Well, this is a little weird.
First Oscar de la Renta sounded off about his disappointment with Michelle Obama’s red McQueen that she wore to the state dinner hosting Chinese President Hu Jintao. “My understanding is that the visit was to promote American-Chinese trade — American products in China and Chinese products in America,” de la Renta told WWD. “Why do you wear European clothes?”
Now the CFDA has issued a statement echoing de la Renta’s sentiments: “CFDA believes in promoting American fashion. Our First Lady Michelle Obama has been wonderful at promoting our designers, so we were surprised and a little disappointed not to be represented for this major state dinner.” Apparently CFDA pres Diane von Furstenberg sent this statement in to WWD while recuperating from her recent skiing accident.
It’s sort of like the CFDA are Michelle Obama’s parents and they’re shaming her. Which is bit strange considering all that the First Lady has done to elevate and expose emerging American designers, not to mention championing established American designers as well. We loved Mrs. O’s choice of McQueen (an alteration of a dress from Sarah Burton‘s 2011 resort collection), as did Cathy Horyn and Robin Givhan, but we also noted that there was some expectation that she’d wear a Chinese American designer. But the red color seemed appropriate given its significance to Chinese culture.
Is it the CFDA’s place to admonish the First Lady for her sartorial choices?
Tags: CFDA, Michelle Obama
Designer(s): Alexander McQueen, Oscar de la Renta
Comments [25]
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Has fashion become political now? Last time I checked, fashion wasn’t so much an economy as it was a means of bringing cultures together – we all wear clothes. Seeing different tastes & aesthetics educates us.
Michelle Obama looks stunning. The dress was wholly appropriate for the state dinner, and the rich fabric and color was in homage to Chinese culture. And what if she wore McQueen to such public event in tribute to him?
So, so catty.
Michelle looks great, CFDA comes off as negative and isolationist. Michelle is at least 50% responsible for JCrew’s current success, and 100% responsible for the success of several new designers (well, ignoring their own talent, so maybe it’s 50/50 there too). Has CFDA offered to work with her instead of whining? Michelle has done so much for fashion, both high and everyday) in a way that the FLOTUS hasn’t done for years (I’m thinking back to…Jackie?).
What I have noticed is that Michelle Obama wears what she likes. So if American designers want her to wear their designs, design stuff she would like.
I think the real problem with the CFDA is that she doesn’t wear the old guard of American designers much or ever: like Oscar, Carolina, Vera, and DvF. She wears plenty of Jason Wu, Thakoon, Sophie Theallet. And she supports plenty of American shops like white house/black house, j crew, ann taylor etc. So it’s really embarrassing for them to say that.
Especially astute that you noted that when she does wear American (which is most of the time) she’s giving her support where it counts, to young designers who will see a huge increase in visibility (even my mom loves Jason Wu and Thakoon now.) Oscar De La Renta and Princess Von Furstenberg do not need her help in any way.
she should have just shown up in a gareth pugh cat suit.
minus 1 for the ageing uninspired of america and the organizations that serve as their mouthpiece.
She should wear whatever the fuck she wants, BUT, this dinner was to promote Sino-American trade and as such, she IS one half of the public face of America, so she should have worn something American.
And who ever told Nancy Regan a “fashinista” of her time what to wear! No memory of any comments about what either Bush first ladies EVER wore or even Hillary Clinton…Michelle Obama is the most beautiful, classy, classic first lady we’ve had in a very long time especially that had any fashion sense. She is also very easily the most intelligent and socially forward since Elenor Roosevelt…that’s sad to say….
And who ever told Nancy Regan a “fashinista” of her time what to wear! No memory of any comments about what either Bush first ladies EVER wore or even Hillary Clinton…Michelle Obama is the most beautiful, classy, classic first lady we’ve had in a very long time especially that had any fashion sense. She is also very easily the most intelligent and socially forward since Elenor Roosevelt…that’s sad to say….
