There’s been much said about the dress that First Lady Michelle Obama wore to last Wednesday’s state dinner, in honor of China's President Hu Jintao.  So, stepping into the orthopedic “Grandpa Behind-the-Times” shoes that Jacob has ascribed to me, I feel that it's only apropos to weigh in on the subject.

First of all, the dress, a "Red Petal Print Silk Organza Gown" was a stunning selection from the Resort 2011 collection by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen (and topical, as red is symbolic of good-luck in Chinese culture); but that’s not the issue at hand, here.  The hot topic is whether or not M’Obama should have dressed American; and I say “Hells-to-the-Yeah!”

One of the main speaking points between to two heads of state was to discuss Sino-American trade (hopefully more American wares going toward China).  Considering that the fashion industry is a relatively large one, and that our First Lady wears clothes beautifully, this would have been an ideal opportunity.

So why then wear a British designer?  Again, it’s not that she looked anything short of fantastic – it’s simply that as a political statement, it was a slap in the face of the American designers.

There’s not a chance that Michelle Obama would have worn McQueen on the campaign trail, or to one of her inaugural balls.  So, why then would she do so at a state-dinner honoring a foreign dignitary with whom we are looking to improve trade relations?

I’m not saying that J. Crew was the way to go, but Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren, and Oscar de la Renta beautifully exemplify the best that Seventh Avenue has to offer, as does Chinese-American designer,  Vera Wang (who was a guest at the affair, and knows how to make one heckuva party frock). 

I dunno.  Maybe this all much ado about nothing..?  I just remember my grandmother telling me about Nancy Reagan’s so-called “uniform” while Ron was in the White House: “Adolfo and Bill Blass for day; Scaasi and Galanos for evening.”  Not that Nancy Reagan was anything to write home about, but the lady sure knew how to dress!

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