Last week, Michelle Obama’s official portrait was revealed at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., and it made quite a splash.
In the portrait by Amy Sherald, the former first lady is wearing a beautiful custom gown by Milly that features a full skirt with colorful striped accents. Not only were both the portrait and gown gorgeous, but they also sent a powerful message.
Milly designer Michelle Smith told The Washington Post the gown was inspired by her spring 2017 collection, which was all about a “desire for equality, equality in human rights, racial equality, LGBTQ equality.” She also explained that the different knot and tie details in her collection were meant to represent a “feeling of being held back … that we’re not quite there yet.”
That message is one the former FLOTUS would no doubt stand behind. And there she is, looking strong and confident in her portrait, wearing a beautiful design by a fellow American.
After seeing the portrait, we couldn’t help but be reminded of the other times Obama wore American fashions. She was (and still is) a huge supporter of American fashion, regularly bringing attention to the country’s design talent.
See some of her most memorable American-designed gowns and dresses below.
