From ancient Greece and the Roman Empire to Kate Moss and Sienna Miller in the early 2000s, gladiator sandals have ebbed and flowed in popularity over the years. Oh, and who could forget the iconic pair Pattie Boyd wore in the '60s during her marriage to George Harrison? Personally, I haven't owned a pair since I wore out the soles of my beloved gold Steve Madden gladiator sandals circa 2012, but I'm starting to think it's time to revisit the trend.

Ever the style icon, Michelle Obama just demonstrated exactly the kind of gladiator sandals that are back for 2026. Attending an opening event for the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, the former first lady wore Jimmy Choo Ayla Flats ($895) with Ossou's Sienna Top ($495) and Trace Jeans ($295). I'm not a huge fan of the knee-high gladiator sandals that could double as a baseball catcher's shin guards, so this minimalist version is right up my alley. The sandals are strappy but not over-the-top, so there's no worry of being mistaken as an extra in The Odyssey. Scroll down to see her new outfit.

On Michelle Obama: Ossou Sienna Top ($495) and Trace Jeans ($295); Jimmy Choo Ayla Flats ($895)

Shop Michelle Obama's Exact Sandals

Shop Similar Gladiator Sandals

Malia and Sasha Obama have largely kept out of the public eye since leaving the White House in 2017, but the former first daughters made an exception today to celebrate the grand opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. For the occasion, Sasha wore an off-the-shoulder white top cinched with an oversize belt, along with a matching midi skirt and a Stone Fruit Peeled Ring ($350). To complement the boho vibe of her belt, Sasha wore Miu Miu Leather Sandals ($1320) featuring cool metal embellishments. Her straight-from-the-runway shoes have been quickly selling out at Saks Fifth Avenue, Farfetch, Fwrd, and Miu Miu's website, and I have a feeling her new outfit will make them fly off the shelves even faster.

As for the rest of the stylish family, First Lady Michelle Obama wore a pinstriped Thom Browne skirt suit and Soft Patent Wingtip Pumps ($990), while Malia chose a St. Agni Drawstring Waist Blazer ($780), a miniskirt, kitten-heel pumps, and a Stone Fruit Barrel Ring ($195), Bite Ring ($195), and Pulp Ring ($395). Scroll down to see their outfits and shop the exact pieces they're wearing.

On Sasha Obama: Miu Miu Leather Sandals ($1320); Stone Fruit Peeled Ring ($350)

On First Lady Michelle Obama: Thom Browne skirt suit and Soft Patent Wingtip Pumps ($990)

On Malia Obama: St. Agni Drawstring Waist Blazer ($780); Stone Fruit Barrel Ring ($195), Bite Ring ($195), and Pulp Ring ($395)

For a tennis-loving fashion editor like myself, the U.S. Open is truly the most magical time of year. The event always draws a stylish crowd, including one of the most dedicated tennis fans out there: Anna Wintour. (I personally saw her stay at the event until 1 a.m. for the completion of a Roger Federer match, despite the fact that she's a notoriously early riser.) This year, we were all in for a real treat because former First Lady Michelle Obama graced us with her presence at the Open. 

Obama attended the opening-night celebration, which honored the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Open becoming the first sporting event to offer equal prize money to men and women. (Thank you, Billie Jean King!) For the occasion, Obama wore a denim Oscar de la Renta dress with a shrug, my favorite 2000s trend. Cropped cardigans were staples in my high school wardrobe, and I'm delighted to see them resurrected in such a stylish way. Scroll down to see Michelle Obama's new outfit. 

On Michelle Obama: Oscar de la Renta dress; Chloé shoes; Sydney Evan bracelets

Shop 2000s-Inspired Shrugs and Cropped Cardigans

When it comes to beauty products, I'm pretty picky about where I'll take recommendations (I am a beauty editor, after all). There's one hard and fast rule I follow, though: If a product is good enough for former First Lady Michelle Obama, it's certainly good enough for me. Sorry, it's just the rule!

It's a happy coincidence that at a recent appearance for The Light We Carry Book Tour, Obama turned to a beauty editor favorite for her makeup look. The product in question was from Beauty Pie, a high-performance, great-value makeup brand that sources ingredients and products from some of the world's leading labs. Editors love reaching for Beauty Pie products since it's pretty well-known that the brand's offerings are just as good (if not better) than many more expensive options on the market. 

For her book-tour appearance, Obama's makeup artist Carl Ray used Beauty Pie's Deluxe Precision Liquid Eyeliner in Black Cat and their Wondercolour Longwear Cream Shadow Stick in Copperini to create a graphic cat eye that I simply can't stop thinking about. We're used to seeing Obama in more neutral looks, so seeing her get to play around a bit (with a phenomenal topknot and leather suiting to match) is a welcome change. 

Other Beauty Pie products our editors love:

Next: The Proof Is in the Data: Waterless Beauty Was One of 2022's Biggest Trends

During Michelle Obama's eight years as our first lady, we didn't get to see her in too many casual outfits—she was much likelier to be photographed in sophisticated Jason Wu dresses. In the years since then, I've been reveling in seeing her true personal style shine through. I mean, who could forget those Balenciaga sparkly boots? For her latest outfit, she experimented with the denim trend that's been surging in popularity: baggy, wide-leg cargo jeans, which are pretty much the antithesis of skinny jeans. 

Obama wore Ganni's Rinse Denim Fitted Blazer (£295) and Angi Jeans (£215) to an event in Washington, D.C., promoting her new book, The Light We Carry. I realise I might sound like a broken record at this point, but slouchy jeans are truly the most popular denim style with celebrities and influencers right now. Scroll down to see how Michelle Obama wore the trend and shop similar pairs for yourself. 

On Michelle Obama: Ganni Rinse Denim Fitted Blazer (£295) and Angi Jeans (£215) 

Shop Michelle Obama's Exact Pieces:

Shop More Pairs of Baggy Cargo Jeans:

This story was originally published on Who What Wear US and has since been updated.

Next Up: Black Jeans Are Often Overlooked—These 10 Outfits Unlock Their Full Potential

During Michelle Obama's eight years as our first lady, we didn't get to see her in too many casual outfits—she was much likelier to be photographed in sophisticated Jason Wu dresses. In the years since then, I've been reveling in seeing her true personal style shine through. I mean, who could forget those Balenciaga sparkly boots? For her latest outfit, she experimented with the denim trend that's been surging in popularity: baggy, wide-leg cargo jeans, which are pretty much the antithesis of skinny jeans. 

Obama wore Ganni's Rinse Denim Fitted Blazer ($395) and Angi Jeans ($295) to an event in Washington, D.C., promoting her new book, The Light We Carry. I realize I might sound like a broken record at this point, but slouchy jeans are truly the most popular denim style with celebrities and influencers right now. Scroll down to see how Michelle Obama wore the trend and shop similar pairs for yourself. 

On Michelle Obama: Ganni Rinse Denim Fitted Blazer ($395) and Angi Jeans ($295)

Shop Michelle Obama's Exact Pieces

Shop More Pairs of Baggy Cargo Jeans

Next: The Very Best New Blazers From H&M, Mango, and J.Crew

Welcome to our podcast, Who What Wear With Hillary Kerr. Think of it as your direct line to the designers, stylists, beauty experts, editors, and tastemakers who are shaping the fashion-and-beauty world. Subscribe to Who What Wear With Hillary Kerr on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Thakoon Panichgul is a Thai-American designer best known for his namesake line, Thakoon—a favorite among celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker and political figures such as Michelle Obama.

In the latest episode of our podcast, Who What Wear With Hillary Kerr, Panichgul shares his journey from fashion editor at Harper’s Bazaar to then pivoting careers to quickly become one of the most well-respected fashion designers in the industry. Along the way we got to hear about his nerve-wracking first encounter with Anna Wintour, the sabbatical that led to his reinvention and new passion project Hommegirls, plus the closet staple he recommends most. Ahead, get a glimpse at our conversation, then tune in to the Who What Wear podcast to hear the whole episode. 

So tell me a little bit about going from, okay, here are 10 pieces to I've taken some classes, I've put something together, to being like a full on business.

I was young, probably 26 or something at the time. If  you make it in New York, like they say, you can make it anywhere, and when you are here in New York at the time you have ambition—and I was ballsy. But at the same time, I was also very naive. I just said to myself listen, one day at a time. I'm just literally going to wake up and the calls are going to come and it's going to tell me what I'm going to do next. So that's what led me. I put the presentation together, Vogue came and said, "Listen, you know, we love what this is, can you take the collection up to see Anna Wintour the next day?” I didn't even know what to think. I mean, obviously, you know, she's a legend. So I literally went by myself, took four garment bags up, I set the pieces up in her office, and waited for her to come in. She came in and she sat down at her chair, and just sat there and I started presenting. I remember, I had to get up because I wanted to really show her the details of the clothes and the minute that I went to grab the first piece of clothing, I saw that my hand was shaking so much. I just had to tell myself to kind of just get it together and you've only got five minutes.

I'm curious about what that time [sabbatical] was like for you. Were you scared about walking away from it even a minute? What did you find on the other side of it didn't go the way you expected? Was it unexpected?

It was a journey of like sadness and misery, and then light at the end of the tunnel. Really goodnessIn the beginning, when you come up in the fashion industry with runway collections behind you, you have this feeling that if you step off of the runway, you're never going to be seen and heard from again. It's almost like people are gonna forget about you, right? So that's the fear that was really real. But then, you know, I said, fuck it. Is that going to be the truth? Let's, see if that pans out, right? I'll figure it out—that was always my mantra.

The first couple of months, I just would call all my friends, make sure that I was still connected. It's like, do you want to have lunch with me? Let's have a drink, let's have dinner like I was always trying to stay connected to everyone I knew in that industry, because I didn't want to be forgotten. And then, after a while, I settled into, oh, maybe I should just actually be traveling a little bit. I went to Marrakech. I went to Cuba. I went to Mexico. I just went all over the place. And that was when things started to open up creatively. I saw things differently. I stepped out of the fashion bubble. And I saw what the bubble was doing to people that were still in the bubble. And I was so thankful to have that opportunity to kind of look from the from that perspective, from my perspective. Creatively, I walked away with so much I started Hommegirls, which is my magazine and passion project. That idea came to me while I was on my sabbatical, the new iteration of Thakoon came to me while I was on this sabbatical—I highly recommend it.

