America's Next Fashion Icon
NEIRAD enilno edition
On January 20th, 2009, history will be made in Washington D.C. Not only will the country’s first African American President be sworn in, but the White House will be gaining one of the finest first ladies the country has ever seen. Michelle Obama is brilliant, young, and there is no question that she will make an impact during her time as first lady. However the eternal question remains, what type of high heeled pumps will Michelle Obama wear to walk the marble steps of the White House for the first time?
The 44-year-old Michelle has been called the best-dressed First Lady since Jackie O by Wendy Donahue of the Chicago Tribune, but their styles are quite different. Jacqueline Kennedy could be counted on sport a chic Chanel suit or a Dior gown;
Michelle Obama is more of a fashion wild card. She’s been seen in everything from Dolce & Gabbana and Narciso Rodriguez to J. Crew and Gap. Sophomore Emma Tuz said, "Michelle Obama's sense of style is classy, professional, and the right balance between fun and boring. I think she is going to wear a classy dress to the inauguration. One thing is for sure, her outfits are much better than Hilary Clinton's pant suits!" While Mrs Obama occasionally dons a designer get-up, Michelle Obama can usually be seen wearing something you or I could pick up at the mall.
“She's never dressed in anything too fancy or ostentatious,” sophomore Elizabeth Leimkuhler said, “I can't say what she'll wear for the inauguration but I'm positive it will be something simple and classy.” This would be the best way to go for soon to be Mrs. President. The last time she was seen at a public event requiring something along the lines of stilettos, the night Barack accepted the Presidency, critics lambasted her daring outfit. Who could forget that hideous red and black dress by Narciso Rodriguez she wore that evening? It looked more like a disastrous Halloween costume than an ensemble for one of the most important nights in America’s history. The color blocking on the dress did nothing for Michelle’s figure, but mostly it was just weird. Despite the fact that it was unflattering, the dress showed she wasn’t afraid to make a statement and wear something out of the box.
“My first impression of Michelle was that she had a very good sense of style,” sophomore Stephanie Winsch said. “I like that she did not only wear suits to campaign events, but also dresses. I think that as a woman she should be able to express her sense of style and she does that well. I expect that she will wear a conservative dress to the inauguration, or possibly a top with a high waisted skirt.” Either of those options would serve Michelle well. Her skirt/sweater combination from J. Crew looked stunning when she appeared on Jay Leno and the dress she wore on “The View” from Gap flew off the shelves after her appearance. In general, Michelle’s outfits get rave reviews (except for that election night slip up) because they’re things the average American could go buy off the rack.
There are those that aren’t fans of Michelle Obama, no matter what she’s wearing. “She said that this is the first time she has ever been proud to be an American. That’s ridiculous! And she had some work done that is absolutely horrible, she looks like she is angry all of the time. Did you see her dress at the democratic thing where they found out he won?! First of all, it was red, THE REPUBLICAN COLOR and secondly, it was hideous, faded to black and made her look idiotic,” said a source that wishes to remain anonymous. Another anonymous source said “I don't like Michelle Obama for her political views…I think that she’s lucky she has a stylist.”
Yet, a fashion reporter who follows Mrs. Obama says “Michelle feels she’s stylish to begin with and doesn’t need advice on her wardrobe.” Sorry those who aren’t fans of Michelle, it looks like she doesn’t have a stylist (maybe some of those fashion mistakes, like that red and black dress, could have been prevented if she had had one). So like her or not, one has to admit Mrs Obama’s got some style, especially since she’s been doing it on her own.
Not only does Mrs. Obama have style, but she also has one of the most impressive educations of the Washington first women. She graduated cum laude from Princeton University and went on to receive her law degree from Harvard University. In fact, while she was working at a law firm in Chicago, where she grew up, she worked as her husband’s superior. With such an impressive academic history,
With the country having such high expectations of her, we can only hope she’ll be able to keep such great style going and not have to resort to the power suits of the first ladies of the past. However, she already juggles raising two girls, staying in shape (she’s a self proclaimed fitness junkie) and supporting her husband on and off the campaign trail, so there should be no relapse into the dark age of the power suit with her. Michelle Obama is a shining light in the fashion world of Washington, a place where a woman has almost no say in what she will wear than perhaps the color of the classic suit. But this brings us back to the original question, what will the next first lady wear for her first day on the job?
It is rumored that Mrs. Obama will wear another Narciso Rodriguez or Maria Pinto, a favorite Chicago designer of the future first lady. One thing is for sure, you won’t be seeing her in an outfit from the mall for this occasion. The Secret Service would certainly object to a trip to the mall, as her security is sure to have increased now that she if first lady-elect. I predict that Michelle will wear something tasteful, elegant and classic. The outfit will most likely be a dress and coat (probably a long one, mid-thigh to knee length). It will probably be something classic, nothing too daring like that awful dress she wore on November 4th. Think a modernized Jackie O. And why not? Michelle is said to be the next Jackie O, and even if they aren’t that much alike they have one thing in common, they’ve both entered the Washington fashion scene with a bang.
