FeedArchive

Archive2 October 2026

Michelle Obama's 2009 inaugural gown by Jason Wu, 26: one-shoulder white silk chiffon, organza flowers with Swarovski crystal centres; Wu learned on television

Jason Wu, a Taiwan-born designer who was 26, made the gown Michelle Obama wore to the inaugural balls on 20 January 2009: one shoulder, white silk chiffon, organza flowers with Swarovski (@swarovski) crystal centres. He has said he had no idea his design was being seriously considered until she stepped out on television. The first dance was at the Neighborhood Ball at the Washington Convention Center. The gown went to the Smithsonian's First Ladies Collection on 9 March 2010 and into a new gallery, A First Lady's Debut. Photos: James Bowman, US Department of Defense, public domain; Eric Chan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The weekly

NewsletterWeekly One email a week. Every post from the week, and what didn't fit on a slide.
Free. Never shared. Unsubscribe any time.

The post, as it ran

01JASON WU WAS 26 WHEN MICHELLE OBAMA WORE HIS GOWN TO THE INAUGURAL BALLS ON 20 JANUARY 2009.
02HE DIDN'T KNOW SHE HAD CHOSEN IT. HE FOUND OUT, IN HIS WORDS, 'ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD'.
03ONE SHOULDER, WHITE SILK CHIFFON, AND ORGANZA FLOWERS WITH SWAROVSKI CRYSTAL CENTRES.
04THE OBAMAS DANCED THE FIRST DANCE OF THE NIGHT AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD BALL, THE FIRST OF 10 OFFICIAL BALLS ON THEIR SCHEDULE.
05ON 9 MARCH 2010 THE GOWN WAS PRESENTED TO THE SMITHSONIAN'S FIRST LADIES COLLECTION, WITH WU THERE.
06'I'LL NEVER FORGET THE MOMENT THAT I SLIPPED ON THIS BEAUTIFUL GOWN,' MICHELLE OBAMA SAID THAT DAY.
Open on Instagram