Was First Lady Michelle Obama sending a message to the world on Inauguration Day by choosing to wear dresses by two immigrant designers? The golden embellished day dress and coat she wore for the inauguration ceremony was designed by Cuban immigrant Isabel Toledo, who has been a major presence on the fashion scene for 25 years, but never received the type of press and accolades she deserved. During the gala ceremonies, Mrs. Obama chose a white crystal and chiffon one-shoulder gown by Taipei-born designer Jason Wu, who launched his own collection in 2006.
“The designers embodied multiculturalism, the universal immigrant’s success story and the quest for the American dream—and their frocks, as a result, were much more than just pieces of silk and crystals stitched together,” according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.—QS