up there with the rest of the money wasteful.

TO DIANNA

U must understand that the average american in a good market wouldn't be able to afford the wardrobe of the first lady. She is not most of us, she is the presidents wife and us as grown ADULTS should understand that she doesn't normally shop at Walmart catching deals like the average american. I understand your struggling, me to but we shouldn't allow the recession to make us envy an attack the more fortunate.

In your case she should not live in such a luxurious white house either, she should fire the white house chefs. The first family should move to a shelter until everybody stops struggling (not realistic). I would feel that it would be wrong for her to buy cheap clothes to wear to charity events like she's covering up and their not good enough to see her in her normal fashionable clothes. It would be phony and two faced. Besides most rich people that volunteer at charities are wearing some pricy accessory anyway, who cares as long as their donating.

P.S. It doesn't matter where her husbands salary is coming from, all that matters is that he's EARNING IT.

Nah...your just hating on Palin.

You try going from relative obscurity to having to do 85 National Stage Appearances in 2 months. What was she suppose to wear? A parka?

Dont be so naive. The attack on Palin was an artificially contrived attack because they feared her and her popularity. She almost cost Obama the election. Luckily the Media Attack Dogs were able to snuff her out.

Im being fair to both, both are entitled to look good.

Your the one playing politics.

Ironically the people complaining about this are the same ones who voted for a guy who spent $5,500 on makeup.

Did any of the naysayers here stop to think that maybe First lady Obama received the sneakers free of charge? The likelihood is almost 100%. All this effort spent tearing down a hardworking mother, wife, and now public figure could have been spent doing something positive. Why don't you guys get off your bums and head to the soup kitchen. Most of you would not have even known they were Lanvin unless stated.

Okay people, maybe you may not truly understand the whole story. Please cross all of your "T's" and dot your "I's" before you go crazy. Many donations are made to people in Mrs. Obama position (or similar). In my heart I do not believe she would or does she need to send that type of money on a pair of sneakers, the lady has to much class for that. Please don't be a hater, we have bigger issues to worry about.

This is SO ridiculous. It's her business what she wears and where she wears it. I agree with the above comment. Are you jealous because YOU can't afford a $540 pair of shoes? I have a pair of Cole Haan shoes that I wear to events. They weren't $540 but they weren't cheap either. I say leave the woman alone because it's her money and her life. In the words of Eric Burdon "It's my life and I do what I want!"

Does no one notice the shoes are FUGLY!!!!!! that's the real crime. She should get her money back!!

wow...really ppl? Especially the one that said she should wear 100 dollar shoes and donate the rest to charity? Why dont you get 10 dollar shoes and donate the rest to charity? She or her hubby has earned their money and can spend it however they choose...didnt know you had to dress like you were eating at the soup kitchen in order to volunteer there....is this really what the world has come to that she is under fire for HER SHOES!!!! maybe if you people would stop worrying about fashion and start worrying about policies and things that MATTER we wouldnt be in this effed up mess that we are in....wow....if I were her, i would wear some even more expensive shoes next time and throw them out on my way out the door....my money = my choices

Chic perfume.
I want to afford such usually buy