Not to make light of the political tasks that she and the president are undertaking, but I think her appearance is of extremely significant to our nation.
When was the last time you remember a first lady being watched and mimicked this closely for her fashion?
The outfits Michelle and her daughters wore on Inauguration Day sold out online within a matter of minutes!
I NEVER heard a news segment about what Barbara Bush or Hillary Clinton was going to wear next! (Because we already knew: a frumpy 2 piece suit, Helmet Hairspray Hair and some granny shoes. =P)
I can’t think of a fashion forward First Lady in my lifetime, but my mother has often spoken fondly of seeing Jackie Kennedy in the White House when she was a young girl. Even though her role as first lady had it's own importance to the nation, Jackie Kennedy began a fashion revolution of the American public. She was not only young and attractive, but intelligent and cultivated, and possessed an innate sense of style and elegance.
Our country quickly made her an icon. She did not mimic the older, conservative styles of the previous first ladies, but remained very fashion forward in modern, yet sophisticated clothing: wide leg pants, clean suits, a-line dresses, pearl jewelry and those large round black sunglasses that became infamous and are still worn today.
The profound positive effect this had was that the nation’s young girls had a fashionable role model to look up to. The First Ladies before Jackie were older and more difficult for the younger generation to identify with. Once Jackie was in the White House, there were millions of women and girls alike imitating her style. She inspired books, movies, plays, songs, and even had a Barbie Doll in her likeness.
FAST FORWARD TO CURRENT DAY-
In the midst of music video ho*s, celebrities such as Britney Spears & Paris Hilton, and reality show queens like New York and Tila Tequila- Can you think of time we needed role models like Michelle Obama MORE? I become sick when I think of the images of women that my young girls are fed each day.
Whether we realize it or not, our daughters are soaking up these celebrity images, and the images that we ourselves as mothers put out to them with our own wardrobes, and they retain that for future reference. Our sons are watching too, and learning what they should look for in a woman and also how they should treat them when they become men. We don’t realize the profound impact we can have on our children and their future ideals simply by the appearance of our clothing.
But when I see snapshots of our first lady, I can’t help but to be inspired. Not only is President Obama giving our nation a message of hope, his wife is giving the same message to our young ladies and grown women alike.
How can you watch the first lady and NOT want to be just a little more refined, a little more sophisticated, a little more lady like?
There is also the idea planted that Michelle Obama has created this look herself, she is not some conjured depiction of what everyone else wants her to be. And she is a fashion leader naturally, not because she is vying for the throne.
Another positive note is that Mrs. Obama wears fashion that is real and attainable to the everyday budget. Most people brag about designers they can hardly afford or pronounce. I love that Michelle’s main wardrobe staple is J.Crew- simple, elegant, realistic. She is letting the style of the clothing replace the importance of the brand, a lesson we could all learn in today’s label obsessed culture.
And then what about the effect that the clothing has on confidence? It is hard not to notice her proud, regal bearing and the confidence of her step.
It’s not a strut, not a slink, not an awkward gait- just a simple, graceful stride that is boosted by an elegant outer image.
Isn’t that how I want my daughters to appear when they grow up?
Don't I want them to respect themselves enough not to feel the need to expose their bodies for attention, but to allow them to be noticed for more admirable traits- such as their mind or heart?
Isn’t that the image I want to project for myself as a mother and a corporate professional?
Sorry for my long musings, just food for thought today…
