Copyright Essence
Selling out a popular venue like The Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) on a windy Wednesday night in the middle of a daunting recession ain’t easy. And getting folks to wrap lines around the block—not to enjoy a chart-topping artist perform—but to hear about… wait for it: A book? That’s an even harder challenge. But Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama continues to prove that she is and will forever be the First Lady of the people. Challenges don’t seem to deter her. The unapologetically proud South Side of Chicago native brought out mothers and their little ones, senior citizens in wheelchairs, couples in matching ‘fits and everyone in between to hear her revelations of the how and why behind her newly released book, The Look, with friend, Tracee Ellis Ross. All of this fabulousness took place for a live recording of the podcast, IMO: The Look. The diverse group of fans packed BAM’s Howard Gilman Opera House after purchasing copies of The Look at $50 a pop (What recession?) and listening to an array of bops from D’Angelo to Jay-Z to OutKast in between anxiously snapping selfies while waiting for the stylish duo to hit the stage. The two-time Ivy League graduate and distinguished attorney has already penned multiple books that topped The New York Times bestsellers list. Her 2018 memoir Becoming, achieved record-breaking sales. Her follow-up, The Light We Carry, was also critically acclaimed, as was her debut American Grown. The Look, a stunning coffee table tome, is visually a departure from her previous titles and contains more than 200 photographs, including never-before-seen images which capture the wife and mom’s personal style journey. What was the catalyst for this type of book? Why now? As the evening’s conversation unfolded, Michelle revealed to a sold-out crowd how her entire life led to The Look, and how all of us (Yes, you too!) have a distinct story behind our personal style choices that are much deeper than clothes and hairdos. Dressed in a black Loewe dress with vibrant pink and yellow accents and her thick shoulder length loose curls styled with a middle part, Michelle shared how her fashion sense started during her humble Chi-Town beginnings. The fashion she witnessed as a young girl on Saturday mornings watching Soul Train left a significant impression on her, as did the slightly older trendsetting teenage girls in her South Shore neighborhood. She even admits to having a tomboy phase, thanks in part to her beloved older brother, Craig. But it was her mother, Mrs. Marian Robinson who passed away in 2024, who Michelle spoke most about influencing her personal style in those formative years and even well into her being a teenager. Her resourceful mother dutifully sewed many of her clothes. “My mother made both my junior and senior prom dresses,” recalled Michelle. What Mrs. Robinson didn’t create herself, she frugally used the family’s limited means to acquire within their means. “Y’all remember layaway?” Michelle asked with a laugh. As Tracee notably recognized the crowd’s almost unanimous reply of “Yes!”, Michelle quipped, “Tracee, you know nothing about my life.” (The sly remark was of course a nod to Tracee’s privileged upbringing which was a stark contrast to Michelle’s.) The same crowd immediately exploded in laughter. One accessory Michelle never lacks is a sense of humor. Michelle effortlessly transitioned from talking about her Midwest childhood days to her historic time in Washington, D.C. at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. While she held the official First Lady title, Michelle avoided discussing her style choices in depth. “Women are reduced to what we look like,” she explained. But that certainly didn’t stop the critics from nitpicking everything from her rocking sleeveless dresses to not wearing hosiery. Michelle didn’t allow the criticism to consume her. “If I let them define me, I wouldn’t even recognize myself. I controlled my narrative and did the work.” When Tracee asked Michelle how she managed to stay camera ready with unprecedented scrutiny, Michelle gave all the credit to her longtime wardrobe stylist, Meredith Koop. “She was 28 years old when she started working with me [as the First Lady]” She also styled my mother and the girls [Malia and Sasha]. Meredith penned many memorable words for The Look as well. Her vulnerability about her meticulous process researching Michelle’s looks are moving; especially for anyone who remotely recognizes that fashion is much deeper than what we wear. Michelle profoundly cemented this notion during her podcast taping by stating with conviction, “Fashion is meaningful.” It would be nearly impossible for two Black women, regardless of income level or fame, to have a soulful exchange about style without covering the topic of hair. Michelle and Tracee did not disappoint. There is an entire chapter in The Look about Michelle’s unique hair journey. From her trusted and talented hairstylist Johnny Wright, “Hair is a language, and as a hairstylist, I’m a storyteller. People listen to Michelle; she’s powerful. But people need to look at her first.” Tracee, founder of Pattern Beauty, boldly asked Michelle the important questions we all want answers to: When you were in The White House, when was wash day? Did you wear a bonnet? How did you keep your edges? That final question led to yet another eruption of laughter. (There were many throughout the evening.) Michelle shared that maintaining optimum hair health was paramount to both her and her team. “I wanted to leave [The White House] with my edges intact. She explained how she grew out her relaxer (along with Malia and Sasha) and began to wear wigs and extensions while she was First Lady to protect her God-given strands. These changes, as well as, wearing bangs were a major key to keeping her edges strong. Post-White House Michelle experimented many more with natural styles, especially braids. The versatility of the protective style was something she didn’t feel she could comfortably embrace while her husband was President. Now though? “I love wearing braids!” Michelle gleefully proclaimed. The book contains gorgeous photos of Michelle’s braided styles, plus an essay from hairstylist Yene Damtew who was just 19 years-old when she began working with Michelle, initially as Johnny’s assistant. Moral of the story: In The Look, Michelle confirms what we already knew: Whether she’s draped to one of a kind designer gowns or J. Crew staples, whether she’s rocking a bob, a ponytail or individuals (braids), whether she’s jumping Double-Dutch on The White House Lawn or serving truth serum about the realities of being a working mom on her podcast. She is still that girl.
