At Last: Michelle Obama’s Jason Wu Inaugural Gown

New First Lady Crowns New King of Fashion

Forget the Golden Globes, the Oscars, even Fashion Week.  Michelle Obama’s dress for the inaugural ball was the most anticipated event in recent fashion memory.

After months of breathless speculation and CIA-like secrecy, the new First Lady made her official debut looking radiant and positively regal in an ivory, one-shoulder gown covered with rosettes by Jason Wu.  Michelle O accessorized her Cinderella moment dress with long earrings, a dazzling - yet demure - diamond bracelet and ivory peep-toes (and some killer biceps, we might add).  And despite predictions, she rose to the occasion in heels.  She and Barack, Hollywood handsome in a Hart Schaffner Marx tux, were serenaded by Beyonce who sang Etta James’ timeless classic, “At Last.”

The dress.  The moment.  The symbolism.  As Rachel Zoe would say:  I DIE!

At the Neighborhood Ball, the first of 10 official balls the Obamas are expected to attend, President Barack Obama, said: “First of all, how good-looking is my wife?” Given the weight of the public gaze on this moment, the flawless execution of the look is all the more impressive since Mrs. O had less than two hours to dash from the parade route, change and go.  And presumably, actually choose the dress as it’s been reported that she hadn’t even made a decision just one day before the inauguration.

Stylist Robert Verdie’s verdict:  “She’s a First Lady that is a bit more daring and youthful.  But I expected her to wear a dress with a halter and not a silhouette that we’ve seen before.”  Meow.  So catty.  He is of course referring to the one-shoulder dress worn by Nancy Reagan in 1981.  Well, he may say it’s a bit of a fashion “don’t” but reaching across the political aisle, sartorially speaking, is totally a “do.”  Per tradition, the dress will be donated to the Smithsonian.

This is not the first time that Michelle O has worn something by Wu.  She sported a $3,510 raw silk dress he made with hand-embroidered rosettes for an appearance on ABC’s “The Barbara Walters Special.”  Already a fashion fave with celebs and industry insiders, scoring “The Dress” on “The Night of Night’s” has officially catapulted him to the status of Fashion God.  Hear that?  It’s the sound of his prices tripling.

And here’s another fashion footnote:  Wu used to intern at Narciso Rodriguez, who she has worn before, most notably the red-and-black Election Night dress.  Rodriguez, Thakoon and Mario Pinto were among the big names speculated to be in the running to design the dress for Michelle O’s big coming out party.

From Isabel Toledo’s outfit to kick-off the inauguration to Jason Wu for the finish–those are definitely two votes the Obamas can count on in four years.

By ShoeMinx Inaugural Reporter Paige Muller


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January 21, 2009 | Filed Under Dress, High Heels, Pumps, SHOE TYPE 

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