Selling out the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) on a cold Wednesday night during a recession isn’t easy. But when the name on the marquee reads Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama, people show up.
Behold, the power of Flotus!
According to Essence, they lined up around the block — mothers and daughters, aunties in matching outfits, couples in coordinated looks — all eager to hear America’s forever First Lady discuss her new book, The Look, alongside her friend and fellow style icon Tracee Ellis Ross.
The event, a live taping of IMO: The Look, felt more like a celebration than a book talk. Between songs from D’Angelo, Jay-Z, and Outkast, the crowd buzzed with anticipation, clutching $50 copies of Obama’s new book, The Look, like prized accessories.
A Legacy in Style and Substance
Obama, already a multi-New York Times, bestselling author (Becoming, The Light We Carry), takes a visual turn with a coffee-table book featuring more than 200 images, many never before seen. Through fashion, she explores something far more personal: how we show up in the world, and why that matters.
Wearing a black Loewe dress with bold pink and yellow accents, her curls framing her face, Obama began by tracing her style back to the South Side of Chicago, Saturday mornings spent watching Soul Train and admiring the trendsetters in her neighborhood. Her tone softened as she remembered her late mother, Marian Robinson, who made many of her clothes growing up.
“My mother made both my junior and senior prom dresses,” Obama said, smiling. “And when she didn’t make it herself, she found it — on layaway. Y’all remember layaway?” The crowd erupted, and Tracee, laughing, got the response she deserved: “Tracee, you know nothing about my life.”
Defining Herself in the White House
Obama reflected on how her sense of style evolved under the world’s brightest spotlight. From sleeveless dresses that sparked debate to the cardigan that launched a thousand think pieces, she learned quickly how women, especially Black women, are reduced to appearances.
“If I let them define me,” she told the crowd, “I wouldn’t even recognize myself. I controlled my narrative and did the work.”
Through it all, she used fashion as her own form of language, championing young, diverse designers like Jason Wu, Tracy Reese, and Narciso Rodriguez, while maintaining the polish, practicality, and authenticity that made her relatable. “Fashion,” she said simply, “is meaningful.”
The Team Behind The Look
Obama credited her longtime stylist Meredith Koop — who began working with her at just 28 — for helping translate her voice through clothing. Koop’s own reflections are included in The Look, alongside those of makeup artist Carl Ray, hairstylists Johnny Wright and Yene Damtew, and many of the designers who helped define the Obama era of style.
When Tracee asked how she stayed “camera ready” amid constant scrutiny, Michelle smiled: “With a lot of talented people — and a good tailor.”
On Hair, Humor, and Holding Her Own
No conversation between two Black women about beauty would be complete without discussing hair. Obama, who devotes an entire chapter to her hair journey, laughed when Tracee Ellis Ross asked, “Did you wear a bonnet? And how did you keep your edges?”
“I wanted to leave the White House with my edges intact,” Michelle joked. She shared how she grew out her relaxer, opting for wigs and extensions for protection, and later embraced her natural texture and braids after leaving the White House. “I love wearing braids now!” she said, to roaring applause.
Beyond Fashion — A Reflection of Power
The Look is more than a showcase of impeccable fashion — it’s a reflection of self-awareness, resilience, and legacy. Whether she’s wearing Versace or J.Crew, rocking a sleek bob or fresh braids, Michelle Obama reminds us that confidence isn’t bought — it’s cultivated.
As she put it, “When you wear something intentional, something you love, it can make you feel like the best version of yourself.”
And if the crowd’s energy was any indication, Michelle Obama didn’t just launch another bestseller — she permitted everyone to define their own look, unapologetically.
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