Malia Obama is proving once again that sometimes simpler is better when it comes to street style. The 28-year-old was recently spotted in Los Angeles wearing a classic “off-duty model” formula: a tiny white tank top with ultra-baggy black jeans. The effortlessly cool look had us doing a double take!
In photos from her latest LA outing, Malia paired the fitted scoop-neck tank with oversized, low-rise black jeans that left a sliver of midriff exposed. She kept the rest of the outfit understated with black flip-flops, tiny rectangular sunglasses and a large black leather bag (surely fit with all of her off-duty essentials). Her long auburn hair was pulled into a relaxed half-up style with pieces framing her face.
The whole thing is giving us flashbacks to ’90s models—we can totally see Kate Moss wearing this to grab coffee between castings. Just like a chic superstar on her day off, Malia looked polished without appearing like she had tried too hard.
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Malia may not be known for her modeling skills, but she definitely has other talents up her sleeve. The former first daughter recently made the jump from Hollywood insider to filmmaker, writing and directing her short film The Heart, which premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. She has also worked as a writer on Donald Glover’s Swarm.
Her low-key style has also become something of a signature. But there’s another reason Malia’s latest look is getting attention: “She looks like her mom,” as one person commented on Teen Vogue’s Instagram post highlighting this particular outfit.
Fans have pointed out the resemblance between Malia and Michelle Obama, and it’s not hard to see why. At 28, Malia has inherited her mother’s striking features and tall, elegant presence, while her outfits sometimes echo Michelle’s own personal style and ability to make basics look incredibly chic.
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Michelle was also a standout beauty at her daughter's age, before she became the former First Lady known for her fashion influence. Malia's latest look feels like a laid-back twist on her mother's signature combination of confidence and simplicity.
And while Malia has largely stayed out of the spotlight compared with many children of celebrities, she's been doing a great job building a career of her own. She appeared with her parents and sister Sasha at the dedication ceremony for the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago in June, one of her rare public family appearances this year.
Now she's back in LA, seemingly focused on her film career—and nailing the effortlessly cool filmmaker look while doing it.
