Michelle Obama: Stimulating the Economy with Fashion?

Our country made history this year by electing the first African American President, however in the fashion world the spotlight is shining not on him, but on the First Lady. While campaigning through the primaries into elected office Michelle Obama’s wardrobe has caught a considerable amount of attention. This begs the question of whether the press has their priorities straight. There are several comments criticizing the press for such frivolous stories whereas others feel it is anything but. Many are calling Michelle Obama a fashion icon and a hopeful savoir of the fashion industry during a time of economic hardship. Although, as I will point out, there is some truth in the latter, it is quite a stretch to first label Michelle Obama a “fashion icon” and secondly to call her a “savior of fashion”. After all, without her where was fashion going to go? Certainly, even in this economy, fashion is here to stay. But what role does Michelle Obama play in this world of style? She is one of the most publicized females both in politics and recently, in fashion. Bearing testament is Vogue’s March issue with the First Lady on the cover. Though I would argue Michelle Obama is not a fashion icon, a category with the likes of Jackie Kennedy and Katharine Hepburn, she does have an impact on the fashion economy in a positive light. Not only has she helped up-and-coming American designers become noticed, she also brings a refreshing style to the White House that might just stimulate the economy with her clothing decisions and inspire women to keep buying.

Michelle Obama may have the presence in the media to help the suffering fashion industry, but some do not approve of her wardrobe, or her use of White House employees. In a recent article by Byron York he questions what the social secretary of the White House was doing at New York Fashion Week. The answer is quickly revealed that she was Michelle Obama’s eyes at the tents for runway shows such as Carolina Herrera, Donna Karan, and Marc Jacobs. The article goes on to contemplate whether the First Lady’s choices of haute couture clothes are appropriate during this “widespread economic misery”. York states, “…in this economy that is inflicting hardship on so many, the first lady is celebrated for her new vision of haute couture, while her social secretary socializes with the most glamorous names in the world of fashion. Change has indeed come to Washington.” However, the article chooses not to acknowledge that Michelle Obama is just as comfortable and often seen wearing affordable, off the rack clothing. Regardless of whether the First Lady’s clothes come straight from the New York runways or from middle priced stores, it does not make her a fashion icon, not yet anyway. Yes, she wears clothes, sometimes designer, sometimes not. And yes, she is a breath of fresh air from Laura Bush’s boring suits, but this does not put her in the same fashion league of great icons. Great women in fashion are those that start a trend, have a look, are imaginative and step beyond the scope of what fashion is at that moment. Jackie Kennedy did this with her famous Jackie O wide rimmed sunglasses, and Katharine Hepburn is an icon for her high-waisted trousers when women were rarely seen wearing pants. Michelle Obama, although usually well dressed, has not shown an ability to move fashion down a new path. As Helen Job, a trend forecaster, notes “When you think about a fashion icon, it's somebody who has this ability to influence the public to such a degree ... to change the direction (a style) is going in.” The new First Lady has not yet had this effect so it is extremely premature to call her a fashion icon. However, this does not mean she does not have influence. Being a fashion icon and having influence over American women’s purchasing are two very different things.

Michelle Obama has already helped the industry, and will continue to do so, in two ways. First, she wears up-and-coming designers rather than well-known labels to give the creators a chance in the spotlight. This helps the industry breathe new air into a staling commerce. Second, the First Lady buys off the rack at stores such as J. Crew, influencing women to purchase from these stores and sending sales through the roof. As Jason Wu, a young innovative designer whose dress can be seen on Michelle’s Vogue cover, points out, “In her own way, she is like a stimulus package for the fashion industry.” Michelle Obama’s clothes are in high demand, even if her fashion status has not reached an iconic level. Because of this she single-handedly does have an effect on the fashion economy. New York Magazine’s blog The Cut illustrates her impact for new designers stating, “She made up-and-coming designer Thakoon Panichgul a veritable fashion star when she wore one of his dresses at the Democratic National Convention." Fashion is a very hard business to break into and Michelle has the ability to shoot designers quickly up the ranks. It helps bring fresh imagination and ideas to the fashion world. She also makes women want to buy. For example, after Michelle wore a J. Crew outfit on the Tonight Show the website instantly saw a 64 percent increase in traffic. She caused a mad dash to the American store White House Black Market after wearing one of their dresses to The View. These examples show the First Lady encourages women to purchase at a time when budgets are tight, and this no doubt helps the industry.

The First Lady, although not an icon, does and is helping bring some cash into a dragging economy. Being one of the most photographed and followed women in America has its advantages. In an article titled “Michelle Obama to Save U.S. Fashion Industry?” a designer, Arnold Scaasi writes, “The First Lady is seen every day in some form of media, and what she looks like is copied by other women.” This copycat formula is working well in a time when people are very hesitant to dip into their pocket books. Although the First Lady is sometimes criticized for her high priced fashions, these people should look at the bigger picture. She is not just frivolously shopping everyday, but has already successfully started her role as someone to be admired for the good she is doing. So, for the people who are less-than-impressed by Michelle Obama’s wardrobe, there is a lot more to consider. Her impact can already be seen in her first few months as the First Lady in fashion and otherwise. In fashion terms she gets up-and-coming designer’s names out in the media and she boosts sales in middle priced stores. She has time to grow her styling clout and may very well be a fashion icon by the end of Barrack Obama’s first term. Meanwhile we can only hope that her fashions continue to be emulated and cause women to purchase. Any help in this economy, fashion or otherwise, we will take it.