Analyzing Michelle Obama’s Fashion

By: Katherine Rohr

I hope the first lady’s closet in the White House is a fifty square-foot walk-in. First Lady Michelle Obama has turned heads in her first month in the White House. With her brand new wardrobe and cameras on her every day, Michelle Obama may be well on her way to becoming a fashion icon.

Some critics have hailed her as a fashionable revolutionary for sporting previously unknown designers such as Jason Wu and Isabel Toledo, whose careers have launched due to the media’s attention on Michelle’s closet. Others have scorned her wardrobe for its matronly designs. Many raved over “Mrs. O’s” first outfit as the First Lady at the inauguration ceremony. Michelle wore a golden-yellow beaded dress and elongated suit coat number, which many felt personified the “hope” and “change” her husband’s administration had promised to bring.

In her first month at the White House, Michelle has sported a variety of looks. From simple cardigans and tweed skirts to tailored slacks and a large tulip-shaped pea-coat, Mrs. Obama, it would appear, has not yet defined or refined her look. Spontaneity is always welcome in fashion, but not having your own personal look makes variety seem like indecision.

Ever classy and always sporting a smile, Michelle Obama certainly has the potential to make waves within the fashion world. Being one of the most photographed first ladies in years, Michelle’s celebrity status and position in the public eye has made her a role model in more than the just the world of textiles and patterns. I think that, for now, it is more important to look at what she is doing than what she is wearing.

Practicality is probably the best guideline for this young first lady. At 45 and as the mother of two young girls, Michelle Obama still maintains a very active lifestyle. While looking good, being comfortable, and maintaining function are very important wardrobe rules to any mother, they are particularly essential to the mother of the President’s daughters. Being on-the-go while looking flawless is not a particularly easy task, but thus far, Michelle has succeeded.

In time, Michelle will have adjusted to her new lifestyle, new budget, and new spotlight. She will soon define her wardrobe, rather than be defined by it. She will have her own look, rather than the large variety of looks she has worn so far. She may not be a fashion icon quite yet, but she is well on the road. It is important for this nation to remember the importance of the matters of the state than which designer Michelle is wearing today, but many blog sites have become swept away with following her every fashion choice. So just as expecting big changes from President Obama within the first month is unreasonable, so is hailing Michelle Obama as a fashion icon this early in the game.
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Katherine Rohr is a Social Relations and Politics and Media Arts and Technology Sophomore.

How to Dress Like a Conservative

By: Lorilea Zabadal

1. Leggings are NOT pants
Spandex is not the answer. Leggings simply are not pants. The only purpose they serve is to cover you up a bit more when you’re wearing a miniskirt or a tunic. There are about 5 people in the world with the figure to wear spandex, and 4 of them walk the runway for a living. Read more