Malia Obama is quietly making a name for herself in the film world. After making her (very demure) red carpet debut earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival, the eldest daughter of former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama made an appearance at the 50th annual Deauville American Film Festival to present her short film The Heart.
For the grand occasion, the 26-year-old slipped into a plaid ensemble covered in a mismatching red, white, black, and blue checkered pattern. Up top, she wore a cropped corset with off-the-shoulder sleeves and a sweetheart neckline, pairing the look with a coordinating layered skirt. The floor-length column silhouette boasted two separate plaid prints, decorating its shorter tier of fabric with a blue hue and matching a trailing piece with the red and white pattern of the corset.
Obama rounded out her look with a pair of knee-high black leather boots, as well as a healthy stack of silver hoop earrings. She wore her curly hair down, with small braids scattered throughout, and finished off with a brown lip gloss and mascara. In an interview with Paris Match, Obama revealed that her look came courtesy of Vivienne Westwood. “It’s cool,” she replied with a grin. “I don’t know as much about fashion, but I’m happy to be wearing it.”
The screenwriter and director also added she was “a little bit terrified” to be at the film festival, although she was mostly just excited. Her short film, The Heart, later went on to win the very first Young Spirit Award—specially created for the 50th edition of the Deauville Film Festival. The 18-minute documentary is Obama’s first, and explores themes of solitude, mourning, and forgiveness.
Maya Ernest is an editor who covers everything from the latest fashion news to features that investigate personal style, social media trends, and thoughtful consumption.
