One word-Dazzling

michelle-obama.jpg Eager fashionistas awaited photos from last nights first State Dinner hosted by President and First Lady Obama.

Few were disappointed!

The champagne colored strapless full length gown designed by Indian fashion leader, Naeem Khan, and made in his studio was a lovely choice for her. The President always looks spiffy in black tie-but seriously, no one was looking at him.

Second Lady Jill Biden wore a beaded gown by Lebanese designer Reem Acra. (still searching for photo-will add later)

Other notable ensembles are here, here and here.

Here for the toasts, and here for NYT coverage. 

I realize there are a lot of people who will say that it’s shallow to be watching fashion while so many are worried about the economy and jobs. I would completely agree with you-except that the fashion industry in this country is not an insignificant contributor to our economy. For example, there are over 20,000 designers in this country, a quarter of those are small business owners and each will employ hundreds of folks locally.  


Fashion blogs have millions of readers, and track trends, designers and the industry as fast as their flip cams allow.

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The meatless menu included a mix of Indian and American

favorites, including some African-American standards. Collard greens

and curried prawns, chickpeas and okra, nan and cornbread were served

to the 320 guests — including some well-known Republicans and prominent

Indian-Americans — who started off with arugula from the White House

garden and finished up with pumpkin

pie tart. (After a tasting at the White House on Sunday, the Obamas

gave the dishes their stamp of approval, Mr. Samuelsson said.)

And

don’t forget the dinner plates. For an administration that publicly

prizes bipartisanship, what could be finer than an eclectic mix of

Clinton and Bush china?

While there will always be haters, I can’t help but be thrilled that the first state dinner was a tasteful, culturally sensitive and visually stunning reflection of the current administration.


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8 responses to “One word-Dazzling”

  1. J.M. Prince Avatar
    J.M. Prince

    Yes, lovely all. Including the interlopers & ‘party crashers’. But with Bush & Cheney we got 8 years of sneers, grimaces & lovely telling scowls at inopportune moments. Some hidden, some gloweringly all too revealingly present.

    But from BHO? We get the same relaxed, but confident beaming smile. All the time. Each & every time the camera turns on him at a formal occasion. I want it to be as comforting & well known as the famous FDR jaunty ‘chin up’ NY smile/clench, but somehow its appeal seems to have been lost on the press & the masses. He really needs to spend more time on the road, campaigning the daylights out of the Repugs. And a jobs program to sell wouldn’t hurt either, right? JMP

  2. Mel Avatar
    Mel

    I agree with you about the fashion industry, but the sad thing is we don’t make much in the way of clothes or accessories in the US anymore.

    Speaking of which, the Saris were my favorite, but Michelle did look stunning. I would SO have worn a sari. I mean, how many chances do you get to wear a sari? Seize the moment I say.

    The guest list was a hoot. Bobby and Supriya Jindal and Sanjay Gupta and Rebecca Olson Gupta!

  3. Tim Avatar
    Tim

    omg, i seriously am awed by it all. The NYT pic of the ballroom is absolutely fairy tale. Whomever put all this together (i’m guessing the first lady is in this setup) deserves MAJOR kudos for being culturally thought out – the tent, the setting, the food, sigh…

    Michelle’s dress is THE BOMB, and Colibri i’m having trouble finding a pic too.

  4. Colibrimoon Avatar
    Colibrimoon

    I cannot believe that no one has produced a picture of Jill Biden. I keep reading that she was stunning also. I’d like to judge for myself.

  5. innerredneckexposed Avatar
    innerredneckexposed

    Wow. Not sure Obama could have done any worse with his tuxedo. It is almost as bad as his inaction (or action) in the GWOT, Guantanamo, bailouts, etc.

    He’s only marginally better than Bush at this point.

    OK back to the important stuff.

  6. innerredneckexposed Avatar
    innerredneckexposed

    Wow. Not sure Obama could have done any worse with his tuxedo. It is almost as bad as his inaction (or action) in the GWOT, Guantanamo, bailouts, etc.

    He’s only marginally better than Bush at this point.

    OK back to the important stuff.

  7. Jen B. Avatar
    Jen B.

    Somewhat related. When in the hell did the Huffington Post become a tabloid rag with articles on *almost* nipple slips by celebrities?

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