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The Scoop on Michelle Obama’s Inaugural Gown and Jewels

01/21/2009 at 01:37 PM ET

Reuters /Landov

Designers from Kai Milla, Marc Bouwer, Reem Acra (who dressed Jill Biden for the big night) and Isabel Toledo, whom she wore to the Inauguration, all sketched potential options for the new First Lady, and the fashion world waited to see her choice with bated breath. Turns out that Michelle chose a one-shouldered silk chiffon Jason Wu number covered in organza flowers and Swarovski cyrstals — and no one was more surprised than the designer himself, who learned of Michelle’s choice with the rest of the world. “I was in awe when I saw her. I was emotional, I was amazed,” Wu tells PEOPLE. The N.Y.C.-based 26-year-old designer, who along with four friends sewed the countless number of flowers onto the dress by hand, says “I wanted the dress to reflect hope, fantasy, a dream [because] this is a pretty surreal moment we’re living in.” As for the color, Wu told Meredith Veira on the Today Show, “I wanted to design a gown that would highlight her best features.” To accent the feminine gown, Michelle chose diamonds from Loree Rodkin, who says “The First Lady is a symbol of hope, courage and great style. Words can not describe the emotions I feel that Michelle Obama has allowed me to be a part of this glorious moment.” From her line, Michelle chose 60-carat white gold and triple rose cut diamond drop earrings, a 10 carat center stone white gold and black rhodium rose cut diamond ring and white gold and diamond bangles, which will become part of the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Museum. Check out all of Michelle’s stylish choices from the historic weekend.

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Showing 115 comments

Adrian on

I honestly thought both gowns looked absoluetly hideous with all the hype about how her gowns were going to be so beautiful I think they could have picked much nicer looking ones. Especially the Inauguration dress not only was it not flattering it was just plain ugly. The other dress did not make her look good, rather old looking.

tracey on

SHE IS GOURGEOUS,I WISH I WAS THE ONE WEARING THE GOWN

PrettySanchez on

That dress was absolutely HIDEOUS! It put at least 50 pounds on her. She needed something that accentuated her figure NOT a bedspread! From the neck up she looked GORGEOUS!

Juliet on

Anne, YOU shut up. I agree with Danielle. Plus i think her dress is ugly, looks like she got chicken feathers stuck to it.

NR on

A great deal of the comments show now native people are still in 21st century. It make sense to be jealous of The first lady, but to claim the tax payers paid for her fabulous look…then you are empty headed.
If you hate her appearance comment all you want.. hate all you want… It wouldn’t change the fact that she is the woman behind a brave and smart man with love for US. A man named Barack Obama

realist on

NR Sweetie, your ignorance is showing. If you’re going to post, at least learn to spell.

tt on

NR you are a retard. Do you know her personally, do you know him, no. so quit acting like. you might like her, i might think she sucks. OPINIONS. get over yourself and learn to spell

Anya on

She looked absolutely stunning.

Terry E on

I was extremly disappointed in the new first lady’s choice of clothing. I don’t feel that any of the choices flattered her. She is a big woman and needs to stay with simple styles and especially dark colors for the bottom half of her outfits. Do the brighter colors for the top as she is very small and this would help to de-emphasise the bottom half. She should ask Oprah for advice. Oprah’s weight fluctuates but she is always a class act.

Elda on

Listen ME, that’s what blogs are for! freedom of speech!! don’t take blogs so serious or u will get a headache, u sound like u had one when u read mine!!

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