If you’re like me, and have already got a handsome collection of Barack Obama newspaper and magazine covers piling up around your home, I bet you’re super excited about this right here — Michelle Obama is looking most elegant and stunning on the cover of the March issue of Vogue. Love that tagline — “the first lady the world’s been waiting for.”
To quote Isaac Hayes, you damn right.
She was photographed by the one and only Annie Liebovitz, and interviewed by my beloved fashion-fairy-godfather-in-the-head, Andre Leon Talley, who described it as “one of the best experiences of my life.”
In the shoot, Michelle rocks the designers she’s shown fondness for — J.Crew, Jason Wu, and Narciso Rodriguez. I love that this is a first lady with an identity and strong ideas about what she wants and how she presents herself. Talley said the same.
“”She doesn’t need any help. She loves fashion and knows what works for her,” Talley said. “She’s never had a conversation with me about, `What do you think?’ or `How did this look? And I’m glad for that.”
So am I, because otherwise we might find Michelle rocking a turban, a bolero, and a pair of harem pants.
I kid ALT because I love him. And I hope he knows that, somewhere out there.
The LA Times questions whether or not the Vogue cover is a good idea for the new First Lady. As a beauty blogger with an active interest in the long-noted lack of diversity in American Vogue (as versus their international counterparts), I gotta applaud this decision. Michelle O on the cover makes me want to buy Vogue, and I haven’t wanted to do that in forever.
So bellas, will you be racing to the newsstands to cop this issue? I know I will!
I’m going to check the newsstands in the morning. The good thing about NY newsstands is that they break the rules and sell magazines the second they get them – NOT by the official sell date.
Bless them.:)
P.S. – the Vogue cover is a good idea. The LA Times isn’t serious with that question – traffic bait.
I need to get my hands on that Vogue . . . and I never buy Vogue!
Love my Meeshy O!
OMG she looks stunning! Thanks for this! (I LOVEEEE ALT too!)
I can’t wait to get my issue in the mail. Love the cover, love that color.
I know folks like to clown ALT but I love him too. He is extremely smart and passionate about what he does.
I NEVER buy Vogue, but I have to admit, I might have to peel off a few for this one. That cover is beautiful.
I’m going to pick up a copy too. She looks absolutely beautiful.
First Lady Obama is the epitome of what the First Lady should be. I will be buying this magazine! She looks stunning!
ok, i’m a big fan of michelle obama and i think it is wonderful that she is on the cover of vogue. but, you know, one of the reasons that i am glad she is out there is that i have a sort of target of rebellion that i respect and i know respects my natural hair. she’s 10 years older than me and she is in the seat of power. could she have gotten there with natural hair, even if she wore it the way ida b. wells or anna julia cooper did. you know all those 19th century bellas were rockin the natural but they somehow grew it longish and tied it back in a bun. i don’t know how sojourner or nanny of the maroons wore her hair. plaits? dreadlocks? cornrows? women of power. different eras. different styles. i don’t want my enthusiasm for the obamas to subtly slide into recognizing the way that straightened hair is required for proper black female presentation — as professional and as pretty and as safe among a certain generation and among black people of “respectable” leanings whether they are the Obamas or the folks in the neighborhood. but i’m glad she’s who she is because it makes it easier somehow for me to be fly in my own way–because she’s so individual–and also to affirm my natural hair and say, no i don’t want to be put into a category that is media ready… but she looks great, obviously.
i meant slide into accepting relaxed hair again and feeling that pressure…
I am not a fan of this pic, it looks like her head was photoshopped on the body. Essence did a better job than this
I’ll be getting my Vogue and putting it next to my JHud.
cosign with Bebroma. I actually haven’t picked up any publication featuring the Obamas :/
Yes, I’d like to have the issue. But why do Black folks always, always ALWAYS look ridiculous on the cover of Vogue? Andre Leon Talley is useless if he can’t recommend better images for his people by now. Mrs. Obama looks like she smelled something awful when the shot was taken. Next to LeBron James’ menacing stance and Jennifer Hudson opening wide enough to please any dentist, this cover is another letdown. I’d also like to see the first lady try a natural hair texture, because she may be the only one who can truly make it respectable. But she has 4 years for that. We don’t want her accused of having a liberal agenda just yet.
I think Vogue could have done a better job with the cover. She looked really good on the cover of Essence and Ebony Magazines. I also wish they could have showcased her dress more. It’s a beautiful color on her. However I will give Vogue credit with the fact that the other two pics of the First Lady look nice. If you ladies haven’t seen the other photos you can check them out here:
http://bossip.com/83074/a-regal-spread-michelle-obama-does-vogue/
I have just three points so I will try to keep them short.
1) I love that we have a woman in the spotlight that wears clothing we can afford. For so long, we were always shown fashion that was so out of our budget it was ridiculous.
