I think by now Michelle Obama should know what clothes she is comfortable in and also she looks good in. Why use a stylist? Enough already. Probably 1% of the women in this country can afford a clothes stylist. If Ms. obama wants to be relatable to most women, she should be herself, including picking her clothes out herself.
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When you’re a busy woman and you have the luxury of affording a stylish, why not?
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When will we women catch up to men & say, "wear what is comfortable & appropriate for the occasion"? I was disappointed to see the cover of the book - "sexy shoulder" pose. I realize that Michelle is younger than most first ladies & she is very fit. So is Barrack, but I don't see him showin' any skin on his book covers (or in real life for that matter).
We constantly tell young girls to be comfortable in their skin, be natural... then as women we put on tons of makeup, fuss over our hair, reveal skin whenever we can, stand on 5" heals, pad our bras... at what point are we women going to push back against the notion that we have to be "sexy" to be feminine?
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Must be a really slow news day.
Or is this part of the NYT's effort to foster a movement to help set up Mrs. Obama for a presidential run in 2020?
I think the use of "Mrs." Obama rather than "Ms." Obama emphasizes that she is Barack Obama's wife (a very positive association for most Democrats, maybe less so for ardent feminists), but also creates a connection with the many American women who do not feel a need to emphasize their independence by using Ms.
Also, doing a long article on Mrs. Obama and her garb shows that she can be just as fixated on clothing as any other woman (and, to be sure, some men). However, I am pretty certain the NYT would not run a similar Fashion section article on Mr. Obama or President Trump or Vladimir Putin.
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I am outing myself as an old white woman who was completely unaware she was racist, unconsciously bit of a white supremacist and really really dumb, until she met Michelle Obama (on television). She rocked my narrow world, and please give me a little slack, I do live in a very white area of the country.
I was used to thinking black men were often super attractive, but I was not fully cognizant of the beauty of black women! She gave that to me and it is a great gift. It is actually great to be caught short and become aware of how stupid you can actually be, and yes that is a funny kind of gift, but it is one, it makes you expand your brain in other ways. It's was like, hmmm, I can't help but notice, Mrs Obama is the most stylish and attractive first lady in my lifetime, and that took me further to...she is also the smartest, which took me to...what have I been unconsciously thinking all these years and then....to feeling disgusted with myself and now this: I refuse to be unconsciously racist and think white is the standard. As they say, once you see something you don't unsee it. So, yes, clothing and fashion can be incredibly important!!!! (It was hard for me to write this because it is embarrassing to admit I was this dumb.)
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@Sue
Btavo! Orchids and roses! [and as the Aussies say, 'Good on you!"]
You are being as brave in owning yourself as is Michelle: owning what you see as flaws in yourself and publicly acknowledging them.
I see your public confession as courageous in the mold of Mrs. Obama's honesty.
Having been on an all-important voyage into discovery of self also, I see and salute your brilliant and bountiful boldness.
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Dear Ms. Friedman, this is a myth: "...a 37-year-old from Missouri with the height, broad cheekbones and bright blue eyes of the Midwest,..."
I am from the Midwest with neither height, broad cheekbones or bright blue eyes...when do we collectively accept that there is no one way to look like we are from a specific part of America?
Especially in an article about Mrs. Obama who encourages us to be inclusive?
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After all, Mrs. Obama herself is from the Midwest!
We may be from "flyover" country, but I can assure you, there is not a monopoly on how one looks, thinks, or acts here.
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No matter what Michelle Obama wears, her personality always shines through. We may notice her clothes but they never upstage her words and actions.
Melania Trump may look as if she stepped out a fashion magazine, but I have yet to discern anything resembling a personality emerging from beneath her clothes. They wear her more than she wears them.
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I loved the comments about how dressing as a woman is so difficult - you don't want to be objectified, but you don't want to wear a bag. It's always been this way. When I started as a young lawyer, I was my own unconscious stylist. At first, I wore the boring suit "uniform" expected. Then, I relaxed and decided to be me. I wore pants to the office before they were accepted business attire. (One day a senior partner trying to sell a female recruit on the firm brought her to me and pointed out my pants as a sign that the firm was "progressive" about women!) I began wearing brighter, less conventional suits - like a light green one with a circular skirt. I wore bright blouses. Again, there were comments that I didn't look conventional with my satiny bright stripes.
