A missed opportunityThe Michelle Obama Inauguration Dress Controv

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A missed opportunity: The Michelle Obama Inauguration Dress Controversy.

Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} A controversial article “Co-founder of Black Artists Association slams Michelle Obama’s “kumbaya” designer pick for her inaugural dress", in WWD magazine seems to have struck the nerves of many people on both sides of the issue.

Opinion expressed on this topic in the cyber-world, have been passionate, and intense.  The unflinching admiration for the first lady Michelle Obama is not in doubt, judging from the number of people that came to her defense.

The first lady’s prerogative to choose the designer of her choice has never been in question, and she was under no obligation to select an African American designer to design her inauguration dress. It should be based on merit, and comfortability with the designer's work, and not race. For some people to make it a racial issue is wrong.

Mrs. Obama is often, and rightly so praised for her support of lesser know brands / minority designers. This kind gesture goes a long way in helping the designers. I hope other celebrities would take her lead.

I was one of the fortunate designers that sent sketches to the first lady’s office for consideration unfortunately; I did not meet the deadline, (my fault). However, the huge notoriety and economic benefit that come with designing the President and first lady’s inauguration outfits cannot be over emphasized.

A commentator once referred African American (black) designers as “endanger species” because they are often ignored by the main stream print and broadcast media. They rarely participate in fashion week events due to lack of sponsorships, and financial backing despite their enormous talent and creativity.

Yes, in the course of the first lady Mrs. Obama stay in the White House, she will wear outfit design by an African American (black) designer, but the core or underline issue in the “controversy” is the missed opportunity to have a gown design by an African American designer on display with other first ladies gowns in the Smithsonian of American history Museum. A first in American history!, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Like so many people, I thought the President and First lady could have worn more than one outfit (Afrocentric style maybe) to the nine inaugural balls, an opportunity to wear outfit from more than one designer. The anticipation in looking forward to what the first couple would appeared in at the next inaugural ball would have in itself created such an excitement, of high anxiety for millions of viewers around the world!

While I congratulate designers Isabel Toledo and Jason Wu, let us look forward to the 20013 inauguration.

Thony C Anyiam is a Washington DC Metro area based fashion designer / Stylist and author of a new widely popular style book: Jumping the broom in style…

Email: Thony@anyiams.com

Website: www.anyiams.com

Phone: 301-277-5789