A Return to Vogue
Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 8:20 AM 
Photos via Vogue.com
As had been speculated, Mrs. O is on the cover of Vogue for April 2013, out on newstands in less than two weeks. Per Robin Givhan of the Washington Post, "She’s wardrobed from her own closet in a Reed Krakoff sheath in cerulean blue with a flourish of purple at the neckline." Vogue reveals that Mrs. O paired the dress Kimberly McDonald geode-and-diamond drop earrings. In a new photo on the magazine's website, the First Lady can also be seen wearing a stunning Michael Kors sweater and ball skirt.
In the interview, the First Lady describes her relationship to fashion as follows:
“I always say that women should wear whatever makes them feel good about themselves. That’s what I always try to do. . . . I also believe that if you’re comfortable in your clothes it’s easy to connect with people and make them feel comfortable as well. In every interaction that I have with people, I always want to show them my most authentic self.”
As many will recall, the First Lady also appeared on the March 2009 cover of Vogue, seen here.
For further reading:
"Leading by Example: First Lady Michelle Obama" [Vogue]
"Michelle Obama returns to Vogue as first lady who's melded style, influence" [Washington Post]
Bonus: "Michelle Obama's Best Looks" [Vogue]
Kimberly McDonald, Michael Kors, Reed Krakoff
Reader Comments (57)
yay! can't wait to see/read it.
The more I see her and the more I read about her, the more I love her! I just read the Vogue interview of the President and the First Lady. I can't wait to get my hands on the magazine. What a difference in her look from her March 2009 Vogue cover to the April 2013 cover! Huffington Post has a picture of the two photos, one beneath the other. Please click here to see the photograph(s). It's also a larger size of the photograph Mrs. T. has posted here allowing an even better view of this awesome dress!
This is a beautiful picture of her and an excellent choice of dress. Much better than the last cover. Well done!
I love the dress, but I really don't like the photo. She does not look like herself I think! Unfortunately, a disappointment for me...
Is it possible she is not aging? She looks fresher and younger on this cover.
I'm excited about this cover! I still have the Vogue cover of her from 2009.
Her hair looks brown--may be touched up, but I like it!
Simply sensational. I will definitely be picking up a copy.
I like that they lightened up her bangs. The green gown is beautiful.
Very beautiful dress worn comfortably and with great style! I'd like to see it less heavily photoshopped. Mrs. O is sensational without technological enhancement.
PAR EXCELLENCE - A beautiful play of colours worn by an amazing
human being. I can't wait to get my copy. I'm inspired by this spectacular
cover photo and the titles chosen.
Mrs. T, please tell me you gonna post the ever so Vogue pic if Mrs. O in the black gown with the leather at the waist!!!! That picture is an instant classic!!! If they don't turn it into a portrait and hang it in the WH, I will be peeved!!! Her cover is gorgeous! Clearly she has lost a few pounds and it look great.
@Ellen, I'm with you. The pose seems contorted and the perspective looks off. She looks more like herself in the photo with the President. Beautiful dress, though. I love the two colors, the asymmetry and the waist detail. I hope the FLOTUS wears it for a public appearance so we can get a better view.
Does "cerulean" make anyone else think of Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada?
One of the many things I admire about Mrs. Obama is that she has deliberately presented herself very differently than any First Lady before her. She presents a very clean, modern look that is unique and radically different than previous First Ladies. While I don't always agree with her choices, I always respect her ability to be comfortable in her own skin. That is a powerful message to the women of America and of the world.
The dress is very pretty "spring like". But the picture is way too airbrushed .I know she has lost some weight, but in this picture she looks way too thin . Does not really look like her. I've seen other pictures where she looks much prettier than this photo. I'm quite disappointed
This photo looks like our wonderful first lady. Not a good pic at all. I’m trying to understand the dress, need to see the whole dress to know. Her hair is lighter, but I like it.
Mrs. O is fabulous but unfortunately this cover does not capture that. They have airbrushed it with a heavy hand and made her look like someone else. Cant wait for a copy though.
I am so disappointed to see how heavily photoshopped this picture is. She doesn't need any enhancement.
Ugh, disappointed.
Like previous comments have mentioned, it doesn't look like the real Mrs. O. Photoshop overkill.
Her hair looks great, I like that she now has layers, they complement the bangs nicely.
