My Style Icon – Michelle Obama

For this post, I was asked to speak about a celebrity that I admire. Someone I turn to for style and beauty inspiration. I didn’t have to think twice when asked. My number one style icon right now is Michelle Obama.

Via the official White House Flickr page. (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)
When she speaks, I want to hear whatever she’s saying. When I see photos of her, I want to know who and what she’s wearing. When there’s a book or a magazine with her on the cover, I’m that much more likely to buy it — and I’ve got quite a nice little collection so far. And when the time comes for me to make an appearance, dress up in a fancy outfit and wow a crowd, I try to think about what she would wear, say, and do under the circumstances.

Michelle Obama is more than a style icon to me. She’s a life icon. The way she carries herself as the First Lady of the United States has ushered in a new era of femininity and has inspired me to be my own best, most stylish self.

What I love most about her style is the effortless simplicity she always manages to express. Michelle Obama isn’t a woman who makes fashion missteps often quite simply because she KNOWS herself. She knows her figure and which shapes of dresses suit it best. She knows that she looks amazing in bold, jewel tones, but she’s also stunning in a more understated palette, or in an unusual pattern. She boldly mixes low end with high end fashion without batting an eye. Her ensembles are never over the top or fussy, always timeless and appropriate.

Her beauty is classic and typically understated — Mrs. O isn’t exactly known for bold eyeshadows or out there lipstick. She keeps her hair in a sleek style that works for her, she’s always known for looking polished, classy, elegant and yet approachable and chic.

And that’s what I’ve learned from her. From watching Michelle Obama be the best First Lady she can be, it’s inspired me to be my own best self, and I definitely take style cues from her. She makes me want to wear shift dresses. She makes me want to go for a bold color that compliments my shade of brown skin. She inspires me to be classy and approachable, and a role model. I love that.

My Michelle Obama book collection currently includes:

Mrs. O – The Face of Fashion Democracy by Mary Tomer
Everyday Icon – Michelle Obama and the Power of Style by Kate Betts
The Obamas by Jodi Kantor
Commander in Chic by Mikki Taylor
and the brand new What Would Michelle Do? by Allison Samuels.

Have you read any of them? Which are your favorites? Also, I am contemplating adding book reviews to the Afrobella mix, what are your thoughts?

 

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