First lady Michelle Obama walked out for the inauguration night’s first dance wearing a ruby-coloured chiffon and velvet gown, diamond ring by designer Kimberly McDonald, and shoes by Jimmy Choo. It was Jason Wu again. She made JWu, a little known Taiwan-born designer, famous by wearing a white dress by him to the 2009 Inaugural Ball. She has since been a devoted client.

Michelle Obama is slowly turning into a first lady the US seems to be considering to take over from Jacqueline Kennedy, the iconic first lady still held up as yardstick to incumbents.

Jackie Kennedy, wife of former president John F Kennedy, ended life as an Onassis, after marrying Greek tycoon Aristotle Onassis. A much admired figure, she became known as “Jackie O”. She died in 1994.

As the first lady walked with Obama waving at people along the route from the Capitol to the White House wearing heels some found precariously high, she wrote her own legacy.

Most TV commentators loved her look, irrespective of their politics. It was back among the talking points Monday as she set out of the White House for the first time in the morning for the traditional service at St John’s Church and it was soon a full-blown topic of discussion.