I'm curious about, from your point of view, what some of the foundational staples are that everyone should have in their wardrobe?

I think that you should have a classic button-down in your wardrobe. I love classic ones that are [menswear] looking. I also love ones that are sort of slightly, I keep saying bohemian, but I don't know if people interpret the word bohemian differently. For me it's sort of this slight femininity with eyeleting details. I like to kind of cut that with like a very sort of city-cool-girl kind of vibe. So like a collarless button-down that we have in a white eyelet, that's slightly oversized and is also a classic staple especially for the summertime. What else? I think that a classic stove pipe or straight-leg high-rise pant is always an essential. I love dresses. I love skirts, like mini skirts, but I think that pants are always super practical.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Next up, check out our previous episode featuring Sadie Sink. 

Welcome to our new podcast, Who What Wear With Hillary Kerr. Think of it as your direct line to the designers, stylists, beauty experts, editors, and tastemakers who are shaping the fashion and beauty world. Subscribe to Who What Wear With Hillary Kerr on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

In this week's episode of Who What Wear With Hillary Kerr, our co-founder spoke with two of the most inspiring women in the fashion-and-beauty game. 

Meredith Koop became a household name after Netflix's release of Michelle Obama's documentary Becoming. The stylist has spent over a decade acting as the fashion advisor to the former first lady. She's been the mastermind behind countless iconic fashion moments, including Mrs. Obama's pantsuit at President Biden's recent inauguration and that Balenciaga-boot moment. She spoke with Kerr about how she fell into her career, how she approaches her unique line of work, why she chooses to work with emerging brands, and her plans for what we might expect from her in the future.

Our second guest needs little introduction. As a founder of not one, not two, not even three, but four companies (including our very own Who What Wear), Katherine Power is a familiar face to readers old and new. Most recently, she launched the minimalist beauty brand Merit. She shares her story of how the brand came to be, why coming up with a clean formula felt vital, and a few tips on launching your own business. 

Read on for some highlights from Koop's and Power's interviews that will inspire your week ahead.

I'm curious if you could talk a little bit about how you started your relationship with Mrs. Obama and the first time that you worked together.

Meredith Koop: So I met Michelle for the first time in Chicago. I met her through a previous employer. I was working after college at a high-end fashion boutique, and through that, I eventually met Mrs. Obama. I really developed that relationship with her over time. It's crazy how time passes, but I guess it's been about 10 years. I started out as an assistant stylist, and then around the end of 2010, I became her main stylist. She was always very gracious with me and, for whatever reason, had a sense of confidence in my skill set and my gifts that I did not have. I kind of borrowed that from her. So when she asked me to get clothing and procure and build on this fashion footprint that she had, I borrowed that confidence to believe that, yes, this is something that I can do. And I'm gonna work as hard as I can to do it the best that I can.

Do you remember one of those early looks that you were responsible for that you finally felt like, "Okay, I'm doing this. I can do this.”

MK: It’s really hard for me—and I know this is probably something a lot of other people feel too. I am such a critic. No person, no troll, no blog, no reporter could ever say something more critical of my work than how I feel, even if everyone's like, "Wow, we love it. It's amazing.” This is a flaw of mine that I have to continuously work on. I will find the thing that's like, "But this could have been better. I should have done this. I should have chosen that belt. I should have made sure that was correct.” Clothing is a very moody medium. It wrinkles and it rips, stretches out, and you're just going, "Could you just behave please? Could you please just stay where I put you?” My personality is always just like, "Okay, how can I do better?” I honestly feel like it wasn't even until toward the end, when she wore that Versace, that I was like, wow, okay. This is probably the closest I've been to feeling like everything worked out exactly as I envisioned it, from the makeup to the earrings to the shoe to the fit to the draping. It’s one of my favorites of all time. It was just such a cool process, and I loved working with that team. It was an awesome, awesome moment.

Pictured: Michelle Obama wearing Versace at the 2016 State Dinner.

So let's talk about another awesome, awesome moment, which was the entirety of Mrs. Obama's 34-city tour for her memoir, which is obviously documented in Becoming, and she talks about how she uses fashion as a tool, to quote her. So tell me about the strategy that went into her image, the fashion, the collaboration process, because that is a tremendous amount of work. Those looks were obviously a little bit freer in that there were some more risks involved. Do you have a favorite of all of them? And is it the Balenciaga?

MK: I really loved that Sergio Hudson suit that she wore in Atlanta. It's just so fun working with him. I really think he's amazing. And yes, I was very excited about those Balenciaga boots. I was really thinking there's no way she's going to go for this. But I was like, okay, let's go. We're doing this. We're in Brooklyn. Let's go. I was very thrilled. During that, though, I was sitting backstage and just watching it on the screen. When you're out in the audience, you're getting a lot of feedback. You're hearing claps, and you're hearing yells, and you're hearing "whoo," but I wasn't hearing anything. So I was just back there going, how is this being received? Not that that's the be-all and end-all, but it was a weird moment because it was such a big, striking look, and I just was sitting in complete silence.

Pictured: Michelle Obama wearing Balenciaga boots during a stop on the book tour for her memoir, Becoming.

Okay, so you work with emerging designers, and you work with very established designers. How do you make that decision about who to go with? Because I can only imagine that everyone in the world wants to dress her. You also hold someone's fortune in your hand. You can make their business with your selections, which is a great power and responsibility and, I would imagine, pressure. So how do you thread that needle?

MK: I do take it very seriously. I take it very seriously. I don't have any hard-and-fast rules. Like I said, I rely a lot on instinct. I try to keep up with what's going on. And that isn't just what's going on in the fashion weeks in New York. It has to be international. I've had to train myself to be on social media more so that I can look for new and emerging designers that aren't necessarily represented in these big events that we're seeing. I really try to just keep up and consider that there are definitely certain people with beautiful stories and people that I want to lift up. And knowing that a lot of people in fashion have come from a lot of resources—nepotism, favoritism—it's very expensive to work in fashion. People are like, "I want to be a designer." Well, just to get your foot in the door, you have to have money to get the fabric, the marketing. God forbid you want to put on a fashion show. All of that is very expensive. So I think that it precludes some very worthy individuals. It's really unfortunate. So if I can just be a small, tiny, tiny, tiny, little part of lifting up someone that maybe is not featured on Vogue.com, etc., I would like to do that. Change the gatekeeping a little bit. Hopefully, something that will make an impact.

Speaking of impact, can we talk about the gloriousness that was Mrs. Obama's look for the most recent inauguration? How did you know that this Sergio Hudson was the right look? And also, I'm interested in your thoughts on the color because you took to social media and gave us such an amazing breakdown of the thinking and process and all of that, but you were very clear that it wasn't purple—it was wineberry plum. So why that color?

MK: I just made that up, but yes, that's the color we're going with. Sergio, like I said, I had worked with him twice before on the book tour. Aesthetic, construction, vision, dressing women with different types of bodies—it's just all there. And it was clear to me when I received that first garment, I was like, oh, okay, yeah, bam, we're good. Working with him was just a true pleasure. With the inauguration upcoming, he was someone that was on my mind, someone that I wanted to work with again.

And one of the things that people don't totally understand is that the inauguration is in January. In Washington, D.C., it's cold. And when I say it's cold, you don't know if it's going to be 10º, 20º, 40º. Is it going to be sunny? Is it going to be overcast? Is it going to be raining? Is it going to be snowing? And is it going to be all of those things? It's a lot to solve for, sitting outside for two hours not moving, just sitting. I don't know the last time I did that, so I'm very sensitive to the fact that we need a really solid coat; we need layers; we need options.

And you know, just looking for a very beautiful coat, when I looked at Sergio's collection, I saw this particular coat that we ended up going with. It just looked beautiful, beautifully constructed. I love the look on the runway with the skirt, but I did want to do pants, so I worked with him. We're on the same wavelength, so it wasn't a difficult process. He sent through sketches. We went with the one we went with, we tailored it, we thought through all the details. There's this whole concept of sewing someone into a garment. You have to check the zippers, you have got to make sure the zipper is the right quality—all of those details make sure that the day of is very calm.

Pictured: Michelle Obama wearing Sergio Hudson at the 59th presidential inauguration.

So obviously, you have an incredible amount of knowledge in the space. What are you going to do next?

MK: Ever since the White House ended, I've been thinking about some of the things that have inspired me and how I want to translate those and how I want to reach an audience with my work and some new things that I have to offer. I've developed a show that I'm hoping will be on a streaming network. It's been really interesting for me because I grew up being a huge fan of House of Style. It was so impactful and so transformative for me. I feel like there is a big opportunity in our content space for new, fresh perspectives on fashion. 

You know that I love Merit so, so much. I'm hoping that you can share a little bit about the brand for our listeners, maybe someone who's never heard of it or isn't as familiar as I am.

Katherine Power: Merit has been something that I've been working on for over four years now. When I got pregnant with Sebastian, my son, I went to use all of my normal lip products, and I instantly became nauseous. It didn't matter if it was a lipstick, a lip oil, a lip crayon, scented, unscented—no matter what it was, I would become nauseous. That was the first time that I really thought, "Hey, maybe I need a cleaner product.” I was never the first to run over to the clean aisle or really seek that out because I always wanted my products to work, and I wanted their really beautiful colors that I was used to.

But that was really an eye-opening experience for me. I remember somebody had sent me a collection of these tinted lip balms. They were all-natural, organic. I remember using one and going into a meeting, probably with you, and 30 minutes into it, I thought, "That's so strange. I don't feel anything. I don't feel nauseous, and I feel nauseous every time I put something on my lips.” So it occurred to me that this product was natural or clean or however they were marketing it. So I ran out of the meeting when we were done over to the beauty editors, and I remember asking, "All right, what's the deal here? What's really in lipsticks, and what makes it clean? What do I really need to know because my body is obviously having a chemical reaction of some kind?"

