Michelle Obama's Fashion Message

Kristen

Just posted this on my blog, but I would love to hear the YLF thoughts on this too!

Fabulous, FABULOUS article about Michelle Obama's fashion message she is sending to the young women of the world. This in particular resonated with me:

"But critics of Mrs. Obama fail to see the powerful message of self-possession that her appearance carries for millions of young women, especially African-American women. Style and the care you put into how you present yourself to the world are not just frivolous endeavors, they are powerful tools of communication. Mrs. Obama uses her own image and appearance to connect with other women and to teach them how to take care of themselves, how to improve their lives. That look is not expensive; it's priceless."

YES. That is why I admire her so much. Because she CARES about style, and she THINKS about it, and she USES it to relay all the messages she wants to, about self-respect and caring about your health and your body, and accepting who you are at any shape or size. I really love that she often wear outfits that accentuate her "flaws", that she wears clothes that clearly make her happy. She is absolutely wonderful to watch.

(P.S. This is a great blog of her daily fashion that I follow on Google Reader.)

No politics, of course, but what do you guys think?

15 years ago

General

13 replies

Latest reply was from Kate

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Amazing column, so well articulated. It's so inspiring to have a First Lady who loves style! Thanks for posting it.

15 years ago

Mac

Veteran

I dunno. Of course, it's hard not to let my political views colour what I think of her and even her style. And I know I'm in the minority with my opinions about her style, anyway, so fire away.

I think it's a real shame that so much attention is paid to the looks and style of women in the spotlight. No one writes about what Joe Biden's wearing. I don't read things like, "Isn't it great that white men see that Joe Biden pays attention to his suits which communicates his personal power."

I remember both Hilary Clinton and Laura Bush being savaged for what they wore and I thought, really? This is how far we've come as women?

Style is clearly important to everyone here at YLF but gosh, I can't wait for the day that women for whom style is NOT important aren't seen as somehow lesser. I don't think that Jackie Kennedy was a better first lady than Rosaylnn Carter because she was had better personal style.

So, great. Michelle has a stylist who likes to dress her in bold colours and lots of J Crew (she sure didn't dress like this back when she picked her own clothes). I won't hate her for it, but I don't admire her for it, either. Even though I'm a YLF regular, I care a infinitely more about what's in a woman's head and heart than what's on her back.

15 years ago

Maya

Veteran

I agree to some extent Mac. But I also think what men wear is generally not discussed because there really isn't anything TO discuss. Women have far more choices to make when they get dressed, as opposed to regular formulas that men have. It's the same reason red carpet style is mainly about women. How much can be said about a suit?

That said, while I can appreciate this article and appreciate the fact that she is such a great role model for women across the country, I don't care for how it outshines all her other initiatives and accomplishments. Style is important, but it is far from being THE most important thing in the world. I think all of this attention is backfiring in a way. How we present ourselves is supposed to help us get taken seriously. It's supposed to earn us respect. In her case, it's sort if doing the opposite. But i also know she would be damned either way. Bad style or good, it seems the first lady's appearance always trumps everything else. I take issue with that.

15 years ago

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

Mac, I can very much understand your perspective, and I do agree, those First Ladies who don't have as much style shouldn't seen as 'lesser". But using their style as a messageboard/symbol of their husband's presidency has been a staple of First Ladies since Martha Washington. I attended a display of Jackie O's clothes a while back, and I was astonished to read about the detailed thought she put into each piece -- there were many outfits you realize when you see them close up that were actually very structured and almost like armor (and were described as such), which she chose deliberately so as not to look sexy but more elegant and aloof, thus encouraging the Camelot ideal of his administration. And who can forget Nancy Reagan's power red suits combined with the adoring look she always gave her husband? That, too, carried a distinct message. Michelle Obama's message is relevant to the era we live in, and does mesh perfectly with her campaigns for healthier living/eating and against childhood obesity.

Personally, I like those First Ladies who understand the power of their style and are canny enough to use to promote their causes; to me, that DOES show what is in their brains and hearts as much as it does what's on her back.

Looking back at all the First Ladies in my lifetime I think only Hillary Clinton didn't have the ability to work that symbolism very well. She wasn't into fashion, and she just didn't get it. Even now, she struggles with it. But I like her *because* of that, in many ways. There are a lot of women like her in the world, and I don't begrudge her for it. I was like that myself for a long, long time.

