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Obama daughters - Role models for girls' fashion
Filed under: Celeb Kids
As Parentdish's resident "Red Mom" it's no secret that I did not vote for Barack Obama. Nevertheless, I am excited that our new first family, the first in 45 years with young children, may have a very positive impact on children's fashion. Witness this slideshow of darling Malia Obama through the years.
My four and nine year-old daughters relate to the new soon-to-be first daughters because they share a common quest for a family dog. As a mom, I am thrilled by the possibility that Malia and Sasha, may replace Hannah Montana and other teen starlets as girlhood role models.
I'm equally hopeful that Malia and Sasha's beautiful dresses will inspire a national trend toward more age-appropriate clothing for girls and away from the sexy clothes currently being marketed to them. Though twelve year-old Malia will be 16 at the end of her father's first term, it's hard to imagine that Michelle and Barack would approve of her wearing the sleazy attire pushed by today's young celebrities or seen on MTV and BET. That will be good for girls and parents!
In fact, Barack Obama has not been shy about promoting clean fashion. On MTV, the always sharply dressed Obama, admonished "brothers" for showing their underwear and told them to "pull up their pants." Amen to that. If only Barack had been pro-life, his very sensible position on hanging off-the-butt pants might have been enough to win me over. In any case, it's safe to say that Barack may be the only president cool enough to convince teenage boys to clean up their fashion act.
The Obama family has perfected a classic look that is stylish, comfortable and uniquely American (though Michelle's weird red and black election night dress was an unfortunate and unflattering exception in my book). In general, Michelle proudly shops off the rack from stores like J-Crew and The GAP and her personal style is elegant, but more relaxed and accessible than first lady Jackie-O's. The Obama daughters' clothes and look are also attainable. As a result,it will be easy for American girls to emulate the class and style of the beautiful and always appropriately dressed Sasha and Malia. As a Republican mom, I can at least look forward to that.
Transcript from MTV News interview:
TSway: I know people have piercings, tattoos. Eric, in particular, is talking about a ban on sagging pants. Do feel like people should be penalized?
Obama: Here is my attitude: I think people passing a law against people wearing sagging pants is a waste of time. We should be focused on creating jobs, improving our schools, health care, dealing with the war in Iraq, and anybody, any public official, that is worrying about sagging pants probably needs to spend some time focusing on real problems out there. Having said that, brothers should pull up their pants. You are walking by your mother, your grandmother, your underwear is showing. What's wrong with that? Come on. There are some issues that we face, that you don't have to pass a law, but that doesn't mean folks can't have some sense and some respect for other people and, you know, some people might not want to see your underwear -- I'm one of them.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
11-07-2008 @ 9:50AM
Chere said...I agree. I actually did vote for Obama, not because of his impeccable fashion but because my political views were aligned with his. However, I agree that his daughters are adorable and do dress age appropriate, which is refreshing. I have a two and half year old so basically I do not have that issue with her as of yet. But when we go shopping for clothes I am shocked by the clothes that are out for young girls, they are totally inappropriate, and my daughter won't be one of those 7 or 8 year olds in a belly baring shirt. I think children often do want to immulate who is on television, but it is still up to parents to make the decision to either buy the clothes or not. It comes down to parental responsibility. If I feel it is inappropriate she's not getting it. I believe in creativity and allowing your children to have freedom in their clothing choice but I think there have to be boundaries. But Obama's daughters are adorable, and hopefully his class and style and will influence the young people to have pride in how they dress. I have no desire to see their underwear either lol!
By the way when is your book coming out? Are you doing anymore aol videos?
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11-07-2008 @ 2:34PM
Jenn said...Er, Malia Obama was born in 1998. That makes her 10, not 12.
But yes, I agree that the whole family is (almost always) beautifully & charmingly dressed. Those girls are the cutest, too!
11-07-2008 @ 3:44PM
jamie said...It's not surprising that you didn't vote for Obama. White Cubans have been very racist for hundreds of years.
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11-07-2008 @ 4:39PM
Derek said...Wow Jamie... so contradictory. You realize you just racially profiled Rachel right?
And why the hell is it suddenly racist not to vote for a black man? What if they had put a bum on the ticket, would we have to vote for him or else it would be racist?
The GoP could have stuck Condi on the ticket and nailed it all down if it wasn't for her percieved Bush baggage.
Not to mention, I've been told before to take my mother's race when filing out forms. So Wouldn't that logic make Obama white.
He's certainly not African American... he is HAWAIAN...
Not to lose focus, but I hate labels. Whatever your skin color, if you're a citizen of this country you are an American... that's it... nothing more. Why should you be labeled as more... that's special treatment, whatever happened to equal rights?
I swear I could go on and on forever, idiots everywhere...
11-07-2008 @ 6:43PM
JHZ said...Jamie, it might interest you to know that not voting for Obama doesn't automatically make someone a racist...I didn't vote for Obama, I also didn't vote for Kerry, Gore, or Clinton...the last time I checked, they're white.
11-07-2008 @ 4:36PM
jamie said...Regarding the above comment, I don't think I came off the way I wanted to. What I wanted to say, not too eloquently, was that the culture in Cuba at one time, and certainly still exists to some degree, favors those not of African descent. Clearly this is not defining all Cubans or Cuban Americans, and for especially the younger generations.
What do you think about so many large number of Latinos voting for Obama this election, some of them voting democrat for the first time since the Cuban Missile Crisis? I would love to read a blog about that.
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11-07-2008 @ 4:57PM
Emily said..."If only Barack had been pro-life, his very sensible position on hanging off-the-butt pants might have been enough to win me over."
