Everyday Icon: Michelle Obama and the Power of Style

Kate’s New Book!

“Everyday Icon:  Michelle Obama and the Power of Style.” That’s the title of my friend Kate’s book, published today by Clarkson Potter. “This book is about why style matters, and why in particular the style of the new American First Lady Michelle Obama matters, says Kate Betts in the introduction to her new—and first-ever—book. I can’t think of a better person to document the easy, breezy style of our First Lady. Kate 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. Kate and I met in Paris way before she assumed those posts when she was an intern at the International Herald Tribune and then later a contributing editor to Metropolitan Home. I was running a shopping service, called Chic Promenade, during that time; we were introduced by mutual French friends.

The photo of Kate on the inside jacket of her book is stunning but do not be at all intimidated. Kate is as down-to-earth as they come. She exudes a toothsome, all American beauty that many aspire to but don’t always attain. And isn’t that what our lovely First Lady, Michelle Obama pulls off so well? Isn’t that largely why her style feels so accessible to us? Michelle, Kate and “Everyday Icon” promote a look—call it a philosophy—that leaves fashion victims in the dust. It’s all about style, ladies, and isn’t that what matters most?

I’m writing this in haste because I’m in Utah now and the slopes are beckoning—especially since today’s a powder day. I received a copy of “Everyday Icon” the eve of my departure and can’t wait to immerse myself in this alluring book brimming with glossy photos and keen insight into what makes an everyday icon, what sort of impressions past First Ladies created and how Michelle Obama gained confidence in her standout fashion decisions. With such a stellar role model and knowledgeable reporter and writer, there’s certainly much to be learned from this beautiful and informative book.

Read my story, Talking Travel and Style with Kate Betts, for more on Kate as well as great travel and style tips for you. There you can also listen to a podcast of an interview I did with Kate during a ski trip to Telluride last March.

I also recommend you check out the Op-Ed that Kate wrote for the New York Times that was published just after the State of the Union address in January. There you’ll gain even more of a sense why our First Lady’s fashion choices are often paid almost as much attention as our president’s policies.