That really was the beginning of my journey in learning more about how cosmetics are made and what makes them clean versus not. It just made me want to go out and buy cleaner products. And as I started to shop, I really felt like I didn't fit in anywhere as a consumer. There were new clean brands popping up, but I didn't necessarily connect with the brands. A lot of them felt like they were geared toward a younger crowd than me or someone who wanted a fuller, heavier makeup look. I really missed the sort of natural-looking brands that I had celebrated and worn for so many years. So I thought, you know, there's got to be a brand that I will have an emotional connection to that will feel like it is my style, that has cleaner products, beautiful colors, makeup that performs. 

Let's talk about that testing-and-creation process. So you have an idea, but what do you actually do to get it started? And also, you planned on launching this before Versed, right? But that came out first, so what the heck happened there?

KP: Yes. So as I mentioned, I've really been wanting to bring Merit to life for over four years. It started like a lot of our businesses start—from a personal need that I had. The first thing I do when I have an idea for something is try to talk about it. I talk about it to friends, I talk about it to colleagues, and I just start putting it out there and seeing people's reaction to it because I want to get a sense of are other people seeing this white space as well? So once we went out and spoke to everybody and understood that there was an opportunity, we started putting it together. For me, it always starts with with naming the brand. I've said this before about once I give it a name, it starts to take a life of its own. So, Merit came pretty easily. That's one of the hardest things in building a business is choosing a name because it has to represent the brand and feel good, but it also has to be available from a trademark perspective and a web domain perspective and social handles, and it all just fell into place with Merit. 

This is your fourth business now. You have Who What Wear; you have your skincare brand, Versed; the clean wine Avaline; and now this your fourth business with Merit. Any learnings this time around? What do you know now that you didn't know in 2006?

KP: I think every single time something launches, we're learning. I think Who What Wear, I've said this before, has been the most amazing business school we could have ever gone through. So now it's just at the point where you're able to expedite the commercial success. You're able to save costly mistakes.

I think I completely agree with you on timing and that everything sort of happens when it's supposed to happen. This is a very common thing in my life where some things will just take longer. I'm a real go-getter, as you know, so I know, when I'm just sort of noodling on something or I'm just taking my time, I know there's a reason for it, and I give myself that time because it always comes out in a better place.

We were going to launch Merit in 2020, in the middle of the year, and with everything going on, it just didn't feel right. Luckily, we were in a position where we could say, hey, let's just start quietly building the community, and let's wait. Let's get out of 2020 and wait till the beginning of 2021. Historically, you're told not to launch a brand in January. It's not the ideal time to do that for consumer-behavior reasons, whatever it is, but for us, it ended up being perfect timing. I’m so happy that we were able to do it in January, which was a slightly more optimistic month. We're all rallied around this idea now that less is more. We've learned over the last 12 months that we don't need much. We became used to our bare nails and our natural hair texture and our eyelash extensions being off. I think it's really set Merit up for success, and I think it's been clear that our customers were just waiting for something like this.

Shop Katherine Power's Brands

These interviews have been edited and condensed for clarity. Next up, check out our first episode, featuring Law Roach and Sergio Hudson.

Welcome to our new podcast, Who What Wear With Hillary Kerr. Think of it as your direct line to the designers, stylists, beauty experts, editors, and tastemakers who are shaping the fashion and beauty world. Subscribe to Who What Wear With Hillary Kerr on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Since Who What Wear came to be in 2006, it's grown to be a one-stop source for all things fashion, beauty, celebrity, and shopping. Now, we're bringing our expertise to a new format with the launch of our first-ever podcast. Each week, Hillary Kerr, Who What Wear co-founder and Second Life podcast host, will cover everything from the latest emerging trends and talent to candid conversations with industry icons. 

Kicking things off is Law Roach, the image architect, a costume designer, and a judge on HBO Max's Legendary. His illustrious client list includes Zendaya, Celine Dion, Anya Taylor-Joy, Priyanka Chopra, and Kerry Washington. You can also see his work as the costume designer for the Nexflix film Malcolm & Marie.

Hillary also speaks to the designer on everyone's mind as of late: Sergio Hudson. Fans of his work include Tracee Ellis Ross, Beyoncé, and none other than Vice President Kamala Harris and former First Lady Michelle Obama, who both wore his designs the day of the 2021 Presidential Inauguration.

Read on for some of the highlights from Roach's and Hudson's interviews, and we hope you enjoy getting your Who What Wear fix in this new format.

Hillary Kerr: Let's talk about your title, which is also trademarked, image architect. Why is this the best way to describe your work?

Law Roach: Well, it's kind of twofold. When I first came to L.A. to start working, there were a lot of stylists. At that time, I think we were seeing the trend of people wanting to, you know, be a stylist. So I wanted to figure out a way to differentiate myself. The second, when I actually started working, I looked at my work in a way that an architect works, surveying and putting together blueprints, hiring out the different people that bring in the materials, and you have electricians and plumbers and conferences and all those things. So for me, I was just doing all those things with a person instead of a structure. I was hiring out makeup and hair, and the similarities were really, really interesting. So I'm like, "You know what, I'm an architect, too. But instead of being a traditional architect, I'm an image architect." Since I started calling myself that, I always try to continuously work that way and to make sure that I'm always doing a little bit more than just picking a pretty dress for whoever hires me.

HK: Why do you think your partnership [with Zendaya] works so well?

LR: I think trust first of all, and we know our parts, right? I know what my part of our relationship is, our professional relationship anyway. I know what my job is, and she knows what her job is. So although we collaborate, those really don't mix that much. Like I know her mood, right? I know that she wants to try on two dresses or 200 dresses. And then when she goes to do her job, she goes on the carpet as whatever narrative we're trying to tell—whatever the story is, whoever the characters are. I don't say, "Hey, when you get on the carpet, I need you to be stoic like Joan of Arc." I just came up with that look and gave it to her. And now was her time to do her job. So those things don't cross that much, and I think that's what really works. She lets me fly. She lets me be me. She lets me create. And then whatever I create, she becomes it. And then, she shows us the world. So it's like the perfect partnership.

Pictured: Zendaya at the 2018 Met Gala.

HK: I'm curious about your approach because you have so many different clients, and they have different bodies and different styles and different interests. So how does your approach switch when you're dressing someone like Anya [Taylor-Joy] versus Hunter [Schafer] versus Tom Holland?

LR: Well, it doesn't really switch. It goes back to the architect part of it. All those people you name [and] everyone I've ever worked with, I study them. When I get the call that they want to work with me, I study everything they've ever worn. I watch all the interviews because I'm also at this point really good with body language. So by the time it's time for my first fitting with them, I've already known everything [they've] ever done. I also can say, "Hey, when you wear [this] dress, what was it about it that you didn't like?" And it's like, "Oh, how did you notice that? It really wasn't the dress. I really didn't love my hair that night." But if you're concerned about your hair, then you can't really be as confident about the dress. So my team and I, we build out a plan. So I'm like, "Okay, this shape and silhouette were really cool on her, or I can tell in this picture she really loved the way she looks." So that makes me take note about the best hairstyles or the best makeup or the best color or whatever. Once we build out that blueprint for every client, then it's bringing them things that I think will work but still keeping them authentically who they are because I'm not here to change anyone. I'm only here to elevate who they already are.

HK: Okay, our audience is very interested in advice about how to build or refine their closets. So I'm wondering if you have an idea about key pieces that you think everyone should own or invest in?

LR: Sure. I think that everyone should have a beautiful coat and a beautiful bag. I think everything in between is dependent on financial situation and taste and all that, but a beautiful, beautiful coat and a beautiful bag.

HK: Since you're someone who knows so much about fashion and style and luxury, I'm curious about your thoughts on investment items, like key pieces that people should save up for. Are there specific brands or styles that someone should really consider investing in? What do you think is really worth it?

LR: Everyone knows Chanel bags really never lose value, and they're collectible, and they're always sought after. I do spend my money on things that I think people would want if I don't want them anymore.

Hillary Kerr: So I have to congratulate you on a very impressive January—to dress both the vice president of the United States and to have such a major, once-in-a-lifetime moment with Mrs. Obama the same week. I mean, that's so beyond next-level, to put it mildly. But that said, you've also been dressing so many notable women for so many years, including Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez—why do you think this was such a breakout moment for you?

Sergio Hudson: You know, I don't know. What's crazy is a lot of people think dressing celebrities is the equation. Dress celebrities equals instant success. And it's just not the truth. It's dressing celebrities at the right moment, at the right time, in the right pieces equals success—maybe still not instant. So I feel like it's almost like the stars have to align. That's what happened with Mrs. Obama that day, and it was so unexpected. I knew she was gonna wear it, but it was still a backup option. Meredith [Koop] was like, "Okay, it's between you and this other person." You know, I'm used to that. And when she wore it, I was like, "Okay, that's great." But I've dressed her twice before, and we've had amazing responses. But it was never to this level. It was different. And I tell the story all the time about how I was traveling from D.C. at the moment when she wore it. I was in Philadelphia in the airport in the lounge with a bunch of other people, and we were all watching at the same time. It's like everybody audibly gasped in the room. That's the moment that I knew that it was different. This is not the same. You've done all these celebrities, you've dressed all these celebrities, but this moment is changing something.

Pictured: Barack and Michelle Obama at the 2021 Presidential Inauguration.

HK: How has the pandemic changed the way you work?

