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First Lady Opts For Chiffon Inaugural Gown

The Associated Press

Michelle Obama wears a cream-colored, one-shoulder chiffon creation by Taiwan designer Jason Wu. The dress had appliqués and a full skirt.

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By CLOE CABRERA | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 20, 2009

Updated: 01/20/2009 09:51 pm

The tightly held secret of what first lady Michelle Obama will wear for the inaugural ball is finally out.

Michelle Obama strolled into the first of 10 inaugural balls Tuesday wearing a cream-colored, one-shoulder chiffon creation by Taiwan designer Jason Wu. The dress had appliqués and a full skirt.

Wu, 26, gained attention when Obama appeared on a Barbara Walters TV interview wearing an adaptation of a silk sheath dress from his spring 2009 collection.

Wu, who according to his Web site is just 26, said he sewed the dress himself as late as December. He said he sent sketches to Obama at the suggestion of Ikram Goldman, who owns the Ikram boutique in Chicago where Michelle Obama has been known to shop.

He did not know she had selected the dress until she appeared in it, he said.

"It's soft, feminine, but powerful; I wanted to convey all that in a dress," he said. "I wanted it to look like a sign of hope."

Since her husband's election, designers and fashion editors have given their thoughts on what Michelle Obama should wear.

Whether the gown be remembered after the inauguration remains to be seen. It will, however, live on at the Smithsonian Institution where it will be donated after the inauguration.

The New York Times is reporting Michelle Obama's gown is made of ivory silk chiffon, embellished with organza and Swarovski crystal rhinestones and silver thread embroidery. And it was custom designed for her.

The dress appeared to be too long, because Obama had to move it out of the way several times while dancing with her husband.

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