Speculation rampant on Michelle Obama inauguration gown
Will she wear red, white or blue or will she shake things up with a nonpartisan yellow?
Will she be regal, corporate, princess or diva?
Will she wear something off-the-rack?
So much to think about.
Well, yesterday’s Women’s Wear Daily added to the Obama dress watch with a slew of wonderful sketches from top fashion houses around the nation.
Among the designers featured (clockwise from top left) Monique Lhuillier, Diane Von Furstenberg, Badgley Mischka, Christian Lacroix, Betsey Johnson, Marc Jacobs, Oscar de la Renta and Issac Mizrahi (the latter two offered up styles for Sasha and Malia as well, click any image to enlarge).
The 35 sketches featured were mere speculation and just the fact that they were published means that Obama would probably not select them. WWD reports that some notable designers opted out of submitted sketches precisely because they are under close consideration for the dress Obama will select from in January.
Still, WWD, the most esteemed fashion newspaper in the world, was able to convince more than 30 designers to submit their ideal look for Obama. The fashion industry overwhelmingly supported Barack Obama’s campaign for president and many even designed exclusive merchandise sold on his website to raise campaign funds.
American designers are courting the First Lady-elect actively because they expect her to once again elevate America’s design houses by flaunting their apparel on the world’s highest stage.
Victoria Beckham may cause a splash with a snazzy frock, but Obama’s inaugural gown will go down in history. The photos will appear in newspapers and magazines all over the globe. It’s an opportunity worth jockeying for.
But by now, we’ve come to expect a personal style from Obama that is feircely independent. She never looks “styled” even though she’s stylish.
Obama, obviously, dresses for herself and like her husband manages to always look terribly comfortable having her every movement watched and analyzed.
The WWD story reports: “Step aside, Angelina. You too, Madonna, not to mention the bevy of pop tarts, gossip girls, ‘High School Musical’ grads and even potential Oscar divas, now all suddenly second-tier.
The American fashion industry hasn’t had a catch this big since, well, since another icon of Democratic chic took up residency on Pennsylvania Avenue in 1961.”
A wayward soul from Las Vegas, Nevada, who now calls St. Louis home and believes that fashion is relative and capricious, but style is always in favor. 
Hoping she gets her shoes from a St. Louis company as I’m sure the folks at Famous Footwear would roll out the red carpet to provide her some stylish shoes for her inauguration. And as a self-proclaimed “first Mom” she could also outfit her beautiful daughters in some Famous Footwear. Plus, in a difficult economy, she could send a message to Americans to shop for both style and value at one of America’s retailers. Wouldn’t that be funny to see a first lady shopping? Can’t ever remember seeing it before.
first lady obama has a old spirt. a more settle time of person. i feel that if she is going to wear a shelveless dress she would chose a shawl or jacket, but i think her first chose would be something with shelves. .
This is the stupidest article ever.
Ever.
This is going to be shocking, but I’m actually going to comment on the post…
Michelle Obama will look striking in anything, but she really looks great in bold colors, and simple lines. I do like the red dress, the silver and gray, and the magenta. NOT the red, white, and blue, which looks like a clown outfit. Or the yellow suit, which looks like something Jackie O would have worn.
I do favor that red, though.
Tim is unbelievably rude and unkind. She is a lovely woman and I wish I had her stature and looks. Perhaps Tim is a racist. He is certainly an embarrassment to what America is supposed to be. Shame on Tim.
~ Jane
Mrs. Obama is attractive and gracious. Whatever she wears, please don’t let it be the atrocity she wore election night. Ouch. I hope she fired that stylist.
I would love to see what Chris March (Season 4, Project Runway) would design for her! But, seriously, given her past choices, minus the mis-step on election night, I expect to see Michelle in something tasteful and elegant at the inaugural balls.
As to Tim and Hunch, I suspect they toss negative posts at every column, fomum and blog that mentions the first family. Sore losers. I prefer to ignore their buffoonery and focus on the positive. What a pleasure to have a President and First Lady with class and style.
Is this the same people and media that freaked out about Palin buying clothes…that she didnt even buy? But we have to get stories about what M.O. is going to where. WHO CARES! Is this the change that I am supposed to concerned with. DUMB ARTICLE…your mindless idiots keep indulging in this retarded stuff. What is she going to where…honestly, thats what we need to read about?
Ahh, I see, apparently finding Michelle Obama unattractive makes me some sort of conservative racist card-carrying member of the KKK. You got all that from one sentence Diva? Your brillance and intelligence truly amazes me. You gleaned all that information from 13 whole words! Why are you wasting your time in this hole-in-the-blogs when you could be solving the housing crisis or saving the Big Three from going under? With your brain power we could get rid of our dependence on foreign oil! Just hook up Diva’s coconut to a generator and we are free at last.
She is not attractive to me, and no amount of donated foreign design will change that. Neither will who she is married too or how long she lives in the White House.
I vote for the Oscar de la Renta trio first, and the Marc Jacobs gold & silver gown second. The DVF is too underdone and looks like something that would be worn to a business lunch. While all the other designs are gorgeous and would be worn to good advantage by First Lady Michelle, I vote them as being too fancy and inappropriate for today’s troubled economic times. However, they would certainly be good to keep on the back burner for future galas.