A New Look for the First Lady

From left: Sean Gallup/Getty Images, Molly Riley/Reuters and Kevin Lamarque/Reuters Michelle Obama’s various hairstyles.

After the family vacation in Hawaii, where a smooth, practical knot seemed to work, Michelle Obama has emerged with a new hairstyle. It looks shorter, rounder, more managed. One might be tempted to call the style an updated version of the classic Washington helmet. Mrs. Obama has tried a number of styles, their common theme a polished look that keeps the hair off her face. The style she wore around the Inaugural was somewhat longer and sportier cheap football jerseys, with bangs to one side. She did a glamorous version of that look for different events in April and May. Late in 2009, the bangs seemed to vanish.