Today, I had a choice: stand in line for free make-up, or watch the inaugural ceremony. Er, watch to see what Michelle was wearing. Not because I care which designer she chooses, but because she wears everything with confidence. Don’t get me wrong— I can’t wait for tonight’s big reveal and its presumable lack of lace, puffed sleeves, and mock-neck (or all three if you’re Hil). But I watch Mrs. Obama with awe and intrigue because she knows what she likes (fashion-forward classics), knows what looks good on her (color, structure), and doesn’t hold any of it more dear than being a mother, wife, and First Lady. Most of us could learn a thing or two from her.
For today’s ceremony Mrs. Obama choose a sparkling pale yellow tweed shift dress and collarless jacket by Isabel Toledo, a Cuban-born American designer. In the middle of winter, she took a cue from spring’s pastels and the effect was nothing short of refreshing. In typical Michelle-style, the beauty of this ensemble is in details (recall the pearls, belts, brooches): the jeweled neckline of the dress, the contrasting teal shoes, and the moss green gloves she wore during the ceremony. These are the modern twists that make the new first lady real to us. She’s dressing for herself, regardless of whether a stylist is helping to dress her.
