First Lady Michelle Obama's footwear caused quite a stir as she volunteered at a Washington Food Bank drive. She wore a pair of tennis shoes designed by Lanvin, a French fashion line that has been around for over 100 years. The sneakers have also been worn by Ellen DeGeneres and Kanye West, and they have been selling out all Spring. Nevertheless, the First Lady has been singled out, because of the shoes' economically insensitive price tag of $540.
In December 2008, the National Bureau of Economic Research declared that the United States had been in a recession for a year. It has since become a global recession, infecting most of the industrialized world. In a recent Wall Street Journal survey, 52% of economists believe that the recession will last until August of this year. The Lanvin shoes are "certainly not a reflection of the poor economy," iMag Style Host Noelle Waters said. Obviously the state of the economy has caused the public to be more intolerant than usual regarding costly fashion choices. Although, the recession is not the only reason Mrs. Obama's kicks have struck a nerve.
Criticism has been particularly strong for the fact that she wore them while doing philanthropic work. Obama was bagging meals at the event sponsored by hunger relief group Feeding America, to help feed 1,000 low-income children in the D.C. area. Critics have pointed out that the money that would have been saved by purchasing more reasonably priced shoes, could have easily provided food to feed many more hungry people. Naturally, this has caused doubt in the sincerity of her charitable efforts.
In the past, Obama has been noted for her taste in affordable formal wear; like the $148 Donna Ricco dress she wore on ABC's "The View". She has even set a frugal example with wardrobe decisions for her daughters; Sasha Obama has been seen wearing a pair of Converse sneakers from Target which cost only $19.99.
Publications like the New York Daily News have suggested that she possibly acquired the shoes through Ikram, the Chicago based retailer that typically outfits her. Still it is possible that the shoes were purchased on sale, or even given to Obama as a gift. From a business standpoint, the $540 a brand would lose by giving a pair to Obama, would easily be overturned, since her endorsement has been the best promotion a designer could ask for as of lately. This was evident by the drastic rise in popularity that the economy-friendly J. Crew line experienced after she showed fondness for their clothing.
It is understandable why some felt disappointed or even offended by the footwear. That disappointment however, is a sign of a greater problem: the public dedicates too much attention and concern to the fashion of First Ladies. An anonymous writer echoed that notion on firstladies.org, "I believe, First Ladies have been reduced to 'fashion mannequins' thus making them of interest to a limited audience" they said. Additionally, the site recounts the legends that former First Ladies Nellie Taft and Julia Grant each had an affinity for flashy jewelry.
Michelle Obama has already faced comparison to past First Ladies. "Well, Jackie O better hold on to her pearls", Jaclyn Bethany of the Jackson Free Press quipped. "We have got a new Mrs. O on the scene, and she’s proving to be the nation’s leading fashionista. The whole nation seemed more abuzz about what Michelle Obama would wear on inauguration day than what President Obama would actually say in his inauguration speech", she added. A book was recently released in dedication to Obama's fashion sense entitled “Michelle Style, Celebrating the First Lady of Fashion”, by Mandi Norwood.
As the above poll points out, the public should take more interest in the contributions that Michelle Obama is making to society. She graduated from Princeton University and Harvard Law School, and is now one of only three First Ladies to ever hold a postgraduate degree. In 1993, she was the Executive Director of a non-profit organization encouraging young people to work on social issues. She has worked as an Associate Dean at the University of Chicago, and has worked for the University's Hospitals. In 2006 her salary was more than double that of her husband's. She cut back on her career, to campaign for Barack Obama, helping him become elected President. Since becoming First Lady she has visited homeless shelters and soup kitchens. She has also advocated public service and the organic movement.
Public fixation with First Lady fashion is what pressures them into flaunting extravagant wardrobes. The ladies feel obligated to live up to expectations, or simply avoid scrutiny. While many were hung up over the sneakers' price tag, several outlets such as Fox News were just as quick to mention that her top did not perfectly coordinate with the rest of her ensemble. In lieu of the recession, the fact that Obama wore the shoes is far less troubling than the fact that those shoes are now selling out as a result. Considering her impressive list of accomplishments and efforts, people should spend less time trying to look like Michelle Obama, and more time trying to be like her.
