10 Reasons To Wish Michelle Obama A Happy 48th Birthday!

by Justin Fenner | 6:30 pm, January 17th, 2012

Believe it or not, Michelle Obama is celebrating her 48th birthday today, and as we like to do with other fashion icons, we’d like to take this opportunity to wish her a very happy birthday.

Obama has been excavating a place in our style-minded hearts since she hit the campaign trail in Maria Pinto and Peter Soronen in 2008. She’s since added American wunderkinds Jason Wu, Derek Lam and Chris Benz to her closet, but she never fails to inject a little high fashion into her day with pieces from legends like Alber Elbaz, Jean Paul Gaultier, Azzedine Alaia and Alexander McQueen. The thing we appreciate most, though, is that she often keeps it real in J.Crew (and so do the first daughters, Malia and Sasha.)

But it’s not what she wears that makes us love the First Lady’s style so much. It’s how she wears it. Time and again she’s said quite clearly that she dresses for herself and no-one else, but the truth of the matter is that she’s single-handedly changed the way American women think about the way they dress. Never before have we had someone who so clearly sends the message that dressing well doesn’t preclude being intelligent and powerful and admired for things that aren’t aesthetic — in fact, it only enhances those other enviable qualities. In so many ways, Michelle Obama has her cake and eats it, too. Which is why we hope her birthday cake this year is extra delicious.

Just in case that’s not reason enough for you to wish her a Happy Birthday, we’ve included 10 good reasons to do so below.

1. She’s the First Lady of the United States of freaking America. Hello!

2. Every time she wears a new designer, the retail economy sings a song of happiness and sunshine.

3. When she recycles an outfit, she actually recycles an outfit.

4. She wears what she wants to wear, no matter who thinks ill of her for it. (Even if it’s Diane von Furstenberg.)

5. Have you seen how adorable she is with the President? Have you seen how adorable her family is? (Have you seen how adorable her family is with her dog?)

6. Her daughters, Malia and Sasha, are budding style stars. (No big surprise, considering they’re learning from the best.)

7. The woman is a far better dancer than you are, and could also easily best you on the tennis court. These are things you’re just going to have to accept and deal with.