JASON WU: Michelle Obama's Inaugural Gown Designer (PHOTOS, POLL, VIDEO)

UPDATE 1.26

"Milk" actress Alison Pill wore an emerald Jason Wu gown to the SAG Awards on Sunday night.

UPDATE 1.25

In their profile of Jason Wu, the New York Times painted a rather domestic picture of what the designer was doing on inauguration night:

Minutes before Jason Wu was to become famous as the 26-year-old designer of Michelle Obama's inaugural gown, he ordered a pepperoni and mushroom pizza from Domino's at his apartment in Midtown, then sat down with his boyfriend, Gustavo Rangel, and a neighbor to watch the festivities on television.

Like the rest of the world, Mr. Wu had no idea what the new first lady would wear on Tuesday night. He had never met her, nor did he know that the design he had submitted to Mrs. Obama, last November, was being seriously considered. At first he wasn't even positive that the white chiffon dress she wore, which went by in a blur, was his until the phone began ringing and ringing and ringing.

"It's difficult to describe," Mr. Wu said the next afternoon, after appearing on the morning shows and talking endlessly about the symbolism of the dress, the color and the selection of a designer barely known outside the fashion beltway. "I was over the moon. I know I am an unusual choice for a first lady. I didn't think it was my turn yet."

UPDATE 1.23

Taiwan has Jason Wu fever, reports WWD:

Taiwan's largest circulation newspaper, the Liberty Times, ran a banner head reading "Michelle's Evening Gown designed by Taiwanese." The China Times declared in large-print type: "Michelle's Beauty makes Jason Wu an Overnight Sensation." Until now, the designer was relatively unknown in Taiwanese fashion circles but clearly that has changed. "Taiwan's fashion colleges turn out lots of talent every year, and very few have the chance to leave the island," said Taiwan designer Sophie Hong, who read about Wu for the first time in Thursday's United Daily News."

UPDATE 1.21

Story continues below

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MSNBC's Norah O'Donnell landed an interview with the designer, who spoke about the dress he designed specifically with Obama in mind.

* Scroll down*

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Teen Vogue caught up with the man of the moment in the fashion world, Jason Wu, to talk more about the silk chiffon one-shoulder, floor-length gown.

In terms of design, my only instruction was that the dress needed to sparkle, which I hope it did. It had about a million Swarovski crystals on it! I know it sounds corny, but I had this vision of the dress immediately. I knew it had to be white. I wanted it to be romantic, strong, energetic--everything Michelle Obama stands for.

Read more from the interview.

W magazine has details on Jason Wu's career, as well as photos of him from a shoot last July:

While Wu's designs may be bold, the designer himself is known to be rather shy. "Working with dolls, you know, they don't have a personality; they don't talk," Wu told W's Venessa Lau last year. "Meeting the girls who wear my clothes helps."

At last: it wasn't just the song Beyonce serenaded the Obamas with for their first dance as first couple...it was also the sentiment felt by a world that has spent months wondering which designer Michelle Obama would wear to the inaugural balls.

And the answer is 26-year-old Jason Wu.

Scroll down for pictures, video and information on Jason Wu. Also tell us what you thought of the dress in our poll.

• • • • • Arriving at the Neighborhood Ball

WATCH:

RELATED SLIDESHOWS AND NEWS:

See all of Michelle Obama's inauguration outfits(Slideshow)

Sasha And Malia Obama Inauguration Photos: Most Adorable Moments (Slideshow)

Barack and Michelle Obama's Inauguration Day PDA (SLIDESHOW)

Bonnie Fuller gets reactions to Michelle's day wear from Tommy Hilfiger, Patricia Fields, Glenda Bailey (Harper's Bazaar), Jenna Lyons (J. Crew) and more

See what Beyonce, Jay-Z, Hillary Clinton and everyone else wore to the swearing-in (SLIDESHOW)

Inaugural Gowns: A Look Back (Slideshow)

