Style | 11/03/2009 2:30 am

More to Michelle Obama (Photos)

She’s brilliant, passionate and fashion forward, all of which is captured in the 200 photographs featured in the new book, Michelle Obama: The First Lady in Photographs.

Photo Essay

November 4, 2009, marks the one-year anniversary of Barack Obama’s historic presidential win. When we elected President Obama, we also elected his brilliant and beautiful wife Michelle to serve as First Lady. Over the past year, we’ve witnessed both of them grow into their roles. With Mrs. Obama, we’re seeing several sides of this remarkable woman. From her down-to-earth charisma (Hula-hooping with Sasha, walking dog Bo and volunteering) to her innovative fashion choices (selecting from top designers and chain stores) and support for certain causes (including childhood obesity, military families and the arts), we’re sure to be continuously wOwed by Mrs. O. In Deborah Willis and Emily Bernard’s new book, Michelle Obama: The First Lady in Photographs, the authors take us on a photo journey through the incredible life of this lawyer, wife, mother and First Lady. Thanks to the publishers, W.W. Norton & Company, here is a slideshow preview …

For more on Mrs. O:
Michelle Obama: Glamour’s Latest Cover Girl — and Why
Michelle Obama’s Top Fashion Designers Defend J. Crew Cardigans, Lanvin Shoes, Sleeveless and More
Why Didn’t Michelle Obama Bare Arms at Buckingham Palace, by Billy Norwich

10 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

What I find so incredibly "cool" about Michelle Obama is the fact that she looks like someone we all know. She is approachable and embracive in a way that not all first ladies have been. You can see Michelle on the PTA, as a soccer mom, working as a lawyer, at church on Sunday, shopping at the mall, running a 10k, getting on a plane, working in a restaurant….a million different venues where you can just see her and she would "fit"

Nancy Regan is a wonderful woman, but she is not what I would describe as a "every day" woman. You can’t see her in a million different venues, nor can you see Barbara Bush in them as well. But Laura Bush…yes, Hillary Clinton, yes. Michelle Obama….a resounding yes.

By Belinda Joy on 11/03/2009 9:33 am

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Belinda,

I wish you had picked better examples of exemplary former First Ladies; Nancy Reagan is elderly now and requires respect, but as a First Lady, she was not exactly gifted or well-informed. Her focus on Ronny, and her glass-eyed approach kept us all wondering what was in her head. As for Barbara Bush, her insensitivity and awful attitude toward the public remains; no one would wish to be like these women, as well as Pat Nixon, that silent, sad person. I don’t require our leaders to resemble me & how I live, I require brains, sensitivity, a sense of responsibility, and a caring about the public, as well as character. Michelle Obama represents that for me, and I am her mother’s age. Those who minimize her education and the story of her life either fear people like her or cannot accept the fact that we are no longer inspired by First Ladies who are merely decorative and clinging, and busy with choosing the drapes, and busy with quiet hobbies. Michelle Obama is a symbol of a new type of woman who has her own career, an excellent education, an understanding of her role in present times, and obviously an awareness of those around her. She is a role model for all women, whatever background or race, and I hope that young women whose vocabulary is based on pop culture and using "like" in every sentence, pay close attention to our First Lady’s intelligent approach to important matters. She has cultivated her own interests, studied hard to achieve a profession, married someone with whom she shares much, and conducts herself with humor (missing in most First Ladies’ agendas), and remains connected to the world affairs.She gains our respect whether she is the First Lady or whether she is a woman with her own responsibilities and accomplishments; to me, that is the modern woman, and those of us who are mothers and grandmothers of women, hope they follow suit. "The Little Women" parade of First Ladies is passe. Bravo (& relief).

By SURA B on 11/04/2009 7:30 am

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I couln’t have said it better myself.

By Belinda Joy on 11/04/2009 8:28 am

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" First Ladies who are merely decorative and clinging, and busy with choosing the drapes First Ladies who are merely decorative and clinging, and busy with choosing the drapes"

This is why I voted for Hillary. I couldn’t wait to watch Bill do these things…select china, Easter egg rolls, etc… Well, that and her smarts.

By holly shawn on 11/04/2009 11:46 am

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I respect many of the First Ladies for a number of different reasons. But my primary concern is that they show compassion and a willingness to represent the White House as the house of the people for which they work.

Michelle has done no more nor no less than others in her position. After her mean spirited comments on America, she has managed to keep inflammatory comments like that out of the public eye. However, she sat next to her husband in church with Rev. Wright. She entertained far left radicals in her home. These things are hard to forget, and prehaps should not be.

I feel that she is waiting in the wings for the right time to come out with her own agenda. I can’t help but feel that she is being directed to stay in the background…for now. Her politics are as radical as her husbands and I find it hard to believe that she will be satisfied with the role of the silent partner.

Time will tell.

By True Grit on 11/04/2009 2:54 pm

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I do feel that if I just happen to run into Michelle Obama she would probably be a very down to earth woman regardless of her title as First Lady. I also felt that way about Laura Bush and friends of mine who met her also felt the same way…I do feel that Michelle could probably take on the world and win…she is likeable and that is good when your First Lady.

By C Hardy on 11/03/2009 10:02 am

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I like Michelle Obama. She doesn’t let fame or publicity get in the way of her everyday life. She truely is an American role Model!

By K T on 11/03/2009 6:38 pm

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Michelle Obama is wonderful. She knows what she wants from life and gives back as much as she gets.

By Bonnie Schuster on 11/04/2009 8:27 am

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I’m happy she is our 1st lady and I think she is doing a good job.

By J Holmes on 11/05/2009 2:39 pm

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i love michelle’s (and barack’s) love of children. they want them to have good educations, parents that take part in their children’s lives and literacy for our children and i can DEFINITELY get behind that. i like that she wants children welcome at museums. i totally agree with this. some museums can be very stuffy. i think there should be more of them that are more hands on for children. their little minds are like sponges and there is so much for them to learn. one of the best ways for their little minds to soak up things is by touch. just looking at something doesn’t make it real to them. but touching really puts it into their minds.

i also like her because she is a very intelligent woman. somebody you could talk to. i loved hillary and would have voted for her had she made it. but she didn’t and barack did. she is secretary of state and i think she is good at it. she also was a really neat first lady. otherwise, i’m not much fond of any of the other first ladies except rosalyn carter and definitely eleanor roosevelt. nancy reagan, barbara bush and laura bush made no impact on me, except as women that didn’t understand the voter or their families. the only impression they made on me was as pretty bad looking window decoration (okay, laura wasn’t that bad to look at) they were yes women to the husbands in all things and they really were not there for the woman voter or how she lived her daily life. they were too far up the wealth chain to understand us below the poverty line.

with michelle and barack, i feel so much different. they are both down to earth but still highly intelligent ppl, that have taken the time to understand those of us at the bottom who need them so much. caring about people and especially children is very important in my book. i’m just so glad to be alive in this very historical time!!!

By Nancy Pea on 11/06/2009 3:51 am