WASHINGTON - It was one of the biggest questions of Monday's
inaugural celebrations: not what would President Barack Obama say, but
what would his wife, Michelle Obama, wear?
The
first lady cemented her reputation as an international style
trend-setter with her choice of a Jason Wu red sleeveless ball gown in
the evening, and a striking business-style blue navy coat and dress for
the ceremonial daytime events.
US President Barack Obama and First
Lady Michelle Obama dance at the Commander in Chief's Ball in
Washington, D.C. on Monday (Tuesday, PHL time). Michelle Obama's dress
was designed by Jason Wu. Reuters/Rick Wilking
The first lady appeared for her first dance of the night with the
president at the Commander-in-Chief's Ball for US service members in a
ruby-colored chiffon and full-length velvet gown custom made by the New
York-based designer.
Her shoes were from the
London-based Malaysian-Chinese designer Jimmy Choo, and she wore a
diamond-embellished ring handmade by jeweler Kimberly McDonald of New
York.
Michelle Obama helped make Wu a household
name by choosing a white chiffon gown he designed for the balls
celebrating her husband's first inauguration in 2009. Wu, now 30, has
since had significant commercial success, but his creations in the two
inaugurations has won him a place in US fashion history.
Dressing the first lady, a Harvard-trained lawyer known for her style,
can be a huge boost for a fashion designer or retail chain.
Praised for wearing high-end designers as well as pieces from
mass-market stores, the first lady has won over fashion critics in her
four years in the White House.
"Icon's a big
word and it sometimes gets over used, but I think if we're going to use
it, we can use it now," said Steven Kolb, chief executive of the Council
of Fashion Designers of America, adding, "What makes her a real icon is
the work that she does and the woman that she is."
Dresses, sweaters, shoes and belts she has worn have sold out at
retailers from designer showrooms to mass market chains including Gap
Inc., J. Crew and Target Corp., for which Wu has designed low-priced
fashions.
Earlier on Monday, the first lady wore
a navy coat and dress by designer Thom Browne, inspired by the fabric
of a man's silk tie.
Her belt and gloves were
from J.Crew, a chain that is a fixture in US shopping malls; the
necklace and earrings were designed by Cathy Waterman. The suede boots
were by Reed Krakoff, as was the short blue cardigan she wore to a
celebratory lunch in the Capitol.
Big-ticket industry
Best known for men's clothing, Browne boasts a string of design awards,
most recently, a prestigious National Design Award for fashion from the
Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in New York, which is part of the
Smithsonian Institution.
"She likes
well-tailored clothes, so the inspiration was doing something that
looked tailored and structured and fitted through the body and somewhat
A-line for the skirt and the dress," Browne told the Los Angeles Times.
Style mavens credit the 49-year-old first lady with changing the way
American women put together their outfits, and, by patronizing US
designers, bolstering a multibillion-dollar industry.
A 2010 study from New York University's Stern School of Business found
that a single appearance by the first lady can generate $14 million in
value for a company.
Famed for her toned arms,
Obama set a trend for sleeveless tops. Her cardigans and belted dresses
have prompted many working women to switch from blazers and suits in the
workplace.
"Michelle looks good however,
wherever, whatever she does. Michelle looks good in her sleeping gown,"
said Sharon Johnson, a therapist who came from Baltimore to watch the
inauguration, and joked that she is still looking for the green leather
gloves Obama wore on Inauguration Day four years ago.
0 comments:
Post a Comment