Inaugural Day Wear: A Look Back (Slideshow)

See designers' sketches of Michelle Obama's dress

Or read more inauguration style news

From Jason Wu's website:

Although only 26, the Taipei native has already achieved many accomplishments. His family moved to Vancouver when Wu was 9 where he began learning how to sew, draft patterns, and sketch in fashion proportions by using dolls as mannequins. At the age of 14, he went to study sculpture in Tokyo and then spent his senior year of high school in Paris, where he decided to become a fashion designer. Wu then enrolled in the prestigious Parsons School of Design and interned with Narciso Rodriguez.

In February 2006 he debuted his collection, emerging as one of the leading new American talents. The Jason Wu collection is carried at Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Ikram, Nordstrom, Susan of Burlingame and Louis Boston. The fashion star is a favorite among press, stylists and celebrities including Amber Valetta, Leighton Meester, Joy Bryant, Gretchen Mol and Kerry Washington.

Jason continues to receive accolades including Fashion Group International's Rising Star Award for Women's Ready-to-Wear in January 2008 and in July 2008 he was named one of the finalists in the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund

Quick Poll

Michelle Obama's gown: love it or leave it?

Love it

Leave it

Michelle Obama's diamond bangles, ring, and chandelier earrings were designed by jeweler Loree Rodkin. From Loree Rodkin's website:

Loree Rodkin, known for her nonconformist visionary approach to jewelry making, blurs the distinction between modern and medieval. Old world artisans engrave and embellish each platinum or gold piece by hand. Loree has designed jewelry for most of Hollywood's brightest stars...Madonna and Mary J Blige for the Grammys...Virginia Madsen's jewelry for the Academy Awards and Golden Globes...Cher's Believe and Farewell tours...Aerosmith...

Loree's collections are showcased in the Neiman Marcus Precious jewelry salons throughout the United States.

RELATED NEWS:

Read more about Michelle Obama's gown here...or more about Michelle Obama's gown here...more about Michelle Obama's gown...more about Michelle Obama's gown.

Jason Wu's Spring 2009 collection at Style.com

Jason Wu Designer Directory at Style.com

Read more about Michelle Obama's gown at CNN.com

Read the New York Times profile of Jason Wu.

Comments

[johnram27]

Growing up an artist/animator myself I had many friends from Asian countries who wanted to go in to the arts but their parents refused them support if they did. Many Asian parents believe you can't make a good living in the arts...hopefully the talented Mr. Wu will show it's possible. As long as you do what you love and stick with it. There are more jobs out there then just doctors and dentists.

[1PALady]

I don't think Michelle is going to let anyone dictate to her. I noticed what she wore to the cathedral the next morning and then I thought about it. It wasn't what she wore to church, it was the service itself. I think Michelle is comfortable in her skin. She went to church to enjoy the service and she went comfortable and I for one do not have a problem with that. I wish we could forget about the little things. I don't think the Obamas are going to be high falootin??? (however you spell that), I think they are going to be average, down to earth people as much as they can. I like that!

[Laina]

Michelle Obama should be able to wear anything, as her smile and face alone are what you tend to look at, but..This Inauguration gown was wrong--first time i've ever looked more at her clothes than her--it appeared to have Kleen-ex tissue puffs all over it, and the train was a mistake when she knew it is an evening all about 1 minutes dances. Why was the strap SO wide? It drew attention away from her face--always a mistake--and made her look big. The dress did not need to do anything FOR her, it just needed to be attractive and not DETRACT. Instead it made her look chunky, which she is definitely NOT. I agree that their obvious love helped soften the images, but she did not look comfortable, could barely dance and had to keep sweeping the hem out of her shoes--they improved the dress by being elegant themselves, but that is not a good statement about the dress!

