Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Michelle Obama recalls the Reagan, not Kennedy, era for her Inaugural gown


reuters via daylife


Well Barack Obama has been sworn in as the first African American president of the United States and of the deluge of global news coverage, a significant proportion has been devoted to the sartorial decisions made by his wife. That is, a quite luxurious “lemongrass” embroidered sheath and jacket from Isabel Toledo for the swearing-in ceremony and a white, embroidered, one-shouldered evening gown by Jason Wu for the Inaugural Balls. Some have already noted that Jacqueline Kennedy also chose white for John F Kennedy’s Inauguration in 1961. But frockwriter feels the need to point out that the latter was a relatively modest affair compared with Obama’s one-shouldered gown. While very much in keeping with fashion trends, the one-shouldered gown proving big news on the red carpet over the past 12-18 months, the Jason Wu gown is nonetheless a risky - and some might argue, girly - choice. Not that Michelle Obama is risk-averse: she ignited debate over the red and black Narciso Rodriguez dress that she wore on November 5 when Obama delivered his Victory address. But there is one precedent. Nancy Reagan also chose a white, embroidered, one-shouldered gown - designed by James Galanos - to Ronald Reagan's Inauguration in 1981.


bettman/corbis via instyle





frank scherschel_LIFE©time inc. via instyle

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thought provoking! Perhaps it should be noted that Mrs. Kennedy had just given birth to John John (11/25/60) less than two months prior to the Inauguration (1/21/61) – an apt justification of said uncharacteristic, slightly jejune "modesty" (for Jackie, that is) at the balls.

Paul said...

I'd like to point out that Barack Obama is the first Hawaiian president.

Anonymous said...

I still find it Hair-arious that more people would like to comment about 'The Pip' than the 1st (African American) Lady. Or Steph (Amy Winehouse) Carta.

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