SH: It's definitely harder. It's not so much traveling back and forth to New York. It's more Zooms and all that, but it's definitely changed the way we do business. To be honest, it's a terrible pandemic, and so many people have died. It's been awful to watch and to see, but it's changed my business for the better. I don't feel like we would have had the opportunities that we have had, had it not been a pandemic, or we might be still rolling on that tradition. No calendar and fashion, which, to me, was just like a machine that people just get spit out of as it keeps rolling, like, "Oh, you can't afford to do it? You go." "Oh, you don't have that connection? He's gone." But I feel like now it's rolling at a slower pace. People are taking more time to cultivate relationships. We need each other more like the big stores need the young designers. They need the up-and-coming people more than we so much needed them before. Now we're slowing, now we're taking notice of people, now we're getting to know people. We're noticing other talents that we weren't noticing when the machine was rolling so fast. So in that way, it has been good for the fashion industry.

Pictured: Sergio Hudson F/W 20 runway.

HK: You're known for these really incredible, thoughtfully designed outfits. I love all of your staples. The fit is so amazing. I'm curious about your advice to women. What investment piece do you think that everyone should have in their wardrobe that will elevate it both now and then also in non-pandemic times? 

SH: When a woman comes to me and she's like, "Okay, I want to redo my wardrobe." I ask them, What do you have? Most of the time, they never have the key pieces. A great black blazer and a black pencil skirt are great. Like, you need your wardrobe of black. That's what builds your wardrobe, and a lot of women just don't have it. So my advice is that's what you invest in. Suiting, coats, basic pieces, good turtlenecks—you know, those pieces are important. You spend the money on those, and then, you go buy the crazy red pencil skirt from Zara. You know what I mean? That's because you can't wear those pieces all the time. But you can wear the same black dress 100 times, and you'll get compliments on it.

Shop Sergio Hudson Pieces

These interviews have been edited and condensed for clarity.

This past Wednesday was, undoubtedly, a high point in political history (we're still reveling in joy and relief), but we'd be remiss not to point out the high notes that Inauguration Day hit in the beauty and fashion categories, too. Lady Gaga wore a custom Schiaparelli Haute Couture outfit, Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman wore a double-breasted Prada Natté Toile Coat in the dreamiest shade of yellow, and Vice President Kamala Harris's Christopher John Rogers coat and dress have inspired us to wear purple (and only purple) for the rest of the year. Oh, and we most definitely can't forget former First Lady Michelle Obama, whose signature curls, divine smoky eye, and monochromatic maroon banked a permanent spot in our Saved folder. What's more, Obama's stunning Inauguration Day beauty look is super achievable, mask friendly, and finished off with one of our favorite mascaras of all time—Glossier's Lash Slick ($16). Surprised? We're not. 

If you've been following me and my fellow beauty editor Courtney Higgs here on Who What Wear, you already know Glossier's famed mascara is our absolute favorite wand to ever hit the market. (The definition! The length! That flutter!) So when Obama's longtime makeup artist Carl Ray shared his step-by-step process with Elle on Thursday, our obsession was further validated by the fact that Lash Slick played a starring role in Obama's head-turning eye look. Pairing the mascara with a lush set of falsies (by Lilly Lashes, if you're curious), neutral shadow, and chocolate-hued shimmer, Ray created a beautiful eye-centric makeup look that just goes to show face masks need not put a cramp in our beauty style. 

Keep scrolling—below, we're sharing Ray's complete Inauguration Day product breakdown so you can re-create Obama's mesmerizing look at home. 

Michelle Obama's Inauguration Day Makeup Breakdown

For her base:

For her brows:

For her smoky eye:

I've already explained why Vice President Kamala Harris's striking purple outfit for Inauguration Day made such a statement, but she wasn't the only well-dressed woman of style and substance today. Former First Ladies Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton appeared to coordinate in varying shades of purple and maroon, with the former opting for Sergio Hudson and the latter wearing Ralph Lauren. 

Meanwhile, Lady Gaga made quite an entrance in a full-skirted custom Schiaparelli Haute Couture look with a dove insignia to sing the National Anthem. Also in attendance are Senator Elizabeth Warren, Harris's stepchildren, sister, and nieces, and members of Congress. Scroll down to see what everyone wore to Inauguration Day. 

See What Everyone Wore to the Inauguration:

On Michelle Obama: Sergio Hudson outfit

On Lady Gaga: Custom Schiaparelli Haute Couture outfit

On First Lady Jill Biden: Markarian outfit

On President Joe Biden: Ralph Lauren suit

On Hillary Clinton: Ralph Lauren outfit

On Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman: Prada double-breasted natté toile coat, white poplin shirt, black leather pencil skirt with black Saffiano leather pumps, and a red satin headband 

On Elizabeth Warren: Planned Parenthood scarf

Cole and Ella Emhoff 

On Meena Harris: Coach shearling coat

President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Ashley Biden, and Hunter Biden

This piece was originally published on Who What Wear U.S. 

I've already explained why Vice President Kamala Harris's striking purple outfit for Inauguration Day made such a statement, but she wasn't the only well-dressed woman of style and substance today. Former First Ladies Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton appeared to coordinate in varying shades of purple and maroon, with the former opting for Sergio Hudson and the latter wearing Ralph Lauren. 

Meanwhile, Lady Gaga made quite an entrance in a full-skirted custom Schiaparelli Haute Couture look with a dove insignia to sing the National Anthem. Also in attendance are Senator Elizabeth Warren, Harris's stepchildren, sister, and nieces, and members of Congress. Scroll down to see what everyone wore to Inauguration Day. 

See What Everyone Wore to the Inauguration:

On Michelle Obama: Sergio Hudson coat, sweater, pants, and belt; Stuart Weitzman boots; Christy Rilling mask

On Lady Gaga: Custom Schiaparelli Haute Couture outfit

On First Lady Jill Biden: Markarian outfit; Monique Péan Repurposed White Hexagonal Step Cut Diamond Earrings

On President Joe Biden: Ralph Lauren suit

On Hillary Clinton: Ralph Lauren outfit

On Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman: Prada double-breasted natté toile coat, white poplin shirt, black leather pencil skirt with black Saffiano leather pumps, and a red satin headband 

Speaker Nancy Pelosi 

On Elizabeth Warren: Planned Parenthood scarf

On Meena Harris: Coach shearling coat; Ulla Johnson blouse and skirt; Ana Khouri earrings and ring; Temple St. Clair ring; Paris Texas boots

On Ella Emhoff: Miu Miu coat

President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Ashley Biden, and Hunter Biden

I don't know about you, but I've been thoroughly enjoying seeing Michelle Obama's real style come to light post–White House. Now able to dress outside of the confines of a politics, Obama has been showing off more creative outfits in recent years. Of course, there was her barnstorming fashion tour—er, I mean, book tour—of 2019, which made many a headline. But in 2020, we've been able to witness Obama's more laidback style. 

Hard at work on her podcast in recent months, Obama has embraced the casualness that an audio-only medium affords. Translation: She's been wearing lots of comfortable pieces, including flowy cardigans, loose-fitting shirts, and more. That said, she is still doing Zoom interviews for television, so she's been pulling out subtly statement-making items for those appearances. Scroll down to shop the basics Michelle Obama has relied on this year. 

1. Short-Sleeve Button-Downs

2. Plaid Shirts

3. Colorful Crewneck Sweaters

4. Long Cardigans

5. Delicate Gold Jewelry 

On Michelle Obama: Nanushka top; By Chari Vote Necklace ($295)

6. Black Blazers

Next, Kamala Harris has been wearing this signature accessory for 35 years. 

Michelle Obama's highly anticipated speech at last night's virtual Democratic National Convention won't soon be forgotten, as few can deliver a poignant message as effectively as she can. That message undoubtedly resonated with millions of people across the country last night, and it wasn't just her words that everyone was talking about last night. Michelle Obama is one of the most influential women on the planet, and what she wears has always garnered acute interest.

The subtle, dainty item she wore for the speech was hard to ignore: a pretty gold "vote" necklace, which was one of the main points conveyed in her speech. In case you want one of your own, the designer is Los Angeles–based BYCHARI, and the now-famous necklace is available in 14K yellow, rose, and white gold. You can also choose between small, large, and diamond letters. Not surprisingly, it's the brand's best-selling piece. Obama's appears to be the small yellow gold iteration, which retails for just under $300 (and it perfectly complements her chic Nanushka top). Order yours now and it'll arrive in three to four weeks, and/or shop other stylish pieces below that spread the word to exercise your right to vote.

Scroll to watch Michelle Obama's incredibly important speech, and then shop the necklace everyone is losing it over.

Watch the Speech in Full

Shop Her Necklace and Top

Shop More Vote Items

Next: This is Kamala Harris' signature accessory for the past 35 years.

No one can argue against the cultural relevance of the last decade; in many ways, it was filled with the most rapid changes in the zeitgeist humanity has ever seen. From the emergence of social media to the rise of social and political movements, the world as a whole changed in inconceivable ways—including the fashion industry. We’ve witnessed massive upheaval within the industry like Barney’s closing its doors and strides toward a more inclusive fashion industry, so it would be an understatement to say that the past decade was at all predictable. But through it all, we could always count on style; specifically, we could rely on style icons to always serve us up a look. And oh boy, did they put in work. Ahead you’ll find 20 women whose personal style helped to define the 2010s in fashion. 

WHO: Lady Gaga

WHAT: 2010 MTV Video Music Awards 

WEAR: Franc Fernandez Meat Dress

Honestly, you can’t round up looks of the past decade without speaking to the downright odd outfits that the decade produced—including Lady Gaga’s one-and-only meat dress. It should be noted that Gaga’s style has evolved over the decade and she’s come to wear gowns you can buy at Bergdorfs instead of the grocery store, but this look truly speaks to the time in which style went not only avant-garde but became a way to speak about the issues facing the times.

WHO: Kate Middleton 

WHAT: Royal Wedding, 2011 

WEAR: Alexander McQueen wedding gown

Not only was the past decade filled with contemporary looks, but it had its historical moments too—like when Kate Middleton married Prince William and became the Duchess of Cambridge. Not only did we get to witness the royal wedding of the decade, but watching the duchess make her way down the aisle in this Alexander McQueen gown was just a taste of all her stylish and classic moments to come.

