Who Will Design Michelle’s Dress?!

Everyone is wondering which lucky designer was selected to design Michelle Obama’s inaugural gown. Will she choose one of America’s top designers or a more obscure unknown player? Is the dress going to feel patriotic in red or blue-or will it perhaps be beige or taupe to reflect the somber times America is experiencing? Will it make a statement like her Narciso Rodriguez dress did on election night or be more traditional and sedate? Would she really dare buying something off the rack as if to say, “You can’t afford couture so I can’t either.”? Let’s face it, this is one of the most talked about dresses in America since J-Lo bounced around in  her green taped on Versace.

I wonder if people were as obsessed about Jackie O’s dress.  Jackie was America’s true fashion icon in her self designed dress (assisted by Ethan Frankau of Bergdorf Goodman).  It is timeless- a gown to be coveted in 1961 as well as today.

Photo courtesy of the Kennedy Library

Hillary Clinton’s inaugural dress was controversial to say the least.  It was a violet crystal encrusted mess. It was designed by Arkansas designer Sarah Phillips.

In 1993, Laura Bush’s red gown designed by Texan Michael Faircloth caused some chatter.. mostly negative.  She heeded the advice of fashion gurus and relied on Oscar de La Renta to design a more sophisticated gown for the second go round.

The Washington Post writer Robin Givhen asked six of America’s up and coming designers to take a shot at a conceptual design for Michelle Obama’s inaugural gown to find out what the next generation on 7th Avenue is thinking.  The color palettes were more daring from iridescent whites to rich purples. The designer that caught my eye was Lyn Devon with her exquisite gown in coral silk peau de soie  with a velvet sash and turquoise jeweled closure. (peau de soie is a  soft, silk fabric of medium weight with a dull finish.)  She is smart, graduate of Brown and her background as an intern with Zac Posen and a stint with Ralph Lauren separate her out from the pack.  She is one to watch. www.lyndevon.com

Then I started to ponder, what if we were to select on of Nashville’s designers for the job.. Fiandaca? Perhaps Muna, the  newly inductee to the Tennessee State Museum’s Hall of Fashion fame?

Or, what if we looked to one of the avante garde trendsetters in the 12 South area: the team of Jessica Moros and Shannon Lea.  Lea has the distinction of making it to Project Runways final 40 (by the way, even their crew took a shot at Michelle’s dress).  She is known for her creativity, glamour and originality and she’s right here in our own backyard.  To read more about Nashville’s fashion scene, click here.

StyleBlueprint would like to know your choice for Michelle’s dress.  Let us know today..tomorrow is too late.

Elizabeth

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