And while the cache of a designer name isn't what drives the first lady's fashion choices — "my first reaction isn’t, ‘Who made this?’" she explained — there are talents she gravitates to, and for good reason. FLOTUS filter No. 2, which is to care about the people behind the clothes as much as the clothing itself. "There are definitely designers that I love, people I love to work with," she told the magazine. "And who they are as people matters. Are they good people? Do they treat their staff well? Do they treat my staff well? Are they young? Can I give them a boost?"

As for the last tenet of Obama's style playbook: If the clothing is comfortable, and you're down with the folks who made it, it has to, of course, look damn good. "When all of that is equal…is it cute?!" she told the magazine. Because you and Michelle apparently have more in common when looking into the mirror, mulling over a potential outfit, than you probably thought. (Minus the stylist and the whole FLOTUS power and all.) Check out the issue when it hits newsstands on November 22.