Michelle Obama shops incognito at Target (Photo)

AP photographer Charles Dharapak told CBS News he took pictures of the first lady at the Target on Route 1 in Alexandria, Virginia.

The first lady's office confirmed that the pictures showed Mrs. Obama, though it did not immediately respond when asked if it tipped off Dharapak.

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"It is not uncommon for the First Lady to slip out to run an errand, eat at a local restaurant or otherwise enjoy the city outside the White House gates," said Kristina Schake, communications director for the First Lady.

In the photographs, the first lady is wearing a Nike baseball cap, sunglasses and a floral-print button-down shirt with a neon v-neck underlay. She is seen holding a pair of Target bags and pushing a shopping cart. You can see the two full-length photos below.

The pictures contrasts significantly with one taken two days ago by Dharapak showing the first lady at the White House in a sleek blue pencil skirt, high heels and a ruffled blouse.

The AP reported that Secret Service agents, dressed casually, arrived at the store 30 minutes before the first lady, who shopped with an assistant. She reportedly spent 30-40 minutes shopping and was only recognized by her cashier.

The first lady was seen wearing a dress from Target, which sells relatively low-cost clothing, in Phoenix in August 2009. She has also been seen wearing clothes from J. Crew and The Gap.

In the 2008 presidential campaign, Mrs. Obama proudly proclaimed herself "more of a Target shopper," saying she preferred the store to Wal-Mart.

First lady Michelle Obama, wearing a hat and sunglasses, pushes a shopping cart as she carries her purchases at a Target department store in Alexandria, Va., Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011, after doing some shopping.

/ AP Photo/Charles Dharapak

First lady Michelle Obama, wearing a hat and sunglasses, stands in line at a Target department store in Alexandria, Va., Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011, after doing some shopping.

/ AP Photo/Charles Dharapak

[TJphoto]

I'm reading outrage here about a woman who went to Target to shop. For all of who P.O,ed at this, think of the posts who could write if she went to Beverly Hills with an entourage of 25 people. "It's all Obama's fault" Fox News told me so.

[IndependentBrain]

Omg people...cut her some slack...of course she CAN't go anywhere w/out an entourage/photog - she doesn't get to choose or make that decision!!! Duh!! so many of you talk about "oh it's a ploy, oh it's this, oh it's that..." you ever stop and THINK, she shopped at target before all the limelight of being the 1st lady, maybe she JUST SIMPLY WANTED TO GO TO TARGET AND NOT BE HARASSED!!! Jeez! Folks are grasping at straws here! Even the 1st lady deserves to be able to have some sense of normal life w/out you all passing ridiculous, unnecessary, and blown out of proportion judgements at her. Even public figures, and celebrities sometimes simply - just want to go to Target...

[GeWay]

dShe doesn't want to be harassed, but she DOES want a photographer to come along with her. The SS agents I can understand, but the purpose of the photographer? Hmmm.

[tgallu]

Look....I'm a lefty liberal, but this is obviously a photo op. This is how they all play the game, right & left. What I find so sad about this entire thing is that no one seems to get the bigger picture. This is what American politics has been reduced to. Photo ops, catch phrases, spin spin spin....this is not some well calculated manipulation of the American people unique only to Democrats....its how all these politicos operate. They have to in order to compete with the other dingbats that are utilizing the same tricks. Bush W. had so many photo ops to make him look like a man of the people its not even deniable....so did Clinton....so did Bush Sr.....Reagan, Carter, Ford.....
Yet here we all are, baiting each other over this crap, name calling,....its like Jr. High...."I know you are, but what am I?"
Boys & girls, we are in really desperate times....this is simply a waste of every one's time & energy.

[gimbolo]

She is carrying a Banana Republic a $98.00 leather Tote,I have the same!! i guess we have something in common!! :-)
Gina

[jillann3698]

WHO WEARS NEON with a bright orange pocketbook INCOGNITO...the media has NO journalistic integrity!!!

[Chris7352]

dont forget about the fact she's wearing sunglasses indoors, or why it took her 30 minutes in a store she's familiar with to find the pet isle (another article says she bought dog food and treats). Whole think is just bs. I have never seen nor heard of any ranking politician from both sides shopping at a department store.

[2happy2ride]

The epitome of desperation.

A ridiculous ploy only the moronic would believe.

[midas360]

she's not fooling anyone.

[kkaysl]

Who shops in sunglasses?? Does the AP really watch the check out line at Target? So phoney!!

[librariantoo]

Too bad Michelle chose plastic bags instead of helping save the environment by bringing her own cloth bags. Another missed opportunity!

[dantom39]

Just who beleives this?