Copyright Parade
Michelle Obama was known for her elegant but relatable style during her time as First Lady — and it’s all thanks to the wardrobe she curated with the help of stylist Meredith Koop. Ahead of the release of their collaborative coffee table style book, The Look, Obama reflected on her fashion choices while she was working in the White House. In an interview with PEOPLE published on Thursday (Oct. 30), Obama explained that any clothing she wore had to be very versatile. “I was a working, active first lady. On any given day, I could be gardening in the South Lawn, or doing jumping jacks with kids, or sitting on the floor having lunch with some preschoolers, or giving a speech to military moms,” she told PEOPLE. “That could all happen in one day, so my clothes had to be ready for the moment.” 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 Obama also noted that she felt it was important that her clothing didn’t draw attention away from her actual work and philanthropic efforts. “I was a famous person, but I wasn’t a starlet,” she explained. “And so that meant that the clothes could never speak louder than anything I had to say.” As for what items of clothing were totally off limits, Obama shared that she never really wore the color white because she felt it could sometimes prevent her from getting her work done. When she did decide to wear the hue, it was usually for a formal event. “I rarely wore white,” she Obama revealed, adding, “I didn’t want my clothes to stop me from engaging people. So my clothes had to be welcoming. They had to invite people in. I had to be able to give a hug. I couldn’t worry about whether somebody got makeup on something.” Despite her fashion rules, Obama’s clothing still made an impact on the public — which she opens up about in her upcoming fashion book. The Look is set to hit shelves on Nov. 4 and is currently available for preorder.
