At Last, Mrs. O Wows in Jason Wu
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 9:20 PM 
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images
After months of speculation and hundreds of designs, we finally get to lay eyes on Mrs. O's Inaugural Ball gown - a gown for the ages. We are amazed and delighted. On the first day of December, we wrote a post entitled "A Name to Remember" that was inspired by the young designer behind the perfectly sophisticated, modern shift dress Mrs. O wore for an interview with Barbara Walters.
The designer of said dress was Jason Wu - a 26 year old Taipei native, former student of designer Narciso Rodriguez and finalist for the 2008 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund prize. Tonight, Mr. Wu won the greatest prize of all, dressing our First Lady in a winter white one-shoulder gown flecked with organza flowers and crystals for the Inaugural Ball. Of great interest is what Cheryl Tan of Heard on the Runway reported at the time of the Barbara Walters interview:
Mr. Wu isn't working on any more 'special projects' for Ikram at the moment but is hoping to get another call. While Seventh Avenue has been abuzz over who Mrs. Obama will wear on Inauguration Day, Mr. Wu said he isn’t focusing on that. “Oh,” he said, “that’s a long shot!”
As background, Ikram (referenced in the paragraph above) is Ikram Goldman, the owner of the famed Chicago boutique that bears her first name. We explored Ikram's style influence in a piece earlier this week, "The Mix is the Message". She is responsible for connecting Mrs. O with many of the designers that have become familiar names throughout the campaign and inauguration. In an odd twist, Mrs. O's gown shows similiarity to the design we predicted in interviews with the Chicago Tribune and NPR several weeks ago:
"Winter white chiffon gathered asymmetrically from an empire waist to one shoulder, with a gray-silver full satin skirt. A bejeweled diamond brooch worn off-center at the waist line."
With so many pointing to Mrs. O's penchant for jewel tones, we thought she might choose just the opposite: a white winter that we would remember forever. Indeed we will.
Update: Cathy Horyn of the New York Times is on the case once again - love her. In a conversation with Jason Wu this evening, the designer revealed that he didn't know Mrs. O was going to wear his dress until he saw it this evening. The designer went on to describe the 8 to 10 yards of silk chiffon, and many crystals that went into the design. "It had to sparkle," he said. The dress had been based on measurements and details provided by Ikram Goldman.
Later Tuesday evening, Jason Wu spoke with CNN to explain his inspiration for the dress. "It's about hope. It's about newness," he said. "It's all a little dreamlike, and we're making history, and I wanted to really reflect that." We can practically hear the well-deserved excitement in the designer's voice as he added, "It's thrilling. ... For a young designer, I couldn't ask for any more than this."
Ikram, Jason Wu in Inauguration 2008, Outfits
Reader Comments (218)
I think that the First Lady really struck out with her Inaugural Ball gown! Very disappointing, after what was a great start to her time in Washington. It was not flattering to her figure and was very lackluster!
we have photos of the gown at www.bloomacious.com - I think it's gorgeous!
Stunning gown. She looks beautiful. My only caveat would be that it would have been more fashionable to wear her hair in an updo with the dress.
She should have pulled her hair back. It would have added so much elegance. Otherwise, she looks great!
Lord knows this day has been the highlight of my life. I loved the inaugural dress she wore earlier in the day. It just seemed to fit and the gloves oh oh oh loved them it was so right. But that ball gown NO NO NO Michelle. You said the dress decision was made fashionably late well next time decide on time please. Maybe this dress will grow on me like the presidental acceptance one please grow on me grow grow grow. Not growing sigh.
I think it's lovely. It also looks **comfortable,** as in not too fitted, not too tight. Since has upteen number of balls to flit through tonight, I'm sure that is a real plus.
::sigh::
Lovely, just lovely.
Was it better than anything Hillary or Laura Bush wore? Yes, of course. But let's get down to business. First off, I think the First Lady is beautiful and does have a sense of style. But this look was not impressive. It was just an "ok" dress on someone who could carry off something very dramatic and glamorous. First off, the First Lady needs a stylist because she's again picked a dress that does not read on television. The dress was probably gorgeous in person, but on television it looked like her dress was covered in contton balls and tissues. The asymmetrical strap looked like a bandage on tv. Secondly, the color was a bore. For someone who's shown that she can pull off the most beautiful bright colors, for her to wear a non-color on the biggest night of her life was troubling. Thirdly, she has a killer body. But you would not have known it. The fit was terrible. The skirt of the dress started right on her rib cage, the wide part of a woman's chest. It made her look wide and waistless when she actually has a nice waistline and very curvy figure.
