Synopsis -
In this celebration of style, from the moment she entered the public eye during her husband’s U.S. Senate campaign through her time as the first Black First Lady and today as one of this country’s most influential figures, Michelle Obama shares how she uses the beauty and intrigue of fashion to draw attention to her message.
Featuring the voices of Meredith Koop, Obama’s trusted stylist, as well as her makeup artist Carl Ray, hairstylists Yene Damtew, Johnny Wright, and Njeri Radway, and many of the designers who have dressed Obama for notable events, The Look brings readers behind the scenes not only to reveal how her most memorable looks came together but also to tell a powerful story about how we present ourselves.
Obama’s intimate and candid stories illuminate how her approach to dressing has evolved throughout her life—from the colorful sheath dresses, cardigans, and brooches she wore during her time as First Lady to the bold suits, denim, and braids of her post-White House life and all the active looks and beautiful gowns in between.
In The Look, Michelle Obama explores the joy and the purpose of fashion and beauty and how—when wielded with grace and care—they can uplift and affirm the values one holds most dear. Confidence, she concludes, cannot be put on. But when you’re wearing something that’s intentional or beloved, clothing can make you feel like the best version of yourself.
Review -
I was surprised when reading The Look which is always a good thing. First I read and viewed it as an eBook. The images were still easy to view and in color. Then there was the content. \ I expected an expose on the fashions Michelle Obama wore. While that was included, it was just one small part of the larger story - the thought put into the fashions she wore, and the incredible amount of time and energy, plus a core team, it took to create those looks. The fashion demands on Barack were mostly suits. The fashion demands for Michelle required so much more.
I loved that sections were also written by those in her core team - hair, make-up and stylist professionals that honored and supported the image she chose to project, and her goals. She used fashion to shine a light on rising designers of all ethnicities. She used fashion to make a statement or to project a mood appropriate for the occasion. And especially in her second term, she used fashion to push boundaries.
Instead of a "this is what I wore and who designed it," The Look discusses fashion in a wider sense, from social expectations to how what we wear can be used in a more thoughtful way. And it gives a look behind the scenes at the higher bar set for Michelle as the first lady of color. The scrutiny was definitely harsher, the demands stronger. Thankfully she had a supportive team surrounding her. But in the end, the decision of what to wear was hers alone, and she nailed it.
Buy the Book: Amazon US ~ Amazon CA
Meet the Author -
The Obamas currently live in Washington, DC, and have two daughters, Malia and Sasha.
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