US first lady wears Wu to the balls again
Source: Agencies |
January 23, 2013, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
MICHELLE Obama made it a fashion tradition on Monday night, wearing a custom-made Jason Wu gown to the inaugural balls. The ruby-colored dress was a follow-up to the white gown Wu made for her four years ago when she was new to Washington, the pomp and circumstance, and the fashion press.
She now emerged in velvet and chiffon as a bona fide trendsetter.
"I can't believe it. It's crazy," said Wu, reached at his Manhattan studio as he was trying to share the news with his parents in Taiwan. "To have done it once was already the experience of my life. To have a second time is tremendous."
US President Barack Obama also struck a similar style chord to his first-term inaugural balls: He wore a white tie with his tuxedo.
The red halter dress was the only one Wu, who went from fashion insider to household name on the night of January 21, 2009, submitted for Michelle's consideration. He collaborated with jeweler Kimberly McDonald on the jeweled neckline. "For this occasion, it had to be real diamonds," said Wu.
He said he felt the dress showed how he has grown up as a designer and how Michelle's style has evolved to be even more confident.
The first family headed out to inaugural festivities earlier on Monday with Michelle leading a very coordinated fashion parade in a navy-silk, checkered-patterned coat and dress by Thom Browne that were inspired by a menswear necktie.
The outfit was specifically designed for the first lady, but Browne said he wasn't 100 percent sure she was going to wear it until she came out with it on Inauguration Day. "I am proud and humbled," he said.
The rest of her Inauguration Day outfit included a belt from J. Crew, necklace by Cathy Waterman and a cardigan by Reed Krakoff, whose ensemble she also wore at Sunday's intimate, indoor swearing-in ceremony.
Obama wore a blue tie with his white shirt, dark suit and overcoat. Malia Obama had on a plum-colored J. Crew coat with the hemline of an electric-blue dress peeking out and a burgundy-colored scarf, and her younger sister Sasha had on a Kate Spade coat and dress in a similar purple shade.
"It is an honor that Sasha Obama chose to wear Kate Spade New York," said the company's creative director Deborah Lloyd. "She epitomizes the youthful optimism and colorful spirit of the brand. We are so proud to have been a part of this historic moment."
Jenna Lyons, creative director of J. Crew, said it was "a huge point of pride for all of us" to be a part of the day, as the brand was back in 2009 when the girls wore outfits by CrewCuts, its children's label.
"It's amazing to see the evolution of the family. I love the way Michelle looks. She looks beautiful in something so clean and tailored. It's such an elegant choice," Lyons said, "and they all look so sophisticated! You can see how the girls have grown up in the four years, and they're still so alive and vibrant, but more sophisticated."
Michelle has worn Browne's designs for other occasions, including a gray dress with black lace overlay to one of the presidential debates last fall, and she honored him last summer at the Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt National Design Awards for his contribution to fashion.
Browne made his name in modern - very modern - menswear, but he launched womenswear in 2011. He was in Paris on Monday, just finishing previews for his next menswear collection. The idea to use the tie fabric came to him because he was indeed designing these men's clothes at the same time.
"I wanted 'tailored' for her. For me, she stands for strength and confidence, and that's what I wanted to design for her," Browne said.
She now emerged in velvet and chiffon as a bona fide trendsetter.
"I can't believe it. It's crazy," said Wu, reached at his Manhattan studio as he was trying to share the news with his parents in Taiwan. "To have done it once was already the experience of my life. To have a second time is tremendous."
US President Barack Obama also struck a similar style chord to his first-term inaugural balls: He wore a white tie with his tuxedo.
The red halter dress was the only one Wu, who went from fashion insider to household name on the night of January 21, 2009, submitted for Michelle's consideration. He collaborated with jeweler Kimberly McDonald on the jeweled neckline. "For this occasion, it had to be real diamonds," said Wu.
He said he felt the dress showed how he has grown up as a designer and how Michelle's style has evolved to be even more confident.
The first family headed out to inaugural festivities earlier on Monday with Michelle leading a very coordinated fashion parade in a navy-silk, checkered-patterned coat and dress by Thom Browne that were inspired by a menswear necktie.
The outfit was specifically designed for the first lady, but Browne said he wasn't 100 percent sure she was going to wear it until she came out with it on Inauguration Day. "I am proud and humbled," he said.
The rest of her Inauguration Day outfit included a belt from J. Crew, necklace by Cathy Waterman and a cardigan by Reed Krakoff, whose ensemble she also wore at Sunday's intimate, indoor swearing-in ceremony.
Obama wore a blue tie with his white shirt, dark suit and overcoat. Malia Obama had on a plum-colored J. Crew coat with the hemline of an electric-blue dress peeking out and a burgundy-colored scarf, and her younger sister Sasha had on a Kate Spade coat and dress in a similar purple shade.
"It is an honor that Sasha Obama chose to wear Kate Spade New York," said the company's creative director Deborah Lloyd. "She epitomizes the youthful optimism and colorful spirit of the brand. We are so proud to have been a part of this historic moment."
Jenna Lyons, creative director of J. Crew, said it was "a huge point of pride for all of us" to be a part of the day, as the brand was back in 2009 when the girls wore outfits by CrewCuts, its children's label.
"It's amazing to see the evolution of the family. I love the way Michelle looks. She looks beautiful in something so clean and tailored. It's such an elegant choice," Lyons said, "and they all look so sophisticated! You can see how the girls have grown up in the four years, and they're still so alive and vibrant, but more sophisticated."
Michelle has worn Browne's designs for other occasions, including a gray dress with black lace overlay to one of the presidential debates last fall, and she honored him last summer at the Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt National Design Awards for his contribution to fashion.
Browne made his name in modern - very modern - menswear, but he launched womenswear in 2011. He was in Paris on Monday, just finishing previews for his next menswear collection. The idea to use the tie fabric came to him because he was indeed designing these men's clothes at the same time.
"I wanted 'tailored' for her. For me, she stands for strength and confidence, and that's what I wanted to design for her," Browne said.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