And lastly, why no makeup? I'm guessing it was because they were rushed and probably had no more than an hour to get dressed and get to the balls. But the lack of makeup and jewels, other than her earrings, made the look incomplete. She looked like she was trying a dress on at the mall, not going to a presidential ball. Overall, as you can tell, I was totally underwhelmed and hope that the First Lady will get herself a stylist for these big events. She looked more stylish and polished on The View than she did tonight.
That said, maybe these missteps in her fashion choices of late will calm the talk about her being a fashion icon and maybe people will focus on the fact that she is only the second first lady with a law degree and that she has the brainpower to bring about change right alongside the president.
I too was somewhat disappointed in the gown and hair. But since she has so many balls to go to, perhaps she chose this look because it travels well?
I have to agree with Chuck, I was expecting something much more glamorous.
It's hard to please everyone. I think she looks stunning. I think they didn't have time to change her hair, the parade and senator kennedy's collapse delayed the occasion by at least 2 hours.
I'm on the fence. The one shoulder is AWESOME, but the silhouette is ehhh. I expected flowy, not... poofy? Color = not bad, but would have preferred bolder. An okay dress, but not the home run we were all hoping for.
She looked spectacular. Amazing. What is wrong with you people?!
WHY DIDNT SHE WEAR THE 'LADYBIRD' ?
sigh...
I am disappointed too :( I agree with TS on the bandage look. Just an OK dress...sigh! expected more from Michelle. What a let down. She needs to go with her instincts and stop listening to the designers....I think she is doing too much listening. Her style both for the inaugural suit and the ball gown don't have a signature at all.
I need to see more photos before I make a definitive, albeit personal, judgment, but at first glance, I'm not feeling the love for this dress. And almost every previous photograph of her in formal evening wear over the last few years shows her looking more special than this. But, like I said, it may be a question of photo angle. And she didn't change her hair from this morning. Did it get hectic after the parade? No time for another 'do? I hate to pick because I love her, but this just might not be one of her best choices....I hope it grows on me (as did her Nov 4 dress in Grant Park).
Not loving the dress. I agree with prior comment that in the photos it looks sort of like Kleenex. Maybe she'll change outfits throughout the evening? That would be a kick! Color, Michelle! Give us color. You are so lovely when you pop.
I am rather shocked by some of these reactions... I thought it was such a gorgeous dress! I am looking at some of the detailing now in the pictures and find it even more beautiful. She looked very young, like someone in their 20's, with great sculpted arms.
I guess you can't please everyone...but I really loved it. I swooned when she walked on the stage and you could tell that Barack did as well.
sorry...I meant to write "her signature" NOT "a signature"
Wow...you guys are breaking my heart. I come over here to gush over Michelle's dress and find this instead! Well, I guess, I will have to be in the minority to stick up for this dress. I thought it was just lovely and so unique. I am surprised so many seem to dislike it so much.
Btw, I read in the NYT that Michelle was wearing a bullet-proof vest under her Toledo outfit earlier, hence why some people complained that the armpits looked funny.
Anyway, I am so bummed. I guess in the end these things don't matter. We have a wonderful, beautiful first lady no matter what she wears.
Not loving the dress, but not hating it either. I think it's better than anything Laura or Hilary would have picked. I think it's a young choice, and fresh. I like that she didn't go with red or blue, either.
I agree with a previous poster who said that the dress doesn't read as well on TV as it probably does in person. However, I think she also was rushed; I heard she only had 20 minutes to get ready--unheard of! I also get the feeling she doesn't know how to move with that train. I feel bad for her; as an actor and theatrical director who has done a lot of work with historical costume, I feel that if I could have had 15 or 20 minutes with her to coach her on how to move in that dress, she would have felt much more confident! That said, I feel that Mrs. O's personality far outshines any possible inadequacies and I'm thrilled for Jason Wu. It's been a long day for the Obamas and I can forgive anything.
(I haven't seen any pictures or footage of my Dr. Jill yet; I'm dying to know what she's wearing!)
I love Mrs. O, but I found that dress a bit odd. I was expecting glam and sleek and modern, and I got... prom dress. It's alright, but I found it strangely fussy, and while her arms are magnificent -- and I say the following with all due respect -- she needed to stand straight. She has that tall-girl-hunch sometimes.
