By Marjon Carlos

Were Michelle and Barack Obama conspiring to save the world today as they sat down for a power lunch with Bono? Who’s to say…But what we do know is that the former first couple looked like they meant business as they exited Upland restaurant in New York. Sheathed in his-and-hers business pantsuits, the expertly tailored threads lent the meal a bit more of an official tone.

Michelle Obama’s mid-length gray trench coat was layered over a white and black silk button-down. Gone were her trademark pencil skirts; instead, she took a page from former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, zipping into a pair of no-nonsense black trousers. While the look was a bit more subdued for the normally splashy dresser, Obama held on to a vestige of her fashion consciousness with her Alexander Wang Attica tote.

Barack Obama followed in his wife’s footsteps, buttoning into a natty black two-piece and ditching the requisite tie from his White House days. Leaving the top two buttons of his crisp white oxford shirt open, the former president seemed to be easing back into public life with a more relaxed but still polished air. Eager and emotional fans gathered on the street to catch a glimpse of the power couple as they made their fashionable exit.