The world changes so fast but then again so does the fashion industry. In every sphere of our lives, we wake up to the new things that come up in the market, ranging from clothing, lifestyle, footwear, accessories, and makeup, hairstyle, and body proportions.
Fashion keeps on changing and people usually get carried along with it so that they can look modern and descent. During the inauguration of the 46th President of the United States of America on January 20th this year, former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle thrilled the internet with their impressive dressing style at the ceremony in the US Capitol.
The couple generated a social media frenzy after they stepped into the inauguration arena donning contemporary attire that left many people longing to dress like them. On the day that many Americans termed as the greatest ever in their history – especially for Democrats after experiencing a torrid regime under President Donald Trump – Michelle Obama arrived in a burgundy coat and jumpsuit with a golden belt that was designed by Sergio Hudson. Hudson is a black upcoming designer whose design outfits have also been worn by other celebrities including Rihanna and Beyonce.
Many people interpreted Michelle’s code of dressing as one way of promoting upcoming designers. By purchasing their products and with the experience she has had in leadership as the first Black First Lady, her choice of dress code speaks volumes.
In 2018, she told The New York Times that visual representation often mattered more than what people will say or how they judge leaders in power. “Optics governed more or less everything in the political world, and I factored this into every outfit.”
Similarly, in 2009, during President Obama’s first inauguration, she also wore another exciting dress and sparkling sequinned lemon coat which led to positive fashion reviews. The dress had been designed by Cuban born American designer Isabel Toledo, who moved to the USA at a young age of eight but against all odds went on to fulfil the dream of becoming a successful fashion designer.
These two examples of power dressing to important functions show how Michelle Obama artfully promotes and represents American designers of all races and genders, most importantly giving priority to young promising designers.
In the 2021 inauguration, her choice to dress in Sergio Hudson, a person of colour whose origin is from South Carolina, was enough to communicate a powerful message that President Joe Biden’s new administration will be giving voices to all people irrespective of their political ideologies.
In a cute twist, following the inauguration of President Joe Biden and his Vice President Kamala Harris, one child model Ryleigh Madison and her best friend Zayden Lowe from South Carolina went viral recreating what President Obama and his wife had worn in Washington. Michelle herself congratulated the children on her social media platforms, Instagram and Twitter, “ Ryleigh and Zayden you nailed it!”
Of course when it comes to dress sense we could say exactly the same about her.