15 years ago

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Michelle Obama would love YouLookFab. She is one of us in that way Somebody send her the URL!

15 years ago

Phoebe

Veteran

I adore Michelle Obama´s style and I follow the blog you mentioned. The thing is that she is pretty AND intelligent, stylish AND emancipated and I don´t think you can reduce her to her clothes. Given that we will always discuss women´s clothes, I prefer to discuss Michelle Obama´s style. She´s a great ambassador for people in the whole world!!

15 years ago

medusa

Veteran

My impression is that being First Lady is a game, and Michelle Obama has figured out how to play the game very well. She can't be too independent (for example, by having her own career) or she'll be viciously criticized. She has to work on something that's considered appropriate and ladylike, nothing too controversial or that would cause political problems for her husband. And she knows that she'll receive lots and lots of attention for the clothes she wears and the parties she hosts. I think that she does a good job of staying within these totally ridiculous and sexist constraints while still having some fun. She knows her clothes are a focus of attention - so she has fun with it and works a small political message into her choices of clothing and designers. I think, good for her that she's clearly enjoying what I consider the most annoying high-profile woman's work in the world.

15 years ago

judy

Veteran

While I love seeing a new wave of women like Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni willing to step out of the usual conservative political fashion box, I still wonder why we fuss about women/power/and clothes SO much. I'm resonating with Mac's lament: Is this how far we've come?

Especially reading this from the article: "Although it seems frivolous to some, the first lady's style is incredibly important because it sets the emotional tone of her husband's administration. This has been true since the earliest days of our Founding Fathers, when style played a crucial if symbolic role in politics." Really?? What??

Also agree that it would be unfortunate if media obsession with Michelle's style could outshine her other initiatives and accomplishments. While it seems she has a handle on what looks good on her, I doubt she'd want that to be what she is remembered for.

15 years ago

PalmFronds

Active Member

I love Michelle Obama, not only for her style and willingness to just wear what she wants/likes and not care what people think, but because she THINKS. I agree wit what you all have said, about appearance constantly being pushed to the forefront etc, and that this should not make or break a first lady etc. All true.
I agree most with the comment that this is a it of a game, ad for women everywhere it is a bit of a life game. W know it well. We torture ourselves and each other with this crappy game that gets played year after year, lifetime after lifetime, to varying degrees and with various outcomes depending on culture, location and societal stature of women at the time. Michelle Obama is just playing the game we at YLF play everyday: how do I put myself together, while putting thought into it, while not looking "to vain and superficial", and present myself to the world within the sphere of how I feel TODAY, and to be respected for whatever I want TODAY. The fact is that for most people, she is winning that game.I think that shows her to not only have fashion sense, but that she is smart to recognise that even though the game is unfair to women especially and antiquated, it makes a difference to many people and thus is important to win.

15 years ago

Sihaya

Veteran

Having worked with many leaders, whehter you like it or not you are in a fishbowl when you are a leader or that leader's spouse when it comes to the Presidency. I agree with Maya, not much TO comment on men's clothing usually. I love that Michelle Obama pays attention to her appearance. For a number of reasons, I think it's important to model the message that you and how you appear are important. I think she has plenty of brains and assets to back up her fashion so she's not *just* about appearance. And, yes, appearance does make a HUGE difference - I see this every day in my work with leaders. It actually makes a difference with men too only it's much more subtle. You usually no longer see a high tech leader promoted through the ranks in shorts and flip flops when he is in the board room.

15 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I love what Phoebe said :0)

And I also love that we have a First Lady who loves style. It makes Michelle Obama walk on water even more in my book.

15 years ago

Isabel

Veteran

I LOVE her and your youth and confidence when it comes to fashion. I have been following that site for about a year. It makes me feel courageous.

But forget Mrs. O - that Sasha has it going on too !

15 years ago

Kate

Veteran

I wish Michelle re-wore her outfits even more, it would make a huge statement. Barrack certainly does, did any of you see this picture http://katemckinnon.files.word...../19vt2.jpg from during the campaign?

Anyway, what stands out for me most is the message for women about their own appearance and style. "Style and the care you put into how you present yourself to the world are not just frivolous endeavors, they are powerful tools of communication." This is exactly why I became more interested in what I wear!

15 years ago

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