November 12, 2008 | 5:00 pm

Designers Dream Big for the Obamas’ Inauguration Formal Wear

Courtesy Marc Bouwer

Signing on to dress the first lady for the Inauguration Ball is always a big deal, but this year, “it’s every designer’s dream to dress Michelle Obama,” says New York designer Marc Bouwer. PEOPLE asked Bouwer and designers Reem Acra and Isabel Toledo to come up with sketches of how they’d dress the First-Family-elect, given the honor. Bouwer, whose design appears above, took special inspiration from Michelle, who “has a much more modern approach to dressing,” he says. “She’s probably the most body-conscious dresser out of any First Lady we’ve had, and her clothes have a more modern silhouette.” Plus, as the United States’ first African-American first lady, “She’s the first of her kind,” adds Bouwer. “The designer who gets this will snag a major part of history. This will be remembered now and for forever.” Click through to check out Inauguration Ball sketches by red carpet favorites Isabel Toledo and Reem Acra. Then tell us: Which designer do you think has the winning look? –Charlotte Triggs

Courtesy Reem Acra

Reem Acra’s sketch

Courtesy Isabel Toledo

Isabel Toledo’s sketch

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linda r-er

I hope she has more choices…

me

I think Isabele is a little color blind.

Deck the Halls… « 1stnFab

[...] the project runway  peeps have sketched up some probable looks. People.com’s Off the Rack showcased some sketches by  Marc Bouwer, Reem Acra, and Isabelle Toledo (respectively)  enjoy!  [...]

Sam

They’re not portrayed as white in Isabel Toledo’s design, if you see carefully, you can see the outline used is brown. When drawing, you don’t have to fill the spaces necessarily, with the color of the outline is enough to guess the color it should be.

I think the best option would be first one.

jamie

she’s the first of her kind?? what the..?

Dallas

I would consider it a real change if they wear clothes from stores like Macys or Gap like regular Americans. No need to waste money when common citizens are facing hardships.

Sonia

I’m expect them to set a trend by going informal. May be blazers with jeans or something like that a real american can afford too. We don’t want catwalk, we want them to walk the talk.

DeeM

If it’s not designed in black send it back!

lynn

The dresses for the girls-1st choice-look like pagent dresses-yuck.So not these girls. The color for Michele is nice. Hope she wears her hair up.

2nd choice-too stuffy,high dollar looking-not good for “bad” economy times. Michele dress looks like wedding dress

3rd choice-classic, not frilly. The girls don’t have to match red,white,blue. Elegant,classic is way to go. Looks like “Kennedy” times. My vote. It’s the White House, not Oscars/Hollywood.

Dawn

Marc Bouwer’s vision is very classy. I liked his
the best. Excuse me, Dallas we are all for change
but be for real, wearing something from the GAP
for a pinic is acceptable,but the inuaguration and ball requires the upmost designer input!

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Edited by Melissa Liebling-Goldberg

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