Michelle Obama has done it.Today, in meeting with Donald and Melania Trump on her White House front doorstep and handing over the keys, she???s successfully completed her eight year tenure as First Lady of the United States.She???s also perfectly navigated the final sartorial hurdle of this chapter in her life, giving us all one final fashion moment to savour on her way out the door.
Obama???s choice of matching maroondress andcoat by Jason Wu was a meaningful one, andstruck a balance that was formal, yet not overly-showy, for the occasion.Styled by her fashion adviser, Meredith Koop, and tailored by Christy Rilling, the tailor who has defined her silhouette for the last eight years, the designer of Michelle???s midi-length dress remains was not revealed until long after she had left the White House, a possible tactic to allow new First Lady Melania Trump to take the spotlight on her way into the White House.
Yet in choosing Wu, Obama brought her First Lady fashion story full circle and proved why she has become the modern master of political dressing.The Taiwan-born New York Fashion Week designer has been responsible for many of Obama"s key looks including the white gown which she wore for herfirst Inauguration ball in 2009.
Michelle stands outas a woman with a confident sense of her own style, in a silhouette that she has returned to numerous times during the last eight years.Her look is minimal and modern - strikingly so next to Melania Trump who, channeling Jackie Kennedy in a powder blue coat and gloves by Ralph Lauren, has today chosen to replicate a look adopted by First Ladies past, rather than make her own fresh statement of sartorial intent.
Perhaps as a subliminal message to encourage a peaceful transition of power, the Trumps and the Obamas appear to have colour-coordinated their wardrobes for the inauguration ceremonies, with Barack and Donald wearing Democrat-blue and Republican-red ties respectively, and their wives switching to support the other party.Melania presented Michelle with what appeared to be a Tiffany & Co. gift as the two met in front of the world???s media, with both the incoming and outgoing First Ladies choosing up-do hairstyles.
Assessing the differences between Michelle and Melania???s approaches to power dressing, there is a clear distinction, as Trump favours a classically glamorous combination of sheath dresses, pale I-don???t-travel-by-public-transport colours and super-high heels, whereas Michelle chooses softer silhouettes and more experimental motifs with more fashion edge.
???I am a huge admirer of her integrity and her ability to think not only about fashion but also the importance of the moment and the message,??? designer Roksanda Ilincic, who dressed Michelle on several occasions over the last eight years, told The Telegraphrecently.
???During her time in office, she has refined power dressing for the modern woman,??? added Self Portrait designer Han Chong of the First Lady, whose influence as a fashion plate is estimated to have contributed $2.7 billion to the retail sector each year.
???Bold colours, lace and embroidery are now fabrics that would sit just as well at a formal conference as at any other event.She has been daring enough to push the boundaries.???
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