Saturday
Jan222011
Final Words on the State Dinner
Saturday, January 22, 2011 at 8:56 AM Hope everyone is having a fabulous start to the weekend! Enjoy these choice readers on Mrs. O's state dinner style. What does everyone make of Oscar de la Renta's sentiments?
"The Hu's Who of White House Fashion" [The New Yorker]
"Oscar de la Renta on Watch" [WWD]
"Don't Wear British!" [Vogue UK]
"Oscar de la Renta Doesn't Understand Why Michelle Obama Wore McQueen to the State Dinner" [NYMag]
"Michelle Obama Signals in a Red Dress" [NYT/On the Runway]
"Michelle Obama in Alexander McQueen: Lady in Red" [The Daily Beast]
"Best-Dressed of the Week" [Red Carpet Fashion Awards] (Mrs. O leads in the weekly poll for Best-Dressed. Add your vote!)
Reader Comments (39)
I think Oscar De La Renta's criticism is very fair. She probably should be wearing an American designer. She did look fabulous though. As one commentator put it in the New York Times, "Look how Michelle renders the two most powerful men in the world invisible!"
de la Renta is still upset the First Lady hasnt worn his pieces. Hillary obviously spoiled him and he has turned into an entitled brat.
I am digusted by Oscar de la Renta and his comments. No one said a word when dressed Mrs. Bush, Mrs. Clinton and others. This is not his time. She can and has chosen differently. He simply can not stand that he is not the one. Michelle Obama has been more diverse in her selection of designers than other of the first ladies. It's her choice. I hope she never wears his designs. Never!
Its just another form of entitlement.
I couldn't wait to see what she was wearing and in all honesty, I was also hoping she would be wearing an American designer, but she still looked good in the McQueen. I've read Mr. de la Renta's rants and he comes off as condescending because he's not the one dressing her. Mrs. Obama can't revamp the entire American fashion industry, perhaps he and other fashion designers need to take a serious look at themselves by how they court and market to their potential customers, because honestly there are a lot of American women with the means to support his brand who they often ignore. There's not only one view of the customer, the world is as diverse as it is round.
Check out some new photos of the reception and performance following the State Dinner @ http://theobamadiary.com/ There's a great photo of Sasha and Malia greeting Hu Jintao as well as shot of Mrs. O descending the stairs in her gown. Fun!
Mr. de la Renta is all sour-grapes. He seems to be upset that Mrs. O has not graced one of his frocks with the honor of being worn on her body. It's interesting, he never once complained when there were no minority designers being worn by first ladies, and now all of a sudden he has so much to say. He designs for mother's of the bride - dowdy and staid. Michelle Obama is the bride, so why would she want to wear his designs?
Move on Oscar - your time has come and gone!!!
Oscar de la Renta: "I'm not talking about my clothes, my business," he told WWD. "I'm old, and I don't need it. But there are a lot of young people, very talented people here who do."
o_O
Where has he been for the last 3 years? She has worn more young and talented designers than any First Lady in recent history, including designs by his own son. Plus didn't he have to go on The View a few years ago to apologize for his comments about the First Lady because of all the negative backlash he received? I think he is a brilliant designer but his "criticism" comes off as really petty and misinformed.
Karen with all due respect but why should she wear an American designer?
NOBODY made a fuss when Mrs Kennedy entire closet was made of French designers and with all due respect to old cranky envious Oscar has bashed Mrs Obama for the 2nd time now publicly which makes me think he does it often when Mrs Obama has a public event.
de la Renta's clothes on Mrs Reagan;the Bush women and Clinton looked horrible
why should Mrs Obama be THE one to wear American clothes? She's THE one paying for them;it's not the taxpayer footing the bill so she should wear whatever the hell she wants
Why were these ladies given a pass and Michelle Obama has not?
I totally agree that Oscar is exhibiting sour grapes because Michelle Obama doesn't wear his fashions.
