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'The Mrs. Obama effect': First lady's boldest looks redefine style

Fifty indeed looks fabulous on Michelle Obama, the first lady who ushered style back into the White House with her daring choices, bold confidence, and flair for baring arms — and a shoulder or two.Mrs. Obama reached the half-century mark Friday, more than five years after she introduced the nation to her self-assured style.“This is the first time we’ve seen a first lady who did not dress to
Host President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, arrive at the 2013 Kennedy Center Honors reception honoring the 2013 Kennedy Center Honors ...
President Obama and the first lady arrive at the 2013 Kennedy Center Honors reception at the White House in December.Manuel Balce Ceneta / Today
First lady Michelle Obama walks the route as the presidential inaugural parade winds through the nation's capital in Washington, DC., USA,...
Obama in a Thom Browne jacket and studded J. Crew beltCHIP SOMODEVILLA / POOL / Today

Fifty indeed looks fabulous on Michelle Obama, the first lady who ushered style back into the White House with her daring choices, bold confidence, and flair for baring arms — and a shoulder or two.

Mrs. Obama reached the half-century mark Friday, more than five years after she introduced the nation to her self-assured style.

“This is the first time we’ve seen a first lady who did not dress to fit in with the style you see with so many Washington politician wives,” said fashion writer Kate Betts, author of “Everyday Icon: Michelle Obama and the Power of Style.”

“She’s not dressing to somebody else’s ideal. She’s dressing for herself, not for the conservative Washington scene, and that’s a very bold statement coming from a first lady," Betts said.

Obama’s penchant for recycling her outfits, favoring cardigans over blazers, and mixing designer labels with shopping-mall brand names gave her instant appeal. 

“She’s been a complete game-changer. I think she even set the tone for Kate Middleton,” said style expert Rebekah George. “She really raised the bar for fashion, just making it practical and attainable for the average woman.”

US First Lady Michelle Obama (R) touches her 2009 inaugural gown as the designer of Mrs. Obama’s inaugural dress, Jason Wu, looks on during a ceremo...
The first lady touches her 2009 inaugural gown as its designer, Jason Wu, looks on during a ceremony at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.JEWEL SAMAD / Today

Before Obama, no other first lady had introduced H&M, Gap or Zara into the White House wardrobe, or sold out a J. Crew belt just by wearing it over a Thom Browne jacket for her husband's second inauguration. Obama's impact on the clothing industry has actually inspired studies by business schools.

"The second she puts something on, retail sales go off the charts. It's incredible," said Hitha Prabhakar, chief research officer at AitchPe Retail Advisory. "You talk about the Kate Middleton effect? It’s like the Mrs. Obama effect."

Obama has consistently supported relatively obscure and avant-garde designers like Browne and Isabel Toledo, turning them into household names virtually overnight. She most famously did that with Jason Wu, whose gowns she selected for two successive inaugural balls. 

Obama’s love of risk-taking also extends to her hair. For her birthday last year, she revealed bangs, which she later jokingly called “my midlife crisis.” The 'do “set off a national conversation" that illustrated the deep impact of her styling choices.

She dresses down, too, whether it's capri pants in the White House garden, or yoga pants and sweatshirts while promoting her “Let’s Move!” initiative.

U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama laughs next to Perry the Platypus from the children's TV show \"Phineas and Ferb\", during a \"Let's Move!\" faith and comm...
Laughing with Perry the Platypus during a \"Let's Move!\" event at Disney World.KEVIN LAMARQUE / Today

But the first lady admits there have also been missteps.

She recently revealed she regretted wearing shorts while stepping off of Air Force One during an August 2009 trip to Arizona. Obama noted her outfit "created a huge stink" at the time, making some uncomfortable because they revealed far more of a first lady than the nation was used to.

That criticism came at the heels of gripes over her baring too much skin — on her arms.  

First lady Michelle Obama and daughter Malia Obama, walk off Air Force One at Grand Canyon National Park Airport in Tusayan, Ariz.,  Sunday, Aug. 16, ...
The controversial shorts that \"created a huge stink\" for the first lady.Dana Felthauser / Today

Beginning with her 2009 one-shouldered inaugural gown, Obama famously has famously showed off her spectacularly toned arms in sleeveless gowns and dresses. She ignored the critics and increasingly bared her shoulders altogether in strapless gowns at formal events, most recently at the Kennedy Center Honors reception at the White House last month.

US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama attend the Commander-in-Chief's Ball, honoring US service members and their families, at the W...
The first lady at the Commander-in-Chief's ball, honoring US service members and their families on the night of the 2013 inauguration.JEWEL SAMAD / Today

"Michelle Obama is not afraid to look sexy," George said. "She’s not afraid to look trendy and try different styles that are feminine but still empowering." 

Michelle Obama’s effortless style

Slideshow  26 photos

Michelle Obama’s effortless style

The first lady looks as sophisticated in designer dresses as she does in outfits from J. Crew.