Brooches, colorful dresses, suits, cardigans. Released Nov. 4, Michelle Obama’s autobiography ‘The Look’ dives into her fashion and beauty journey while also emphasizing that fashion is not the only judge of a woman’s character.
Obama was clear from the beginning of the book that she wanted her fashion to reflect her personality as she entered the public eye. Additionally, she wanted her clothes to work with her lifestyle, not the other way around. Sometimes, that meant wearing more elevated casual choices to engage with Americans in a meaningful, down-to-earth way.
Obama’s simple, yet fashionable outfits of jeans or sneakers showcased her authenticity and dedication to her job as first lady, willing to sacrifice designer clothes to play with kids on the White House lawn.
Obama, the first Black first lady, did not receive recognition for being a lawyer, or for her esteemed career, but instead for the dresses she chose to wear.
The press covered her outfits at every event she attended, with people constantly speculating what and which designer she would wear. This hyper-focus on appearance sometimes led to more negative coverage, where her physical traits were ridiculed in racist and transphobic ways. Despite these criticisms, Obama moved forward and continued to dress in a way that allowed her to be herself.
‘The Look’ did an incredible job of highlighting how fashion can be a part of a woman’s narrative, but that it is not the sole representation of a woman. For example, the dress that Obama wore to her husband’s inauguration was a part of that day, but so was the procession down Pennsylvania Avenue.
The book included a foreword by Columbia University Prof. Farah Jasmine Griffin and commentary by Meredith Koop, Obama’s longtime stylist and co-author of the book.
Koop reflected on her White House style evolution, and how it is still changing now. Koop did not go to fashion school and was not planning on pursuing that career, but her overall passion for the field landed her in a stylist role. Her story of how she came to be Obama’s stylist was inspiring and showed that there are futures in creative fields. It was refreshing to hear an experience of a recent college graduate who changed directions and found what she is truly meant to do.
Another noteworthy point the book makes is that fashion, hair and makeup should be used to uplift a woman, not hide her. Beauty should not be about disguising flaws, it should be about helping a woman achieve her highest potential. A look should highlight a woman’s natural beauty and make her feel comfortable to grow into the best version of herself.
It was inspiring to hear Obama reflect on how she had to overcome hate about her clothing and body in the press. She was sure of herself and that was all she needed.
Time and time again, Obama chose to wear clothes she liked, outfits she was comfortable in. She did not let comments or the media dictate her decisions.
It is truly inspiring to have such an authentic story of womanhood in print. When Obama entered the public eye, she was an inspiration to girls and women everywhere, and she continues to do that now. Her fashion and beauty journey, in this book, have influential messages on self-perception and womanhood to offer the world.
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