I really don't think the first lady or anyone has an obligation to wear a particular designer. You wear what suits your body and your personal style. She has patronized American designers in the past, so he comments are unfair IMO. Oscar just wishes he could get the press- he knows that dressing her is a major coup. But if he keeps making these snarky comments, I don't see her calling him up anytime soon. If it were me, I would more determined than ever to NOT wear his fashions.
Mrs. T, thank you for this excellent round-up and I wish you a terrific weekend as well!
Pete Souza just released photos from the State Dinner and there are some gorgeous ones with FLOTUS:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/sets/72157625751967951/
Enjoy!
Karen,
So you think he has a point and this is a fair criticism? Please, it is anything but that. Do you know that Oscar De La Renta is not an American. He is from the Dominican Republic, and yet he dressed both Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush for nearly every state dinner they ever hosted.
He's a jealous hypocrite.
Also regarding Pete Souza's recent photos, notice the rare glimpse into the White House residence and Dr. Biden's lovely dress! And how gorgeous the whole family looks and Sasha once again greeting President Hu in her very cute outfit. Mrs. O looks especially proud.
oscar is on some fox like petty vendetta against the first lady because she has a MIND of her own. People who think they are better than you are fine as long as you tow their line, but show you have your own opinions and choices then you become public enemy number one. Michelle has done her part for the American apparel industry but this ill in formed nasty idiot is allowed to lie and tarnish her image. He is the Sarah Palin of fashion!
Oscar, this is my advice. Try prune juice. Everyone knows what you are full of.
Another poster in a previous thread highlighted his contradiction. When she began showing up in only young American designers, he had an issue. Wanting Mrs. O to patronize the established houses (his own), he fumed. Now he has the temerity to say the she should be sporting young American designers. Where do you stand Oscar?
If Mrs. O had worn one of his gowns, he would only offer up praise. She hasn't and I hope she never will. He is a sad, bitter old man.
The First Lady looked magnificent!
De La Renta can get lost! IMO he hasn't done anything in his collections that would look spectacular on our beautiful FL...and we all want spectacular!
Has anyone given thought to the fact that the First Lady may have had several gowns from which to choose?...including Vera Wang and Jason Wu, either of whom we all thought she would have chosen. In the end she chose the McQueen...because it looked right, and fit the occasion. We don't know what she had to choose from, but she chose the right gown!
Well, @CJ, McKinley, Kels, theOther Mimi, Ari, Shyril and Jessica - AMEN! To ya' all.
Oscar baby ya' had ya' time now step the HECK aside.
I am a lover of the art and brilliance of design, and Alexander McQueen is one designer who exemplified brilliant design. Mrs. Obama has shown an ability to maintain her individual style while embracing the diversity and global nature of fashion and design. It is most unfortunate that Mr. De La Renta chooses not to celebrate the work of other designers as they are presented on the world stage by the First Lady. It is also unfortunate that he repeatedly puts his negative feelings on such public display. It comes off as unprofessional and petty.
Oscar De La Renta needs to stop with his cry baby rants. She just is not into you Oscar, GET OVER IT!!! I was never impressed by the clothes his designs. I hope that Michelle NEVER wears Oscars clothes, he comes off as a gilted ex lover. Furthermore, many people like Oscar, are burning up that Michelle does not follow, the invisble "rules" that people thinks she should because she is First Lady, she marches to her own drum, which drives many on here, and around the world crazy!
My thoughts...Really? Relax OdlR!
Mrs.O has done so much for American fashion in 2 years. From high-end outfits to affordable. American designers and stores are making a mint from her fashion choices. I never noticed what First Ladies wore before Mrs.O.
No matter what he says, it sounds like sour grapes. And I hope she never wears one of his designs.
This is so very sad. What a petty and short sited comment for an internationally prominent designer like Mr. DLR to make.
