During the first 100 days of President Obama’s administration folks have been closely watching Michelle Obama to see exactly what kind of First Lady she will become. Since she is a smart woman, she knows that. But for the most part, critics have been distracted by her clothing—wasting oodles of space dissecting each and every ensemble. True what she wears is important to Michelle Obama, however, clothing is just one of the ways the First Lady has been carefully crafting her image.
In The New York Times Rachel L. Swarns reports that unlike say Hillary Rodham Clinton, who let Vogue choose her ensembles, Michelle Obama chose her own—even daring to wear her own clothing. She has done the same thing for every magazine cover she has done (much to the dismay of fashion departments and editor-in-chiefs everywhere).
But what folks are missing is that clothes are just a part of her plan. While folks were befuddled and bothered about cardigans and the the notoriety of the designers she chooses, Mrs. Obama has carefully crafted a persona. The articles in the magazines in which she has been on the cover have focus on the things she wants to talk about like gardening, her desire to live a healthy life and getting her family settled. You know, things that most of us can relate to.
Her personal appearances too are designed to stay in line with the issues she wants to promote like volunteerism and support for military families. And all that has worked for her since Michelle Obama’s favorability ratings are higher than that of the President himself (and higher than any other First Lady since 1980.)
Swarns says she doesn’t talk about influencing public policy, race or being the first African American First Lady. But behind the scenes Washington insiders say she’s not above talking passionately about issues with them. And some say that perhaps her master plan is to unveil another part of her persona, you know the one who has something to say about public policy later on.
And as far as race is concerned, Mrs. Obama doesn’t have to say much of anything. She just walks into a room and matters of race are front and center—whether folks like it or not. But when she does say something—like her remark about “sounding white” a while back—people stand up and take notice. So I suspect that our First Lady will speak when it counts and teach by example when it doesn’t. Part of the reason her finely honed image works is that there’s no doubt in her comfort and confidence in being a sister.
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March 15th, 2010 at 10:50 am
I really love the way she dress. She's so elegant and really a fashion icon.