A Name to Remember: Jason Wu

Image used with kind permission from Jason Wu

Mrs. O has introduced a new name into her sartorial repertoire: Jason Wu. For her interview with Barbara Walters last Wednesday, Mrs. O wore an ivory raw-silk dress with hand-embroidered rosettes from the designer's Spring/Summer 2009 collection. In review of the collection, Style.com said this of Mrs. O's selection: "For the money, a fits-like-a-glove black-on-white floral tapestry sheath was a standout." All The Rage informs us that Mrs. O first became acquainted with Wu's line thanks to the discerning eye of Vogue Editor at Large, Andre Leon Talley. Mrs. O subsequently purchased four dresses from the designer's Spring Summer 2009 collection.

Update: While this account may very well be true, Heard on the Runway informs us that this particular Jason Wu design was purchased through Chicago's Ikram boutique per a special and top-secret request from owner Ikram Goldman. Check out the blog's latest post, featuring an in-depth profile on the dress and exclusive quotes from the designer.

We first became aware of Wu earlier this year when one of our favorite guilty indulgences, Teen Vogue, featured the designer in a DIY profile. The project was inspired by the hand-painted black and white print dress from Wu's Spring 2008 collection. At only 26, the Taipei native (by way of Vancouver, Tokyo, Paris and New York) is a young designer on the rise, continually praised for his ladylike designs and outstanding craftsmanship well beyond his years. 

Another Mrs. O link - after enrolling at the Parsons School of Design, Wu interned with designer Narciso Rodriguez. This summer he was named a finalist for the prestigious CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Prize. In his official bio, the designer's ethos is described as this: "Harking back to the days when women were always polished and styled to perfection, the Jason Wu collection aims to revitalize the art and perfection of dressing with a relaxed and youthful attitude." It's no wonder Mrs. O has taken such a liking to his designs.

Black and White Floral Chic (UPDATED)

Mrs. O joined president-elect Mr. O in an interview with Barbara Walters last night, discussing a broad range of topics from the president-elect's cabinet selections to family plans for Thanksgiving. The Inaugural Ball came up briefly, and on the subject of her dress, Mrs. O indicated she hadn't yet picked one. Despite all of the speculation, we're almost certain Mrs. O's entire Inauguration Day wardrobe will remain shrouded in secrecy right up until its debut.

Speaking of dresses though, we were quite fond of Mrs. O's selection for her sit-down with Barbara. In a white sheath dress with patterned black and grey floral embroidery and black piping at the neckline and armholes, Mrs. O looked modern, youthful and polished. Mrs. O accessorized the look with a black and platinum bow pin worn at the collar in her signature style. Click here for a closer look.

The black and white palette is reminiscent of another Mrs. O hit dress: the Donna Ricco shift purchased at Black House White Market and worn to co-host The View in June. We've also noted the return of the bow worn diagonally at the collar. Previously paired with a punchy pink Maria Pinto sheathworn for Mrs. O's More magazine cover in October, and again with the Thakoon Inside-Out Floral Dress worn for the first Presidential debate, the bow offers a feminine touch we're happy to see back in the mix.

Given the holiday - and that black and white was so prominent in many of the SS '09 collections - identifying the designer for this dress has proven tricky. However, we're going to make an educated guess or two. The black embroidery on white fabric was seen repeatedly throughout Narciso Rodriguez Spring '09 collection. He is clearly a favorite designer of Mrs. O's and may very well be responsible for this chic look. We also want to mention Isabel Toledo, who designed Mrs. O's ensemble for a Vogue-sponsored fundraiser back in June. The dress above is similar to Isabel Toledo designs we spotted while visiting Ikram in Chicago, and New York Magazine previously reported that the designer was working on future ensembles for Mrs. O. Might this be one of them?

Finally, we'd like to close by saying our heart goes out to all those affected by the tragic situation in Mumbai. Our thoughts are with you on this Thanksgiving.

UPDATE: We have a new designer name in the Mrs. O designer line-up: Jason Wu. Mrs. O wore an ivory raw-silk dress with hand-embroidered rosettes from the designer's Spring/Summer 2009 collection for her Barbara Walters interview. Jason Wu, only 26, was named one of the 2008 finalists for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. Another exciting and unexpected choice from the ever fashion-forward Mrs. O. An All The Rage article from earlier this month gives us further background. Mrs. O was introduced to Wu's line through Vogue's Andre Leon Talley; she subsequently purchased four dresses from the designer's Spring/Summer collection.