WHO: Michelle Obama

WHAT: Commander-in-Chief's Ball, 2013 

WEAR: Jason Wu 

Michelle Obama was, still is, and forever will be iconic for so many reasons. Not only was it incredibly powerful for women of color around the world to be able to witness a black First Lady of the United States, but Michelle also brought a breath of fresh air to political style. Case in point: She opted to go beyond the typically mundane looks and support upcoming designers of color. Talk about a stylish fashion statement.

WHO: Lupita Nyong’o 

WHAT: 86th Annual Academy Awards, 2013

WEAR: Prada gown; Fred Leighton jewelry

Lupita Nyong’o may from time to time get snubbed by the Academy (ahem, where’s her nomination for Black Panther or Us?), but in no way could you overlook her style. From the moment she arrived on the red carpet in this plunging Prada light blue gown back in 2013, she established herself as someone with style to watch—and brought it all decade long.

WHO: Rihanna 

WHAT: Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards, 2014 

WEAR: Adam Selman gown; Pologeorgis fur stole; Manolo Blahnik heels; and Paul Morelli and Jacob jewelry

One could say that the 2010s were defined by two things: the naked dress, and Rihanna—which, coincidentally became one for the CFDA awards back in 2014. Truly, only Rihanna could pull off a barely-there dress made out of 230,000 Swarovski crystals—and I’m okay with it. She not only blessed us with this gem of a look, but also, she launched Fenty Beauty, Fenty Lingerie, and her luxury clothing label, Fenty, this past decade cementing the fact that It was Rihanna’s decade and we were all just living in it.

WHO: Zendaya Coleman

WHAT: 87th Annual Academy Awards, 2015 

WEAR: Vivienne Westwood gown

Of all the stars, it must be noted that Zendaya had the greatest glow-up of the decade. The former Disney star not only redefined her career through shows like, Euphoria, but women of color everywhere all felt seen when she would show up to award shows rocking her natural hair paired with an equally bomb look. Whatever texture, and whatever outfit Z wore, we all were left wondering if we could become the carpet, just so she could step on our neck. 

WHO: Beyoncé 

WHAT: China: Through the Looking Glass, Met Gala, 2015

WEAR: Givenchy gown

Beyoncé once said, "Don’t hurt yourself,” but honestly, I've spent the last decade hurt. As any member of the Beehive knows, Beyoncé had us going through the past decade (in the best way). She emanated a level of excellence that only Beyoncé can achieve. I mean, I could list all the incredible things she did in the last decade: producing an iconic visual album, launching her apparel line, being the first black woman to headline Coachella and turning it into a record-breaking Netflix documentary—and we haven’t even gotten to any of the fire fits she served us with. But let’s be real, this singular look says it all.

WHO: Zoe Saldaña

WHAT: Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology, Met Gala, 2016

WEAR: Dolce & Gabbana gown; Christian Louboutin heels

One would be naive to not correlate style with Zoe Saldaña—I mean, just look at this Dolce & Gabbana gown she wore to the Met Gala back in 2016. But, beyond blessing us with her beauty, Saldaña has continuously spoken up about the lack of LatinX representation within Hollywood over the past decade. Whoever said caring wasn’t stylish didn’t know about Saldaña.

WHO: Amal Clooney

WHAT: 69th Annual Cannes Film Festival, 2016

WEAR: Versace gown; Cartier jewels

While the wider population may know Amal purely by her husband’s last name, the truth is she’s so much more than that. Not only is Amal a lawyer, and human rights activist, but she's also a style icon. Gracing both red carpets and the United Nations floor with iconic looks over the past decade, Amal is proof that you can, dare I say, have it all.

WHO: Kim Kardashian West

WHAT: 2016 MTV Video Music Awards

WEAR: A vintage Galliano dress 

Even the most anti-Kardashian of people can’t shy away from admitting the impact Kim Kardashian West has had in the past decade on style. Aside from her stake in rebranding the desirability of the bodycon dress, Kim’s style has been both the inspiration and focus of controversy for the past 10 years. After all, no other celebrity sent fast-fashion sites in a tizzy to re-create her looks in a matter of minutes; and no other person has quite brought to the forefront conversations around cultural appropriation versus appreciation. So no matter what you feel, there’s no denying this woman’s place in the cultural zeitgeist. 

WHO: The Hadid Sisters

WHAT: Glamour Celebrates 2017 Women of the Year Awards 

WEAR: On Bella: Cristina Ottaviano Silk pantsuit; On Gigi: Zuhair Murad gown; Christian Louboutin pumps

Yes, I know this is not one person, but to be fair no other duo has quite shaken up the fashion world since Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen. Stepping into the limelight back in the early 2010s, Bella Hadid and Gigi Hadid have modeled in just about every fashion week since then. But their style is by no means limited to the runways; they both have served up iconic red carpet and street style looks, solidifying the fact that fashion runs in their veins.

WHO: Zoë Kravitz 

WHAT: 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, 2017 

WEAR: Dior Haute Couture 

While some may recollect a time when Zoë Kravitz was a teenager, this past decade she solidified her own with breakout roles in productions like Big Little Lies. But her career isn’t the only reason this woman can define the previous decade; one could say she was one of the only stars to continuously rock her natural tresses on the red carpet. And while this may seem minor, the past 10 years have challenged beauty norms in a way that has evolved the definition of beauty and style to be more inclusive.

WHO: Victoria Beckham 

WHAT: NYFW F/W 18

WEAR: Head-to-toe Victoria Beckham

No other woman quite encapsulated what it means to be posh in the 2010s other than Posh Spice herself. She didn’t have one iconic look of the decade per se, rather, Victoria Beckham’s ability to continually serve up a pantsuit look, is well, something for the ages. 

WHO: Priyanka Chopra 

WHAT: Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & the Catholic Imagination, Met Gala, 2018

WEAR: Ralph Lauren Swarovski crystal-embellished gown; Cartier jewels 

Priyanka Chopra could be one of Hollywood’s most underrated style icons. While some may have first encountered the actress upon her marriage to Nick Jonas, she has been a steady fashion plate and one of the highest-paid Bollywood actresses for quite some time. But beyond her career and activism, Chopra always comes correct. Whether it’s her street style or during award season, the actress breaks all the style "rules” in the best way.

WHO: Meghan Markle 

WHAT: Royal Wedding, 2018 

WEAR: Stella McCartney dress; Cartier earrings

Y’all thought we were done with the royal weddings? Nope. This past decade blessed us with not one but two. And in that fashion, Meghan Markle also blessed us with this second controversial reception dress from Stella McCartney on her big day, along with the most fabulous guest list to ever attend a wedding. And while some questioned (and continue to question) Meghan’s style choices from that day on, for many, as they tuned in to watch the royal nuptials, they realized that for the first time they could see themselves reflected in a Dutchess and her personal style. 

WHO: Chrissy Teigen 

WHAT: Vanity Fair Oscar Party, 2019 

WEAR: Marchesa dress; Lorraine Schwartz jewelry; Jimmy Choo heels

Chrissy Teigen is many things—boring is not one of them. Not only does she constantly impress me with her witty banter (mostly found on Twitter); but her on- and off-duty style over the past decade continues to surprise and delight me and her millions of fans. Whether she’s spotted with her adorable babies or walking the red carpet next to her Instagram husband, this woman looks good without fail.

WHO: Celine Dion

WHAT: Paris Fashion Week, 2019 

WEAR: Chanel jumpsuit and matching belt

Honestly, what is life without Celine Dion? Do you know any other women who can pull off a Chanel spandex jumpsuit? That look aside, the Canadian musician has been in the spotlight since she was 18, but like wine, her style has only gotten better with time. Her ability to wear everything from spandex to gowns this past decade is proof that true style has no age.

WHO: Lana Condor

WHAT: Camp: Notes on Fashion, Met Gala, 2019 

WEAR: Giambattista Valli couture; Lark & Berry earrings

At the end of the decade, we saw Lana Condor begin to establish herself as not only someone to watch on screen (with her popular Netflix film, To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before) but on the red carpet as well. Only time will tell how Condor’s style evolves, but from what we’ve seen thus far we’re placing heavy bets she’ll be defining the next decade of what it means to embody style too. 

WHO: Jennifer Lopez. 

WHAT: Versace's Women's S/S 20 Collection Presentation, 2019

WEAR: Versace 

As you probably know, it’s no easy feat picking one iconic look from a legendary style icon. No other celebrity has been able to quite procure as many collective gasps as Jennifer Lopez—and Pinterest boards dedicated to her decades of fashion, might I add. But maybe the look of all looks is the reboot of the deep-V Versace dress she originally wore to the 2000s Grammy Awards. Like J.Lo herself, this dress is timeless, ageless, and forever iconic.  

WHO: Lizzo

WHAT: 2019 American Music Awards

WEAR: Versace gown and mini bag 

While Lizzo’s rise to popularity was over the past few years, she in many ways is the fullest expression of how style has evolved over the past decade. In fact, no other musician has quite used their platform like Lizzo to promote body positivity and self-acceptance while looking good as hell doing so. Lizzo’s style represents how far we’ve come from the days of restricted beauty and style expectations and our evolution into a space where, for once, true style isn’t defined by decade, age, ethnicity or size. True style is timeless.

Next: From 2010 to 2019, These Are the Biggest Fashion Trends From the Last Decade 

I've already discussed the fall trends I'm wearing as a 5'10" fashion editor, but in case you'd like a tall celebrity's point of view, I've got you covered there too. Celebrities often get a bad rap for being unrelatable, but there are plenty of ways you can identify with them if you pay close enough attention. Case in point: Celebrities over 5'8" often wear wardrobe basics that all tall girls rely on time and time again. 

For instance, Serena Williams (5'9") and Blake Lively (5'10") are both on the same page about which fall jacket trend to try, while Nicole Kidman (5'10") and Karlie Kloss (6'2") are in agreement over the practical yet chic shoes that don't add unneeded height. Scroll down to shop the basics tall celebrities always wear. 

