Global Image Group | Personal Shopper | Image Consultant

With the entire buzz around Michelle Obama’s dress on election night, we thought it would only be appropriate for our image experts to weigh in on the topic.

LA Times bloggers have called the look disastrous and others have called the look right on trend. InStyle Magazine’s Katrina Szish applauds Michelle Obama’s decision to wear something modern instead of classic further stating, “America, get ready to see what a true modern style icon is all about.”

However Image Consultant and Personal Stylist Sonya Borba of Global Image Group says, “Ugh, I thought it was horrible. It made her look like she was cut into pieces. The proportion was all wrong. I am still trying to figure that dress out. On the plus side, I did like the fact that the entire family matched – so cute. However Michelle needs to get Cindy McCain’s stylist or call us of course.”

As image consultants, we quite frankly are hesitant to write an article on how to get Michelle Obama’s look as her style choices seem inconsistent. She’s been compared to Jackie O whose style was elegant, classic and feminine – consistent. However when she appeared on election night in a bold, dramatic, fashion-forward Narcisco Rodriguez dress to make a statement, the look was hardly consistent with the image she has been projecting. We hope the dress was a gift from the designer rather than an out of pocket expense!

Projecting a consistent image enables your audience to take you seriously. You are viewed as dependable, reliable and authentic to yourself. Michelle Obama’s look has traditionally been classic and feminine with an edge and not to mention moderately priced. However when she wears something found on the runway, that takes her look from being the everyday modern woman to being dramatic, glamorous and high fashion, consequently not true to herself.

In all fairness to Michelle Obama, with so much focus on image during this election process, especially with regards to the women on this campaign trail, it’s no wonder why she may have felt some pressure on what to wear during election night.

As election night was going to be a truly momentous moment for America and the Obamas, there is no doubt she wanted to make a statement as well as show family unity by wearing outfits that were matchy-matchy. However Global Image Group’s image consultants feel she could have made a more appropriate choice as the future first lady of the country. We do think fashion is about self-expression. Image, however, especially in the public eye, is about consistency as 55% of the message you communicate is non-verbal.

A modern-day first lady look is certainly welcome by fashion and non-fashion followers alike. However when you take it to an extreme and make such a bold fashion expression, out of line with what you usually wear, the non-verbal communication cue (the message) becomes confusing to the public. Change can be positive or negative. It becomes negative when the change presents an inconsistent the message. Her election night dress definitely makes a statement however was it the APPROPRIATE statement for the occasion and consistent with the public image she projects?

Here is an outfit Image Consultant and Personal Shopper Michelle T. Sterling thinks would have been consistent, appropriate and true to Michelle Obama’s personal style while also being fashionable, elegant, and dramatic, without breaking the bank, and in celebration of this momentous occasion. As a politician’s wife, would you rather be critiqued on style or substance? It is inevitable that she will be critiqued on substance so naturally wouldn’t you want your style to be an asset rather than a focal point of criticism? It’s all about consistency of the message her image communicates especially in the public eye. In short, we do see Michelle Obama as a potential fashion icon however on this day an image faux pas.

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