But she looked happy, so I'm happy for her.
I'm on the fence. I have a feeling it's prettier in person, but I'm completely underwhelmed by it. Like a lot have said, it's "okay."
Will look forward to what the coming days bring!
Also....why are people saying she wasn't wearing makeup?? She obviously is.
i am soooooo disappointed. she looked like she went to prom!! I completely was expecting fitted!!!! with that figure she needed to show it off!!!! She is absolutely listening to wrong people. Michelle get a stylist... stop letting old matronly advisors tell you what to wear. Get your girls from Chicago to help you, girl!!! they will most definitely keep you form making an old lady mistake!!!! Barack looked like a damn model!! Lord that man is FIIIIIIINNNNEEE!!!(swooning)!!
Tight fitting dresses aren't practical. She needs to attend 10 balls, therefore a dress that can give bit of comfort is essential. I like it, she looks very youthful. Better than all the other first lady dresses.
Love the idea of the dress, but I'm not loving the fit, especially through the bust and waist!
Okay, I hadn't clicked on the links yet when I posted: The dress is gorgeous in those close-up photos. :-) So yes, it has detail to which television does not do justice. And as the evening wears on, she is becoming more comfortable moving with the dress. Brava, Bellissima! (I still wish I could have gotten a gig coaching her, though. ;-))
She looks beautiful but I did expect that she would had shown all her glamour and uniqueness, her way to carry on color, her curvy figure, her own style.
Todayss dresses were not flattering at all. It puts at least 10 pounds more, who need 10 pounds more as a worldwide figure.
Maria Pinto. I miss Maria Pinto on her
Disappointed here. Should have been more color, and an updo. Made her butt look big. Washed her out. Previous poster nailed it with: looked like Kleenex.
But I LOVED the yellow brocade two piece suit from earlier in the day.
And one LAST point. I watched the ball with my boyfriend and parents and two sisters. We all oohed and aahed over how lovely she looked. So...maybe this is more of a case of people that are very in tune with fashion just having a different standard or different expectations. I dunno.
It's growing on me. She looks youthful and soft and very pretty -- not dramatic, as I expected, but maybe this is better.
My theory holds - she picks things that are exquisitely detailed, in beautiful fabrics, but don't necessarily read well on TV. That means she's dressing for herself and her extremely super-hot date. And that's fine with me! More power to you, Mrs. O.
I like her dress very much. I like a woman who can wear a chenille bedspread and look like a million bucks. Today is about Barack and she clearly chose her dress to compliment him and his look. It works texturally with his crispness in a ying yang way.
I too was hoping for some color, she wears it so well. The dress was only so so, but in another color with her hair up and some jewels, now we're talkin'. She could use a stylist as her choices tend to be uneven at the expense of her having any type of cohesive style. She is a beauty with a great body, I'd like to see it dressed better all the time.
Nina,
Yes, prom dress came to my mind as well. The thing is, all of those dream sketches that all those great American designers did for Women's Wear Daily were better than this. Did her people not even glance at those things? This was a missed opportunity fashion wise, big time.
After looking at more pictures and seeing her on tv, I have to say, this dress is worse than the Grant Park dress. The only problem with the Grant Park dress was that it didn't read well on tv, and the lines of the dress was disrupted by the cardigan sweater. But this dress looks messy. Coupled with the lack of makeup and jewelry and a new hairdo, this look is worse.
I think this look failed because she had no time to have her hair done and makeup refreshed. And also because it was reported that she still had not picked her dress as of yesterday. That's obvious because it's not only not flattering to her, but it's actually too long and watching her on tv, she's spending a lot of time pulling up the skirt of her dress while they dance. When she's not pulling at the dress, the President is stepping all over it. So that let's me know that this really was a last minute pick because it needed to be hemmed.
It's almost a tradition for First Ladies to wear winter white at the inauguration balls. So I'm not surprised to see Mrs. O in a white gown. It's also a bit of a homage to Jackie Kennedy--unconsciously, I'm sure. Nancy Reagan and Laura Bush (2nd inauguration) did so, too. But Mrs. O has the fabulous arms and shoulders to carry this dress.
