Michelle Obama Talks Fashion in Latest Issue of Vogue

Michelle Obama on the April 2013 (left) and March 2009 covers of Vogue Magazine (credit: Vogue)

Michelle Obama is Vogue's latest cover girl, gracing the cover of the April issue (on stands March 26th), chatting about her wardrobe, hitting the town on date night, and family life. 

The first lady, 49, looked casual and confident in an asymmetrical Reed Krakoff dress with a flourish of purple at the neckline and Kimberly McDonald geode-and-diamond drop earrings. She was shot by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz. Her look is drastically different from her first appearance on the cover of the magazine in March 2009 when she leaned forward on the couch wearing a stiff smile and a hot pink Jason Wu dress. 

Inside, both she and President Obama opened up about their private lives, which included their fashion choices. "I always say that women should wear whatever makes them feel good about themselves. That’s what I always try to do," said the first lady.

"I also believe that if you’re comfortable in your clothes it’s easy to connect with people and make them feel comfortable as well. In every interaction that I have with people, I always want to show them my most authentic self."

The couple also touched on how living in The White House has affected their style choices. "There is one thing that changed," said The President, who dressed in a pinstriped shirt and a striped blue tie.

"What's that?" asked Michelle Obama.

“Which is, I used to only have, like, two suits,” he said.

"Thank god," the First Lady said. "Let me tell you: This is the man who still boasts about, 'This khaki pair of pants I’ve had since I was 20.' And I’m like, 'You don’t want to brag about that.'"

The President added: 'Michelle’s like Beyoncé in that song, "Let me upgrade ya!" She upgraded me."

“The girls and I are always rooting when he wears, like, a stripe. They’re like, ‘Dad! Oh, you look so handsome. Oh, stripes! You go!’" said Michelle Obama.

The polished pair also posed for inside photos smiling and draped over each other with the President's arm on his wife's knee and her arms wrapped around his neck. A third photograph captured Michelle Obama in profile, wearing a black slim-fitting Michael Kors long-sleeve top and fishtail ball skirt. The first lady has worn Kors in the past, even posing for her first official portrait wearing a sleeveless shift dress by the designer.

When it comes to socializing, the first lady says she and the President always vowed that their two young daughters Malia and Sasha, would be their priority and that their schedules are so packed that they prefer to spend any free time they have with their daughters. "The stresses and the pressures of this job are so real that when you get a minute, you want to give that extra energy to your 14- and 11-year-old," she said.

However, now that their kids are getting older, the President confessed that he and this wife might start hitting the town more. "As I joked at a press conference, now that they want less time with us, who knows? Maybe you'll see us out in the clubs," he said.

Quality time is clearly important to the couple. While reflecting on their 20-year marriage, the president said, "There’s no doubt I’m a better man having spent time with Michelle. I would never say that Michelle’s a better woman, but I will say she’s a little more patient."

"I would say I’m a better woman," Michelle Obama said with a smile.