2)I have NEVER bought Vogue. Never! I agree that this is the one time I will buy this magazine.
3) I find it very interesting that the LA Times questions if the Vogue cover is good for Mrs. Obama’s image? I say, why not? I think the LA Times is seeing Vogue as just fashion. They are not looking at it that by putting Mrs. Obama on the cover has a two-fold effect. It will increase their readership and it will introduce regular Vogue to her.
I wonder if they would have asked the same question if if were Jackie Kennedy Onasis. Not because of race but because of their fashion styles.
See, I didn’t even pay attention to the dress. That ARM!!! That incredible, beautiful, strong, Tina Turner-esque arm!
I think she looks fabulous in that shot (I love the color) and I will definitely be buying this issue (and I never buy Vogue).
I can not wait to purchase this edition of Vogue. She looks stunning. I am very excited.
I’m looking forward to my copy coming in the mail!
I just wish they’d change up the brows but she looks fab, as always.
I saw this on the news this morning and OF COURSE I’M BUYING IT!!!!!! LOL
I just purchased Vanity Fair with President Obama on the cover. He also was photographed by Annie Leibowitz.
The magazine publishers who have seen a significant slump in sales recently are trying to milk this for what it’s worth. I hope they stop soon. Because I may need a magazine closet just for all of my “collectibles”. LOL
Oh and bella you can’t make fun of ALT WITHOUT talking about those open toe Alladin and the Magic carpet shoes he has been rocking with the turban. LMAO. Oh you gotta love ALT. 🙂
I WANT HER ARMS!!
As much as I love Michelle Obama, I have absolutely no intention of purchasing this issue. Late last year when the blogosphere was buzzing about the possibility, I was kind of torn. But there are a few things about Vogue that I just couldn’t get over enough to buy this issue, and this is speaking as a former subscriber.
First, keeping in mind that that it’s the magazine’s tradition to feature the new first lady, why is it that other than Michelle Obama you can literally count on one hand the number of black faces (professional model or celebrity) that have been on the cover of American Vogue in the last decade? I’ll name them: Oprah (Nov’ 98), Halle Berry (Dec’ 02), Liya Kebede (May’05), Jennifer Hudson (Feb ’07) Lebron James (Apr’08). (And lets not talk of other non-white faces. The only one I can think of is Salma Hayek in ’04 or ’05.) Twelve issues a year, for the past 10+ years, and this is all Anna Wintour and ALT could come up with. It’s not impressive. Had it not been for the election, it would be anyone’s guess when Vogue would put a non-white face on the cover. I mean, if designers can find inspiration from all over the world, why are the only bodies featured in those creations white? It’s an old question, but it’s well worth repeating.
Secondly, I have a real problem with how Annie Leibovitz captures black people. It’s either unflattering (Jennifer) or questionable/racist (Lebron and other recent editorials set in “Africa”). Each and every time there is something seriously off, especially when you line it up with her other covers and editorials.
Thirdly, I’m not getting this issue because American Vogue has become a crappy read. It has really declined over the last few years. The editorials are stale, the writing is useless. Fashion doesn’t have to be empty. You know there’s a problem the ads are more intriguing and inspiring than the content.
It’s pretty disappointing because this particular cover supposed to be special and somewhat commemorative, and I should be totally excited but I’m not.
Whew! Thanks for letting me air all that out. Love your blog just as it is, opinions and all! I’d love it even more if there was more fashion talk. Just sayin’:) Seriously though, keep up the great work.
I subscribe, so I’m expecting my copy anyday now, overall, a pretty picture & I love Michelle. BUT, I gotta say, her hair on the cover ain’t togetha. Now, I been a nappy gyrl for the last 6 yrs or so, but back in my fried, dyed & laid to the side days, I know, rule of thumb when taking photos is, not a hair out of place, our hair, in a straightened state, shouldn’t be looking “piece-y”. Shame on Vogue for not catching that. It goes to show how danggone outta touch they are when it comes to styling us, our hair, etc… I plan to write them about this also. It’s enough to make me not re-new my subscription, I’m so damn irked by their cluelessness…
I’m with afrobello & them, where the hell was ALT when they was picking what shot to put on the cover?! They coulda airbrushed them strays away…c’mon now…
This vogue cover sucks. I would expect something more fun and high fashion. I think it’s a bit on the side of boring. I would even say that it is lazy, safe, and unimaginative, and they made her appear matronly. Just my 2.
huffington post on MO’s hairstyles. the responses are … varied.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/13/michelle-obamas-hairstyle_n_166665.html
I’m glad she’s on the cover but i don’t like the pose. As an artist, it does irritate me a bit. The photographer could have done a better job. I don’t think I would have had her leaning on the couch. It’s sort of submissive and dull which doesn’t reflect her personality.