Michelle Obama's Gown: Wowiewowwow Or Wedding Cake? Fashion Experts Weigh In
OK--she didn't put it to the dance test before the big Night--that was obvious. But how else did the gown fare in the eyes of the fashion pros? Here, they sound off!
Stacy London, co-host of TLC's What Not To Wear
"Talk about a stimulus package! Michelle has given a huge boost to the American fashion industry. I'm so thrilled that she wore white because looking at historical photos of First Ladies on inauguration night -- the bright colored looks end up getting dated. White is timeless. I'm also so glad she showed her arms because they are her best feature."
Tommy Hilfiger
"I thought she looked elegant and beautiful. I think white was appropriate for the evening complementing Mr Obama's white tie and formal dress."
Lesley Seymour, editor-in-chief More magazine
"It's not my fave dress. A bit to froo-froo for her body. She's better in structured stuff--and a bit more modern. But what I like is that she's promoting American designers and we really need that."
John Bartlett, designer
"It was perfect-- very elegant but young. I love that she's choosing looks from the young guard of American designers (this gown by 26-year-old Jason Wu). She chose a path less-traveled. While it did remind me of a wedding cake, it also made me think of spring flowers, which is a nice symbolic choice - time for a fresh start."
Tara Kraft, group beauty & fashion director, Star magazine
"Barack must have been reminded of his wife on her wedding day- she really was breathtakingly beautiful. The dress was very on-trend. So many of the actresses at The Golden Globes recently wore flesh-toned or white dresses. I also love that she wore her hair down. So often first ladies wear their hair up in French twists or buns and that would have made her look like someone else."
Lysa Cooper, celebrity stylist (styles Rihanna, Shakira and Beyonce)
"I love it, love it, love it. And she took a great risk wearing white in a room full of black and white, and she still stood out. I loved that she had the courage to show some skin and that she kept her jewelry super-simple and clean."
Philip Bloch, celebrity stylist
"She delivered! She brought the glamour! She wore two of the most beautiful first lady looks ever. It was timeless, iconoclastic. You could have seen this dress on Princess Grace. Would have looked great in any of the last seven decades. And her gown choice was clever. It was designer but not $12,000.
She also went ethnically diverse with her designers. Her day look by a Cuban-American and her evening look by a designer born in Taipei."
Jenna Lyons, creative director for J.Crew
"Michelle looked beautiful, modern, youthful, and most of all--HAPPY. The bare shoulders and asymmetrical neckline were a great choice, and the fabric looked rich and luxurious."
Robert Verdi, style expert and TV personality
"I love that she was showing the cultural diversity of the fashion community--these designers are now a part of fashion history and, interestingly, both Isabel Toledo and Jason Wu both moved to this country after being born elsewhere, and they're now living the American Dream. Eva Longoria was actually the first big celebrity to wear Jason Wu's clothes. I think Michelle Obama probably liked the fact that Jason actually started out as a doll designer. He designed the RuPaul doll.
I thought she might be a little more body-conscious, and that as one of the youngest first ladies that we've had, that she would be a little more risque. I wasn't totally blown away. I thought the width of the strap in the front was a little severe."
John Barrett, celebrity hairstylist
"Here is the most beautiful fashion-forward first lady, and I was looking for something more spectacular. She has a fantastic statuesque body, and yet I felt the wide sash and the rouching distracted from her beauty. To me it was too bridesmaid-like."
Michael Henry Adams, designer
"So far, no black designer has ever created an inaugural ball gown. Does it matter, one might ask, if Michele Obama still hasn't patronized African American designers for her high profile wardrobe?"
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Being Asian, gay and out to your parents is hard enough, what with our people's obsession with tradition and having grandchildren, without your bitchy aunties gossiping about your sex life.
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Michele Obama was dazzling - holding Barrack's hand as they strode down Pennsylvania Avenue - an image of togetherness in political victory and marital bliss that will stay with me a lifetime! The confident body language was complimented by the lines of her gold overlay with each stride.
The evening dress - wedding cake. It seemed her choice was based on what she thought would fit the occassion rather than her personal taste. She did not seem comfortable in it.
I loved Michelle's gold sheath dress but thought the ball dress was a faux-pas. The swearing in dress was very tasteful and flattering, conservative with an edge. The ball dress resembled a flour sack with a shoulder strap. It brought to mind an old fashioned petticoat. Entirely shapeless: it made her look pregnant.
