Sasha & Malia Obama Are the Coolest American Girls in Italy

Sure, Michelle Obama might dress in local designer duds wherever she travels, most recently wearing a multicolor knit Missoni dress in Italy, but it’s her daughters that truly capture the culture in their clothes choices. Sasha and Malia Obama landed in Milan on Wednesday with Sasha leading the way down the air-stairs in a sweet seersucker mini dress and cognac leather gladiator sandals. Her sister, on the other hand wore an illusion two-piece heather gray jersey dress with white Mary Janes.

And while FLOTUS went off with Chef Mario Batali, who wore his signature orange crocs even in front of the first lady, to preach to Italians that maybe so many carbs and wine without at least a little exercise might not be the greatest lifestyle choice, the teenagers went off to explore the European city on their own (aka with secret service, paparazzi, and an entire posse of other people). Sasha was summer ready in white shorts with blue flowers, a chambray top, white quilted slip-on sneakers, and blue tinted wayfarers. Her sister, Malia, was in a more understated ensemble, wearing tailored black trouser shorts, a white crop top lined with frills, and leather lace-up gladiator sandals.

While the sisters are technically in Milan supporting their mother’s efforts to promote “Let Girls Learn” and ”Let’s Move” internationally, meeting with dignitaries such as Prince Harry and the Italian Premier Matteo Renzi, they’re still girls and girls love to shop. On Thursday, they took a break from their busy schedule to visit 10 Corso Como, Carla Sozzani’s concept store in Piazza 25 Aprile. Sasha,14, went for head-to-toe white in cropped, distressed skinny jeans, a very trendy off-the-shoulder blouse and slip-on sneakers. Malia, 17, wore a black and white romper and the same sandals her sister had on when she disembarked the plane.

Yet their Italian street style, while certainly cool, makes a bigger statement than just that. Unlike their mother, who wears designer pieces from Preen by Thornton Bregazzi, Isabel Toledo, and Jason Wu to name a few, and even has many of her dresses custom made, her daughters wear Zara, Brandi Melville, and Vans. Their fashion’s not on a pedestal above the rest of their demographic and despite their home address, their perks and privileges don’t stand out as special. They’re the Kate Middleton in ASOS, and Prince George in Crocs of the United States. It’s like when Diane Kruger opts for Forever21 over Fendi or Beyoncé’s in TopShop on beyonce.com. Since they stepped on the style scene in J. Crew at their father’s inauguration in 2009, they haven’t inspired girls to grab for their parents’ credit cards, instead they’ve encapsulated the current market and put it on a national scale. They’re not icons, they’re just a representation of the masses — and isn’t that what everyone wants in a first family?

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