It is especially embarrassing for him in light of Mrs. O's gracious decision to wear one of his son's dresses a few short months daddy DLR had publicly derided her decision to wear an item from J-Crew, an AMERICAN retailer, during her visit with Queen of England.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/29/michelle-donned-dress-by_n_303109.html
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Michelle-Obama/ss/events/pl/050108michelleobama#photoViewer=/110122/480/urn_publicid_ap_org92c160e109514ddfb358a7703f21f211
New dress.
Dear Mrs. T,
Thank you for creating this site. You have created a community where those of us who admire and respect Mrs. O can come together in the spirit of global and universal camaraderie and chat about what she is wearing. And you have allowed us the freedom to speak our truth w/o fear of repercussion. I may not always agree with all comments, but I truly appreciate the thoughtfulness and civility that comes with most of them. Many of the regulars have become my faves. And I find myself looking forward to what they are saying about FLOTUS’s newest look. Please keep up the good work.
Regarding this week’s State dinner…Mrs. O looked great! Loved the red gown...loved her hair...loved it all.
Peace,
Terri Austin-Randolph aka Mrs. STAR
Dear Mrs. T,
Thank you for creating this site. You have created a community where those of us who admire and respect Mrs. O can come together in the spirit of global and universal camaraderie and chat about what she is wearing. And you have allowed us the freedom to speak our truth w/o fear of repercussion. I may not always agree with all comments, but I truly appreciate the thoughtfulness and civility that comes with most of them. Many of the regulars have become my faves. And I find myself looking forward to what they are saying about FLOTUS’s newest look. Please keep up the good work.
Regarding this week’s State dinner…Mrs. O looked great! Loved the red gown...loved her hair...loved it all.
Peace,
Terri Austin-Randolph aka Mrs. sTAR
Actually, Fred, Mrs. Kennedy was severely criticized for her Parisian fashion and her husband prevailed upon her to wear American designers. It just wouldn't do for the wife of the American President to garb herself from head to toe in European couture.
Is oscar de la renta business hurting? Does anyone know? It is very peculiar. He has the right to have his own opinions, but he sound angry in his comments.
wow,this is so wrong on so many levels. but on a personal level, a man of such stature shows a level of maturity that is embarrassing.
what happened to "if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing". I mean everybody has a opinion because Mrs. O. is a news-maker. but this is just shameful.
Oscar don't hate.....appreciate.....!
People have a misinformed understanding of Jackie Kennedy's time in the White House. She WAS criticized and followed constantly by the press to see if she was wearing French designs or American. She created an entire system through assistants and Cassini to make sure she was following the trends out of Paris while seeming to wear American. Jackie Kennedy was also denounced by Republicans for traveling too much.
In the quest to idolize the late Jackie O and her time in the W.H people miss the actual history. Jackie had her Oscar De La Renta's in her day criticizing her every move. But like Jackie, Mrs Obama rises above it and does her own thing. Jackie would have loved her.
I think it is beyond silly and quiet frankly old fashioned to say the first lady should wear an American designer at particular events. But if that is the chosen path, few first ladies have done more to support young American designers than Michelle. Past first ladies have focused on the stand bys. Mr De La Renta was a favorite of quiet a few of the past FLOTUS' and if I had to guess this is more sour grapes than caring about support for American design. I for one LOVE that I have a first lady who dares to wear McQueen.
Oscar? Well, he does profess to be a grouch and live in a garbage can.
Oh, my bad. That would be the lovable and fuzzy one.
As for de la Renta, pfft! Do some talking with your sketchbook and your line and maybe Mrs O. will come a calling.
Oscar D is right about one thing.....HE IS OLD! Our FLOTUS is young, vibrant, healthy. Why in the world would she even want to wear any of his designs? Do we really care what he thinks? The reason I never cared about what other First Ladies wore because it all looked the same....just plain BORING! Even when they dared to wear color, it was still predictable and still BORING! It is so refreshing to come to this post and see what our FLOTUS is wearing. She keeps me guessing, expecting and smiling. She has never fails to amaze me even if I do not agree with her choices. It reminds me that she has a mind of her own and she is very capable of dressing herself. That is what so unique and wonderful about this classy, intelligent, sassy FLOTUS. SHE ROCKS....SHE THINKS. We do not need Oscar. He does not need the money(so he says). Oscar, design yourself a rocking chair and sit down....IT'S OVER, OLD MAN
RE: Fred's comment
Fred - I totally agree with almost everything in your comment...except one item. Mrs. Kennedy was raked over the coals for her taste of French fashion. If I am not mistaken...this was one of the reasons that she invited French-born American Oleg Cassini to become her personal costume designer.