The dress was awful. Since Michelle said that she didn't have time to think about what she was going to wear to the ball, this looked like she grabbed the drapes at the last minute, wound it around like an Ace bandage and let the rest just hang. The train kept tripping her up all evening...a detail that should have been taken into consideration. A mess and a misstep but she is totally fabulous.
The dress was an overblown diaper. I'm very disappointed in her choices for Inaugural day.
The worst sin in fashion is to look uncomfortable, and I thought that both outfits she wore for the Inauguration and for the Ball looked terribly uncomfortable.
The outfit for the morning and afternoon looked like a crusty, scratchy, heavy old bedspread, and the puke green gloves and shoes were even worse. The shoulder strap on the ball gown looked like an unnecessary addition to a completed dress, and one should never expect to dance in a dress that drapes the floor.
I wish there had been someone to tell Ms. Obama, "NO! NO! NO!"
About the green gloves. I thought that it was just me. I hate almost all shades of green and try to never wear the color nor even have it in my home.
It doesn't matter if you hate the color. What matters is that it works with her skin tone. By the way, don't visit the elegant RL restaurant in Chicago. It's in green, which is a warm, classic color.
That whole ensemble troubled me, but the green gloves were probably the most unsettling.
I like green, I wear it all the time (with green eyes and auburn hair, it works for me), but that shade of green, with the yellow--unfortunate selection, IMO.
It did seem to hold up for the long day's activities, however.
Excuse me, Fashionista Diva...where are your comments about the past administration's penchant for formals and COWBOY BOOTS!!!!!!!!!!!! Could you please reply with your fashsion education matriculation information? Something tells me your degree is from the University of Walmart. Classic, timeless elegance is obviously lost on you.
I can understand a knee-jerk reaction to protect a new First Lady from criticism, but to attack the person saying the opinion, and not the opinion, gives the impression that you can't defend the First Lady's choice for her inaugural gown.
I think the inaugural gown was unattractive and not functional. It did not flatter her, especially her body shape. She looked chubby in the torso, and she isn't. The torso also seemed to be sagging and stretching as the night wore on. Others have commented on the unsuitability for dancing, and I'll just say that I agree.
I liked the color, but disagree that colored dresses look dated when reviewed years later. Hillary Clinton's emerald-green almost jewel-toned dress will always look striking and not dated.
Michelle Obama looks very strikingly elegant in shades of deep blue, and that would have been a nice choice, as well.
I think that First Ladies should skip the runway designers and pick a costume designer, or at least have a costume designer consult on the dress. A costume designer could fashion a gown that would hold up under ANYTHING, which is what a First Lady needs on inauguration night.
I also think Michelle Obama should not again use those she consulted with for assistance in picking that gown. She needed some honest feedback, and I don't think that is what she got.
Wow, why the personal attack?
It should have had a detachable "strap" that would have allowed her to pick up the train so that she could truly dance in it, and it should have had a matching, warmly lined cape to keep her warm. I thought it was subdued, for her, she wears bold colors wonderfully well, but it is going to go into the Smithsonian collection after all. I think it will stand the test of time.
I think the dress did not highlight her figure as much as it could have, but her overall look was lovely. At first I didn't like her hair down, her "normal" hair, I thought she should have been a bit more formal. But later in the evening I changed my mind, and thought, "that's her, she's showing she's not going to change just for an event." More formal hair wouldn't have gone with the casual elegance of the dress. So, it was just right.
Michelle O is a stunning woman, and has the essence of style -- she looks great but doesn't fuss. Michelle O could wear the curtains and look amazing. Oh wait, she did wear the curtains...
Here's a theory: she let the kids pick the dress. And so she was happy and comfortable in it, knowing she was wearing 'the girls' choice' on that special night.
Another message I think she sent besides "American Style" -- you don't have to dress like a sexpot for a wonderful man to say "Is my wife good-looking or what?"
I agree. Hillary Clinton's inaugural ball gown for WJC's second inauguration was a stunning and vibrant elegant green, and it had long sleeves and lace. It was not deliberately sexy, but you could see Bill Clinton was dead serious when he welcomed her on the stage and said something like "Does she look gorgeous tonight, or what?"
