Michelle Obama’s Navy-Blue Dress Was a Subtle Nod to Solidarity
The Obama family was color coordinated for the president’s farewell speech.
Michelle Obama’s approach to fashion has been lauded over her eight years in the White House. She championed education for those hoping to get into the industry and made a point of supporting young, up-and-coming designers. Her work came full circle last night during President Obama’s farewell speech, where she wore a lace dress by Jason Wu, whom she also chose to design both of her inaugural ball gowns in 2009 and 2013. The navy blue made a subtle statement, as both the president and Malia Obama, who wore a dress by Cinq à Sept, joined her in wearing the same color.
Obama gave a nod to the First Lady’s consistently good taste in his speech, saying, “You took on a role you didn’t ask for and you made it your own with grace and grit and style and good humor.” During her husband’s two terms, Michelle Obama has given her fashion sense a role of its own, honoring other countries by wearing their designers and catapulting young talent into successful careers. She wore Italian label Gucci after the resignation of Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi and put designers like Jason Wu and Brandon Maxwell on to the fashion map.
Wu, who was born in Taiwan, raised in Canada, and now lives in New York, was a relative unknown when the First Lady wore his dress to the first inaugural ball. In 2013, the same year Mrs. Obama chose another one of his gowns to wear for the second inaugural ball, Wu told the New York Times, “She is a first lady who looks great and embraces fashion as part of her message. 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.”
Michelle Obama’s approach to fashion, one where she took chances on young talent and supported them throughout their burgeoning careers, was echoed in her husband’s speech on January 10, as he encouraged a united and welcoming front, regardless of the nation’s challenges or differences. “Because for all our outward differences, we all share the same proud title: Citizen,” POTUS said.
The family’s choice of wearing dark blue signaled solidarity going forward, as the Obamas leave the White House and Donald Trump moves in. At times, the navy appeared so dark it seemed almost black, as if the speech were a somber occasion (it was, after all, Obama’s farewell). The family appeared as one, and, as always, the First Lady showcased her now-iconic style.
