Michelle Obama shared the first reason she never talked about fashion in the White House

Former first lady Michelle Obama metaphorically takes to the catwalk to reflect on why she decided not to talk about fashion during her stay at the White House.

As she embraced the next leg of her journey, Obama stopped by a taping of “TODAY with Jenna & Friends” Tuesday to talk about her new book, “The Look,” which hit shelves the same day.

“I avoided talking about fashion for eight years because I thought it would be a distraction,” Obama revealed.

He went on to explain why he feels now is the “perfect time” to invite the public into this side of his life.

“I think now is the time. People know me. They know who I am. They know my values,” he said.

Obama noted that the public has always been “curious” about her style and, although the story behind her fashion choices has always been “interesting,” she has “avoided it.”

Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images

“It also gives me a chance to pay tribute to the people behind the scenes,” Obama said, referring to her team, who she said “worked tirelessly, without much fanfare.”

He added that this book also pays tribute to the many “diverse American designers” who dressed during his tenure in the White House.

“Fashion is a multi-billion dollar business and it happens because of people from all walks of life (immigrants, people of color and women) and the goal during my eight years was to showcase that diversity,” she continued. “I think we are at a time where we need to remember the importance of diversity.”

He concluded by stating that diversity “makes America great and makes fashion what it is.”

Obama’s new book comes seven years after his best-selling memoir, “Becoming.”