The dress is GORGEOUS! I love the colors, the detailing accentuating the waist, the cut :) lovely!
The photo of FLOTUS in the deep/dark green Michael Kors sweater and ball skirt is phenomenal! She looks like royalty. Mrs. T do you know how we can get our hands on an enlargement? The photo in the Vogue story seems to be focusing on the grandness of the room instead of the grandness of the woman. Please click here to see the photograph.
The photo of FLOTUS in the deep/dark green Michael Kors sweater and ball skirt is phenomenal! She looks like royalty. Mrs. T do you know how we can get our hands on an enlargement? The photo in the Vogue story seems to be focusing on the grandness of the room instead of the grandness of the woman. Please click here to see the photograph.
I agree that the cover photo is a little strange looking, BUT the photo inside of her in the deep dark green Michael Kors dress that the commenter above me, Vivienne has provided a link too is FANTABULOUS!!! My GOD!!! I want to look like that in a dress!!! LOL!!!
I really like the way her hair is styled in the Vogue cover photo. It looks layered on the sides, bangs are shorter and the colour is highlighted brown. It looks less like a wig. Dress is very nice, refreshingly different.
These pictures were taken about the time of her official photo which was beautiful. I will reserve my opinion until I get my copy in the mail. The cover can change just like the one they did with Beyonce. The released photo was not the one on the cover for the monthly subscribers.
Oh wowww... A Princess. An American Princess. An African American Princess. Each and All. That Michelle Obama is one grand and lovely lady. Phenomenal Woman, as Angelou has written. I've nearly run out of glowing adjectives to describe her...well, not quite. ...Looking forward to seeing more and reading more about her. I'm simply smitten!
P.S. Curious: "Who wants to be on the cover of Vogue and look like 'herself?'" I can't imagine many of the "critics" here would. Maybe a "version" of yourself--be it the "model" or "glamour" version of who you are. Magazine images and covers (especially) are idealized and fantasy. Most of us know that. ...Besides, don't foundation, concealer, eyeliner, eyelash enhancement, rouge, lipstick, etc., assist the average woman (or man) in looking like a version of herself? (I hardly know many women who would venture beyond her front yard without the aid of at least a few of such enhancements.)
I love Mrs O, but this photo looks like it's been photoshoped just a little too much. There is something a little bit off about this picture.
Great dress - heart the purple detail - and like her hair.
Overly airbrushed?
There are some must-see photos from Pete Souza on Obama Diary, one showing Mrs. O in that Moschino mixed print from 2010 (not a favorite of mine, I must admit), another of the silver Naeem Khan from the Governer's dinner/Oscar night and one more of a purple suit I don't think we've seen before.
Yes our FLOTUS rocks. But she is not represented well on this cover. Mrs. O looked wonderful on the 2009 cover and for her official portrait; a woman of style, substance, and elegance. But with this cover she is relegated to all things shallow and vacuous. Mrs. O does not need to be touched up to appear thinner and more buff than she is. She works hard for her body. She works on mentoring initiatives. All this is saying to the young women who look up to her is no matter what you do in life be thin while doing it.
Another nice article here: http://www.theroot.com/blogs/blogging-beltway/why-mrs-obamas-vogue-cover-matters-more
I agree with the criticism of how the "enhancement" of Mrs. O has ended up making her look shallow, even artificial. It's insulting to her natural beauty, which is masked and diminished in this photo. I find it insulting to women in general that we be forced into this kind of preconceived notion of perfection and disappointed that Mrs. O allowed it.
Mrs. O represents her healthy confident lifestyle beautifully in this inevitably Photoshopped pic. Fact is, it's Vogue and 2013. Given those givens : ), I would say her hair looks less severe with softer, shorter and more feathered bangs. Maybe there's a way for her team to recreate that naturally. Overall tone to the photos looks like a digital sepia wash, so maybe that's why her hair looks brown instead of black. Stunning photos of my favorite 2 public people! Imagine all the things Mrs. O had to fight with the Vogue "creative team" to have it look this close to reality. LOL
there is a whole lot of PHOTOSHOP here, her face was made smaller! almost does not look like here.
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous and simply divine! Our exquisite First Lady is absolutely superb and so classy hot, hot, hot!
Can't wait to buy copies of this issue of Vogue for everyone I know!
Have you seen this video? It's terrific!
http://bcove.me/k11v14nw
Have you seen this video? It's terrific!
http://bcove.me/k11v14nw
Re Question P.S. Curious: I do! My real self is perfectly coiffed with flawless maquillage, splendidly clothed with the clothes I would like to own, and always at ease in front of the camera. Put me on Vogue; it's where I belong. It's the daily chick-in-the-mirror who skips the bra even though she doesn't pass the pencil test (hasn't for years) who is not my authentic self.
As for this cover photo of FLOTUS, I'm with the people who are not loving it for being too digitized. The pose, the clothes and the person: fabulous. The technical aspects: meh.
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Come on Vogue, cover photo is so photoshopped. What is this, Mrs. Obama is the First Lady, not a model or covergirl. I wish she would use better judgement in her magazine presentations.
I had to enlarge that fabulous picture from the Vogue article of FLOTUS poised so elegantly in the red room of the White House. I just feel that it must be viewed larger to get the full effect. It is my new favorite picture of FLOTUS :) Please click here to see the enlarged photograph.
I had to enlarge that fabulous picture from the Vogue article of FLOTUS poised so elegantly in the red room of the White House. I just feel that it must be viewed larger to get the full effect. It is my new favorite picture of FLOTUS :) Please click here to see the enlarged photograph.
The official White House photo of Mrs. O in the mermaid gown is over the top: fun for dress-up but an invitation to criticism from her vehement opponents who try to make this all about showing off her body. She's playing into that stereotype, and it's unfortunate. My advice as her stylist might be, We know you have a lovely body of which you are understandably proud, but this is about the history of the First Lady in this mansion. Now go put on a modest wool dress without spandex in the fabric, and no train, please!
@Vivienne, thank you for the enlarged close-up of that picture of our exquisite First Lady. It is indeed now one of my all time favorites. A real classic!
And as simple as the Michael Kors ensemble is, it is all so breathtakingly elegant on the First Lady's gorgeous frame.
Just beautiful!
Another magazine to add to my collection on Mrs. O; however, none so far has topped the Essence Magazine's 2012 "SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION".
I actually GASPED whenI saw the ball gown and sweater ensemble! What a gorgeous, gorgeous photo! Mrs. Obama is hands-down, the most beautiful and accomplished FLOTUS ever! I am proud that she represents us all! God Bless and protect her and her family...the same goes for the Bidens!
The ball skirt ensemble deserves a close up!!
Spot on Marcus!
@abigail: "..I wish she would use better judgement in her magazine presentations.."
What on earth does that mean? She should do only good housekeeping and stars and stripes? And even then you'll still find something to complain about.
@thumper: "..The official White House photo of Mrs. O in the mermaid gown is over the top....Now go put on a modest wool dress without spandex in the fabric, and no train, please!.."
You've got to be kidding! This was part of the Vogue photo shoot and not an "official" White House photo for goodness sakes!
As for your admonition over "showing her body", you really ought to get over it. You could never be considered for Mrs Obama's stylist and from the looks of it, you really couldn't be one for this era anyhow. 1842 sounds more like your time.
As one of the most vocal and most persistent "vehement opponents" of all things Mrs Obama, pray tell thumper how does one juggle a life consumed with such an unhealthy obsession hounding a woman oblivious to your constant disapproval and way busy living her very own blessed and fulfilled life?
After all this time, you'd think people who come here to shell out insults, back-handed compliments and worthless "advice" to the First Lady might be smart enough to have figured out by now that it's no different than muttering to yourself while home alone.
If you're not a subscriber, don't forget to pick up your copies of Vogue magazine on stands March 26th! And buy a couple of extra copies as gifts for friends and family at home and abroad. That's exactly what I plan to do.
Count down to Tuesday!
Can't wait!
P.S: And if you've got a couple of extra dollars, do buy a subscription to Vogue. These great publications could always use your support. Do it for yourself. Do it for country. Do it in support of a very important industry and for our economy!
The ballgown skirt is from Michael Kors Pre-Autumn Fall 2013 Collection. Your're welcome.
http://tinypic.com/r/30wplkx/6
Another pic of the ensemble here.
http://www.elle.com/runway/pre-fall/pre-fall-2013/michael-kors/collection/#slide-35