Michelle Obama Inaugural Gown Goes to Smithsonian

Society | January 21, 2009, Wednesday // 00:00
Michelle Obama Inaugural Gown Goes to Smithsonian: Michelle Obama Inaugural Gown Goes to Smithsonian Following a tradition, Michelle Obama's white, floor-length inaugural gown will be donated to the Museum of American History at the Smithsonian in Washington DC. Photo by BGNES

Following a tradition, Michelle Obama's white, floor-length inaugural gown will be donated to the Museum of American History at the Smithsonian in Washington DC.

The gown, designed by up-and-coming 26-year-old New York designer Jason Wu, will join the display of other First Ladies' inaugural gowns.

Michelle Obama, who had kept her choice of a designer and dress style a secret until the moment she entered the dance floor, received many compliments, including one from her own husband.

"First of all, how good-looking is my wife?" Obama joked before the couple's first dance.

The full-skirted white gown featured a strap across the right shoulder, a ruched bodice, fluffy appliquГ©s and sparkly beading. It was embroidered from top to bottom with white floral details and made of ivory silk chiffon, embellished with organza, Swarovski crystal rhinestones and silver thread, according to one of Wu's publicists.

Wu, who designed and delivered the dress at the request of Michelle Obama's aides in December, told CNN he didn't know that she had chosen his gown until her first ball appearance Tuesday night.

"It's thrilling. ... For a young designer, I couldn't ask for any more than this," Wu said, adding that he intended the gown to stand for everything that Michelle and President Obama are about.

"It's about hope. It's about newness. It's all a little dreamlike, and we're making history, and I wanted to really reflect that," Wu explained.

Wu, whose design style combines modern lifestyle dressing and haute couture, has been in the business for three years, according to InStyle.com fashion director Joe Berean.

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