Is Michelle Obama DC’s Newest Fashion Icon?

It started when the media first caught wind of Barack Obama. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the nomination and the election, the media never failed to focus on a very critical question for a potential First Lady: what is she wearing? From before the nomination to after the inauguration, fashion-conscious eyes across the globe were glued to Michelle, wondering about the designers, the colors, the styles, and, most importantly, wondering if she could in fact become a style icon for millions of American women.

Most interesting about Michelle’s style choices is that she has not committed herself entirely to a single style. While she has embraced the traditional, conservative pantsuits of presidential eras past, she does not situate this look as her signature style. She has made both daring (the yellow and green ensemble she wore to the inauguration) and conservative (the pantsuits she was often seen in during the presidential campaign) choices, but she has somehow made this lack of commitment work for her, a surprise in a country where flip-flopping is often frowned upon. While the American public—especially those in the fashion world—struggle to place her in a fashion box, she continues to experiment with different styles. Of course, as with most presidential wives, Michelle does not veer too far off the path in terms of style choices, but she has been willing to try new and upcoming designers, a sure sign that she is willing to dabble in different styles. Michelle’s willingness to be adventurous illustrates an essential element of a style icon.

In addition to recently becoming the First Lady, Michelle’s style choices have gained her extra attention in the media. From Vogue to The New Yorker, media outlets everywhere have been focusing on the First Lady’s style. In an article in The New Yorker, Robin Givhan writes, “Because of Michelle Obama’s affection for independent designers with their own eccentric vision, and her willingness to go sleeveless in the most tradition-bound environments, her legacy may well be to show women how to move gracefully from the insecurities of youth into a sophisticated and stylish maturity. She will have proven, once and for all, that a woman can grow older without looking old.” Having gained a great deal of media attention for her style choices, Michelle is quickly becoming a woman to look to in the world of fashion.

At the end of February, Michelle Obama’s first official portrait was unveiled. Dressed elegantly in a sleeveless black dress and adorned beautifully with simple pearls, Michelle radiates the sophistication and simplicity of previous fashionable First Ladies, assuring America that she is a fashion force to be reckoned with, and answering the question that, yes, she may very well be the next First Lady of Fashion.