While new First Lady Michelle Obama played it a bit conservative during the day with an Isabel Toledo dress and coat, she spiced things up at night during the Home States Ball in Washington with a one-shoulder, ethereal ivory gown by young gay designer Jason Wu.
The 26 year-old Taiwanese-American Jason Wu, who is currently the envy of many designers and labels, previously received national attention when Michelle Obama wore an adaptation of a silk sheath dress from his spring 2009 collection on a Barbara Walters TV interview.
Michelle’s fashion sensibility seems to be a match with gay designers. Another gay designer, Cuban-American Narciso Rodriguez, recently scored a big win when Michelle wore his red and black dress on Election Night. Coincidentally, Wu worked as an intern for Rodriguez in his earlier years.
So what effect has Michelle Obama had on Wu so far? "It’s brought the profile of the brand to a different level," Wu explains. "She’s just the ultimate person to dress."
Jason Wu was celebrated by W Magazine and legendary photographer Bruce Weber last year as one of the promising fresh designers in an editorial entitled Summer Camp.
Inaugural Ball Gowns
Michelle Obama Goes Gay with Jason Wu Design
Trend Themes
1. Fashion Diversity - Michelle Obama's fashion choices of designer Jason Wu and Cuban-American Narciso Rodriguez revealed the rise of diversity in fashion designing.
2. Designer Influence - Michelle's fashion influence had caused a rise in popularity for the gay designer Jason Wu and Cuban-American Narciso Rodriguez.
3. Celebrity Endorsement - Celebrity endorsement by Michelle Obama for the lesser-known designer Jason Wu has brought his brand to a new level of popularity.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion Industry - Fashion industry needs to diversify their inputs to cater to a range of audiences and create more opportunities for designers from diverse backgrounds.
2. Luxury Fashion Industry - Luxury fashion industry can benefit from the rise in lesser-known designers like Jason Wu by creating partnerships to diversify their offerings.
3. Celebrity Endorsement Industry - Celebrity endorsement industry needs to continue evolving and creating brand endorsements that align with diversity and inclusivity values to remain relevant.