Slouchy, Oversize Jackets

Taller women often have broader shoulders, making certain clothing items a challenge. Speaking from personal experience, well-fitting jackets are particularly hard to find for my tall frame. I always need to size up so that it fits in the shoulders, but then it often ends up being too large elsewhere. Other than getting a tailor involved, my key is to find relaxed, loosely fitting jackets, which are much easier for tall women to wear straight off the rack. 

Fancy Flats

No, I'm not here to say that taller women can't wear heels. It's just that many of us choose to wear more practical footwear so we don't stick out like a sore thumb—celebrities included. At 5'11", Nicole Kidman knows the power of a fancy flat, which can be just as dressy as any pair of heels in existence. 

Leg-Baring Party Dress

If you've got it, flaunt it. Long legs are a major perk of being tall, and celebrities like 5'10" Zendaya and 5'9" Gywneth Paltrow know how to take full advantage. 

Next, the five Nicole Kidman basics everyone should own in 2020. 

Yesterday British Vogue announced very exciting news: None other than Meghan Markle is the guest editor of the famed glossy's September issue. Today, the magazine revealed arguably the most enlightening part of the issue, the Duchess of Sussex's brilliant interview with Michelle Obama. Can you think of a more formidable duo?

Markle asked Obama only six questions, so you know she put careful consideration into each and every one. Three of the questions centered on motherhood, which shouldn't be surprising given that Markle is a new mom to baby Archie, and Obama knows a thing or two about raising children in the spotlight. Naturally, Obama's answers were incredibly insightful. "Motherhood has taught me that, most of the time, my job is to give them the space to explore and develop into the people they want to be," Obama responded. "Not who I want them to be or who I wish I was at that age, but who they are, deep inside." Scroll down to read the three questions Markle asked Obama about motherhood, and head over to British Vogue to read the complete interview.

1. What has motherhood taught you?

"Being a mother has been a masterclass in letting go," Obama told Markle. "Try as we might, there’s only so much we can control. And, boy, have I tried – especially at first. As mothers, we just don’t want anything or anyone to hurt our babies. But life has other plans. Bruised knees, bumpy roads and broken hearts are part of the deal." Obama then went on to explain how her two daughters are different from each other and how neither approach to life is better or worse. 

2. What advice do you give your daughters?

"Don't just check the boxes you think you're supposed to check, like I did when I was their age," Obama responded. "I tell them that I hope they'll keep trying on new experiences until they find what feels right. And what felt right yesterday might not necessarily feel right today. That's OK – it's good, even. When I was in college, I thought I wanted to be a lawyer because it sounded like a job for good, respectable people. It took me a few years to listen to my intuition and find a path that fit better for who I was, inside and out."

3. How would that advice be different if you were offering it to sons? Or would it be the same? 

"It would be exactly the same," Obama told Markle and British Vogue. "My parents, particularly my father, taught my brother and me at an early age to treat boys and girls exactly the same."

Next up, these are Meghan Markle's five favorite pieces of jewelry, hands down. 

Just when you thought your summer vacation was looking pretty great, the Clooneys and Obamas had to one-up you. Barack and Michelle Obama just joined George and Amal Clooney for the ultimate power couple boat ride in Lake Como, Italy, and considering the caliber of attendees, it's no surprise that the outing was a ridiculously stylish affair.

Amal looked red carpet–ready in Gucci's Rose Garden Dress ($4600). The bold orange and purple colors certainly created a head-turning statement—but would you expect anything less from the well-dressed human rights lawyer? Michelle Obama was a bit more casual (yet no less chic) in a white blouse, black trousers, and strappy flat sandals. Meanwhile, the men were equally stylish: George and Barack both wore sharp suits for the occasion. Scroll down to see what Amal Clooney and Michelle Obama wore for a summer day in Italy. 

On Amal Clooney: Gucci Rose Garden Dress ($4600)

Shop Similar Vacation Dresses

Next up, Meghan Markle secretly updated her engagement ring—see the before and after. 

Free of the constraints of her weighty former role, it seems like Michelle Obama is having more fun with fashion than ever—and we're more than happy to be along for the ride. Yes, she often still sticks to the tried-and-true silhouettes she wore during her eight-year stint as the first lady, including pantsuits, but she's experimented with a wider range of looks in the last two years.

Overall, I've also noticed her shift from D.C.-approved structured sheath dresses to more flowy silhouettes, no doubt echoing her more laid-back lifestyle. And you can't possibly ignore the look that set the internet on fire: Michelle Obama's sparkly, thigh-high Balenciaga boots, which she teamed with an equally eye-catching bright yellow dress. It was the ultimate fashion statement and made us excited about what other surprises she might have up her sleeve.

In addition to trying out more daring trends, she's also been testing out It brands she hadn't worn before, including the extremely Instagram-friendly label By Far. Scroll down to see the trends Michelle Obama has been wearing in her post–White House days.

Sequined Jumpsuit

Attending Essence Fest in New Orleans, Obama wore a shimmering, disco-ready jumpsuit by Sergio Hudson that completely stole the show. 

On Michelle Obama: Sergio Hudson jumpsuit; Gianvito Rossi heels; Djula White Gold Hoop Earrings ($5882)

Glittery Thigh-High Boots

You might as well separate Obama's style into BBB and ABB: Before Balenciaga Boots and After Balenciaga Boots. These glittery thigh-high shoes had the internet buzzing for days, and it's not hard to see why. What will it take to get her to the Balenciaga show during Paris Fashion Week?

On Michelle Obama: Balenciaga dress and boots; Jennifer Fisher Baby Jamma Hoops ($550)

Silky Neon 

While Obama wore plenty of colorful looks in the White House, they were typically in the form of structured shift dresses. Lately, she's been letting loose in flowy, silky outfits in neon colors that evoke a more laid-back vibe.

On Michelle Obama: Fe Noel Liz Tail Blouse ($398) and Light Rust Sheer Pants ($278)

Metallic Matching Sets

Not that we ever doubted her, but Obama managed to fit right in with Hollywood's biggest A-listers at the 2019 Grammy Awards in February. Her slouchy Sachin & Babi metallic outfit is in contrast to the business-like suits she wore as the first lady, and we're totally behind the style evolution.

On Michelle Obama: Sachin & Babi suit

Instagram-Favorite Shoe Brands

During her time as first lady, Obama was extremely loyal to a handful of prestigious brands, including Jason Wu and Michael Kors. Lately, we've been spotting her in buzzy, Instagram-favorite labels like By Far, which counts It girls Bella Hadid and Jeanne Damas as fans.

On Michelle Obama: By Far Nikki Boots ($511)

Extra High-Waisted Trousers

Although Obama heavily favored dresses while in the White House, she did wear some strong trouser looks. However, this Givenchy look managed to take the humble work staple to the next level thanks to the extra high waist, which also happens to be fashion editor–approved.

On Michelle Obama: Givenchy S/S 19 military shirt, high-waisted pants, and leather buckle belt

Designer Bags

Obama was rarely photographed carrying a bag during her White House days, but when she was, it was an understated, work-ready tote or perhaps a weekender bag if the family was headed on vacation. These days, we're reveling in her handbag collection, which adds a dose of personality to her looks.

On Michelle Obama: Safiyaa Greta Pinstripe Jacket ($1532) and Dankia High-Waisted Pinstripe Trousers ($891)

Next, see how Kate Middleton styled skinny jeans with $50 sneakers from Amazon. 

It's not every day that a college sophomore creates a celebrity-loved jewelry brand, but Shilpa Yarlagadda isn't your average student. Since the sophomore at Harvard founded Shiffon Co. in 2017, the likes of Michelle Obama, Serena Williams, Nicole Kidman, Christy Turlington (and many others) have all been spotted wearing the brand's signature Duet Pinky Ring. And that's not even the best part: 50% of the profits from the pinky rings are donated to seed grants for female entrepreneurs.

"The Duet Pinky Ring represents a 'pinky promise' to pay it forward to support women," Yarlagadda told Who What Wear. "That’s why the Duet Pinky Ring has a tiny diamond set beside a larger stone—it represents one woman supporting another. Sometimes, all it takes is having a woman you admire believe in you."

Of course, I had to ask what her reaction was after seeing a former first lady and a 23-time Grand Slam champion wear her design. "Our team really looks up to women like Michelle Obama and Serena Williams," Yarlagadda said, "so seeing them wear our pinky ring and join the girl gang really gave us confidence that our Pinky Pledge movement has legs. Since Serena has actually invested in female-founded companies like Daily Harvest, and Michelle has always empowered women with the Global Girl Alliance, which helps adolescent girls get access to education since over 98 million girls in the world are currently not in school, having these two incredible women take the Pinky Pledge was an amazing moment to be a part of." Something tells us we'll be seeing a lot more of this brand in the future—and we can't wait to see what they have up their sleeve. 

Scroll down to see how Michelle Obama, Serena Williams, Nicole Kidman, and other celebrities have worn the ring and shop the brand for yourself. 

Next, see what everyone wore to the Grammys after-parties. 

We love following trend-driven celebs like Sabrina Carpenter, Zendaya, Dua Lipa, and other risk-takers, but if you have classic, minimal style, you'd likely relate to other famous wardrobes instead. Women like Cindy Crawford and Laura Harrier, for instance, tend to veer toward timeless and polished looks rather than daring and attention-grabbing trends.

We predict the four women below won't be experimenting with the biggest of-the-moment looks and will be sticking to more enduring items this year. While clashing prints and loud colors were on the fall/winter 2024 runways at Louis Vuitton, Fendi, and other major brands, we don't expect to see perennially polished Jennifer Aniston testing them out anytime soon.

Similarly, we don't anticipate Angelina Jolie suddenly ditching her signature black-and-white wardrobe for bolder hues in 2024. "Angelina Jolie is a classic minimalist," CBK author Sunita Kumar Nair told Who What Wear. "What I mean by that is that there are certain rules and principles that she applies to her dressing. Her go-to is often a dress with a coat. It's formulaic, but it works for her, and you could look at pictures taken of her 10 years ago, and they don't look dated." Scroll down to see four celebrities with classic style and shop the timeless pieces we think they'd approve of.

