Malia Obama Is a New Menswear Icon

[question everything]

(snip)

Since graduating from Harvard in 2021, Malia has been living in Los Angeles, where she recently worked as a writer on Donald Glover’s Beyhive-inspired TV series Swarm.

Taking a smoke break outside an LA convenience store, Malia wore an earth-toned cropped knit cardigan from the Australian brand Kina & Tam (whose website describes its overall design philosophy as “dopamine dressing”), lug-soled black boots, and high-waisted pleated wool slacks.

The trousers, to be sure, are the real stars of the show here; to borrow the words of my GQ colleague Avidan Grossman, they invoked “one dart, two pleats, zero notes.” Easygoing pants have been the anchor of Malia’s great recent menswear-y outfits:

More..

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/malia-obama-menswear-icon-184336916.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall



tsk tsk..

[Sky Jewels]

1. What a shame she's a smoker.

That’s a fast track to bad health if there ever was one.

[struggle4progress]

2. +!

[prodigitalson]

11. maybe it's Death Star Indica

[Polybius]

78. Takes after her dad

Thankfully, he quit sometime during his Presidency. My dad smoked too, my sister did here and there, but I didn't.

[hlthe2b]

3. Shit, I hate to see her smoking...

Can't help feeling this way...

[Elessar Zappa]

4. Like the outfit.

As for the smoking, doesn’t her father also smoke?

[bdamomma]

5. I think

Pres Obama stopped; he should talk to her about the addiction of smoking. Her outfit looks very comfortable.

[a kennedy]

6. No, and what's funny is, his daughters GOT HIM TO QUIT is what I read someplace.

[onetexan]

40. Pressure from peers, work stress...will bring it on

I have never smoked & hate the smell but to each his own. The hunby stopped long ago.

[TexasBushwhacker]

7. He quit for good in 2011

But he certainly smoked when the girls were little.

[prodigitalson]

13. vaping is the only way I as ever able to quit

I steadily lowered the nic. percentage until zero.

[TexasBushwhacker]

27. Just the habit of sticking something in your mouth

has a "reward" effect in your brain. I had a friend who substituted Twizzlers for her cigarettes, and used nicotine patches in progressively lower amounts.

[canetoad]

36. I did the same

But rolled various dried, smokeable herbs combined with patches and gum. Three years now after fifty years of chain smoking.

[Disaffected]

63. It worked for me.

Went through the ritual of having a cig but did not light it. Looked strange to others but who cares if it helps?

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

67. Swine flu did it for me

I was sick as a dog for over a month, and couldn't smoke during it. Too tired and way too sick to get out of bed for it (never smoked in the house--only outside).

Once I was well, I couldn't endure even one drag. Engaged my gag reflex and wouldn't let up. It was like my body said, "Listen, you prat, I pulled you through that near-death experience, so you're not undoing all that hard work. You're done with smoking now. Got it?"

Haven't touched one since.

[prodigitalson]

73. silver lining!

My ex wife quit after a case of food poisoning

[tblue37]

83. My mother didn't intend to quit, but after a nasty case of flu, she found she couldn't stand it, so

she never smoked again. Believe it or not, she resented having been forced to quit without wanting to.

[Celerity]

8. smoking is NOT 'cool', Naomi Fry is a fucking idiot

“Obama’s daughters smoking cigs is the return of monoculture,” posted The New Yorker writer Naomi Fry, “and I for one am into it.”

Link to tweet

[Sky Jewels]

17. WTF does that even mean?

I don’t understand the use of “monoculture” in this context.

[Celerity]

22. I am assuming she is using it in a sociological way, and in that context, it is really problematic

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoculturalism

Monoculturalism is the policy or process of supporting, advocating, or allowing the expression of the culture of a single social or ethnic group. It generally stems from beliefs within the dominant group that their cultural practices are superior to those of minority groups[2] and is similar to the concept of ethnocentrism, which involves judging another culture based on the values and standards of one's own culture. It may also involve the process of assimilation whereby other ethnic groups are expected to adopt the culture and practices of the dominant ethnic group. Monoculturalism, in the context of cultural diversity, is the opposite of multiculturalism.

Rather than the suppression of different ethnic groups within a given society, sometimes monoculturalism manifests as the active preservation of a country's national culture via the exclusion of external influences. Japan, South Korea, and North Korea are examples of this form of monoculturalism. However it may also be the result of less intentional factors such as geographic isolation, historical racial homogeneity, or political isolation. For instance, some European countries such as Italy, Portugal, Poland and the Northern European countries are still effectively monocultural because of the shared ethnicity and culture of the people, along with low immigration rates.

