Bonnie Fuller has a great blog over at Huffington Post. She asks, in her post titled, Michelle Obama's Sleevegate: Why can't America Handle Her Bare Arms?:

Is Michelle Obama supposed to wear a burka? Since when are a woman's arms considered an erogenous zone here in America? Why would it be inappropriate for the First Lady to attend her husband's address to Congress in a beautiful, purple Narcisco Rodriguez SLEEVELESS dress?

Photo courtesy of Huffington Post

Ms. Fuller goes on to remind us that those who have raised the question of propriety, should check out a history book because one of America's most fashionable previous First Ladies, Jacqueline Kennedy, practically made sleeveless looks her uniform, whether they were dresses or two piece shirt and skirt ensembles.

Ms. Fuller also makes this observation:

Michelle's sleevelessness conveys the fact that she is ready to get to work as First Lady, doing everything that she can to help the American public. It's her variation on the look that men use to visually telegraph the fact that they are hard at work on important business. When the President is rolling up his shirt sleeves, we know we're being told that his job is far more than ceremonial. Michelle's saying that exact same thing.

Michelle's also giving us another not-so-subtle message — she's strong and tough. Those arms with their well-defined biceps  (and let's not fail to mention her beautifully sculpted shoulders) look powerful enough to wrap around a distressed nation and lift it up.

Read the entire article here.

Related link:
Official portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama