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Searching... R.H. Stafford Library (Woodbury) | 391.009 BET | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
In many ways the world has never seen a First Lady like Michelle Obama. From the precedent of her race to the singularity of her style, she has been the object of immense fascination. What she says, what she does, and not least, what she wears, is scrutinized around the world.
Writing at the crossroads of politics and fashion, Kate Betts explains why Michelle Obama's style matters, and how she has helped liberate a generation of women from the false idea that style and substance are mutually exclusive. Following the transformation of Mrs. Obama from her early days on the campaign trail to her first state dinner at the White House, Betts, a longtime fashion journalist and former editor in chief of Harper's Bazaar, reminds us that while style can be expressed in what you wear, it is inextricably bound up in who you are and what you believe in. In a smart, breezy voice backed by extensive interviews and historical research, Betts shows how Michelle Obama's bold confidence and self-possession have made her into an icon and transformed the way women see themselves, their roles, and their own style.
With two hundred color photographs, original designer sketches, and historical images, Everyday Icon is not only a lavish tour of our First Lady's style statements, but also a fascinating behind-the-scenes account of how she created her image and, more important, what that image says about American style today. Much has been written about Michelle Obama, but Kate Betts places her in a broader cultural and historical context; Everyday Icon is the definitive book on how a working mother of two became an unforgettable, global style icon.
Author Notes
KATE BETTS has been covering the world of style for twenty years, most recently as a contributing editor at Time and also as the editor of Time Style & Design. The youngest person ever to serve as editor in chief of Harper's Bazaar, she was also the fashion news director at Vogue and the Paris bureau chief of Women's Wear Daily. Betts lives in New York City with her husband, the writer Chip Brown, and their two children.
Reviews (4)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Betts, a Time style and design contributor has been an avid observer of first lady Michelle Obama's style since she first stepped into the limelight. More than a fashion handbook, this book serves as an exploration of the societal and political implications of Mrs. Obama's style, a pondering of why style matters, and an argument for the notion that "[s]tyle is a part of the content of one's character." Betts parses the first lady's choices of clothing (cardigans and floral dresses rather than navy blue pants suits) as well as her persona, from her warmth and openness to her decision to let cameras capture her hula-hooping on the White House lawn. Betts also takes a fascinating, well-researched look at first ladies throughout history (Mary Todd Lincoln was criticized for her fashionistaesque extravagance) and muses on the ways in which they were a reflection of women's roles during their years in the White House. With its fine mix of deconstruction and designer interviews, well-sourced research and sumptuous photos, Betts has created a book that is eye and brain candy alike. Photos. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
A scintillating fashion biography of Michelle Obama's inimitable style and its far-reaching influence.Former Harper's Bazaar editor in chief and current Time contributor Betts focuses on how the First Lady's style has helped her achieve such iconic status. Brimming with more than 200 color photographs, the book demonstrates how Obama has repeatedly pushed the envelope of fashion and convention. Changing from couture by lesser-known designers to Chucks and a cardigan without batting an eye, Obama presents herself in a way that is at once both trendsetting and common. Beyond the analysis of her uncannily self-possessed style, Betts provides an intriguing contextualization of Obama within the historical framework of other groundbreaking First LadiesDolley Madison, Mary Todd Lincoln, Grace Coolidge, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jackie O, Hillary Clintonas well as within the current postfeminist moment in American culture. In a country founded on the joint values of relative equality and freedom to celebrate individuality, the question of how onechooses to dress has always taken on a political charge. In the role of the president's wife, Betts argues, those comfortable with their own style have made the greatest impact. For Obama, who was thrust even more under the microscope as the first African-American First Lady, her conduct carries global influence but especially hits home with American women. "It's almost as if she is taking Hillary Clinton's intelligence but dressing it in Jackie Kennedy's clothes," writes Betts. "In many ways she is reshaping the feminist dream, correcting its oversights, compensating for its defects." Though her argument rests on a number of dichotomiesfashion vs. style, style vs. substanceand the author clearly champions her subject, her book should have widespread appeal.A sharp, lavishly illustrated biography of one of the most influential figures in refashioning the roles of women.]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Lots o' buzz will accompany this fashion portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama. As befits another buzz-maker, ex-editor in chief of Harper's Bazaar and now author Betts, the book is filled with hyperbole, adjectives galore, comparisons across the century with other POTUS' (Presidents of the United States') wives, and a bit too much of me, myself, and I. Despite the use of superlatives, and even though Betts is no objective third-party observer, she not only takes great care in following Obama's transition from power wife to power mom but also credibly examines the personal styles of Jackie Kennedy, Hillary Clinton, and Nancy Reagan, to mention three influential presidential companions. What is of prime importance is the recognition that style matters and that the careful expression of personal style which all three women demonstrated is the highest manifestation of a woman secure in herself. Great photographs add power to the author's words; and sidebars, such as notes about couturiers (including Arnold Scaasi) and the 10 commandments of First Lady style, provide some additional intelligence. An easy read that is bound to be asked for by many readers.--Jacobs, Barbara Copyright 2010 Booklist
Library Journal Review
Betts, former editor in chief of Harper's Bazaar, convincingly portrays the First Lady as an everyday fashion icon. She compares Obama's sense of style to previous Presidential wives and discusses how First Ladies cultivate their looks and unwittingly influence politics. What distinguishes Obama is her willingness to step outside of the box. Whether or not she is wearing traditional or more casual wear, she radiates confidence and commands respect. The author addresses critics of the First Lady's softer, feminine looks, quoting Dianne Feinstein: "toughness does not have to come in a pinstriped suit." Clearly, Betts supports Obama's sense of style, and she backs up her stance with quotes from fashion experts, substantive text, and generous photographs of the First Lady. Verdict This book is written in a chatty style that will appeal to the casual reader but has enough information for fashion students. With so many people interested in the First Lady's wardrobe, it should have ample readership. [Four-city tour.]-Ajoke Kokodoko, Oakland P.L. (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.