Ethnocentric monoculturalism

Monoculturalism is closely associated with ethnocentrism. Ethnocentrism is the practice of framing one's way of life as natural and valid, and applying that belief system to interpret the characteristics of other cultures.

[Sky Jewels]

23. Thanks. That's kind of a bizarre comment, though, because

the vast majority of Americans are now non-smokers.

[Celerity]

26. maybe she yearns for the Mad Men days

[Sky Jewels]

37. Probably

🙄

[Journeyman]

9. Sad to see this . . .

toughest addiction to quit, bar none.

[prodigitalson]

15. ever smoked meth?

[MyNameIsJonas]

19. My dad became addicted to heroin after Vietnam...

He finally was able to kick heroin long before I entered the picture. But he could never kick smoking. He always said it was harder to quit than heroin.

I've never smoked. Certainly never done heroin. So, I can't say for sure lol

[JanMichael]

35. No but I hear it's good for weight loss. Not so good for teeth.

Coke is probably better dental wise. But the meth head will rob you blind, the coke head will just try to fight you or have sex.

Both are far and away worse than weed and about the same but marginally worse than alcohol.

Heroin though ruined the old school opium that people could tolerate much better than the synthetic shit.

Boy this got dark ...

[ShazzieB]

61. I'm not convinced it's that good for weight loss.

I've known way too many fat smokers to buy that. I imagine it may help some people snack less than they would otherwise, but that's not necessarily the same thing.

Personally, I am a lifelong non smoker who used to be obese. I'd rather be obese again than a smoker. What cigarettes do to your health is NOT worth the tradeoff.

I'll admit I'm very strongly anti-cigarettes. The damned things killed both my parents prematurely (heart failure, and in the case of my mom, COPD), as well as my favorite cousin (lung cancer, in his case). I hate cigarettes like Gollum hates tricksy hobbitses.

[Journeyman]

42. I sat on the Board of an indigent drug and alcohol detox & rehab facility . . .

I never met anyone who didn't agree smoking was the toughest addiction to quit.

[Skittles]

51. took me seven attempts over seven years

I think about that every time I have a craving!

been 13 years now!

[Journeyman]

54. Been 37 years for me. Even today, if I'm near someone smoking, I'm either repulsed or enticed . . .

either way, I beat a hasty retreat (especially when I find myself attracted).

[Skittles]

55. I still love the smell of tobacco

it has never bothered me

[Journeyman]

59. I used aversion therapy to quit . . .

tens of thousands of electric shocks self-administered to force me to subconsciously believe cigarettes are repulsive. It worked. In one session, I'd quit smoking; in three sessions, I'd lost the compulsion; in six I'd cleared myself of the habit. And yet, 37 years later I still find the smell of tobacco a siren's allure of pleasure.

And so I beat a hasty retreat whenever I feel tempted.

(But I don't feel the therapy was unsuccessful. I haven't smoked in 37 years. And besides, whenever there's a power outage, I don't need a flashlight. I just grab a light bulb and it glows. )

[budkin]

10. Smoking just like her dad...

Gross.

[Skittles]

12. the trousers are "the real stars of the show here"

yeah OK

the entire outfit is hideous, and the cigarette does not help

[Elessar Zappa]

25. I really like her outfit.

She’s certainly free to wear what she wants regardless if it’s “menswear”. The smoking I could do without but, again, it’s legal and she’s an adult. She can do what she wants.

[Skittles]

49. I never said she could not wear what she wants

[Marthe48]

31. Thank you for saying

I don't like the pants. When I was a kid, professional men wore suits with pants like that. Our music teacher had pleats around the waist and his inseam drooped to his knees.

[Celerity]

34. things change

[Celerity]

33. that Kina & Tam Pastiche Cardigan is lit 💙💙

[Earth-shine]

53. +1 It is very unimpressive.

[mahina]

20. Bye now

[Hekate]

29. In what way, pray tell?

[Cha]

16. Damn Malia.. Stop that Cance Stick Shit.. NOW.

It's Stupid! I should know.

[MyNameIsJonas]

18. Wish she wouldn't smoke.

And yes, I know it's none of my business but she's also an icon who people her age likely look up to and might imitate. The reality is that we've done such a good job the last 20 years limiting smoking and turning the tide on, so, it's disheartening to see this.