Really? You are a one-issue voter? What about Obama's socialized medicine beliefs, which would eventually lead to waiting periods and depress the great medical advancements that have occured in this country? Or his huge spending plans? Or his party's support of the laws (Community Reinvestment Act of 1977) and policies that caused the housing crisis? Or his party's general love of huge government and limited personal freedom?
I'm sorry to see that you did not think through the issues more than that.
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11-07-2008 @ 6:13PM
Karen said...Is your "snarky meter" turned off?
Hellooooo......have you been paying attention? Clearly she would not have voted for Obama even if he had been pro-life. Turn the nasty button off and the humor button on!
11-07-2008 @ 5:23PM
Michelle said...Rachel,
I agree the Obama's are a beautiful family. My husband immediately noticed Michelle's "unique" dress on election day. Oh well, at least she doesn't stress over what to wear! Barack and Michelle are highly educated people who know the most important things in life are not what brands of clothing we wear, however it is important to dress respectfully.
As a previous poster asked, are you going to be doing any more Life is Like videos? As a fellow Wisconsin mom of 4 kids, I love to hear your tips and also get a little glimpse inside your world to see how you manage it all! Not that the election wasn't exciting, but I've transitioned to holiday mode (what choice do I have?!) and would love some blogging about that--such as when you first started your blog--I really liked the family/parenting topics.
Michelle
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11-10-2008 @ 10:40AM
Chere said...I agree, I am in holiday mode also! I love your last year tips and videos make more!!!
11-08-2008 @ 6:03AM
poshed.kamela said...Role Models (2008) have you seen I have. It was kind of a drama. Love to fallen in with the story. Two different life styles shown by the main correctors it is thinking time for two young men when they crash in to jail. Mostly I love the way they behave with the children. It was learning episode for the youngsters of ours. I sit and watch it from http://www.80millionmoviesfree.com all in all grate drama for a movie
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11-09-2008 @ 8:51PM
Sifrina said...Our children could desperately use some age appropriate fashion/style/behavior/education role models! And who better than Malia and Sasha? What a breath of fresh air!
No matter who you voted for, the Obamas are like those nice neighbors you are so pleased to meet when you first move into a neighborhorhood. You may not agree on every point, but you are convinced you made the right decision to move in based on how seriously these neighbors take their roles in parenting - from education to health (such as their kids' allergies) to being respectable, productive members of the community.
On Michelle Obama's dress - I too wondered about the mystery that led up to that choice (though normally I love Narciso Rodriguez). Was there something symbolic about the dress, its color choice maybe? Was there supposed to be another dress instead and something happened? Or was it one of those things where she just liked it and said, "I feel really good in this dress," and maybe, like in millions of households in America, the husband sees her in the dress and says, "You look great, honey!" so she just went with it!!
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11-10-2008 @ 5:34PM
Justina Moore said...Rachel, Malia is only 10. She turned 10 on July 4. Just wanted to make that correction. Sasha (Natasha) is 7.
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11-10-2008 @ 7:28PM
Katty said...I also loved their dresses when they came out on Election night with their parents. Totally age appropriate with cute hair and cute shoes and I am definitely agree that President-Elect Obama is not going to allow his girls to run around like little hoochie mommas and I truly appreciate that as the mother of a little girl.
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11-10-2008 @ 9:19PM
RSW said...That's funny that she's critical of the clothing depicted on MTV. That's where she and her husband were on ("the Real World") and their behavior was often far from "Christian Values". What a hypocrite!
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11-12-2008 @ 9:30PM
Abby V said...It's called "finding yourself." I don't know about you, but I have yet to meet someone who--after living at home and following Mom & Dad's rules--challenged those ideas and thoughts taught to them. Rachel may have done things in the past that you may think are hypocritical to what she stands for today, but perhaps challenging the "status quo" when she was on MTV made her realize who she is and what she stands for now? I know I did--I did some crazy things, and rebelled in my own way. But it's those rebellious acts that made me realize that I did agree on certain aspects with how I was raised, but also made me see what I wanted to do differently now that I am a parent.
11-12-2008 @ 9:44PM
RSW said...OK; point taken.
But her words are full of judgment, no one is perfect, as her less than Christian behavior has displayed. Maybe she should give others the opportunity to "find themselves" as you say without judging them. Is she the only one is allowed to be young and rebellious, and so pious now? Only God can judge, isn't that the Christian way?
So I stand by my statement, this "Republican Mom" is being hypocrite. Shocker!
11-12-2008 @ 3:46PM
AW said...I need to make a comment. I recently came across this website and find many of the articles interesting and helpful. I do read the comments readers post and some of the things people write is unbelievable. This comment is for RSW who calls Rachel a hypocrite. I actually went to school with Rachels husband and having seen him and her on the Real World that is not the people they are. I believe at least in her husbands' case they were raised with values and self-respect. Did they do some things that may not have been the right thing? Yes, we all have, but it comes down to the fact that if you raise your kids with values....eventually they will make the right decisions and learn from their mistakes. As for Obama's girls...I agree 100% that we need some good role models for our kids.
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11-12-2008 @ 3:54PM
RSW said...To AW: "Not the people they are", that's funny... Who were they then? I'm just saying, those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. As a "Republican Mom", I'm sure she agrees with that!
And yes, the Obama girls are great role models, just like their Mom and Dad.
1-14-2009 @ 8:42PM
MaryBeth said...Malia is 10 not 12.
If you are pro-life yet find yourself drawn to Obama, read Douglas Kmiec's work. He is VERY pro-life, a lawyer, a scholar, and former dean of Catholic University--and voted for Obama. His explanations are thoughful and thought-provoking.
If you are Christian, then re-read the Gospels for Jesus' true messages. Abortion was accepted and rampant in Jesus time, but gets no mention in the gospel writings. Yet devotion to the poor and condemnation of the church hypocrites--the Pharisees--both get repeated mention.
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