Michelle Obama and women in the political limelight are the extreme example. However, I think all of us in the business/professional world face the scrutiny about what we wear when the emphasis should be on what we do.
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I wish she would have worn more pants as First Lady. She looks awesome in them.
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Overall, I always liked what Michelle wore and her emphasis and support of American designers. If not the First Lady then who. However, I felt her many sleeveless dresses were just not appropriate for a First Lady even if she had great times arms and shoulders. There is a place for sleeveless...the beach... and I remember may times cringing upon seeing beautiful dresses with no sleeves...even to memorial services for fallen soldiers. Call me old fashioned but I just never understood the reasoning behind the sleeveless look.
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All right, you're old fashioned. @Lisa Lisa
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@Lisa Lisa
In the heart and humidity of Washington D.C. sleeveless is more comfortable. Can you please explain why people get so freaked out by bare arms? Especially because Mrs. Obama's dresses always covered her collarbone and her skirts usually came to her knees.
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@GeeGee
Sleeveless dresses have been in fashion over the last few years. Look at the news and talk shows on TV. Most of the women are wearing sleeveless. It's definitely not for the beach.
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What I loved about this story as well is how Ms Koop saw an opportunity and just ran with it. Sometimes chance leads to doors that open in glorious ways and we have to recognize when that door opens and run through it. Good for you!
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So interesting that The New York Times always report Michelle Obama's wardrobe in such a positive light, regardless of the cost of the clothes, which most of us could not afford.
On the other hand, WHATEVER Melania Trump wears is criticized by this newspaper.
Such one sided reporting.
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@Fay I see your point here, but one must think about how Mrs. Obama did wear a J. Crew outfit. Can anyone say that of Melania? More importantly, besides the clothing, does Mrs. Trump convey any type of warmth or connection with people? She is rarely shown exhibiting either. Remember, it's not the clothes that make the woman, but the woman that makes the clothes.
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Melania Trump is known for wearing attire that only the very wealthy can afford, pretty much exclusively. Aside from trying to look fashionable, and certainly the First Lady (regardless of which one) is expected to look good at all times, Melania Trump has made non-fashion statements with her clothing only when the clothing itself actually made a statement. Meaning her fashionable “i really don’t care... do you?” jacket. Some of her people were annoyed that anyone took that as a political statement, since they felt it was a fashion statement. Michelle Obama was known for almost exclusively wearing and promoting American designers, in addition having a habit of wearing more affordable clothing. If the media making commentary on the First Lady’s fashion choices isn’t a fashion magazine, what positive thing has Melania Trump done with her clothing that you would expect the media to note? Except for the American public who are voracious readers of media such as Vogue, I doubt seriously most care how very fashionable and luxe Mrs. Trump’s attire is. It’s not shocking to me that she cares about being fashionable, that is, after all, the world from which she came. I don’t understand complaining that she isn’t getting positive press for something she isn’t doing.
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@Fay . That is simply not true. I have read many items in the NYT where they praise Melania Trump's clothing selections. Also, there were times the NYT questioned/criticized Michelle Obama's choices.
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Whatever she wears it's always stunning. What grace and class she has.
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How about a story on “Dressing Barack Obama’ then and now?”
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It is NOT what former First Lady Michelle Obama wears , it is what is in her heart , brain and soul .
She is a unique real Lady , who left an indelible positive sign in many Americans and in many , many people worldwide.
She is loving, super intelligent,caring , direct, honest and spontaneous.
We have been so fortunate to have had her as our First Lady .
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Michelle always looks fantastic. Someone should talk to the current first lady and get her to realize she is working for American taxpayers and is not a fashion model anymore. Her clothes are costumes and are mainly French. She should restrain herself from trying to make statements with fashion as so far she has 100% missed that mark.
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Over the past few days, I’ve listened to a few podcasts and read a bunch of articles about Michelle Obama’s book, and in all this I never wondered about what she was wearing until this article.
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@Mdargan
You are reading the fashion column!
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I'm so sick of this focus on appearance and it's not just Mrs. Obama. I blame the press to some degree. Please stop covering the clothes and pay more attention to what these important women are talking about!
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@Shiggy This article is from the style section. There have been many articles from this and other news outlets highlighting what Mrs. Obama writes about in her book and is discussing on her book tour. Maybe you should go look there rather than in the fashion section.
