Related News
First Lady 'moment' boosts Wu
By Marc Karimzadeh |
February 15, 2009, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
FOR designer Jason Wu, Michelle Obama's choice of gown for the inaugural balls was almost as much of a surprise as it was for the entire world watching.
"I had no idea,?said a beaming Wu, sitting in his West 37th Street studio the morning after. "I really didn't know until the second everybody else found out. I was waiting on pins and needles. Of course, I knew there was a small chance this could happen.?
It was a momentous occasion for the 26-year-old designer, who grew his collection out of a doll business in 2006. Almost instantly after the First Lady emerged at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball, his home and cell phones started ringing and e-mails flooded in.
"It was very emotional,?he said, describing the moment he saw Obama in his dress. "I had been working on this for three months. At least the secret was out now. It was the ultimate validation for me as a designer.?
Since starting business, Wu has built a distribution network of more than 30 retailers, including Ikram in Chicago, the conduit for all of the First Lady's inaugural outfits.
Wu started working on the inaugural dress with lkram in November but admitted he didn't know the occasion he was designing it for.
"I knew it had to be formal, and my only memo was that it had to sparkle,?he recalled. "I thought, I can do it, I can do sparkle.
"I think the dress had to be classic, but it had to say 'new??Wu added. "She has beautiful shoulders, so I wanted to show that off. White is such a bold color, but it can also be so soft. It was about achieving that balance between the bold statement and also the feminine colors. I wanted to explore both of those, and I thought white was the best way to convey that idea.?
The off-the-shoulder white dress was embellished with more white organza flowers and Swarovski crystals than he cares to remember. According to Wu, Obama did not buy the dress ?he made it with the knowledge that were she to pick it for the big event, he would be donating it to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, where it will eventually be displayed next to other inaugural gowns.
While designing the dress, Wu deliberately didn't think about the historic dimension it could have. "I think I just got lost in the moment,?he said. "If I had thought about what this means, it would have hindered my creativity.?
He seems humbled by the moment and the impact it could have on his sales, which are small. "I wanted to pay my dues. It's not going to become a 30-people operation overnight, but this will help.?
"I had no idea,?said a beaming Wu, sitting in his West 37th Street studio the morning after. "I really didn't know until the second everybody else found out. I was waiting on pins and needles. Of course, I knew there was a small chance this could happen.?
It was a momentous occasion for the 26-year-old designer, who grew his collection out of a doll business in 2006. Almost instantly after the First Lady emerged at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball, his home and cell phones started ringing and e-mails flooded in.
"It was very emotional,?he said, describing the moment he saw Obama in his dress. "I had been working on this for three months. At least the secret was out now. It was the ultimate validation for me as a designer.?
Since starting business, Wu has built a distribution network of more than 30 retailers, including Ikram in Chicago, the conduit for all of the First Lady's inaugural outfits.
Wu started working on the inaugural dress with lkram in November but admitted he didn't know the occasion he was designing it for.
"I knew it had to be formal, and my only memo was that it had to sparkle,?he recalled. "I thought, I can do it, I can do sparkle.
"I think the dress had to be classic, but it had to say 'new??Wu added. "She has beautiful shoulders, so I wanted to show that off. White is such a bold color, but it can also be so soft. It was about achieving that balance between the bold statement and also the feminine colors. I wanted to explore both of those, and I thought white was the best way to convey that idea.?
The off-the-shoulder white dress was embellished with more white organza flowers and Swarovski crystals than he cares to remember. According to Wu, Obama did not buy the dress ?he made it with the knowledge that were she to pick it for the big event, he would be donating it to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, where it will eventually be displayed next to other inaugural gowns.
While designing the dress, Wu deliberately didn't think about the historic dimension it could have. "I think I just got lost in the moment,?he said. "If I had thought about what this means, it would have hindered my creativity.?
He seems humbled by the moment and the impact it could have on his sales, which are small. "I wanted to pay my dues. It's not going to become a 30-people operation overnight, but this will help.?
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