Malia Obama Updates Y2K Style With Retro Trend at Sundance Film Festival for ‘The Heart’ Premiere

Malia Obama added a touch of the ’70s fashion to her mostly Y2K style on the first night of the 2024 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Thursday, wearing a black ruffled miniskirt with an unbuttoned light gray shirt and knee-high boots by Free People with a retro-style skinny scarf that matched her gray, wool longline coat.

Obama was at the festival for the premiere of her first short film, “The Heart.”

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Malia Obama at the “The Heart” premiere.

Skinny scarves were popular in the ‘70s, especially within rock ‘n’ roll culture. In the late ’90s and early Aughts, celebrities including Kate Moss, Lindsay Lohan and Reese Witherspoon brought the trend back to the red carpet. In the past couple of years, skinny scarves have started to return again — as seen on Bella Hadid and Kate Moss.

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Ayesha Nadarajah and Malia Obama at the “The Heart” premiere.

Outside the red carpet, Malia Obama often embraces retro fashion trends, such as bomber jackets, windbreakers, overalls and mom jeans.

“The Heart” is written and directed by Obama, who created the project under the name Malia Ann — the latter is her middle name. The short film tells the story of a grieving son who is left with an unusual request from her mother after she dies.

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LaTonya Borsay, Tunde Adebimpe, Ayesha Nadarajah and Malia Ann Obama at the “The Heart” premiere.

The 2024 Sundance Film Festival will take place in Park City through Jan. 28. The annual film festival presents new documentary features, short films and episodic content. The event also features prizes, including the Directing Award and the Festival Favorite Award.

Sundance Film Festival 2024 Red Carpet Arrivals

PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 18: Kristen Stewart attends the 2024 Sundance Film Festival Opening Night Gala: Celebrating 40 Years at DeJoria Center on January 18, 2024 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 18: Kristen Stewart attends the 2024 Sundance Film Festival Opening Night Gala: Celebrating 40 Years at DeJoria Center on January 18, 2024 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 18: Kristen Stewart attends the 2024 Sundance Film Festival Opening Night Gala: Celebrating 40 Years at DeJoria Center on January 18, 2024 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 18: Kristen Stewart attends the 2024 Sundance Film Festival Opening Night Gala: Celebrating 40 Years at DeJoria Center on January 18, 2024 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 18: Malia Ann Obama attends the "The Heart" Premiere at the Short Film Program 1 during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival at Prospector Square Theatre on January 18, 2024 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 18: Malia Ann Obama attends the "The Heart" Premiere at the Short Film Program 1 during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival at Prospector Square Theatre on January 18, 2024 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)

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Launch Gallery: Sundance Film Festival 2024 Red Carpet Arrivals

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