Why Oscar de la Renta Should Lay Off Of Michelle Obama

Filed under: Celebrity Style , Designers

It seems no one can get enough of the first lady. In fact, even one of the most distinguished fashion designers in the world is not satisfied.

Oscar De la Renta recently made some comments criticizing the striking red and black Alexander McQueen gown that Michelle Obama wore to the state dinner honoring Chinese President Hu Jintao last Wednesday. "My understanding," as de la Renta was quoted as telling WWD, "is that the visit was to promote American-Chinese trade - American products in China and Chinese products in America. Why do you wear European clothes?"
This is not de la Renta's first quip about what the first lady has donned at an important gathering. The designer also made a comment in 2009 about Obama's choice to wear a cardigan to Buckingham Palace for the G20 summit, insinuating that the look was not high fashion, and that she, therefore, was not supportive enough of the idea that her showcasing American design at significant international events was key in helping turn around the slumping economic state of the US fashion industry.

"I'm not talking about my clothes, my business. I'm old, and I don't need it. But there are a lot of young people, very talented people here, who do," he told WWD.

But the first lady does support young, talented designers at major affairs. A lot. The dress and matching jacket that Obama wore to her husband's Presidential swearing-in was by Cuban-American designer Isabel Toledo. Jason Wu, an American designer who was born in Taiwan, created her inaugural gown. And, most recently, Obama selected designer Rachel Roy, also American, to dress her for this week's State of the Union address. Her diverse choices in American design, perhaps, distracted the American, yet Dominican Republic-born de la Renta.

Michelle Obama, style-wise, is perhaps the most-watched first lady since Jacqueline Kennedy. Knowing this, she and her camp work hard to consider the nature of an event and its special attendee(s) when deciding the designer she will wear. Overall, however, the first lady's style choices are her own, and McQueen was a discerning selection.

Perhaps, we should forget for a moment that de la Renta is an extremely accomplished fashion designer, and remember that he is a part of the loving, yet critical American public - ready to praise or chastise, sometimes seemingly on whim.

Or, maybe, de la Renta simply feels snubbed.

What do you think about de la Renta's fashion commentary?

 

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