Please dress desi, Mrs Obama! How about a sari or anarkali?
Known for her effortless style, Michelle Obama often sports creations by India-born designers like Bibhu Mohapatra. But top designers, like Manish Malhotra, say they'd love to see the US first lady wear Indian ensembles on her visit to India for Republic Day celebrations.
She is known for her effortless style and for keeping true to her design favourites. The First Lady of the United States of America, Michelle Obama, often sports creations by India-born designers like Naeem Khan and Bibhu Mohapatra, but we’re yet to see her adorn Indianwear.
Even when she visited the country in 2010, the 50-year-old did not stray from her usual sartorial picks: skirts and dresses. This time, when she is expected to accompany husband, President Barack Obama — guest of honour for India’s Republic Day celebrations — leading designers say that they want to see her finally dress desi. “Michelle Obama is one of the best dressed women in the world. She wears French couture with as much ease as she wears American red carpet designers. She’d look great in jewel colours that will compliment her beautiful complexion and toned body,” says designer Suneet Varma, adding: “I’d dress her in a coral chiffon sari with a corset blouse. She would look magnificent!”
Varma is not the only one who wants to see Mrs Obama adorn an ethnic drape. “I’d love to see her in a classic sari, while keeping the look modern — something like a sari skirt with a chiffon or georgette drape,” says designer Rina Dhaka. Ask Bollywood’s favourite designer Manish Malhotra, and he says: “My pick for the First Lady would be my chikankari sari from Mijwan (UP) with a Kashmiri border. The crafts would support workers in both the regions.”
Designer Nikhil Mehra’s choice for Michelle Obama would be a chiffon, layered anarkali, fitted at the waist. “She’d look great in a delicate colour palette. She can even wear the outfit in the US, taking the memory of India back home,” he says.
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