Cindy Crawford

Shop Cindy Crawford's Key Pieces

Laura Harrier

Shop Laura Harrier's Key Pieces

Angelina Jolie

Shop Angelina Jolie's Key Pieces

Jennifer Aniston

Shop Jennifer Aniston's Key Pieces

Michelle Obama is currently on a book tour for her new memoir, Becoming, and she is using her wardrobe to separate herself from her FLOTUS persona. She is wearing outfits and labels that are far away from her traditional styling—leaning on trouser suits, cult Instagram brands like By Far, and trend-led touches such as '80s-inspired crystal brooches and saddle bags.

Obama has also been wearing a lot of white, with highlights including a crisp wide-leg ivory jumpsuit and a white trouser suit. Anne-Marie Curtis, the editor in chief of Elle UK, met Obama and said to the Guardian of her use of color, “She was wearing a cream trouser suit and very high stilettos. She is extremely tall and incredibly toned, so she is seriously imposing. For her portraits in Elle, we wanted images that felt like fashion, but also a true portrait of her. There is a candor to wearing white that connects to the book, and how honest she is.”

Keep scrolling to see Michelle Obama's amazing book tour wardrobe.

Style Notes: In London at an event at the Southbank Centre, Michelle Obama wore a wide-leg ivory jumpsuit.

Style Notes: Here is another amazing white outfit from the FLOTUS: an ivory trouser suit for a talk with Tracee Ellis Ross.

Style Notes: Michelle Obama is wearing lots of power suits, and here she wears a belted pinstriped trouser suit with a tan saddle bag and white heels.

Style Notes: Michelle Obama added a 2018 spin to her black trouser suit, wearing a crystal pin under the lapel.

Style Notes: Obama wore black slim-leg trousers and an off-the-shoulder jacket with a pair of black boots by By Far.

Style Notes: We think the FLOTUS might be bringing back the waist belt with this all-black outfit.

Style Notes: Obama's denim trouser suit with a white T-shirt is a relaxed spin on suiting.

Style Notes: Obama's high-waisted charcoal trousers look amazing with her mock-croc black leather belt.

Style Notes: The wrap silhouette of this jacket is really elegant. We're into her matching strappy sandals too. 

Style Notes: This Akris trouser suit has a relaxed feel thanks to the white stitching.

Next up, see our guide to the key trends for spring/summer 2019.

Michelle Obama is currently on a book tour for her new memoir, Becoming, and she is using her wardrobe to separate herself from her FLOTUS persona. She is wearing outfits and labels that are far away from her traditional styling—leaning on trouser suits, cult Instagram brands like By Far and trend-led touches, such as '80s-inspired crystal brooches and saddle bags.

Obama has also been wearing a lot of white, with highlights including a crisp wide-leg ivory jumpsuit and a white trouser suit. Anne-Marie Curtis, the editor in chief of Elle UK, met Obama and said to the Guardian of her use of colour: "She was wearing a cream trouser suit and very high stilettos. She is extremely tall and incredibly toned, so she is seriously imposing. For her portraits in Elle, we wanted images that felt like fashion, but also a true portrait of her. There is a candour to wearing white that connects to the book, and how honest she is.”

Her most recent look, however, has got to be the best to date. Waving goodbye to the formality of White House style, Michele rocked up to the Copenhagen stop of her tour in an unbelievably cool crystal-embellished blush pink suit from Scandi label Stine Goya. A customised iteration on the brand's blue two-piece (see below), the look was seriously flattering on Michele's statuesque proportions, which were further enhanced by a pair of metallic court shoes. This has definitely been given the Who What Wear seal of approval—more of this, please, Michelle! Scroll down to see the suit in all its glory.

On Michelle: Stine Goya suit

Shop the Stine Goya Suit

Keep scrolling to see Michelle Obama's amazing book tour wardrobe.

Other Looks From Michele Obama's Book Tour

Style Notes: In London at an event at the Southbank Centre, Michelle wore a wide-leg ivory jumpsuit.

Style Notes: Here is another amazing white outfit from the FLOTUS: an ivory trouser suit for a talk with Tracee Ellis Ross. 

Style Notes: Michelle Obama is wearing lots of power suits, and here she wears a belted pinstriped trouser suit with a tan saddle bag and white heels.

Style Notes: Michelle added a 2018 spin to her black trouser suit, wearing a crystal pin under the lapel.

Style Notes: Michelle wore black slim-leg trousers and an off-the-shoulder jacket with a pair of black boots by By Far.

Style Notes: We think the FLOTUS might be bringing back the waist belt with this all-black outfit.

Style Notes: Michelle's denim trouser suit with a white T-shirt is a relaxed spin on suiting.

Style Notes: Michelle's high-waisted charcoal trousers look amazing with her mock-croc black leather belt.

Style Notes: The wrap silhouette of this jacket is really elegant. We're into her matching strappy sandals too. 

Style Notes: This Akris trouser suit has a relaxed feel thanks to the white stitching.

Next up, see our guide to the key trends for spring/summer 2019.

By now we don't even blink when we see models and cool girls all over Instagram wearing the buzziest trends of the season. But when powerful women outside of the fashion world get in on these insider styles, I can't tell you how exciting it is to witness. Case in point: the nearly sold-out blazer Michelle Obama wore during a recent event to promote her forthcoming book, Becoming, is the epitome of the holiday trend we're calling chandelier dressing.

The sparkly trend involves loads of dripping crystals on everything from shoes to bags to jewelry, and it's been taking over our Instagram feeds as of late. But seeing Obama put her stamp of approval on it via a Christopher Kane blazer was exhilarating in a different way. After all, it's not every day we get to see figureheads like her styling the most forward trends. Needless to say, this Michelle Obama look is giving us life this week.

Scroll down to see how Obama wore the chandelier trend and then to shop her blazer, along with other buzzy crystal items.

Next, see every chic pantsuit she wore this week.

Michelle Obama is currently on a promotional tour for her new memoir, which means we get to revel in a slew of new outfits from the stylish former first lady. Over the course of the last few months, she has set a clear tone for her tour looks: It's all about the power pantsuit. In fact, she's already worn over 10 different versions, each one chicer than the next. One of her looks, in particular, threw us for a loop in the best possible way: She wore a bright yellow Balenciaga dress with glittery, thigh-high legging-boots also by the brand—and we couldn't be more obsessed.

Earlier in her book tour, she wore a custom Karen Walker denim suit as well as a crisp all-white pantsuit. Obama also wore a custom pinstripe Jonathan Simkhai set for an appearance on Good Morning America and a bright blue suit by Akris for a roundtable discussion in Chicago, and we have a feeling she has plenty more impossibly chic outfits for the remainder of her tour. Her White House style will always have a place in our hearts, but her recent outfits are proving to be just as memorable. Scroll down to see every look she's worn on her book tour so far.

See Every Look From Her Book Tour

On Michelle Obama: Custom Stine Goya pantsuit

On Michelle Obama: Fe Noel Liz Tail Blouse ($398) and Light Rust Sheer Pants ($278)

On Michelle Obama: Balenciaga dress and boots; Jennifer Fisher Baby Jamma Hoops ($550)

On Michelle Obama: Givenchy S/S 19 black cotton military shirt, blue cotton petrol high-waisted pants, and black shiny leather buckle belt

On Michelle Obama: By Far Nikki Boots ($511)

On Michelle Obama: Safiyaa Greta Pinstripe Jacket ($1532) and Dankia High-Waisted Pinstripe Trousers ($891)

On Michelle Obama: Custom Karen Walker suit

On Michelle Obama: Jonathan Simkhai custom pinstripe suit

On Michelle Obama: Akris suit

Next up, six trends Michelle Obama never would have worn in the White House. 

We've all been there. You needed to leave the house five minutes ago but are still grappling with your outfit. The next time you're in a pinch and want to look instantly polished, try emulating Michelle Obama's new outfit: Go monochrome and pick shoes that match your dress. Yep, it's as simple as that.

Obama appeared on the Today show wearing the Rachel Comey Sunder Stripe Viscose Dress ($675) with matching white pumps that looked crisp and put-together. Obama was on the show to celebrate International Day of the Girl and to reveal her latest project, The Global Girls Alliance, which supports young girls' education around the world.

"When girls get the opportunities they deserve, amazing things start to happen; poverty goes down, economies grow, families get stronger, and babies are born healthier," the program's website explains. "And the world, by all accounts, gets better." How can you possibly argue with that? Scroll down to see Obama's outfit and shop the look for yourself.

On Michelle Obama: Rachel Comey Sunder Stripe Viscose Dress ($675)

Shop the Look

Former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama unveiled their portraits at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., today. While you may have seen photos of the stunning pieces of art, you might not know the entire story, including the background of the artists, the symbolism, the fashion element, and more. Read on for five fast facts you need to know. 

1. Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald are the first African-American artists to be selected to paint official presidential portraits for the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery. The Obamas personally chose the artists to execute the portraits. 

2. Sherald, who painted Michelle Obama's portrait, is based in Baltimore, Maryland. The Smithsonian revealed that Sherald survived a heart transplant in 2012. "A personification of resilience herself, Sherald conveys the inner strength of her subjects through a combination of calm expressions and confrontational poses," the Smithsonian explained. 

3. Barack Obama's portrait is filled with symbolism. According to Variety, each of the flowers in the background holds a special meaning. Chrysanthemums are the official flower of Chicago, his hometown, while the jasmine blooms represent Hawaii, where Obama grew up. Finally, the African blue lilies are a homage to Obama's Kenyan father.

4. Michelle Obama wears a Milly dress in her portrait. In a press release, the brand gives further details on the beautiful gown: "The floor length, full silhouette was designed by [Milly co-founder and creative director] Michelle Smith specifically for the portrait. Loosely based on a runway dress from the spring 2017 collection and made in New York City, the dress is made of a stretch cotton poplin in a clean, geometric print, reflecting a modern sensibility."

