The person at the focal point of the inauguration ball for a US President is the First Lady. What will she wear? A museum in Washington has gathered together the ball gowns worn by First Ladies over the decades.
On January 20, 2009, Michelle Obama was led onto the dance floor by her husband Barack wearing a white chiffon dress. She glowed with pride and happiness after he was sworn in as President.
The Swarovski crystals on her fingers glittered, the people around her applauded. Today, a mannequin wears the gown and everyone who is inclined to can admire it and dream.
The National Museum of American History is displaying what First Ladies wore on the evening of evenings as part of an exhibition. Every year four million people from around the world visit the museum, which is one of the US capital’s tourist magnets. Laura Duff, the museum’s spokeswoman, says “The exhibition is one of our most popular. Many visitors come here just to see it.”
Michelle Obama’s gown is the latest addition.
White chiffon silk flows from the waist to the floor. It is covered in organza flowers, each with a Swarovski crystal at its centre. It’s a gown that appears both girlish and light at the same time. There was great excitement and expectation ahead of Obama’s inauguration day.
What dress would the fashion-conscious and athletic First Lady choose? Jason Wu designed the gown she wore — a great honour for the then 26-year-old who was born in Taiwan and today lives in New York. Designer Loree Rodkin created the jewellery to match the gown: long, almost shoulder length earrings, a diamond ring and bracelets made of white gold. Jimmy Choo shoes completed the ensemble. —DPA