Results tagged “Michelle Obama”

At last! The wait for a presidential pooch is over. When a furry Portuguese water dog named Bo made his debut at the White House on April 12, the Obamas finally welcomed their first-ever pet -- and the country got an adorable new mascot.

Though there had been talk of a goldendoodle, a mix of golden retriever and standard poodle, the 6-month-old male Portie won out when he was offered as a gift from Massachusetts senator Ted Kennedy, a close friend of the president's.

For more on the First Puppy, pick up the latest issue of Life & Style, on newsstands now!

Photo Credit: Startraks

After a long journey, President Obama and his family have finally moved into the White House. Now comes the fun part: making the 132-room mansion their own. As first lady, Michelle Obama is in charge of redecorating, and she's exected to bring her down-to-earth pesonal style to the process.

Still, she can't exactly do an extreme makeover. Michelle presides over the Committee for the Preservation of the White House, a group that includes a designer of her choice, the White House curator, art experts and others.

What changes will Michelle bring to the White House? Find out in Life & Style's special inauguration issue, on newsstands now!

Photo Credit: Sipa

First ladies have long been known for boxy suits, classic colors and ultraluxe pearls. But not Michelle Obama. As she moved into the White house this week and twirled her way through inaugural balls, the style agenda was clear: young, trendy and extremely new.

"Michelle's not someone who wants to be trapped in a box wearing a suit and sensible heels," Robin Givhan, longtime fashion editor for The Washington post, tells Life & Style. "Her clothes represent a generational shift."

For more on Michelle Obama's stunning sense of style, pick up Life & Style's special inauguration issue, on newsstands now!

Photo Credit: Courtesy of HBO

It was a bitterly cold 28 degrees in Washington, D.C., yesterday, but the crowd of roughly 2 million people gathered to see Barack Obama sworn in as America's 44th president didn't seem to feel the chill. With his wife, Michelle, and their daughters, Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, proudly looking on, Obama took the oath of office on the steps of the U.S. Capitol at 12:05 p.m.

"The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit," he pledged, "to choose our
better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness."

It was a day many in the crowd never dreamed they would see, and while some cheered, others wept openly, overwhelmed by the emotion and weight of the moment.

For the full story of the historic Inauguration of Barack Obama, pick up Life & Style's special inauguration issue, on newsstands now!

A friend of Isabel Toledo, who designed the yellow dress that incoming First Lady Michelle Obama wore on Inauguration Day, tells Life & Style that Michelle's choice is a reflection of her great sense of style.

"I wasn't surprised at all that she [Michelle] chose Isabel Toledo," Patricia Mears, deputy director of the Museum at NYC's Fashion Institute of Technology, tells Life & Style.

"Mrs. Obama is an unusual woman with great fashion instincts and innate style. And she has always supported lesser-known designers like Thakoon, Narciso Rodriguez and Isabel Toledo," adds Mears, who has been friends with Toledo for 15 years.

"Isabel was very cognizant of two things when she designed this outfit. She knew all eyes would be on Michelle. And she knew that it would be very cold out. So she designed something that was very sophisticated and very warm. The upper part of the coat and the back of the sleeve are all lined with a pashmina lining for extra warmth around the torso.

"The fabric and color are also very sophisticated. There's an intricate layering of lace laid over wool. And Isabel calls the color lemongrass, which I think is so elegant.

"I saw the original pattern a few weeks ago. At that time even Isabel didn't know if Mrs. Obama would wear this design.

"Unlike other first ladies, Mrs. Obama didn't choose a suit. She chose a sheath, something that skims the body."

"Isabel Toledo is considered the ultimate designer for designers. She calls herself a dressmaker, not a designer. She really looks at the artisanal craftsmanship of every single garment. When Mrs. Obama wore Isabel's jersey tunic and pants to a fundraiser in New York City, she didn't work with Isabel. So Isabel was completely surprised.

"Isabel was really hoping that she'd wear something of hers for the inauguration. But she wanted to make sure it was a day outfit. Isabel is really down to earth, and she wanted this outfit to be something American women could actually wear."

