The Tripod

I'll admit it: I'm addicted to fashion. I'm a regular subscriber to Vogue, and the thought of the upcoming fall couture season is enough to make me jump for joy. I'm a follower of Canadian model Coco Rocha's blog. I make a game out of being able to name the models in a European fashion editorial. Of course, being a college student on a limited budget, I can't exactly go out and snag a new Dior cocktail frock or a pair of Balenciaga platform heels (never mind the fact that I don't even like platform shoes). But it's fun to dream.

That being said, I'll also make one more admission: it was a little exciting when Michelle Obama came into the limelight as a smart, strong, independent woman who could also be the next American fashion icon. A modern-day Jackie O, if you will. After 40 years of frumpy, skirt-suited First Ladies-Who-Lunch - Lady Bird Johnson, Nancy Reagan, Hillary Clinton - Mrs. Obama's youth and stylishness was a breath of fresh air. I mean, come on, who wasn't awed by the spectacular one-shouldered Jason Wu creation she wore to the inaugural ball?

For fear of sounding like a pretentious moron, like certain past contributors to this section, let me move on to my point. Admiration for her daring fashion choices and her support of burgeoning fashion designers aside, I'm kind of disgusted with the public perception of Mrs. Obama. It seems as though she is only being lauded for her taste in clothing rather than for her contributions to the country as First Lady. For example, her Wikipedia entry has an entire section devoted to "Style and Fashion Sense" - and the sad part is that this section appears before the "Work Undertaken and Causes Promoted" section. Mrs. Obama has only been First Lady for a short time, but even so, she's worked hard to create a niche for herself to be the kind of First Lady this country can look up to. She frequently visits local homeless shelters and soup kitchens, prompting The Washington Post to declare her a role model. She advocates on behalf of women, students, and military families. She's even started to grow organic produce in the White House gardens to keep up with the green living craze.

So, imagine my chagrin when the Obamas shipped off to Europe for the G20 summit and the first thing every media outlet started gushing about was the fact that Mrs. Obama would meet French Prime Minister Nicolas Sarkozy's wife, model-turned-singer Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, and, oh my God, they'd be wearing expensive clothes! Together! In the same room! Hurry, get the cameras! Never mind the fact that while in England, Mrs. Obama toured a cancer ward with Sarah Brown, the Prime Minister's wife, and visited a school for underprivileged girls, most of whom spoke English as a second language. She even met Queen Elizabeth II without making any serious social gaffes (touching the Queen's arm aside). Considering the stringent guidelines for royal etiquette, that's an accomplishment in and of itself. Despite our nation's excitement about having a new, young, hip First Lady, our focus should remain primarily on her efforts as a public servant and an intelligent, thoughtful woman, not simply as a clothes' hanger. Fashion is fun, but the focus on Mrs. Obama's style undermines her role as an American political figure.

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