Michelle obama honors mother with customized skirt

Former First Lady Michelle Obama paid a poignant tribute to her late mother, Marian Robinson, by wearing a custom-designed skirt featuring a sepia-toned portrait of the matriarch at the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago.

Robinson's legacy lives on

Michelle and her husband, former President Barack Obama, addressed stakeholders at the center, which opens to the public on June 19. For the occasion, Obama tapped her longtime stylist Meredith Koop and Swedish Fashion brand Acne Studios to create the bespoke piece.

The calf-length pencil skirt, based on look 29 from Acne Studios' fall 2026 collection, displayed Robinson's likeness as a young woman. Obama paired the striking garment with a brown short-sleeve T-shirt and pointy-toe pumps, mirroring the styling from the runway.

The choice of outfit held special meaning given that Robinson was born on Chicago's South Side, the location of the Obama Presidential Center. She also served as a constant support system for the First Family during their time in the White House.

In a 2025 Instagram post, Obama reflected on coping with grief, stating, 'We lost my mother a year ago, but somehow, it almost feels like she's with us more and more each day. She's not with us, but she is.'