Michelle Obama’s Most Meaningful Fashion Statement Yet Honors Her Late Mother
2 min readTHE RUNDOWN
- Michelle Obama wore a sentimental Acne Studios skirt at the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago on June 16.
- The custom design featured a portrait of her mother, Marian Robinson.
- She joined her husband, former President Barack Obama, at the event.
Michelle Obama knows just how to meet the moment—and dress for it, too.
On Tuesday, the former first lady addressed community leaders and stakeholders at the soon-to-open Obama Presidential Center in Chicago while wearing a deeply personal fashion tribute. For the occasion, Obama donned a custom Acne Studios skirt emblazoned with a portrait of her late mother, Marian Robinson. She paired the statement-making piece with a chocolate-brown cap-sleeve top and a slim leather belt, letting the sentimental design take center stage.
Michelle and Barack Obama at the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago on June 16.
Robinson, who died in 2024 at 86, grew up on Chicago’s South Side, making the tribute all the more poignant. Situated in the historic Jackson Park—just a few miles south of where Robinson grew up—the Obama Presidential Center is a 19.3-acre community space and museum dedicated to the Obama presidency.
On the Acne Studios fall/winter 2026 runway, the original style featured a Paul Kooiker portrait. For Obama’s appearance, however, she and stylist Meredith Koop commissioned a bespoke version emblazoned with one of her favorite images of her mother.
Acne Studios fall/winter 2026.
While addressing the audience, the former first lady reflected on the significance of the moment, as both she and Barack became visibly emotional.
“I am so proud of my husband,” Obama said. “He’s really messed up, I’m giving him some time, because this beautiful skirt that my stylist Meredith Koop picked out, that is a portrait—my favorite portrait of my mom—he didn’t know it existed until just a few minutes ago.”
She continued, “I’ve had a few weeks to settle down in the beauty of this skirt, but it’s messing him up for good reason. But Marian would have been so proud.”