I grew up with parents who smoked. I hated it. I hated how it made my clothes stink. I hated the itchy throat I often got. I hated that it made my parents unhealthy in their older years (both came down with COPD). My mom was able to finally kick the habit in 2006 or so but my dad never did.

[ShazzieB]

64. I grew up with smoking parents, too.

Last edited Sat Oct 7, 2023, 03:27 AM - Edit history (1)

Heavy smokers, both of them. I never minded the smell back then, because I was so used to it. But after I moved out and got used to non-smoky air, it bothered me more and more every time I set foot in their house.

I grew up listening to my mom bemoan wanting to quit and not being able to. My hat is off to anyone who manages to quit, because I know how much she hated being addicted and not being able to kick the habit. Between that and listening to both my parents cough up a lung when they got up every morning, I ended up not ever wanting to even try smoking. My sister started as a teen (she was the rebellious kid and I was the goody two-shoes lol), but gave it up when she became a "born again" Christian, thank goodness.

Both my parents have been gone for a while. Both died due to smoking related issues (Dad from heart disease and Mom from heart disease + copd). Also, my favorite cousin died of lung cancer a few years ago. I'm afraid my views on smoking are extremely negative.

[MyNameIsJonas]

66. I'm sorry.

You're right. It didn't bother me much as a kid (beyond the itchy throat, which I would tend to get when there was a lot of smoking in the house - and yes, they smoked in the house). But kids at my school would always talk about it. I grew up in Utah, which is heavily LDS and there's just not a lot of smoking here (well there is - but probably not nearly as much as other states). So, it was somewhat unique and kids would always comment on it.

I remember one time in junior high I forgot my backpack in gym and remembered shortly after leaving - so, I returned to the weight room and the two gym teachers were hovering over it looking through it (no problem, they were probably trying to see whose backpack it was). I said, "hey that's mine..." and they gave it back. But one gym teacher was like, "do you smoke? Your backpack reeks of smoke!" and I just felt awful about it.

When my mom quit and basically told my dad he had to smoke outside and not in the house anymore, it was remarkable how awful being around smokers was. I could even be waiting at the light in my car, window down, and smell the smoke of someone a few cars over. I was so happy the day my mom quit. I was always terrified she'd get lung cancer or emphysema.

She made it to 70 before dying from pancreatic cancer on Christmas Day in 2020.

My dad died in 2010 in his 50s.

But he was a Vietnam Vet and suffered from Agent Orange-related issues. Smoking was probably the least of his problems if I am being honest.

But yes. I hate smoking. My mom's sister smokes still, after nearly dying like 20 years ago from a very bad case of pneumonia (that nearly took her out because of her smoking) - she quit after that episode for a long time but picked it up again a few years ago. Her husband smokes too. And whenever I'm over at their house, it's really hard to breathe.

Worse, it gets into the food! I don't think people realize but food, especially baked goods, can smell like it. She's a great cook but her cookies and bread I can't eat because it's like biting into an ashtray.

[Tree Lady]

72. I read her boyfriend in college

got her smoking, who knows now its probably combo of addiction and young rebellion her life has been under a microscope and I can't imagine that is easy.

[redqueen]

21. "menswear"

Will gendered clothing ever stop being a thing

[Hope22]

24. Agree.

The term they we’re searching for was pants!🤣

[leftstreet]

30. +1

[Sympthsical]

38. It's not even menswear

She's just wearing pants and a cardigan.

This whole thing is an exercise by people on Twitter of "How to say nothing while trying to sound trendy"

[PCIntern]

28. I feel very bad for her, not that she would care...

The addiction to the smoking cigarettes among other things is essentially a fatal disease. It’s a question of how and when.

I’m actually upset, almost irrationally. She’s an adult and it’s legal. So…there you go. I’m going to sleep, I’m depressed enough for one day

[JanMichael]

39. Life is a fatal disease. She will likely quit in her 30s.

Like I did. I'm sure the 15 years of light smoking will come back and bite me but I wouldn't regret that one bit. It's life. Sugar and bad diets kill more people but whatever.

[PCIntern]

44. I have watched smokers deteriorate during my 45 years of practice

Some stop, most don’t.

There’s nothing redeeming about it. I understand its appeal and its “benefits”. Tired of watching old friends die, unable to breathe or have cancer-riddled bodies and brains.

I’m not proselytizing-just SMH.

[JanMichael]

46. That's understandable. I wonder what the percentage of quitters in their 30s is

Probably not that high.