5. Wiley, who painted Barack Obama's portrait, is known for his colorful large-scale Renaissance-influenced paintings of black men and women, among them music icons like Michael Jackson, LL Cool J, and Ice-T. An in-depth GQ profile from 2013, however, explains that Wiley doesn't only paint famous people. "More often Wiley’s paintings are of people you don’t know, people like those he’ll meet over the next month in five different African countries—Morocco, Tunisia, Gabon, Congo, and Cameroon—in search of representative men, hundreds he’ll photograph all over Africa, returning to his studio in Beijing to paint a wildly ambitious, continuing endeavor that he calls the World Stage," GQ wrote at the time. 

Opening image: Getty Images

Michelle Obama appears on the new episode of The Ellen Show today, which marks her first TV interview since leaving the White House. The episode is celebrating DeGeneres's 60th birthday, so the duo was in great spirits for their chat, resulting in some hilarious moments. Read on for our favorite fun facts we learned from the interview. 

1. Obama got DeGeneres the funniest birthday gifts that referenced her past interviews on the show. "As you can see, I went to our favorite store," she said, showing a CVS basket. "I stole this basket so don't tell anybody. (The duo went to a CVS store for a segment last year.) The gifts included boxed wine and The Perfect Pushup, "so you don't lose a push-up competition again," Obama said. 

2. Michelle joked that Former President Barack Obama isn't exactly happy with their post–White House home. "He still talks about this," Michelle said. "He got short-changed on this deal. He doesn't have enough closet space—sorry. He's got the smallest room for the office."

3. Sasha, on the other hand, got the better end of the deal. "Sasha actually killed in this house—she has this two-room suite," Obama said. "It’s all decked out. She’s got a living room area and bedroom. She designed it."

4. Obama said that Malia, who's currently at Harvard, doesn't even have her own space in the house. "Malia’s got a room in the attic somewhere. She's away at college—you don't waste rooms on college kids."

5. Obama revealed how she didn't know what to do with the gift she received from Melania Trump on Inauguration Day. "Everyone cleared out—there was no staff, no one would take the box. What do I do with the box? My husband saved the day and took the box inside." 

Scroll down to watch the interview in full. 

Prince Harry and the Obamas love to support one another's causes. You may remember that President Barack Obama attended the royal's Invictus Games event back in September, and now Prince Harry is returning the favor by supporting the Obama Foundation Summit in Chicago today.

Ahead of the event, Prince Harry and Michelle Obama paid a surprise visit to a local high school, where the stylish duo dressed in coordinating light-blue work shirts and pants. (Michelle, of course, wore a fashion girl's take on the classic button-down shirt, and completed the look with Jennifer Fisher earrings.) When a powerhouse duo gets together to do good work—and dress well while doing it— they're pretty much unstoppable, in our book.

Scroll down to see Michelle Obama and Prince Harry at an event in Chicago.

Next up, get a close-up look at Millie Bobby Brown's amazing Gucci shoes. 

Opening Image: Getty Images

It was only natural that during Michelle Obama's time as the first lady of the United States, the world was watching every move she made. And her style was as notable as her other important contributions. She championed young and upcoming American designers like Tanya Taylor and Brandon Maxwell; she supported mass brands (where so much of the country shops), including J.Crew and Target; and FLOTUS thoughtfully selected specific designers for special occasions. Remember when she wore that stunning Atelier Versace creation to welcome the Italian Prime Minister and his wife to D.C.?

But since she's left the White House, we find ourselves still keeping track of her looks. Why? Because Obama's place as a style star didn’t stop there. Ahead, see just a few of the former FLOTUS’s standout looks and go-to style that make her an enduring fashion inspiration.

Style Move: Invest in well-made, perfectly fit separates, like black trousers, a silky button down, and a sleek overcoat. These pieces will never not look polished.

On Michelle Obama: Self-Portrait dress and Jennifer Fisher earrings.

Style Move: Obama has never steered away from bold print or color, but mixing typically mismatched prints feels even more adventurous. 

On Michelle Obama: Naeem Khan dress.

Style Move: Pare back the accessories when you wear a truly breathtaking creation. 

On Michelle Obama: Givenchy dress.

Style Move: Silver, gold, bronze—these are the most unexpected, and exciting, neutral colors you can wear. Especially when it comes to accessories and footwear.

On Michelle Obama: Atelier Versace dress.

Style Notes: For the most special of special occasions, go for full head-to-toe sparkle. Just try it once. You'll never go back. 

On Michelle Obama: 3.1 Phillip Lim sweater.

Style Notes: Step up a classic piece (such as a sweater) with an option that features unique shapes and patterns. 

On Michelle Obama: Narciso Rodriguez coat.

Style Notes: Advance to monochrome 2.0 by wearing a range of textured fabrics all in a similar hue.

Next, take a trip down memory lane with another high-profile style star, Kate Middleton.

What's your favorite legging brand? If Under Armour isn't in your collection yet, Meghan Markle and Michelle Obama just might convince you to add it to your repertoire, stat. Both stylish women own leggings from the activewear label and have styled them in super-chic ways.

Markle has been lying low recently, but we decided to take a look back at some of the yoga aficionado's best leggings outfits. As for Obama, you may remember that she wore the brand from head to toe for a hike on her Italian vacation recently. Read on to see how both women wear the workout staple and shop the brand's best sellers for yourself.

Scroll down to see how Meghan Markle and Michelle Obama style Under Armour, and shop the brand's best-selling leggings for yourself.

On Meghan Markle: Under Armour leggings; Adidas by Stella McCartney sneakers.

On Meghan Markle: Under Armour leggings; Kamik Sienna Boots ($120).

On Michelle Obama: Under Armour Fly-By Racerback Tank Top ($35), Fly-By Printed Leggings in Imperial Purple/Fresh Orchid ($60), SpeedForm Gemini 3 Sneakers ($97), and Fly-By ArmourVent Cap ($25).

Shop Under Armour Leggings

Next up, shop the $65 sneakers celebrities are obsessed with.

Opening Image: Getty Images

Michelle Obama is living her best life on an Italian vacation right now. Yesterday, she was pretty in pink wearing a statement sleeve top, and today she opted to don the major summer trend again. This time around, her chic blouse came from a brand you may have forgotten about: Club Monaco. She wore the Jamia Top (£196) from the contemporary American label, which features feminine ruffles and cute tie details on the sleeves, meaning it has basically everything we'd look for in a summer top.

To complete her outfit, Obama wore flattering wide-leg trousers with a handful of chic accessories: Simon Miller Birch Mini Nubuck Tote (£355 available in other colours), Elizabeth and James Connolly Cuff (£225), casual slides and oversize sunnies. Excuse us while we copy this look from head to toe.

Scroll down to see Michelle Obama's latest holiday outfit, and shop the pieces she's wearing. 

On Michelle Obama: Club Monaco Jamia Top (£196);Simon Miller Birch Mini Nubuck Tote (£355) (available in other colours); Elizabeth and James Connolly Cuff (£225).

Shop the Look 

Next up! Tap into these pictures of Australian street style for some new summer outfit inspo.

Go searching for any memorable Michelle Obama ensemble during the last eight or so years and chances are you’ll see a lot of heels. But don’t be fooled; FLOTUS does not have time for shoes that don’t allow you to take on the day full force. In fact, she might just rather you take off your shoes altogether if they’re holding you back.

The proof of this comes in a Footwear News interview with Spanx founder Sara Blakely in which the entrepreneur recalls meeting Obama. After waiting in line for too long, wearing too-painful shoes, for her chance to greet the first lady, Blake couldn’t help but tell her about how much her feet were hurting. “She goes, ‘Girl, my feet are killing me, too,’” recounts Blake to Footwear News. “I asked if I can take my shoes off and she said, ‘Yes, and you can tell anyone who tells you to put them back on that Mrs. Obama said you can take them off.’”

While we can’t say we’ve seen many photos of Mrs. Obama hanging out barefoot during a White House press event, we do know her as a woman who’s down to earth. And we can’t help but appreciate anyone who shows a true understanding that fashion should make you look and feel good. And if it’s not achieving both, maybe it’s not worth wearing at all.

Keep FLOTUS’s attitude in mind and shop comfortable, chic footwear that won’t slow you down.

Opening Image: Getty

When you can count Michelle Obama as a fan, your line is bound to enjoy success. Vogue brought our attention to designer Maria Pinto, who dressed the first lady for the 2008 Democratic National Convention in an attractive blue number (as well as many other looks). Although Pinto shuttered that brand in 2010, Vogue reports that she’s returned to the industry with a new line, and we have a feeling that Mrs. Obama will be a fan of the revamped version as well.

Dubbed M2057, the line is already generating buzz. “With M2057, it’s about this sort of modern, minimal approach,” Pinto told Vogue. “The goal is to provide what I like to call a blank canvas. I think there are ways to create a really beautiful object or dress that transcends a person’s personal style, so you might put it on with biker boots, and someone else might put it on with a pair of Manolos.”

Scroll down to shop M2507!

What do you think about this new line? Tell us in the comments below, and then shop more pieces from M2057!

Opening Image: Getty Images

What do Amal Clooney, Michelle Obama, and Katy Perry all have in common? Well, as Vogue pointed out, they all love wearing the classic Missoni zigzag print this summer. And rightfully so—it's bold, fun, and perfect for the season. Amal wore her variation of the pattern at the airport, Michelle Obama chose another frock while in Italy this week, and Katy opted for a jumpsuit iteration while on vacation. 

Keep scrolling to check out each look!

On Clooney: Missoni dress; Valentino wedges.

On Obama: Missoni dress.

On Perry: Missoni jumpsuit.

What do you think? Do you like this zigzag print? Sound off in the comments below! And don't forget to shop the Missoni print if you're feeling inspired. ASOS also stocks more-affordable variations of the pattern.