Michelle Obama's Portrait Gown Had a Hidden Meaning
When the National Portrait Gallery unveiled the official portraits of the Obamas yesterday, Barack immediately complimented artist Amy Sherald for her stunning depiction of Michelle: "Amy, I want to thank you for so spectacularly capturing the grace and beauty and intelligence and charm and hotness of the woman I love," he gushed.
Sherald's piece is undeniably striking. She painted Michelle's skin in gray tones—a signature approach she employs in her art to “subversively comment about race without feeling as though I’m excluding the viewer"—and presents the former First Lady striking a regal pose in a flowing white gown, speckled with colorful geometric shapes. The dress has captured people's attention because of what a gorgeous garment it is, but there's also a little more behind it: It captures Michelle's modernity and openness during her tenure as First Lady. The design is based on the American brand Milly's spring 2017 collection, which creator Michelle Smith says was inspired by a “desire for equality, equality in human rights, racial equality, LGBTQ equality."
Smith told Glamour that she had worked with Michelle's stylist, Meredith Koop, many times during the Obama presidency and had received a special request for the gown in Michelle's portrait. "I was honored to create a dress for such an intelligent and influential woman, who is also instilled with confidence, beauty and compassion," Smith said. "It is a tremendous honor to be a part of this iconic portrait that will forever be seen by future generations. The Obama presidency will forever be remembered as ground-breaking and positive."
Smith said that while some people have described the dress as couture, the fabric is actually an accessible stretch cotton poplin. She chose a "geometric minimal print" for the gown to exude"Mrs. Obama’s strength and approachable, forward-thinking style." Of the dress's silhouette she added, "The dress reveals her beautiful shoulder and arms, which I think is very groundbreaking in a portrait of the First Lady."
Michelle wore Milly several times while she was First Lady, including during an appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and on the cover of Essence magazine with her husband. As The Washington Post pointed out, the brand is best described as affordable luxury—"tasteful but not extravagant department-store fashion that recalls the First Lady’s mix of couture and comfortable pragmatism.”
At the portrait unveiling, Sherald said she was drawn to this particular dress because it reminded her of quilts made by African American women in the South.
“Milly’s design also resembles the inspired quilt masterpieces made by the women of Gee’s Bend, a small remote black community in Alabama where they compose quilts in geometries that transform clothes and fabric remnants into masterpieces,” she said.
The Washington Post caught up with Smith, who started Milly with her husband, Andy Oshrin, just after the portrait viewing. “I just flipped out in the middle of the store,” Smith said. “I didn’t know it was going to be unveiled today. Did everyone else know? Was I the last to know?”
Smith told Glamour that her political values frequently influence Milly designs, such as Michelle's portrait dress. "My designs are inspired by the desire for equality, inclusiveness and breaking through barriers, something the Obama’s also champion," Smith said. "This honor further motivates me to continue to create beautiful distinctive designs for women to feel empowered to stand up for positive change in our world."
On Instagram Michelle proudly posted Sherald's portrait and wrote, "As a young girl, even in my wildest dreams, I never could have imagined this moment. Nobody in my family has ever had a portrait—there are no portraits of the Robinsons or the Shields from the South Side of Chicago."
This post has been updated with quotes from Michelle Smith, designer of Milly.
