Michelle Obama’s Inaugural Gown Headed for History Museum

From Sunlen Miller and Yunji de Nies

First Lady Michelle Obama will be donating her inaugural gown to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History; it was announced today by the First Lady’s office.

The white, one shoulder silk chiffon Jason Wu dress will join the ranks at the American History museum in Washington, D.C. of other First Lady’s famous dresses –Jackie Kennedy, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Helen Taft, among others. Mrs. Obama’s shoes and jewelry will also be on display.

Mrs. Obama will formally present the dress at the Smithsonian on Tuesday and will be joined by aspiring young designers from Huntington High School Fashion Program from New York.

“Mrs. Obama’s hope is that this event will inspire talented young people to use their gifts to develop a future for themselves in the arts community whether as a hobby or as a profession,” the First Lady office says.

The designer of the dress Jason Wu will also be at the event.

The first lady’s dress will be part of the new exhibit within the collection, called ‘A First Lady’s Debut” – focusing specifically on inauguration dresses. In the center of the gallery a case had been reserved for Michelle Obama’s gown, waiting for the addition.

“The First lady’s exhibition explores the contributions of First Lady’s to the presidency and to American society,” Brent Glass, Director of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History says, “And we’re very pleased that Mrs. Obama is continuing this tradition,

-Sunlen Miller and Yunji de Nies