Gotta say that I hate both outfits Michelle wore today! The yellow "Queen of Sheba" dress was way over the top, especially the neck area bling for a noon event in DC@#$%^&*. The white frilly gown highlighted her poor posture and lack of classic hair styling. It's clear that she has ALOT to learn as she enters the world arena of fashion, sorry to say!
Was this dress inspired by Mary Todd Lincoln's http://www.mrlincolnswhitehouse.org/photo_credits.asp?photoID=316&subjectID=2&ID=15 by any chance? Unfortunately this did not do justice to Mrs. O and her style and body. Wu failed her.
I am disappointed. Add me to the,'It probably looked good in person' group. I love Michelle's eye for colors, textures & accessories but she needs a 30 min stylist consult to tell her how to dress a high waisted, curvy bottom half figure. If she masters balancing her silhouette, she will truly be perfection. Also, the stylist can prep her for dressing for harsh tv lighting. I didn't mind her makeup & hair.
Far too bridal
PEOPLE PEOPLE PEOPLE!!!!
No one is mentioning the big news here MARIA PINTO TOTALLY DISSED!! I smell a rift, a disagreement, a fight. Short of wearing a Maria Pinto nightgown to bed tonight, it has been a complete shutout for the former favorite. There HAS to be a story behind this. Let's get to the bottom of it, cause I smell serious dish, ladies and gentlemen...
PS: The dress is fine and will read MUCH better at the Smithsonian. TV does not do it justice.
Both Dresses were dissapointing..the dress at the inaguration was very unflattering and made her look twice her size and almost gigantic next to Laura Bush, and the dress tonight without any make up or hair do..looks disastous and I totallyu agree with a previous reviewer who notes that Michelles i spending more time pulling up the hemline of the dress...I must add though..Jill Biden looks like a MIllion Bucks in her red strapless dress;-)
Mrs. A
You are absolutely correct!!! I wonder what happened to Pinto???? Hmmmmmm
The link to Mrs. Lincoln's I posted above doesn't seem to work, here it ishttp://www.mrlincolnswhitehouse.org/upload/mary2d.jpg
I think she looks chic, understated, and beautiful all at once. Some of you are far too critical.
Hey its jinxed.... here you go.
http://www.mrlincolnswhitehouse.org/upload/mary2d.jpg
(P.S. Mrs. T. sorry about the multiple postings, please delete the unnecessary. THanks!)
You guys are a really tough crowd. I think Michelle just really loves detailing. That's what gets her excited about a dress. And this dress is handmade and exquisitely intricate.
But I don't see what there is to complain about. It's a beautiful woman in a beautiful dress, on the night that her husband becomes president. She was absolutely glowing! How can you think she looked anything other than perfect? In my case, I teared up when she arrived onstage. I couldn't possibly love our first lady more.
Jill Biden looks freaking HOT!!!!!! OMG!!!
Mrs. A, I didn't want to say it, since I (incorrectly) prophesized a Maria Pinto on an earlier thread... I, too, was surprised that Michelle hasn't worn her at all.
And I didn't want to bring this up, but there have been rumours in Chicago for the past week or two that Pinto hasn't been paying the rent on her boutique there. There may be a story (or lawsuit) brewing on her behind the scenes that made Michelle want to avoid being tied to her.
Huge stretch, I know, and I don't have anything to prove or disprove the rumors (other than posts on Craigslist, so take it with a grain of salt), but it might help explain why there has been no Pinto in sight.
Well, I knew after seeing her daytime outfit that the evening gown would not go over well. Michelle is very hit and miss with her clothes as of late. She looked incredible on the train ride to Washington. She wore a gorgeous swing coat with eggplant colored gloves, skinny black pants, and black boots. Gorgeous. And underneath her coat was a lovely bright purple top. Smashing. At the Lincoln Memorial concert, she looked polished and sophisticated with a touch of sexiness. Perfection. But then comes the really big day. And just like on election night, she drops the ball. When I saw that yellowish/greenish ensemble today, I knew it was gonna be a letdown. And I think it's because someone is giving her some bad advice. She's known for color yet wears two very bland colors today. She's known for well fitted clothes that show off her shape, yet wore two ill fitted ensembles in one day. She's getting some bad advice.
But the dress is an ok dress. If it were fitted properly, was another color, and didn't look like it was covered in Kleenex, it could work for an evening of lesser importance. But not for tonight. Not at all. And also, it's too long for her. I'm watching her dance right now and she's having to stop every once in a while to pull her dress from under her feet.