Michael Kors for Michelle Obama. All designs courtesy Women’s Wear Daily.
In spite of the occasional misfire, first lady-elect Michelle Obama is a proven style maven and will likely return the office of the first lady to its 1961 glory. Women’s Wear Daily posted some of the designs options for Mrs. Obama’s inauguration dress. Though some of Mrs. Obama’s favorite Chicago-based and lower profile designers were not included in the mix, here are some of the highlights and lowlights and all the different ways designers see Mrs. Obama and her ill-represented booty.
Betsey Johnson.
Betsey Johnson
As much as Betsey Johnson’s lone design in the collection is an obvious product of the designer, it seems more Betsy Ross than Betsey Johnson. The sketch communicates Johnson’s exuberance about the election of Barack Obama through the inclusion of Kanye-inspired phrases like “A PEARL OF A GiRL” and “SHOES AND HEART OF GOLD.”
But the dress celebrates a George W. Bush-era brand of patriotism. We know the Obamas love America, but, as the President-elect has shown us, he doesn’t need to wear his pride in his country on his lapel. Michelle doesn’t need to wear it on her body.
Perhaps what is most disconcerting about this trainwreck of a design though is the sketch of the First Lady. Many of the other sketches showed no resemblance to Mrs. Obama but this one looks more like Betsey Johnson than Michelle. Seriously Betsey?
Diane Von Furstenberg
Diane Von Furstenberg.
This Diane Von Furstenberg is standard issue for the designer and for Mrs. Obama. As one of the safer designs in the collection, the First Lady cannot go wrong with this pick, but it would certainly be a disappointing choice.
If Michelle Obama is the style maven she has proven to be, this would show her to be a more Laura Bush-esque first lady. The dress’ simple lines lack much oomph and even the big bow doesn’t do much. Even going with DVF communicates a safe choice from Mrs. Obama.
It’s certainly not a bad choice, but it could be a lot better.
Christian Lacroix
Christian Lacroix.
Inexplicably, Christian Lacroix and Betsey Johnson seem to think that inauguration dresses should be cut from the same cloth as the American flag. Lacroix’s designs are outrageous and grandiose, casting the First Lady in a Cruella de Ville light.
I know Michelle Obama is supposed to be fashion forward, but her face in all five of Lacroix’s designs sceams evil puppy-killer. I don’t know all that much about the role of the first lady, but I’m pretty sure that de Ville is not the image that office wants to be casting. But then again, it is kind of a power move.
Zac Posen.
Zac Posen
I know the Obamas want to communicate that in spite of their patriarch’s tech-savvy, Ivy League education and occasional use of polysyllabic words and their soon-to-be Sidwell-educated daughters, they are still average Americans. Circa 2008.
Zac Posen’s dress is more America circa 1935. Very Little House on the Prairie. The dress even seems like it would be made from curtains. And the bonnet. As much as it speaks for itself as a fashion nightmare, putting a bonnet on the First Lady erases everything previous ball-busting first ladies Eleanor Roosevelt and Hillary Clinton did for the office.
Nicole Miller
Nicole Miller.
Nicole Miller provided two choices for Mrs. Obama. The suit seems altogether too casual. A hybrid of a Hillary Clinton pants suit and that favored look of sorority girls-black spandex and a white Hanes V-neck-but dressed up more. If Michelle Obama wears this to the inauguration
Her other design-a dress-epitomizes a safe choice. Though there was no standout, this dress had more bearable pizzazz than a lot of the other options, if only for its cooler.
Nicole Miller, like DVF, is a safe choice for Mrs. Obama and she could certainly do worse than a classic dress. But going with such a typical women’s wear designer would be contrary to every precedent set by fashion’s first lady.
Tuleh & Michael Kors
Tuleh
Again, while there was no clear winner in this design competition, there were a few standouts. The dress from Project Runway sensation Michael Kors is a little flashier than the Tuleh, but it has a subdued flair to it. It’s classic and modern without being overwhelming. It’s something Michelle Obama would definitely wear and wear well. And the blue is a bold statement of her husband’s political party. So why not remind everyone of the DNC’s majority presence in Washington. But at its heart, it’s standard, classic, timeless, no-nonsense Michael Kors. Something that will look great in the history books even 100 years from now.
