Daily Life

Michelle Obama dazzles in Versace for final State Dinner at the White House

For one of her final acts as America's First Lady, Michelle Obama confirmed she is the sun the White House revolves around, or, to be more apt, the disco ball.

Obama saved the best til last and pulled on a bright, slinky, Studio 54-esque dress by Versace for her last State Dinner where she and husband Barack hosted Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi and his wife, Agnese Landini for an evening of buttermilk gelato and American Wagyu beef. 

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama welcome Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and his wife Agnese ...
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama welcome Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and his wife Agnese Landini to the White House. Photo: AP

The rose gold gown that lit up the usually dull Washington solar system was made out of a glomesh looking material. A fabric synonymous with Australian accessories brand Oroton, which created purses using the gold and silver metallic mesh back in the 1970s.

Her latest look has been heralded by the fashion press as a "Goddess Fashion Moment" while others used the opportunity to pledge their allegiance to Obama, signing off stories about her outfit with, "Miss you already".

"I am humbled and honoured to have the opportunity to dress the First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama. Thank you, Michelle, for all of the things you have done for America and for the rest of the world, for the women in the United States and the rest of the world," designer Donatella Versace said of her one-off creation. 

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The form-fitting shiny ensemble that draped in some areas and hugged others was a first for FLOTUS, who had many stand-out fashion moments during her eight-year tenure in the east wing, just none as bold as this.

Obama used her clothing as a form of communication and frequently leveraged public and official events to promote the designs of immigrants, women, minorities and fledging creatives.

Her stand-out looks include a one-shouldered white gown by Taiwanese-Canadian designer Jason Wu for the Inauguration Ball in 2009 and a dress by Lady Gaga's stylist Brandon Maxwell earlier this year after he launched his new label in 2015.

Versace was a poignant choice for her curtain call. The fashion house once renowned for dressing rock stars girlfriends is now - if recent collections are to be believed - celebrating the power and strength of the female form with gowns that are plunging, slashed and show off lots of skin.

Obama in Versace - a bold salute to a revered Italian label now headed up by a woman - comes hot on the heels of her takedown of Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump, after the sexist comments he made while on set of Access Hollywood in 2005 were revealed to the world.

"I can't believe that I'm saying that a candidate for president of the United States has bragged about sexually assaulting women," she recently told the crowd at a campaign event for Hillary Clinton. 

"And I have to tell you that I can't stop thinking about this. It has shaken me to my core in a way I couldn't have predicted...This is not normal. This is not politics as usual. This is disgraceful, it is intolerable."