Some of this nation’s top fashion writers — Cathy Horyn, Kate Betts, and Robin Givhan — have defended the Alexander McQueen dress Michelle Obama wore to the state dinner in honor of China a few weeks ago. The upset over the gown was stirred by the American fashion industry itself — designers Diane Von Furstenberg and Oscar de la Renta most notably — who suggested it was Michelle Obama’s duty as first lady to wear American designers, especially to high-profile, internationally celebrated events. Designer Nanette Lepore has been fighting for years to preserve and draw attention to the plight of New York’s garment industry. She offers her perspective on the first lady’s fashion choices in the Huffington Post, responding to Michelle’s quote, “Women, wear what you love. That’s all you can say. That’s my motto. It’s nice to have on a nice suit. But it’s nicer to change a generation, in terms of their health. It’s a better use of my time to focus on rallying this country around our military families. I mean, there’s so much that I hope to do in this role that makes a difference in people’s lives.”
The First Lady’s Dress [HuffPo]