The design from Bryan Bradley’s Tuleh is a similarly excellent choice. Sleek and simple but still stunning, the design captures Michelle Obama’s fashion aesthetic. It also benefits from being one of the few designs that is not a hue on the American flag.
Regardless, whatever designer gets to slap his or her label on Michelle Obama’s inauguration dress will be getting more press than anyone on the Oscar’s red carpet.
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I just hope that she’s not so fashion forward as to wear a metal glove. Fierce!
Michelle’s gold dress and coat…one of the choice’s I have ever seen….certainly not a trend I will be following…..looks too ethnic…for a first lady….but to be expected and not a surprise..hope know continues to compare her to Jackie O…..she does even come close or even on the same page.
Horrible dress today….can’t wait for tonight’s dress
What does an ethnic dress look like? Just like you have freedom of speech to blog what you think about her attire; she also has the freedom to wear whatever she deems appropriate for style and taste as our First Lady of the United States of America. Instead of being critical, why not be excited about such a momentous day?
Such a wonderful new day but some still have the old mind set. It’s not about what a person wears, it’s about the person’s heart and soul. America, lets get past the outward appearance and look on the inner because that is what count. You’re right, don’t compare Michelle Obama to Jackie O because they are two different women who held/hold the same position. Stop being creitical about something that doesn’t matter. Like President Obama said in his speach, “……..Put away childish things”
She has a keen sense of style like Jackie O. She looked ravishing in her gold dress.
Alice Shoemaker exactly what do you mean ethnic dress? It’s ashamed people still can’t keep their ignorant racist comments to themselves. Michelle looked beautiful, you must be a HIDEOUS person to have to bring people down.
evening ball gown designed by Jason Wu. I’ve seen much of his collection, and I think he could have done better.
Sorry!!! A good lady, and certainly a day worth celebrating. I don’t feel one has the right to compare her to anyone else, but from where I stand, I thought her dress, color of her gloves and shoes was not representative of a First Lady. I don’t feel it had to be by any special designer or ethnic. She could have purchased something off the rack for all I care, but the dress she wore today, I thought, was ugly! Not complimentary at all. So happy to see she changed for tonight. Now that was elegant and lovely. And I don’t care where she got it. She looks lovely tonight. They both do!!! Happy and lovely. God Bless them both and their family.
Michelle looked great! She is one to be reckoned with. Her style is vibrant. I love it! No one needs to look dead. She is alive and will be my inspiration for years to come. I’m going to look for that same color for this Sunday church service.
Soooooo disappointing. The over dressed tackiness of her gold outfit and diamond accessories, and then the horrible, horrible bedspread she wore to the ball and fell all over clutching at her rear end to pull it out from under her feet. I’m sorry fans of Michelle, but she looked rediculous. The Vice President’s wife looked rediculous also in a too short skirt and stupid boots. They should have taken a clue from Mrs. Bush, who was perfectly attired.
Beautiful choices both for day and evening. I thought she looked appropriate, stylish and – at LAST – light years away from the frumpy clothes we usually see on premier’s wives. The dress and coat were perfect – perfect colour, perfect cut, interesting fabric with texture and sparkle. I loved it. The evening dress was inspired. Feminine, romantic, beautifully fitting and obviously keeping Barack pretty interested! Wonderful to have a First Lady who loves clothes and obviously has a gift for fashion. Been a looong time coming – and Dr Biden is no slouch either!
I think Michelle looked beautiful! Jackie O Kennedy wore beautiful clothing as well. Just to get my 2 cents in, my choice for Michelle to wear would be the styles wore by Vivian (Janet) and Hilary on Prince of Bel Air.
This is a beautiful woman, but the inaugural suit was an abomination.
It did not fit her correctly. The armseye was too tight as was the back width.
Every time she moved her arms the coat moved. Such a shame .
Bad pattern and poor construction.