That woman would look good in a burlap sack. Are people gonna pick apart everything that they do for the next few years? I don't remember anyone talking about the ugly clothes that past first ladies wore. What do they Michelle was thinking about when she was getting dressed? Does this make my butt look big? or I just want to celebrate and support my husband. people sure know how to take a beautful day and turn it into negativity. He has been president for not even a week and the haters start talkin. If those so called experts were so damn good, they would be out workin instead of having time to be running their mouths.
"I don't remember anyone talking about the ugly clothes that past first ladies wore. "
Seriously. After 8 years of Laura Bush, ANYTHING Michelle Obama wears is OK by me.
I didn't hate the dress, but I didn't love it either. Michelle Obama is in great shape, but that dress made her look very bottom heavy.
What I do love is that she took a risk. So much of the First Lady fashion in the past few decades has been ultra-conservative, staid, and BORING. Michelle Obama is a bold, young breath of fresh air, which is exactly what we need right now.
I also loved what she wore to the inauguration. It was elegant and chic, and she couldn't have picked a color that would look more spectacular against her skin.
The woman has serious style, and I believe, like Jackie Kennedy, she will elevate and shape this country's sense of style.
Bravo!
I was thinking Grandma's bedspread
That's okay Obama loves her and the dress!!
That is exactly what I was thinking!!! It looks like a bedspread that my grandparents had on their bed with those little balls all over it. It was a terrible choice. I do not care if the kids picked it out or not. She needs better feedback.
Michelle Obama could make a standard issue hopsital gown look great, I loved the dress, but I have to admit, I saw a snapshot of Michelle and her husband on one of their "date " nights, where she was entering a resturant in a beautiful black dress with a low back, and I think she had a lovely black scarf, Michelle is in amazing shape, and very long, tall and with beautiful bone structure, I sure was hopeing for a dress that showcased her neck, and back more, but I hope we get to see her in alot of different designers, the dress for the inagural ball was flawless for up-close and high definition, but with the graceful way Michelle Obama walks,... something that wasent as heavy would have been nice for those of us watching from afar, on low definition. The best to the designers the Obama's choose, and I sure will enjoy watching the latest first lady, as I have enjoyed reading Elanor Rossevelt, and watching Jackie O, now I think we have the best of alot of past first lady's, brains and beauty inside and outwardly expressed. Life and the economy are tough, but Michelle is the heart and soul a breath of fresh air for the heart, eyes and mind.
It was very subdued. Not at all like Hillary's gown in 1993. And Mrs Biden's red gown, ooh la la.
http://www.instyle.com/instyle/package/general/photos/0,,20248206_20251299_20563619,00.html
Now, Hillary's gown this year reminded me of something Madelaine Albright would have picked to wear. Very old-womanish.
Yes! Her inauguration ceremony yellow ensemble, as well.
I am not always in sync with her taste. But everyone has different taste in clothing. She is a young woman, with a great figure and she certainly is going to dress differently than the former 50 something plus first ladies of the past. I think white is young and fresh and elegant. I was not thrilled with her morning outfit, however. But all in all, this is much ado about nothing. The important thing is that her husband is now our President and he improves our country's situation.
'former 50 something plus first ladies of the past.' ??? Yet he's only the 44th president....
They are refering to the age of the first ladies, not the number.
The dress was not bad at all according to me an expert from my own eyes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQuyV6KEahQ
Well- I think she did her best and by and large succeeded. Remembering that women and esp black women are all too often seen as risque sex objects- her somewhat muted choice was appropriate. I would have also been happier to see her in a less ruched dress with a narrower band- celebrating her beauty and attractiveness. However one need only travel to the third world to see most women covered up in grandma dresses and very modest.
I think Michelle did well not to alienate her worldwide sisters while trying to please Americans.
The first Lady also has to be a lady to the rest of the world, not just our hyper-sexualized version of femininity.
Barack should dress her! The guy looks good in everything - a formal suit or street clothes - and wears it all with confidence and panache.
Michelle is a striking woman, but her posture is a little off. She seems to be pitched forward, maybe she doesn't like heels. She looks great in business and casual attire.
The ball gown was a bit frufy, but she did radiate with an innocence in it that I though befitting the occasion ... she'd have been stunning in something Halstonesque, though. Maybe Mrs. Biden could take her under her wing.
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