If Michelle Obama’s greige nail polish she wore during her Democratic National Convention speech was enough to spark discussion from Pulitzer prize-winning authors, then her Christmas Day polish is sure to cause fireworks.
The First Lady, visiting a military base in Hawaii with President Barack Obama, celebrated December 25th in summery style, wearing a sleeveless cotton dress, sandals and a neon yellow pedicure.
While she kept her hands bare, the pop of yellow on her toes was a simple way to liven up and add some colour to her black and white ensemble.
The couple were visiting military personnel eating Christmas Dinner at Anderson Hall at the Marine Corps Base in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.
The president and his family spent the Christmas holiday in Hawaii, Obama’s birthplace, and the perfect location for a bright, summer-inspired pedicure.
She teamed her eye-popping polish with a pair of Lanvin sandals.
She has worn the sandals, originally $995, once before in September 2011 during an Independence day barbeque at the White House.
With relatively strict codes of conservatism for Mrs Obama’s wardrobe, it seems an alternatively-coloured manicure (or in this instance, pedicure) is the most cost-effective and subtle way to have a bit of fun with her looks.
Over the past year, there has been a huge surge of interest in nail polish and nail art, which has never been more fashionable, something the First Lady has clearly taken note of.
There are now clearly-defined colour trends, and Mrs Obama is not only choosing to deviate from classic First Lady shades of nude, pink and red, she is reinventing them one colour at a time.
Sales of nail polish have soared by 54 per cent in the past year, according to market researcher, the NPD Group, and Michelle Obama favourite Jason Wu even launched a limited-edition nail-polish line last year.
Jan Arnold, of Creative Nail Design, told CNBC: ‘I think for real women, if the option is either buying a screeching neon yellow dress or a screeching yellow manicure, she’ll opt for the manicure. Nails are a cheap thrill.’
OPI’s Suzi Weiss-Fischmann added in an interview with Ology.com: ‘Nail color has really achieved the status of an accessory and I think it’s wonderful. It’s an affordable luxury and it makes us feel good.’
