Malia and Sasha Obama Make a Rare Outing at the Presidential Center Opening — and Their Looks Are Turning Heads — Photos

The invite-only dedication ceremony, held on the South Side of Chicago, drew a who’s who of political heavyweights.

Former Presidents Joe Biden, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush all attended alongside their respective first ladies, while former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel represented the international guest list.

But the current president, Donald Trump, was notably left off the invite list for the dedication.

At the center of it all were, of course, Barack and Michelle Obama, who took the stage joined by their daughters, Malia and Sasha, marking one of the rare instances the sisters have appeared together at a major public event since their family left the White House back in 2017.

Sasha Obama’s Boho Look Has Shoppers Racing to Keep Up

Sasha showed up with a look that balanced relaxed and polished in equal measure. She chose an off-the-shoulder white top, cinched at the waist with an oversized belt, paired with a matching midi skirt that gave the entire outfit a flowing, boho edge.

She finished the look with a Stone Fruit Peeled Ring and a pair of Miu Miu sandals finished with eye-catching metal embellishments that tied the whole ensemble together.

Those sandals are not exactly easy to find right now. They have reportedly been selling out across Saks Fifth Avenue, Farfetch, Fwrd, and Miu Miu’s own website, and given the kind of attention Sasha’s outfit is already getting, that shortage probably is not ending anytime soon.

Malia Obama’s Daring Blazer Moment Steals the Spotlight

Malia took a different approach entirely, opting for something with a little more edge. She wore a light gray blazer with a plunging neckline, styled with nothing underneath, and paired it with a dark gray miniskirt for a sharp, fashion-forward finish.

Her copper boho braids were styled down in a center part, and she rounded out the look with matching pointed-toe heels. Specific pieces from her outfit included a St. Agni blazer, kitten heel pumps, and a trio of rings: the Stone Fruit Barrel Ring, Bite Ring, and Pulp Ring.

It did not take long for people to weigh in, and the reactions ranged from admiration to outright teasing.

What People Are Saying About the Sisters’ Looks

On Facebook, the comment section quickly filled up with people debating who the sisters take after most. One person wrote, “They look nothing like they’re Dad’s [sic]! 🤣🤣,” while another insisted, “Malia is her mother’s twin 🤩.”

Plenty of commenters were simply taken aback by how grown-up the sisters looked, given that Malia was 10 and Sasha was 7 when their father became president.

“Omg how they have grown into such beautiful young ladies!💕,” one person wrote. Another went further, breaking down the family resemblance in detail, noting, “His oldest has Barracks mothers features. Did you see they are taller then mom . Both kids scholars like mom [sic].”

Malia’s daring blazer choice did not slip past anyone either. “I think one forgot her shirt!” one commenter joked, and someone else echoed the sentiment more directly, writing, “Malia forgot to put on her shirt.”

Over on Instagram, the focus shifted a bit, with several people zeroing in on accessories and the wider family lineup. “Sasha’s shoes are INSANE. 😍,” one fan wrote, clearly taking note of those now sold out Miu Miu sandals. “Look at the shoes😂😂😂,” another netizen echoed.

Others jumped back into the resemblance debate from a different angle. “M looks like dad, and S looks like mom ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️,” one person commented, essentially flipping the take from the Facebook thread.

But the girls’ mother did not escape attention either. The former first lady wore a pinstriped Thom Browne skirt suit paired with Soft Patent Wingtip Pumps for the occasion, and one commenter gushed, “Totally obsessed with Michelle’s suiting, the raw edges and shoes 🤍💙⬛.”

Inside the $850 Million Center the Family Came to Celebrate

The occasion behind all the family fashion was no small thing. The Obama Presidential Center represents an $850 million undertaking spread across a 19-acre campus in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood, and it breaks from the traditional presidential library format in a major way.

Rather than centering almost entirely on artifacts, though there are plenty on display, including dresses worn by Michelle, campaign buttons, and handwritten speech notes from the former president, the center is built around connecting historical turning points to the everyday people who helped drive them.

Obama Foundation CEO Valerie Jarrett told ABC News that the goal is for visitors to walk away believing they have a personal stake in the country’s progress, and added that above all, “they’re going to have fun.”

The center also marks a first for presidential libraries. All records from the Obama presidency have been fully digitized, freeing up the physical space for more interactive elements.

Those include a recording studio, an auditorium, a new branch of the Chicago Public Library, a 60,000 square foot multipurpose space with a basketball court, and an 88-foot digital installation built around speeches, poetry, and music from Barack’s two terms.

The campus sits inside Jackson Park, connecting to the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry and the Lake Michigan shoreline nearby.

Outside, there are 3.7 acres of public space, including walking trails, a fruit and vegetable garden, more than an acre of playground space, and 28 commissioned art pieces, 23 of which are free to view without a ticket.

For Valeria, who worked closely with the Obamas as an adviser, the Hyde Park location carries personal weight. She and the Obamas once lived within walking distance of each other early in their marriage, and Michelle Obama grew up just one neighborhood over.

“It was important to give back and give to this community, a community to which they owe a great deal,” Valerie said.

The museum itself unfolds across four floors. The journey starts with the nation’s founding, moves through 20th-century social movements, and highlights civil rights and labor leaders, with a dedicated section on the 1983 election of Harold Washington, Chicago’s first Black mayor and fellow Hyde Park resident.

From there, visitors move into Barack’s political rise in Illinois and the U.S. Senate before reaching exhibits on his presidential achievements, including the Paris Accord, the Affordable Care Act, and his work on gun violence and immigration.

The fourth floor takes a more personal turn, featuring memorabilia from sports legends, gifts from foreign heads of state, a full-scale replica of the Oval Office as it looked during his presidency, and video footage of musical performances and civic events from his time in office.

Vakerie acknowledged that many of the same struggles highlighted throughout the museum, like immigration and Middle East peace negotiations, still feel relevant today.

She said she hopes visitors leave understanding that “change is always hard, it is often incremental, and it takes a long time,” adding that the “hope and change” message from Barack’s 2008 campaign was never meant to be simple. “They are intended to be timeless,” she said.

One small but telling detail awaits visitors throughout the museum: Kleenex boxes placed in various spots. Valerie explained the decision came after noticing how emotional the experience tends to be for people, noting that revisiting the Obama years “has been very emotional” for many.

Between the history on display and the family front and center for the occasion, it is safe to say the Obama daughters’ fashion choices were only part of the story, even if they ended up being the part everyone could not stop talking about.

Surprisingly, just days earlier, their mother had stolen all the attention. As previously reported, Barack and Michelle attended the stakeholders’ event at the Barack Obama Presidential Center (before the inauguration). The evening was already meaningful, but Michelle’s outfit turned it into a conversation.

A Look That Stopped the Room: Michelle’s Unique Skirt

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