It isn’t often that first lady Michelle Obama joins her husband on the campaign trail. But as the president mounts a bolstered effort to keep Democrats in power across the country and in Washington, the first lady will join his side Sunday at Ohio State and — inevitably — will spark discussion about what she wears.
“The role of the first lady is an important one in looking at the overall image that the present projects,” said Julia Cooper, a lecturer in fashion and retail studies at OSU. “I see fashion from the first lady as a good thing, in that it can spark the conversation on what is acceptable or controversial to the American public.”
Since she moved into the White House, the first lady’s fashion style has been praised, criticized and emulated. She has been featured in fashion magazines and recently made Vanity Fair‘s “International Best Dressed List” for the fourth time.
Though Michelle Obama’s style decisions often garner the attention of the fashion world, they are also thought to have political ramifications.
“Style tells us about everyone,” said Kristy Eckert, editor of Capital Style magazine. “I think Michelle Obama has shown with her style that she is well-aware that people expect her to look good and set trends but equally aware that the economy is bad and that she and her family don’t want to seem above everyone else.”
At her first rally Wednesday in the run-up to the Nov. 2 election, Michelle Obama donned a hot-pink dress. At a medal of honor ceremony Oct. 6 for a soldier killed in Afghanistan, the first lady wore a conservative, tomato-red dress. But for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Gala on Sept. 15, she wore a shimmery gold, form-fitting cocktail dress.
“Her (clothing) signals if the event is formal or informal, how to approach them, if it is evening or day, or how accessible they are,” Cooper said. “She helps set the stage, thus she has more freedom to express her style.”
John Champlin, an emeritus associate professor of political science at OSU agrees that, from a political standpoint, it can’t hurt the administration to have a smart, independent, stylish first lady.
But it isn’t easy to strike that chord in everyone, some say, as the first lady is examined by both everyday Americans and the fashion world.
“Michelle’s style leaves an impression, and it’s been a long time since a woman political figure has attracted the attention of a diverse group of people,” said Kinisha Holland, a fourth-year in journalism and an intern for CollegeFashionista.com. “She has brought back the Jackie O ideal that you don’t have to be plain and in the background just because you are married to the president.”
The first lady wears designer labels but is best known for dressing in all-American fashions such as Banana Republic, J. Crew and Talbots.
“She chooses fairly new and upcoming American designers for some of her clothes and exudes youthfulness, a certain hipness regarding American style,” said Trish Cunningham, associate professor in fashion and retail studies and a fashion historian in the Department of Consumer Sciences at OSU.
Even those who aren’t politically savvy are taking notes of the first lady. She has made politics more accessible to those who weren’t interested and gives the American public something to talk about, Eckert said.
“I was in J. Crew recently and a woman beside me (picked) up a skirt and said to her friend, ‘This is so Michelle Obama,'” Eckert said. “Her influence is real. It’s a brilliant move politically. It makes her very likeable.”
Although the first lady has already made a name for herself in the political fashion realm, some are critical of her style choices.
“I thought it was interesting when she wore $540 Lanvin sneakers to a food bank,” said Amanda Ross, a third-year in fashion and retail studies and president of OSU’s Fashion Student Organization. “People have come to expect her to wear certain things, so I think that puts a lot of pressure on her.”
Because Sunday will be one of the first times Michelle Obama has rallied with her husband since his election, people are already trying to analyze what message she’ll send with her outfit.
“We all need a sense of stability and consistency in our leadership right now,” Cooper said. “This is a serious election cycle, so maintaining the image of being in charge for the Obama administration is key. I suggest she stay conservative.”
The first lady helped kick off her husband’s campaign Wednesday in Milwaukee and Chicago, and will visit Denver today before traveling to OSU. Whether she is in the forefront of the campaign trail with the president or quietly in the background, she has the power to make an impact.
“She is an important part of the Obama brand,” Cooper said. “At the end of the day, her image can be an asset or liability for her husband’s image.”
