Only Michelle Obama Could Make Denim Look This Chic
Michelle Obama has just set off on a book tour to promote her memoir, Becoming, armed with an optimistic message about America’s future and a thoughtfully curated wardrobe. In Chicago yesterday for the first stop on her tour, the former First Lady paid a visit to her alma mater Whitney Young Magnet High School. Dressed in a tailored denim suit by Akris, Obama spoke with 21 lucky female students who were chosen to attend for their leadership skills. The long bright blue jacket and cropped trouser combination made for an arresting visual, particularly paired with silvery heels, and struck just the right balance between polished and casual.
In her memoir, Obama sheds light on her approach to personal style and the care she and stylist, Meredith Koop put into finding the right look for each occasion. She admits to initially viewing the public scrutiny over her wardrobe as a disadvantage—after all, men in the public eye are rarely judged by their fashion choices in the same way. Even still, she managed to turn those negative double standards into a positive, using the attention to shine a light on emerging design talents both at home and abroad.
As a private citizen, Obama hasn’t slowed down one bit and the refined luxury of her Akris pieces were right in line with the sophisticated look she currently favors. For creative director Albert Kriemler, the match between outfit and wearer couldn’t have been better. “Michelle Obama is a confident women with purpose,” he shared. “We were greatly honored to be asked to dress her.”
Fashion wasn’t on the agenda of Obama’s talk in Chicago, but she had plenty to tell the students about female empowerment and self discovery. “All the blemishes and all the triumphs and all that makes you special,” she said. “You don’t think it’s special, but it is.”
