Michelle Obama chooses Jason Wu for inaugural balls
Another young American designer and up-and-coming talent. Wu is 26 years old, was born in Taiwan and studied at Parsons in New York. The gown is an unusual choice. Obama is wearing white in the winter and white at night. (President Obama's white bow tie and tux combo is even more unusual.) The gown could even be a wedding dress. But Michelle Obama is rewriting the fashion rules and she looks every inch the style icon she is becoming. The one-shouldered style is sexy and the powdery hue reflects the trends we saw on the Golden Globes red carpet. And won't it look nice in the Smithsonian alongside the other first lady gowns?
--Booth Moore
Related:
Michelle Obama's inauguration wardrobe reviewed
Who's Jason Wu? The designer of Michelle Obama's gown
Photos: First ladies' inauguration gowns
Should Michelle Obama borrow clothes and jewels like a celeb? Nancy Reagan couldn't.
Michelle Obama chose Jimmy Choo’s green 'Glacier' pump for Inauguration Day ensemble
Photo: Elise Amendola/ Associated Press
I love Michelle but thought her gown tonight was really disappointing.
It reminds me of a prom gown and does not due her justice.
Posted by: Charlotte | January 20, 2009 at 06:01 PM
WHITE HOT!!! 10 points and then some...Michelle looked every inch a model and a First Lady. Stunning.
Posted by: gabrielle | January 20, 2009 at 06:07 PM
That is a gorgeous dress! How could it not be. However, I always want to say, "Michelle, don't slouch! shoulders BACK!" Her posture is not as good as her taste and style. One classy lady I look forward to watching! She dresses her kids well, too!
Posted by: susan | January 20, 2009 at 06:22 PM
She's lovely tonight. A simple, elegant, almost youthful surprise. And I hope she's comfortable! No glam, an appropriate sign of the times.
Posted by: jackie | January 20, 2009 at 06:37 PM
I didn't particularly like the dress - especially the train as he almost stepped on it while they danced.
Posted by: Elizabeth Lemieux | January 20, 2009 at 06:54 PM
Michelle's wardrobe for the inaguration and ball was absolutely horrible. She needs to take tips from Jill Biden on the appropriate way to dress to show style, elegance, class and sophistication. Why does she always have to have such "busy" outfits? Her day ensemble was more for a cocktail hour and not warm enough for the event. Her formal is hideous. It didn't fit her and didn't do a thing for her shape. Beyonce's gown made Michelle's look like something straight off the Goodwill rack. Jill Biden's gown was beautiful on the other hand. President Obama looked ridiculous with the white bow tie.
Posted by: Juanita Lewis | January 20, 2009 at 06:57 PM
I agree. Today's Maize dress was beautiful. But, I think I wore tonight's dress at my Prom. Was so looking forward to seeing a WOW. Love Michelle and Obama. Its OK -- there will be more to come -- thank goodness!
Posted by: bdeakins | January 20, 2009 at 06:57 PM
This dress is HORRIBLE!! It is soo NOT Chic! Mrs Obama is way too upscale for this BackYard, BarnYard Wedding Dress!! It does nothing for her figure and makes her "Statuesque Body" look flat and shapeless. Love the Color; Hate the Style. Sorry Mrs O., You looked Better on the VIEW!
Posted by: America | January 20, 2009 at 07:06 PM
I would have put her in crimson or cranberry (deep pinkish red) like she wore the DNC night that he accepted the nomination. She looked washed out in this white gown.
Posted by: Michele in Maine | January 20, 2009 at 07:09 PM
Lessons from Jill Biden? hahahaha Brassy blond hair that looks dry and fly away, with a tomatoe red coat ABOVE her old knees, and black leather boots? YUK. Michelle is classy, forward, modern and HIP. MICHELLE is FABULOUS.
Posted by: swamp | January 20, 2009 at 07:12 PM
Not a great dress--and vaguley reminiscent of Nancy Reagan's white? silver" inaugural gown...
Posted by: notasoccermom | January 20, 2009 at 07:13 PM
I was uncomfortable about her day dress today; too busy with lace, rhinestones, sequins, and ribbons, though I love the story of the designer and the women who sewed the dress. Perhaps that is why she chose to wear it.
I was pleased that she kept tonight's gown simple and I was hoping it would be white, as she looks beautiful in simple, white, column gowns. She is striking in her features, coloring, hair, stature; she doesn't need a lot of adornment and jewlery because she is already strikingly attractive and so full of animation and life whatever she does. I can understand the gown being reminiscent of someone's prom but I found it infinitely more tasteful than the beaded extravaganzas of both Bush inaugurals that were reminiscent of the old Madam in LaGrange, Texas. Nancy Reagan's off the shoulder was a pretty dress but it hung on her like on a skeleton and she looked awful.
While we may be disappointed in some of Micelle's choices of dress, one thing seems clear. No matter what she wears, her face, her spirit, her essence is clear and it is quite beautiful.
Posted by: TJ | January 20, 2009 at 07:15 PM
Jill Biden's ball dress looked like a cheap hollywood attraction for golden globes, too revealing and not modest enough, not covered enough, and too bright red for her brassy hair. She needs to be more covered. This is an inagural ball, not a hollywood event.
Posted by: swamp | January 20, 2009 at 07:15 PM
I loved the dress she wore today but not the ball gown - boring.
Posted by: Bonni | January 20, 2009 at 07:19 PM
I was more disappointed in Jill Biden's day outfit. It did not look appropriate for the occasion, sort of thrown together, and I cannot stand to see women's legs bare when wearing boots. She had a mini, cap sleeved dress under that short red coat, long boots and bare knees. Regretful. Looked like she was going to work; but wherever she was going, she should have had either a longer length dress and coat with the boots or black leggins. I haven't seen her ball gown.
Posted by: TJ | January 20, 2009 at 07:20 PM
I was more disappointed in Jill Biden's day outfit. It did not look appropriate for the occasion, sort of thrown together, and I cannot stand to see women's legs bare when wearing boots. She had a mini, cap sleeved dress under that short red coat, long boots and bare knees. Regretful. Looked like she was going to work; but wherever she was going, she should have had either a longer length dress and coat with the boots or black leggins. I haven't seen her ball gown.
Posted by: TJ | January 20, 2009 at 07:22 PM
This gown looks like a chenille bedspread. Expected more from someone who is being classified as a "style" icon.
Posted by: Jane Smith | January 20, 2009 at 07:24 PM
I thought Michelle did okay today. However tonight, she should have went back home and started over. Not elegant, flattering, it was horrible. I hope in the future she will enlist the help of Oprah. She can pull together a more appropriate look.
Posted by: Karen | January 20, 2009 at 07:35 PM
The dress that Michelle wore for the inauguration looked like my grandmother's curtains in sun room. The gown worn for the ball was ill-fitting and unflattering to her and made her very ashen. I saw Mrs. Biden once and thought she looked very cold in the weather and the hair has to go.
Posted by: Trisha | January 20, 2009 at 07:38 PM
Michelle's lace day outfit was lined with an off-white lining so from afar it seemed to glitter. However, she had some bling too. She is physically fit and she looked good in it. Was it WOW. No! But that's Okay.
She looked beautiful and elegant in her white gown. Two very, very rich women (Nancy Reagan and Jackie Kennedy) wore white years ago, no one said any thing about that. Michelle is helping up and coming designers to be famous, instead of over indulging by wearing Amarni and Valentino. They are practising what they preach about over spending and change.
She looked very lovely.
Posted by: broker | January 20, 2009 at 07:43 PM