Thanks for all those links. Very interesting cross section of opinions about the dress, which I thought she looked breathtakingly beautiful in.
Who's Oscar de la Renta?
That first link, from the New Yorker, has the most perceptive comments on the McQueen dress:
" ...an antique court silhouette (voluminous skirt, fitted bodice) jolted into modernity by a digital print, in this case of giant black fronds, curling at the edges. The neckline was asymmetric, and one strap seemed to have slipped from the shoulder. A refreshingly ironic shrug—a hint of world-weariness—I thought."
Well said! I also appreciated the reflection on the politics of sourcing a dress for this event, which acknowledges that Mrs. O "...patronizes American designers who sometimes manufacture their clothes in our own garment districts, with union labor, rather than you know where."
Are you listening, Mr. de la Renta?
Mrs. T. -
Mrs. O. has great taste. I applaud her effort to not rely on one or two designers/houses/suppliers for clothes. Unlike Hillary who could care less and it showed, Mrs. O. takes the time to find the right ensemble. Mrs. O. knows that what she wears will be watched. By wearing different designers, Mrs. O. has the opportunity to showcase a wide variety (established, up and comers, young, American, international) of designers.
Much was made of the last Administration's isolationist behavior. President Obama has been reaching out to the other nations of the world to let them know that we respect them. In her own way Mrs. O is supporting her husband's view by wearing international designers as well as American designers.
President Obama during the campaign spoke of it being time to turn the page. Maybe Michelle is doing her part to turn the page from a designer who let Mrs. Bush and Mrs. Theresa Heinz Kerry wear the same suit to opening up what she wears to other designers.
Fred-
You have to remember that Michelle Obama does not look like the women you mentioned in your post, so she has to work twice as hard as her peers. But Michelle refuses to change who she is, which drives MANY nuts. Michelle is STILL the woman from the south side of Chicago, who purchases clothes from the same store(Ikram) like she has done for YEARS. Contray to what many think Jackie and the rest of the women mentioned in your post were NOT picked apart as Michelle is. There were no freak out moments because Jackie wore a sleevless dress in the winter. Hillary got picked apart because she went from wearing dresses to suits, but no "Oh my goodness, Hillary is wearing a suit that cost $1,000, she should pretend to dress like she's poor."
Did anyone read this on Vanity Fair? http://mrs-o.org/newdata/2011/1/22/final-words-on-the-state-dinner.html#comments
Poor ickle Oscar.... lying WEEPING on the Wilton in front of the fireplace, beating his fists on the marble hearth and creating all hell - JUST like Alexis Carrington - "if she wont' wear my dresses I'LL GET MY REVENGE!!!" and the the credits roll as he pulls his fingers through todays WIG.
But really, why would she choose his clothes? The so-called haute couture pieces would be an inapproprate choice for the First Lady of a country that is in economic crisis. To only choose one designer would be mean, because it would starve hundreds (read 'em and weep Oscar) HUNDREDS of young, original designers of media coverage and custom. To wear suit after suit afer sooot affter shootaffersht.... You see it's boring just TYPING IT.... has already been done. Sniping in the press looks mean spirited Oscar. When I win the lottery, you are the LAST designer I will buy because of your attitude to Mrs O. Sniping in the press surely isn't going to get you the commission for a boring suit, that's for sure!!!
http://www.oscardelarenta.com/?folderId=/collections/runway/fall2010#lookId=46& Interesting how Oscar had a red silk evening gown that was off the shoulder...