One positive though is how fast the lungs heal once people stop. Problem is most can't do cold turkey like I did. Got tired of upper respiratory infections then quit and they stopped.

[leftstreet]

32. What a terrible headline

(not you, OP, the article)

Ms Obama didn't pose for this. She's not been hired to model a new line of clothing.

Ugh

[LudwigPastorius]

41. "dopamine dressing"

Fashion marketers must get tired of having to invent trendy bullshit phrases about their clothes.

[blue neen]

45. Yeah, I know. What does that even mean?

"dopamine dressing"?

[LudwigPastorius]

47. I think it means wearing something that you like to wear.

Either that, or it's something that zombies use on their salads. (Mmmm extra brain juice!)

[Wingus Dingus]

71. Young people now reduce everything that feels good to them to

a dopamine hit. Especially on Reddit. Video games, snacks, clothes, exercise, kittens...It's really annoying.

[Hekate]

43. Like her mother, this very tall slender young woman can throw on anything & make it look good. And...

To everybody, not the OP:

And as a non-smoker myself, let me just say: Please leave her alone. For gods’ sake, what’s it to you all? The general tenor is not one of true concern for her health, but self-righteous disgust with her as a person.

Both my parents smoked. I did not, nor did my sister. My brothers took up smoking — one was able to quit in young adulthood, but the one who started at age 12 was never able to quit and died of COPD at the age of 72.

My husband did not smoke. My own daughter started smoking at the age of 12 or 13, and is now 47 and has never been able to quit. My son — was able to quit, except he took up cigars around 40, so I gave him his great-grandfather’s humidor.

Think of how heartbreaking that feels for me and other parents. It’s legal — it is unhealthy as hell — the health risks go far beyond lung cancer and COPD. And everybody who isn’t a stupid school-kid knows it.

[question everything]

48. They are still role models for many young women. Yes, both smoke

Images of them at school, getting together, laughing, have often been posted here.

Yes, their business. But if many still follow them and admire their achievements then I think that complete stories should be told. They are not angels and, no doubt, will be the first to agree.

[LeftInTX]

75. I think Malia looks just like her dad!

[Hekate]

76. I know -- I've always been struck by how much Malia looks like her father & his side of the family

But I was referring more to style. My late mother (b.1924) used to say of Jackie Kennedy that she was so elegant that she could wear a gunny sack and make it look good.

Michelle Obama always reminded me of that — that innate elegance. It remains to be seen whether Malia or Sasha actually can pull that off as well.

[Raine]

50. Smoking ruins the whole look and makes it very unattractive 👎

why the heck did she take up a horrid bad habit like that! 😔

[GuppyGal]

56. Or how about sitting on Daddys lap or how about Daddy saying if she wasn't my daughter I'd date her

who knows maybe he did and you also know what else you can do toots

[GuppyGal]

58. You are quite welcome it's like shooting dead fish in a barrel

[Chellee]

62. Earth-toned cropped knit cardigan?

Blue is earth-toned? I guess it is in the sense that blue is a tone that exists on Earth, but it is not what I envision when someone tells me the cardigan is earth-toned.

I like the outfit, but she has the type of figure that designers design for, so pretty much anything she wears is going to look good.

[Celerity]

77. see post 33

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100218337280#post33

[JI7]

65. That's not menswear

How many men wear a top that short and men don't look good in pants that look too big on them.

It's just casual/comfort wear .

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

68. I dunno.

MC Hammer and his crew rocked the big pants look, back in the day:

[betsuni]

69. I loved wearing trousers like that when I was young, men's suit vests and sometimes

suits and ties. Marlene Dietrich's nightclub cigarette-tuxedo scene in "Morocco" is incredibly sexy. I also liked to smoke but wasn't addicted, not everybody's addicted forever, can smoke occasionally without being doomed.

[Emile]

70. I will not judge her on her smoking. We all

make and learn from our life decisions.

[madville]

74. Is it even really still menswear?

I haven’t seen men wear trousers like this in decades, and those guys doing it 30 years ago were in their 70s and 80s lol. At this point I think the style is solely womenswear.

[Donkees]

81. Womenswear ...

[Ms. Toad]

82. I like the pleated trousers

I haven't bought any in about a decade, but the last time I did I could only find them in men's clothing departments.

[XanaDUer2]

79. I wore pants like that in the 80s

When I was a size five

[ZonkerHarris]

80. Since she is a woman the press will focus on her fashion forever

[demmiblue]

84. I like her style in general... it gives me Lisa Bonet vibes. n/t