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It must be very exciting and fun to have a stylist, aside from the obvious assistance of someone who knows what they are talking about when it comes to clothes. I like the last line of the article, "And because they make her think of the word “relic” more than the words “powerful” and “chic,” which are those she thinks Mrs. Obama should be going with." Mrs. Obama, our former favorite FLOTUS, is going for a different look than dresses and formal affair outfits.
When I became as Assistant Principal, I was excited to embark on the world of suits, slacks and blazers, power skirts and blouses, but I, of course, didn't have anyone putting my outfits together for me. I had my favorite brand names and a budget to have a decent wardrobe, but that was about it. Dressing sends a message and when you are watched, you are scrutinized. If I indulged in an edgier suit, then I couldn't wear it as often, as everyone would think, "oh, she wore that last week." Women end up with so many clothes because of this. Men can switch up their ties and change their shirt color and they are good to go.
I really enjoyed reading this article and wonder how big Mrs. Obama's closets are!
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Glad to learn about the work Ms. Koop has done with Mrs. Obama, as well as the impact she had on the First Family. Would love to know what she thought of the "I don't really care, do U" jacket debacle.
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Interesting Vaness--thank you for a good review. Which of the two men you mention wear women's sizes?
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Michele always looks wonderful. However, I think she looks best in dresses.
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Sorry, this piece highlights the distraction of time and money that has derailed the Obamas. Our democracy is crumbing, there are children held in government camps, and 'Ms. O' has a stylist telling her what tee shirt to wear? And a stylist is a mentor to your daughters?
Roll up your sleeves, and get over the superficiality of appearance. You now can make impactful contributions based on your thoughts and ideas. Now with Melania it should be crystal clear, appearance is only skin deep.
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@BostonGail Why not a little lightness in these dark times? Don't we deserve it?
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@BostonGail Oh for Pete's sake... lighten up! She is no longer first lady.. She may do whatever she desires.. and Ms. Obama is an excellent role model.. she did not " derail the Obama's"
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@BostonGail Fashion and style are part of culture and the visual arts. So you would have Trump rob us of our participation in and discussion of these things as well?
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Clearly, there is nothing more important than clothes and appearance for women. This is what forces others to take women seriously, rise to our highest achievements and ambitions and talents as well as defeating the white, male patriarchy. Sure, it's the inner strength, fortitude, resilience, hard work and all of those things - our inner fire and fury - but please, let's be real...it's first and foremost or at least co-equally important - for women to be dressed well -with fabulous make-up and hair, stylish shoes - these are the things that cement the legends, have people gushing over - that help us rise to be whoever we want to be.
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My beautiful brown wise humble humane empathetic charming tough South Side Chicago homegirl makes her clothes look like a combination of African queen, streetwise sister, urban mother, spousal partner, loving daughter while dark and comely and accomplished.
Go on with your bad self Michelle LeVaughn Robinson Obama. You represent our South Side so very well.
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@Blackmamba Well said!
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@J. De Muzio
You beat me to that same reply!
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@Blackmamba :thank you for this piece of vibrant poetry !
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We all need a Meredith Koop in our lives.
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Mrs. Obama has the right to wear whatever she darn well pleases.
That being said, I miss the brief period from early in her husband's first term when she would make appearances in off-the-rack outfits from Talbots (for example, there may have been others). And she looked fantastic.
Mrs. Obama isn't running for president. However, I hope that some of the Democrats who are going to throw their hats in the ring -- male and female -- will consider how it would send a powerful message of solidarity with the middle class to wear off-the-rack clothes.
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The event with Oprah at the United Center Tuesday night was not the start of Michelle Obama's book tour.
It began Monday afternoon at Whitney M. Young Magnet High School (her alma mater), which was followed by a book signing at the Seminary Co-op Bookstore Tuesday afternoon.
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I love the idea that she restyles and updates older clothing of good materials already hanging in the closets of clients.
This is a good example of the “ reduce, reuse, recycle” philosophy that is important to reducing environmental waste. It is a better use of our world resources.
I hope NYT will regularly cover some examples of people restyling garments to get more years of great use from quality fabrics.
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Ms Freidman, thank you so much for showing just how much deliberation it can take to make impactful appearances. No one before has laid out so clearly the amount of effort that the successful dressing of a public figure requres. Makes me really glad my life takes me nowhere near that requirement, but is also cause for deeper deliberation when I do need to appear at my best.
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