Lauren Tuck

Michelle Obama Wears Chinese-American Designer Vera Wang to State Dinner

Lauren Tuck

September 25, 2015 at 10:01 PM

First Lady Michelle Obama and U.S. President Barack Obama wait on the North Portico for the arrival of Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Madame Peng Liyuan ahead of a state dinner at the White House.

Peng Liyuan, Michelle Obama, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and President Barack Obama make an entrance for the State Dinner together.

Mark Zuckerberg and Dr. Priscilla Chan at the State Dinner in honor of Chinese President Xi Jinping, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor and John Koeltl at the State Dinner in honor of Chinese President Xi Jinping, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC.

Lee Daniels with his mother, Clara Daniels, at the State Dinner in honor of Chinese President Xi Jinping, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC.

American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer Misty Copeland and Olubayo Evans at the State Dinner in honor of Chinese President Xi Jinping, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC.

NBA’s Dallas Maverick owner Mark Cuban and his wife Tiffany Cuban at the State Dinner in honor of Chinese President Xi Jinping, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. Mark Cuban’s wife Tiffany wore a similar silhouette to Michelle Obama’s Vera Wang dress with a trumpet bottom on the skirt of her gown.

Singer and songwriter Ne-Yo and Harriett Loraine Burts at the State Dinner in honor of Chinese President Xi Jinping, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC.

U.S Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power and her husband Cass Sunstein at the State Dinner in honor of Chinese President Xi Jinping, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC.

First Lady Michelle Obama and U.S. President Barack Obama wait on the North Portico for the arrival of Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Madame Peng Liyuan ahead of a state dinner at the White House.

Custom made for the 51-year-old, the black dress was structured throughout the bodice before billowing out into a skirt of layered organza. Sheer shoulders added a trendy, but superfluous, detail to the piece. She accessorized the mermaid flare number simply with no bracelets and just green drop earrings. Her hair was wavy and swept to the side in a dramatic part.

Hail to the chief? How about bow down to the first lady? At the state dinner in honor of Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday night, all eyes were on Michelle Obama, who was a vision in a custom Vera Wang gown.

“It is such a privilege, as an American of Chinese heritage, to have dressed First Lady @MichelleObama for this state dinner honoring President Xi Jinping and First Lady Peng Liyuan, of the People’s Rebublic of China,” Vera Wang tweeted. Wang’s most recent collection shown at New York Fashion Week featured similar characteristics, which was mostly all black and very voluminous.

In attendance were many high-profile guests, including Empire creator Lee Daniels, who brought his chic mother as his date, Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Dr. Priscilla Chan, American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer Misty Copeland, and more. Everyone dined on Maine lobster poached in butter and served with traditional rice noodle rolls embedded with spinach, shiitake mushrooms and leeks made by guest chef Anita Lo, a former Top Chef contestant. Ne-Yo, who accessorized his tuxedo with a fedora and gold chain, performed for the distinguished — and stylish — attendees.

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Michelle Obama Wears Chinese-American Designer Vera Wang to State Dinner

First Lady Michelle Obama and U.S. President Barack Obama wait on the North Portico for the arrival of Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Madame Peng Liyuan ahead of a state dinner at the White House.