By Sharon Tindyebwa
The fashionable Obama family during the U.S. president’s swearing in ceremony on Sunday. By White House photo by Lawrence Jackson (http://defense.gov) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
All ears may have been tuned to U.S. President Barack Obama’s inauguration speech Monday, but all eyes were on the first lady’s style that has set the Internet ablaze over the past two days.
Michelle Obama stole the spotlight over the weekend particularly during her husband’s private inauguration ceremony on Sunday with the debut of her new bangs.
Even the president recognized the impact of her new look, joking during his inauguration speech, “and to address the most significant event of this weekend, I love her bangs.”
The first lady continued to make headlines for her fashion choices the next day, with her blue navy winter coat during inauguration day by New York designer Thom Browne receiving accolades from the public and media.
“I love the clean lines, I love the texture, it absolutely accentuated all her best parts,” said Nalinie Budhu, a Toronto creative director and stylist.
She showed her loyalty to her 2009 inaugural dress designer, Jason Wu, wearing a red velvet frock by the Canadian designer to Monday’s inaugural ball.
“She was understatedly elegant,” said Lorna Lewis, program co-ordinator at Ryerson’s school of fashion. “She wears the dress, the dress doesn’t wear her.”
The attention surrounding Obama’s inaugural looks have cemented her position as a fearless fashion trendsetter.
“There is no other first lady that can compare to her, other than I would say Jackie O. She has just got that quality about her,” said Budhu.
“She’s not afraid to be daring,” she added. “She wears things that are appropriate for her shape, colours that are beautiful against her skin, and I think that is just who she is.”
For the designers whose clothes the first lady chooses to wear, the publicity they receive can catapult them to fame.
“I can’t believe it. It’s crazy,” the Toronto Star quoted Wu as saying.
“To have done it once was already the experience of my life. To have a second time is tremendous.”