Jason Wu Designs Michelle Obama's Ball Gown

on January 20, 2009 at 8:56 PM

Michelle Obama Barack Obama dress Jason Wu

Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty

Twenty-six year-old Jason Wu, a designer based in NYC, was the man behind the white, one shoulder dress Michelle Obama wore to the Inaugural Balls.

I almost thought it was a design by Claire Pettibone (who does wedding dresses like nobody's business). But Wu it is...and it is a super youthful look for the First Lady.

Click through to see pieces from Jason Wu's collections on the runway and hear what the designer has to say. He used to make clothes for dolls...look at him now!

What did you think of Michelle Obama's Jason Wu dress?

About the author Michele Zipp

loves vintage and will defend skinny jeans to the death though she is highly superstitious and "death" is probably a bad word choice. She has a touch of the hoarding disease and enjoys sleuthing, the worst reality shows, and wearing high heels, even at the playground. She's an AP mom of twins, slightly crunchy but with a pedicure.

Filed Under: designers, style

Comments (11)

denise0711

on Jan 20, 2009 at 11:43 PM

It is a beautiful dress but I am personally sick of seeing her hike it up and back. It really needed a train holder like bridal dresses do on her fingers or wrist. It looks distracting and President Obama keeps stepping on it ...she looks abs divine in it but too many pickups takes away the beauty..I cant imagine how she feels getting in and out of the limo so many times for 10 balls and dances.....

Report this comment

proudgrammie07

on Jan 21, 2009 at 1:08 AM

Personally I didnt like the dress at all. I dont like her style at all. There were only 2 out of 15 outfits that were semi ok. Anyways I think she could of picked a much more flattering dress-this didnt do anything for her.

CelticFaerie

on Jan 21, 2009 at 6:28 AM

I didn't like either of her dresses. The first one was more of an after 5 dress, especially because of the rhinestone collar. On the 2nd one, I wanted to pick those little flowers off. I am not a fan of the one shoulder dress.

The 1st one made her look old and the 2nd looked like she was going to the prom or fell off a wedding cake. These dresses will really date her. I think she should have choosen a more classic look. Wasn't Vera Wang available?

I am sorry but she needs a stylist.

jeniryan3

on Jan 21, 2009 at 11:59 AM

I didn't care for the ball gown either. It could have done without the white baubles and the strap looked as though it was not originally intended and sewn on at last minute. I did like her earlier ensemble though.

Nonmember comment from shun shun

on Jan 21, 2009 at 1:01 PM

I think both dresses fit her nicely. I liked the she chose designers who weren't well known. She looked beautiful and I loved both dresses...and the whole comment about prom...um, inaugural ball? Duh. Our first lady is beautiful.

AlohaNyc

on Jan 21, 2009 at 1:12 PM

i thought it was gorgeous.

cafemama

on Jan 21, 2009 at 3:41 PM

I liked it, but when they were doing the first dances at the balls, it reminded me a little too much of a first dance at a wedding given the dress's color and style.

girl_in_the_D

on Jan 21, 2009 at 3:53 PM

I loved both dresses..the 1st one made her look stately and dignified, fitting the occasion. The second one was pretty and fresh ..i agree with the 1st poster that there needed to be a train holder

coffeegranny

on Jan 21, 2009 at 11:38 PM

i didn't like either one, the first one was too springy and the white one one was all right but it bothered me to see her pulling and tugging on it. it was almost like she was not use to wearing fancy clothes,

on Jan 21, 2009 at 11:42 PM

and the comment about the stylist needed, i really sorry to say this but did you see obama's haircut-one side had a sideburn look and the otherside was cut correctly, was everyone to scare to tell him this, all he had to do is take a razor and trim the corner off the sideburn side....please don't tell me i'm the only one that saw this..go to any page about the speech and watch both sides of his head, you can not miss it