When Michelle Obama stood by her husband, Barack Obama’s side at his Presidential Inauguration in 2009, wearing a white one-shouldered Jason Wu gown, she cemented her status as a style icon and put the-then little known designer on the map.
Throughout her eight years as First Lady she has managed to perfectly balance the pressure of being the FLOTUS with a love of fashion, proving you don’t have to dress down to be taken seriously.
In her time in the job, she always strived to support up-and-coming designers, like she did in *that white dress.
So it was only fitting that she chose to once again wear a design by Jason Wu for her husband’s Presidential Farewell Address this week.
The navy lace dress was custom-designed for the occasion, and was perfectly coordinated with Barack’s navy suit.
Wu shot to international fame after he received the First Lady’s stamp of approval in 2009 and the pair cultivated a strong relationship over the years wearing the designer on numerous occasions.
When the president was re-elected for a second term in 2013 she turned to Wu once again, this time donning a fiery red velvet and chiffon gown, this time a bolder choice, perhaps symbolic of her growing confidence in her ability in the role.
“She is a first lady who looks great and embraces fashion as part of her message,” Wu told the New York Times in 2013.” When she first wore my dress, the world took notice. It is easy to have a first fairy tale moment. Her choice four years later was a real testament about how our relationship has lasted and how she has matured into the role—a certain consistency that was almost unexpected.”
During his speech this week, President Obama paid tribute to his First Lady and all that she has achieved during his two terms in office.
“Michelle Robinson, girl of the South Side, for the past 25 years, you’ve been not only my wife and mother of my children, you have been my best friend. You took on a role you didn’t ask for and made it your own with grace and with grit and style and good humor,” he said, wiping away the tears.
“You made the White House a place that belongs to everybody,” he said. “And a new generation sets its sights higher because it has you as a role model. You’ve made me proud. You’ve made the country proud.”