[heyjude54]

AT LAST! Someone has finally pointed out the obvious problem with this gown! Poor Michelle could hardly walk in it, let alone dance. Aside from that the choice of what she wears should be 100% up to HER. Most adults have been picking out their own clothing since childhood, so why should this be any different for our new First Lady?

[Mysticalsister]

I thought the gown was gorgeous and the effort she had to make to sweep it away from her as they danced looked feminine and vulnerable -- not an easy look to achieve for a woman of Michelle's height. The body language achieved by that simple gesture was so lovely that I can't imagine how anyone could criticize it.

Personally, I thought it was pitch perfect, simple, elegant and very romantic.
Michelle knows exactly how to present herself.
Barak certainly seemed to respond!

[munki]

Jason is right... Michelle has a nice broad shoulder...
the only thing I would have done differently is the front...
smooth curve... oh well that is me...
overall... it was beautiful!

[a567and8]

Yes, stay focussed on who Michelle is! We're really getting two for the price of one! BUT, it would have been better to have the gown designed for dancing! Yes, "..it had to sparkle.." but it also had to be wearable walking up and down stairs and dancing. Michelle's friend Ikram should have told Mr. Wu that!

[fatburner267]

Barack loved it and the person in it. Nothing else really matters does it. She'll find her stride.

[ktothepower2]

Ask NOT what Michelle will wear for your country, ask what Michelle will do for your country!

I think she is a woman of substance and her (albeit, great) sense of style is the least important aspect of this multifaceted woman!

[metivo]

Does anyone really know if Jason Wu was actually given this assignment or if his dress was simply picked off the rack by Michelle?

[citizensrus]

This was the first African American First Lady. After 200 years, this dance, this ball..in my opinion was the accumulation of all those years they could not be a participant in this event.
I felt, imo, that the gown had to sum up all the years..not just what's popular in 2000..had to speak to all the dreams and past occasions as well as the present day. It was Cinderella, it was Martha Washington, it was Dolly Madison, it was the South..it was the North..it was the past and what the balls and dresses were in that time...the little girl dreams, the big girl dream..and all of this had to be captured in this first time. That's why I say ..it was a moment in time..and it was timelessness..and now, this never to be repeated event and the dress that captured ..also never to be repeated..will be in the Smithsonian.
Fashions will change, as they have..but this dress speaks to what it meant to me.
Maybe not to everyone, but it was all I could have hoped for and more in one dress.

[worriedinvt]

Really, I think way too much interest is being invested in this gown. I have read that she purchased the dress from a Chicago boutique, and that the designer, Jason Wu, didn't even know she would be wearing it until he saw her on TV. I suspect she just picked-out something that she thought she liked; rather like any of us might do for a dress-up occasion. I think it speaks well of her substance that she bought it off the rack rather than having some grand thing custom-designed for her. Are we so hard-up for things to criticize that we actually have to discuss a dress?

[citizensrus]

I don't think she purchased this off a rack. It's a one of a kind, never to be repeated.

[SueSueStraightTalk]

I love the Obama's but Michelle needs a stylist. Her day outfit was classic and right on the money but her evening gown was not.

[learnsomething]

Almost 100% of the professional fashion designers said the dress was a hit!

I

[Joslynb]

Contrary to some of the above comments - Michelle Obama is smart and classy and moves to the beat of her own drum so who cares - she obviously knows that whatever she'd worn would create conflicting comments so she pleased herself and her husband who appeared to love the dress or perhaps he couldn't care less because he knows and loves who's inside of the dress so get a life haters she's here to stay at least for the next 4 years and she will choose whatever she likes to wear so get used to it!

[Scalie]

The gown too long and inappropriate for the dance, and the shoulder strap looked a little strange in the back. She needs to get together with a professional to "pull" her together where her chose in clothing and accessories complement her. She does not yet dress like a first lady.

[indothinker]

i'm assuming you're a dress designer and actually fit women with dresses? if not, shut up, troll.

[DeniseD]

Actually, I am a designer, and the points Scalie made are correct.