Fashion
Michelle Obama: A Look Back at Her Style
Michelle Obama in the White House.
As First Lady Michelle Obama leaves the White House, we thought we’d take a moment to reflect on her great sense of style over the last 8 years. The US was lucky to have such a stylish and accomplished First Lady of the United States. Although she has degrees from Princeton and Harvard Law, Michelle was not just someone the upper class can relate to. She truly is “every woman” and a working mother. In her time as First Lady, her influence on fashion has been profound. She not only wears haute couture, but fashions from big box retailers. Here’s a look back at her White House style as First Lady.
A look back at Michelle Obama’s style in the White House.
As First Lady, Michelle has worn emerging designers (Jason Wu), established designers as well as mass market retailers. She has worn everything from H&M, Target, the Gap and White House Black Market. Who can forget that she even wore to J. Crew at Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen of England. Her choices have run the fashion gamut. She can make a Target Merona dress look like a million bucks and wear it multiple times. What’s her secret? Confidence and having fun with fashion.
Michelle Obama in Reid Krakoff.
“First and foremost, I wear what I love.” says Michelle Obama. ” That’s what women have to focus on: what makes them happy and what makes them feel comfortable and beautiful. If I can have any impact, I want women to feel good about themselves and have fun with fashion.”
Michelle Obama in a Merona for Target Dress
As First Lady, some of her affordable style tips have included accessorizing with costume jewelry, belting coats and dress and wearing cardigans. Here are five fashion best practices that we’ve noticed about Michelle Obama’s style over her time as FLOTUS:
- Showcase your best assets. Michelle prefers sophisticated sleeveless tops and dresses to show off her fit upper body.
- Have a staple piece. For Michelle, every outfit looks best when worn with a colorful cardigan, whether a casual pencil skirt or a designer dress.
- Dress it up with a belt. Even a simple tank top and Capri pants can look refined when dressed up with a statement belt and cardigan
- Always accessorize with jewelry. An outfit isn’t complete without a well-placed brooch or a favorite pair of stylish pearls.
- Keep it lively with color. Michelle loves floral print and patterned skirts, dresses, and tops that work perfectly with her preferred cardigan-and-belt combo.
It’s amazing how her fashion choices have influenced and helped the US fashion industry. After donning the shimmery, gold Calvin Klein dress for the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony, Michelle Obama’s endorsement was linked to $772 million in aggregate gains for all companies associated with the garment, including Saks, Nordstrom, Macy’s, Phillips-Van Heusen, and Dillard’s. That’s a real economic impact!
Michelle Obama wears a Jason Wu dress in her final appearance as First Lady. Photo: Getty Images
For today’s inauguration, Mrs. Obama wore a maroon dress and coat from one of her favorites, Jason Wu.
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