It's hard not to like Michelle Obama. Not only is she a self-made, intelligent woman (don't forget that she was Barack's boss at one point), but she's also a beacon of beauty and elegance. She reminds me of a modern day Jackie-O, though I'm hardly the first person to make the comparison.

What brought on this sudden surge of Michelle-love? There has been quite a bit of talk regarding Mrs. Obama's fashion choices over the last few weeks. Namely, her love of sleeveless dresses and super-toned yet un-Madonna-like arms. Apparently, when the 24-hour news channels tire of picking over the economic tsunami and there aren't any high speed car chases in Texas to cover, pundits take pleasure in ballyhooing what Michelle Obama is like, oh my God, wearing.

Self-styled fashion and body language experts have been falling over themselves in trying to figure out just what Michelle is secretly communicating via cocktail dress. Pulitzer Prize-winning fashion reporter Robin Givhan said in the New Yorker that "The arms imply vanity and power: two things that make many women uncomfortable and yet are fundamental to self-confidence." True, I think Michelle emanates power. And perhaps a normal dose of vanity. But honestly, I just think she just wants to look good-- she's not trying to send any kind of message to the young women of America, through her clothes anyway. In every other way, perhaps.

It's hard not to feel a swell of pride when you think, "Yeah, that's MY first lady." Michelle speaks for women of my generation; ambitious members of the work force who at the same time aspire to traditional family roles-- all while maintaining a trim figure and a stylish wardrobe. Such a thing is seen as commonplace by girls of my age, though as recently as 20 years ago a working mother was somewhat of a rarity. Perhaps we take this fact for granted. Michelle Obama is, for young women like myself, the image of female achievement in the new millennium. She is testament to the notion that fulfillment at work and in the home don't have to be at odds. Perhaps that's what people see in her sleeveless dresses.

I found this gallery of the first lady's style at the LA Times. Message or not, those arms are amazing.