Michelle Obama Recalls Fashion Double Standard at the White House: 'Barack Wore the Same Tuxedo for Eight Years!'

Michelle Obama says it's "unfair" that her husband got away with wearing the same tuxedo to all of their state dinners

OBAMA JINPING
Photo: Pete Marovich/Bloomberg via Getty

Before Barack Obama‘s post-presidency leather jacket, there was his tuxedo jacket. And he liked it so much, he wore it all eight years of his presidency.

Former First Lady Michelle Obama revealed this tidbit during an appearance at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference on Tuesday, noting that while the dresses and accessories she wore for state dinners were meticulously photographed and scrutinized, her husband got away with wearing the same outfit year in and year out.

“This is the unfair thing — you talk about Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers — no matter what we do, he puts on that same tux,” she said.

“Now, people take pictures of the shoes I wear, the bracelets, the necklace — they didn’t comment that for eight years he wore the same tux, same shoes.”

U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama await arrival of India's PM Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur for state dinner at White House in Washington
President Obama And Michelle Obama Welcome President And First Lady Kim To The State Dinner
President And Mrs. Obama Host Official Visit Of UK Prime Minister Cameron
Mark Wilson/Getty
Barack Obama, Michelle Obama
President Obama Hosts Chinese President Xi Jinping For State Visit
State Dinner at the White House
Cheriss May/NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty
michelle-obama-style
EPA/Michael Reynolds

“And he was proud of it too,” she continued. “He’s like, ‘Mmm, I’m ready. I’m ready in 10 minutes. How long did it take you?’ I’m like, ‘Get out of here.’ ”

OBAMA JINPING
Pete Marovich/Bloomberg via Getty

The former first lady also shared the story behind the photo of her adjusting her husband’s bow tie just before they welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping and wife Peng Liyuan to the White House during a state visit in September 2015.

WATCH THIS: People at the White House: The Final Interview with The Obamas

While waiting to greet their guests at the North Portico of the White House, the Obamas were photographed by “about 100 press people,” the former first lady recalls.

“So we’re standing there waiting for the cars to roll in … and I was bored,” she admits. “So I sort of thought, let me make sure my husband looks good.”

Related Articles