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| Michelle Obama at 2009 Inaugural Ball. |
The dress he designed for the First Lady was a one-shouldered, white chiffon gown that was embellished with organza flowers with Swarovski crystal centers. Wu did not know that Mrs. Obama had chosen his dress until he saw it on TV the evening of the inauguration. His life was instantly transformed and resulted in celebrities wearing his clothing, a collection for Target, and a new bridge line called Miss Wu. He happened to have been in Chicago a week and a half ago to promote Miss Wu at Nordstrom and I was lucky enough to have met him briefly and snap a photo.
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| Stuart Mesires, Jason Wu, Annie Barlow |
Secrecy surrounds the First Lady's choice of designer for her gown this year as well. WWD has reported that, "East Wing staffers reportedly requested samples from numerous designers for Michelle Obama's Inauguration clothes." And some of the names alledgedly in the running," are: Barbara Tfank, Bibu Mohapatra, Derek Lam, Laura Smalls, Marchesa, Michael Kors, Naeem Khan, Narcisco Rodriguez, Prabal Gurung, Thakoon, Tory Burch, Tracy Reese, and Zero + Maria Cornejo.
Americans have always had an interest in what the First Lady wears to the Inaugural Ball.
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| 1909 Inaugural dress worn by Helen Taft, from Smithsonian Collection |
The Smithsonian Museum of American History in Washington D.C. has a collection of the First Ladies' choices that go back 100 years starting with Helen Taft. Taft was the first to the First Ladies to donate her gown to the Smithsonian and ever since then all of the First Ladies have donated their gowns as well.
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| 1961 Inaugural dress worn by Jackie Kennedy |
One of the most glamorous gowns was the one one worn by Jacqueline Kennedy in 1961 to celebrate the inauguration of her husband John F. Kennedy. She designed her own gown with the help of Bergdorf Goodman's Ethan Frankau.
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| Detail of Jackie Kennedy's 1961 Inaugural dress. |
It was a strapless faille sheath with a bodice embroidered with beads and silver thread and a silk chiffon overblouse layered over it.
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| Jackie and John F. Kennedy at 1961 Inaugural Ball. |
It was worn with matching cape, full length kid gloves, and matching clutch.
One of the most controversial gowns was worn by Roslyn Cater in 1977.
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| Roslyn Cater at 1977 Inaugural Ball. |
It was a gold trimmed blue chiffon dress topped with a gold embroidered sleeveless coat. It was designed by Mary Matisse for Jimmae.
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| 1977 Inaugural dress worn by Roslyn Carter. |
The controversy occurred because Mrs. Carter had already worn the gown in 1971 to the ball celebrating Jimmy Cater's inauguration as governor of Georgia. This was seen by many as a slight by the First Lady towards the American Fashion Industry and as downplaying the importance of the Inaugural Ball.
Tonight it will be interesting to see which designer's inaugural gown will be the next to enter the archives of the Smithsonian and perhaps even launch the career of a lesser known designer.