"Isabel's design shows Mrs. Obama truly wants to create a balance of the new and innovative with things that are classic and traditional. And that's the ideal for every first lady. To have someone supporting this unique voice will really give American fashion a boost."

Photo Credit: Reuters/Landov

On Jan. 20, Barack Obama will become the 44th president of the United States — and the most powerful man in the free world. Despite the prestigious job title, however, Obama has made it clear that the role he cherishes most is being a dad to daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, the lights of his life, along with his wife, Michelle, of course.

But with a nonstop schedule that will become even more time-consuming once he takes office, Obama has expressed concern about missing out on many of the precious daily moments in his children's lives.

For more on how President-elect Obama plans to balance work and family, pick up the latest issue of Life & Style, on newsstands now!

Their daddy, President-elect Barack Obama, has two more weeks before he begins his new job, but vacation is over for Sasha and Malia Obama. Today was their first day at their new school.

Soon-to-be first lady Michelle Obama accompanied the girls this morning — and they traveled in style, in a motorcade with Secret Service agents.

Sasha, 7, was dropped off at Sidwell Friends School's elementary school campus in Bethesda, Md., where she's in the second grade. Malia, 10, is in fifth grade and goes to Sidwell Friends' middle-school campus in Washington, D.C.

Photo Credit: Zuma

Everyone had been buzzing about what Michelle Obama will wear to the presidential inauguration on Jan. 20. But the focus suddenly turned to her husband's choice of clothes — or lack thereof — on Dec. 21, when President-elect Barack Obama emerged from the family's ocean-front vacation home in Kailua, Hawaii, shirtless and wearing only a pair of black board shorts.

Obama, 47, had good reason to show off his super-toned physique. After all, he hit the Semper Fit military athletic center at least three days in a row while in Kailua.

For more on how the President-elect got to be so buff, pick up the latest issue of Life & Style, on newsstands now!

Photo Credit: AP

Photo Credit: Getty

With just days to go before he becomes the 44th president of the United States, Barack Obama has been overwhelmed with excitement -- and anxiety -- about finally making the big move with his family from their hometown of Chicago to Washington, D.C. In fact, Barack, 47, and his wife, Michelle, 44, have been so eager to begin their new life, they wanted to arrive even earlier than expected.

According to a recent story in The Washington Post, the couple asked to move into Blair House -- the 14-bedroom residence across the street from the White House that serves as the president's official guesthouse -- on Jan. 5, two weeks before President-elect Obama's term is set to begin.

But unfortunately for the Obamas, the current president, George W. Bush, 62, and his wife, Laura shot down the request. Why? Blair House, the Bushes said, was already fully booked by their own guests, who couldn't be moved.

For more on the White House drama, pick up the latest issue of Life & Style, on newsstands now!

Nearly 70 University of Chicago friends and co-workers of Michelle Obama's gathered for an intimate, teary-eyed gathering on Dec. 8 to bid the new first lady farewell before she, Barack Obama and their daughters head to Washington, D.C., to into the White House.

As Secret Service agents looked on, Michelle greeted guests and well wishers. "She gave about a five-minute speech that was very much from the heart. Michelle said she will greatly miss her friends and Chicago, but she also said she's very excited for what the future holds for her," an insider tells Life & Style. "One woman teared up when she spoke about Michelle and said she didn't want to cry. It was a big lovefest!"

And Michelle made it clear that she wants to prove herself once she gets to Washington. Adds the insider, "At the end of her speech, she made a promise to everyone at the party that she and Barack will work 'very hard' for them when they get to the White House."

For more news about the president-elect and his first lady, check out the new issue of Life & Style, on newsstands tomorrow!

Photo Credit: Sipa

Presidents have been known to make PSAs -- public service announcements -- and president-elect Barack Obama makes time for a PDA every now and then, too. During a campaign stop in Des Moines, Iowa, Barack was photographed nibbling on wife Michelle's ear.

"They're always touching each other and kissing," says one political insider.

For more on the Obamas' loving marriage, pick up the latest issue of Life & Style, on newsstands now!

Photo Credit: Bill Kuhn