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The Ball Gown Challenge
What should America's new Jackie O. wear to the Inaugural Ball? We asked our favorite Project Runway designers to dream up the answer.
CORRECTION: Whoops! One design in our gallery of nine was by someone impersonating Jay McCarroll. We agree with the real Jay McCarroll: people who spend time impersonating Project Runway designers "need to get hobbies." Thanks to The Smoking Gun for alerting us. We've taken down the offending gown.
With the race finally decided, and the Obamas packing for Washington, there’s just one pressing question left on the national agenda: What should Michelle wear to the Inaugural Ball?
To help dream up the answer for America’s new fashion-forward first lady, we enlisted some of our favorite Project Runway designers to create Inaugural Ball gowns at once stylish, patriotic—and appropriately thrifty for a recession. But in keeping with the show’s premise—where only low cost materials are provided—they didn’t get to skip off to Mood to buy their fabric. For this challenge, they were only allowed to use Laura Bush’s 2005 Inaugural Ball dress, to be chopped up and repurposed, à la Pretty in Pink, an American flag, burlap sacks, and $10 worth of trims of their choosing. When the designers were given their challenge, no First Lady had been determined yet so the dresses were designed with both Michelle and Cindy in mind.
Then we asked Simon Doonan, Barneys creative director and author of Eccentric Glamour, and Sherry Maysonave, a political image consultant and author of Casual Power, to weigh in on the designs. Let the show begin…
(Original concept by Dale Hrabi and Hailey Eber)
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Hailey Eber is a writer, critic, and former Radar magazine editor. She lives in Brooklyn.
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Jacob Bernstein is a senior reporter at The Daily Beast. Previously, he was a features writer at WWD and W Magazine. He has also written for New York magazine, Paper, and The Huffington Post.
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Jeff Madrick is a contributor to the New York Review of Books and a former economics columnist for the New York Times. He is editor of Challenge Magazine, visiting professor of humanities at Cooper Union, and senior fellow at the New School's Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis. He is the author of Taking America, The End of Affluence (Random House) and The Case for Big Government.
Perhaps I don't have any taste or maybe I just don't know what's expected of the First Lady at the Inaugural Ball, but very few of these dresses look appropriate, or even good. In fact, the only two that I somewhat liked were the two the commentators liked the least: Leanne's dress and the one shouldered torquoise dress with the red stripes down the side (see above).
Again, maybe it's a taste issue since I actually liked the dress Michelle wore on Election night. I thought she looked great, but apparently, many fashionistas beg to differ. Ah, well. Whatever she wears I'm sure she'll look great.
#1 Rami
#2 Mala
#3 Leann
something dramatic, hip and progressive without becoming a characture.
Whose idea was it to use burlap potato sacks? Have we come so far that we can elect a black president, only to dress his wife in a fabric that would have made up a big part of the wardrobe for slaves? What a ridiculous contest. Once again, the fashion world shows how out of touch with reality it really is.
I love Leann's look the best with Rami coming in a close 2nd. I think I would change the color of Leann's dress though. I think it's stunning and would look amazing on Michelle Obama. Rami's look is very chic, but the color choices I would also change. I really like the one shoulder look. It would be so cool if Michelle would actually choose one of those looks because the mess she was wearing on victory night was hideous! She needs some help. If that dress is a sign of what's to come in her fashion world we may be doomed afterall.
Yes, this is a tacky, tacky "contest." If one didn't know the general political bias Tina Brown, one would assume it to be some old-fashioned black-face mockery. Take this down now. Potato sacks???
I wonder why people think that Michelle Obama is anywhere near Jackie Onassis Kennedy. Michelle lacks the grace, beauty and overall stature that "Jackie O" had. Who really cares what she wares. Cant be worse than that red and black frock that she wore on Barrak Obama's acceptance speach. Tacky.
Wow, this was completely inappropriate and flagrantly disrespectful. Burlap??!! Racist, degrading, and the designs are ludicrous at best, for the most part. Michelle was beautifully attired Election Night, and the children's dresses were nicely coordinated, too. Let Michelle use her innate sensibilities to guide her choices and she will be successful.
I liked Breton's dress with the stars. Michelle is sexy and refined at the same time, like his design. Let's stop comparing her to Jacki O, though. She's a star in her own right.
To say "America's new Jackie O" is offensive. It is simplistic to look backward in this particular way. The kind of reflection a moment like this might provoke should be far from the image of Jackie O's style. Michelle Obama is so fresh that it is foolish to try and force her into a mold and image that comes from looking behind us.
And also, the last dress is best.
You have go to be kidding. Even before she was the First Lady Elect, she was worth more than a potatoe sack and a used flag. Grow-up America, he won, get over it.
For sure Rami's was the BEST!!! I also just want to point out that he is not an Israeli, he is Palestinian.
I've come to enjoy this blog, but I'm embarrassed for you after seeing this lame feature. Get it together!
Ok so when do we start seeing the serious design options?? Let's talk about body skimming, backless, metallic shimmer, halter top
I would go with a style like Leann's in a moment. Classy... no skin, and elegant, as Leann always shows.
Who ever dreamed up potato sacks for this challenge must have been channeling Sarah Palin!
All this output shows what an achievement Michelle Obama's campaign wardrobe has been.
Where's Narciso?
Second design from the left looks like Scarlett Ohara's drapery dress in Gone With the Wind - film about the Civil War - that's irony! Last design on far right is reminiscent of the TV series ROOTS - a depressing look at slavery. C'mon folks - you have to be joking! Michele Obama is a gorgeous, intelligent, poised woman. Get a designer with equal qualifications in the creative brain department who has exquisite taste! - on the other hand perhaps the barrel design by the drag-queen designer might make a statement! Help!!!
que horror!!! Would anyone really imagine the first lady of the united states to wear a FLAG?!?! at the inaugural ball?
AS IF Jackie O. would have EVER worn a freaking FLAG!!!
Obviously those bratty designers took this as a joke, how pathetic.
#1: Rami
#2: Leanne
#3: Austin
I love Project Runway. It's great that they can make such beautiful things out of such strange and cheap material. The sketches never look as good though.
I liked Rami's dress, but the best would have to be the darker number by the guy whose name I already forgot.
Let's be serious..This dress will be in the Smithsonian
some day..It has to be elegant, tasteful...and reflect
the spirit of the incoming first lady.
where's my comment?
#1 Leann
#2 Malan
#3 Allison
I like the more chic designs, not too flamboyant or overly patriotic which comes off tacky. I think she's is attractive and reasonably well dressed, but calling her the next Jackie-O is just offensive.
Having worn ball gowns as a debutante and, therefore, did not wear one as a bride, in my opinion, Michelle should not have too much length, or too much fabric, and she should forget about any kind of train. Because she has a good figure, she should go for the Greek draped look. As to the color of the dress: no sparkles, beading, or pearls, and not purple or orange: because it should be about the construction of the draping of the fabric--like a Greek or Roman sculpture. Michelle is a thoroughly modern woman, who needs to be able to not only express herself, but to be able to dance with her dude.
i love the designs but I don't think it would be wise for the First Lady to wear the flag.
"The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of patriotic organizations." courtesy of USflag.org
Leann's is the most appropriate and most attractive. But maybge for something this important, Oscar de la renta should dress her....Anything but the horrible dress she wore on election night!!!
Thank you.
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