Michelle Obama Pairs Her Plunging Crop Top With Butt-Grazing Braids

Michelle Obama is that girl—always has been, always will be. The former first lady’s fashion sense is just one facet of her It factor, and it’s undeniable. From meaningful sheath dresses and regal gowns to pantsuits with personal flair, Obama’s best looks could fill books, literally—she just wrote one called, The Look. She’s been celebrating her collection of sartorial greatest hits by creating many more on her press tour, including a rustic ensemble that was both effortless and sneakily sultry.

Obama took to Instagram to share with her 57.6 million followers a behind-the-scenes look at a shoot with Annie Leibovitz for a new edition of her photography book Women. For the occasion, she pulled an outfit reflective of the quintessential modern American woman.

Up top, Obama wore a cropped gray polo that she left completely unbuttoned to create a plunging neckline. She paired the belly button-baring shirt with faded high-waisted blue jeans that scrunched at her ankles. She cinched the denim at the waist with a brown leather belt, and finished it all off with brown suede booties, a smattering of rings, and dainty drop earrings.

If you thought the attorney was done, you’d be mistaken, because her beauty was just as gag-worthy. Obama glammed up with dewy makeup, complete with luminous, glowing skin, defined eyebrows, shimmery eyeshadow, fluttery eyelashes, chiseled cheeks, glossy lips, and long manicured nails. She styled her hair in beautiful small braids that cascaded all the way down to her butt and were parted in the middle.

Obama struck a powerful pose, turning to the side with her eyes closed, as she ran her hands through her hair. In the video, Obama is seen getting glammed by her makeup artist and styled by her longtime stylist Meredith Koop. Her team watches in admiration as Obama takes in her moment.

“@AnnieLeibovitz has always known that a photo can do more than preserve a moment—it can say something,” Obama wrote in the caption. “Her book Women did exactly that, expanding how we see women and the lives they lead through her lens. It was an honor to be photographed by Annie for the new edition, capturing the many ways women are showing up today. I hope you’ll find it as inspirational as I do.”