Totally bull. Reminds me of those girlie things at school: if you do this, you are not our friend…
Seriously CFDA? We love and respect you so but this reeks of desperation for relevancy and attention because you know everyone pays attention to what Anna says instead of you. Is no one over there minding the store? We agree that as a diplomat, Mrs O. knows the power of how clothes make a statement related to the setting and she probably should have worn a American designer. Oscar is old school, we get it. But she’s still a woman who just wanted to wear a pretty red dress and furthermore, she has certainly done a tremendous amount to wear and promote American designers and fashion brands. A friendly piece of advice, I would not turn on your best advocate if I were you. Everyone who has the time to complain about this, must need something to do.
I’m sorry, but where was all the hubbub and hyper scrutiny when Laura Bush was first lady? Can anyone recall a single memorable outfit, let alone dress of hers, and who designed it? Why is this a story! Mrs.Obama looked fantastic, the gown was China appropriate red, the Chinese are not complaining, so where exactly is the problem? As Niche said, she has pretty much worn nothing but less established American designers. Sounds like Oscar has used his considerable influence with the CFDA, and gone looking for backup.
TThese people are insane, she looks amazing. McQueen was a great choice.
I agree that this whole situation is a little strange. Mrs. Obama’s choice was fantastic-she looked beautiful in that dress. I haven’t exactly understood the problem, but I am completely on board with her dress choice.
No, it’s like Michelle Obama wants to be more “fashion-forward” now that everyone keeps a close eye on her outfit choices. So it’s red…that’s the only feature in common with the Asians? Please! She should know politics come first, not McQueen.
“She should know politics come first”? What exactly does that mean? So in your estimation she should have anticipated all of this ridiculous shrill hysteria? Mrs.Obama has no control over the constant nitpicking that she is uniquely being subjected to, nor I suspect does she care.
Honestly, their sentiment isn’t out of line, but their mode of conveyance certainly is. The first lady’s style gets a lot of media attention, and the fashion market in Asia is just beginning to realize its full potential. So it makes sense that the CFDA would want to encourage Obama to promote American designers overseas, but, then again, so does expressing this viewpoint privately. It’s not like they can’t get in touch with her.
As it is, making a public statement is almost mind-bogglingly presumptuous. Chastising her in that statement is just dumb. Really, was the whole bare arms incident really that long ago? You’d think the CFDA would remember how Obama reacts to wardrobe advice.
You just don’t insult someone for wearing a McQueen–you just DON’T! Anyway, it seems like a petty argument–”Why wear european clothes?” Really?
Apparently Oscar’s clothes are made in China, so if she’d worn him it would have “promoted trade”, I suppose.
Excellent comment – very timely since everyone is looking for the JOBS here in America!!!! In China, where Mr. DeLarenta employs children to work for daily/monthly even pay at less than Americans spend for a hamburger at lunch! At least in America she’s free to choose what SHE WANTS TO WEAR!
Is it the CFDA’s place to admonish the First Lady for her sartorial choices? Um. Well, would it be the CFDA’s place to admonish the President for his sartorial choices?
And there you have your answer :-)
Trust me on this, President Hu Jintao does not give a fuck about what designer Michelle wore. If anything, he noticed that it’s red, which is the only significance of that dress to him.
The dude has more important things to worry about, like, taking over the whole fucking world!
And what’s with Oscar de la Renta being this outspoken lately; seems like sour grapes to me.
Mrs. Obama is a cool, hip woman; leave her alone!
It’s completely insignificant and just another example of how pathetic the fashion industry really is.
this is complete BS!!! she rocks, always has and always will!!! she looked fab, these old foggie designers need to take a back sit and stop struggling to be significant.
I would be willing to bet money that Michelle Obama has no knowledge of who Alexander McQueen is or any of the smaller talented American Designers are that she has worn.
She probably picked the dress she likes from her stylist’s rack having no clue.
I do not understand why anyone would say she has great “style”.
She has NO style of her own.
She’ll wear just anything. There is nothing personal about what she wears. It’s all so very random!
Her choice to wear McQueen at this state dinner just shows how she has no idea what she’s doing and there is zero knowledge or thought behind what she puts on.
LMAO!!!!!
I nominate this for humorous comment of the year!!!!