Michelle Obama is already a fashion icon, so it was surprising that she didn’t announce her inaugural gown designer long before the event, like some other recent first ladies. But who could blame her for waiting until the very last moment in an attempt to get it right? What she wears will be dissected, debated, widely photographed and eventually enshrined in the Smithsonian Institution. ‘It is the picture image that goes around the world to represent America, said Kay King, who oversees the fashion-design program at Houston Community College. ‘Clothes always send a message. Through their choice of inaugural outfits, first ladies have often offered subtle clues about how their spouse plans to govern. In 1961, Jacqueline Kennedy’s stylish white gown reflected the youthful and vibrant spirit of the new administration. In 1977, Rosalynn Carter reflected a frugal attitude by wearing the same blue chiffon gown she had worn six years earlier when her husband was sworn in as governor of Georgia. Four years later, Nancy Reagan heralded a return to glamour, extravagance and optimism in an off-the-shoulder James Galanos gown and upswept hairdo. ‘It’s the first time you see the first lady in her […]