Inauguration Dress--2009
2009 Presidential Inauguration ensemble worn by First Lady Michelle Obama; designed by Isabel Toledo (Cuban American); 2008; felted wool lace, silk radzimir, and silk netting. Crafted from guipure. Toledo recalled how this textile sparked her imagination: "Quite honestly, it all started with the fabric. The textile itself began to weave the magic that followed. I have always allowed textiles to lead the way to a new vision, and this time was no different--except the results ere staggering. This was a felted wool lace and reminded me of floating islands connected by one strong and sturdy thread. The empty spaces gave me the ability to play with the illusion of light escaping from beneath...I love lace in any form because for me, it is one of the most modern as well as ancient textiles...With that tiny lemongrass lace swatch, I had found my voice and was immediately inspired to start designing." Toledo's creation for Michelle Obama constitutes a recent example in the long tradition of employing lace on the body as a status symbol.
Inauguration Dress--2009
2009 Presidential Inauguration ensemble worn by First Lady Michelle Obama; designed by Isabel Toledo (Cuban American); 2008; felted wool lace, silk radzimir, and silk netting. Crafted from guipure. Toledo recalled how this textile sparked her imagination: "Quite honestly, it all started with the fabric. The textile itself began to weave the magic that followed. I have always allowed textiles to lead the way to a new vision, and this time was no different--except the results ere staggering. This was a felted wool lace and reminded me of floating islands connected by one strong and sturdy thread. The empty spaces gave me the ability to play with the illusion of light escaping from beneath...I love lace in any form because for me, it is one of the most modern as well as ancient textiles...With that tiny lemongrass lace swatch, I had found my voice and was immediately inspired to start designing." Toledo's creation for Michelle Obama constitutes a recent example in the long tradition of employing lace on the body as a status symbol.