The First Lady of the United States didn’t disappoint those who expected nothing less than spectacular from a woman who has already been tagged as a fashion icon. Earlier in the day, the first lady wore a navy coat and dress by designer Thom Browne, inspired by the fabric of a man's silk tie. For the evening, she looked stunning in a red floor length chiffon and velvet gown. Her shoes were designed by Jimmy Choo and Kimberly McDonald created her ring, according to a White House official. It was a big win for US designer Wu, with Michelle Obama making one of his designs, her choice for a second straight inauguration.

Although many fashion pundits and critics have scrutinized her choice for the same. They felt that she should have taken advantage of the opportunity to launch a relatively unknown designer into stardom, the same way she did with Wu back in 2009. But, that didn’t happen and I’m guessing Wu isn’t complaining either. She catapulted Wu from near anonymity into a household name when he crafted her first inaugural gown in 2009. As for the gown for the evening’s inaugural ball; it was a stately choice, with its classic first lady shade. It had a certain sophisticated sex appeal to it, which was a huge step from her more idealistic choice in 2009.

 It’s easy to see that in four years, her style has shifted from sparkling hope to grown-up pragmatism. It’s even easier to see why it matters. Her sense of style and fashion has helped liberate a generation of women from the idea that style and substance are mutually exclusive. She has been able to make us all believe that fashion is no longer the forbidden subject it once was, in politics. Obama’s choice of clothes always stands apart without a doubt. It easily offers us clues to her personality as a public woman, someone who still remains a resolutely private person. Living life in the public glare, she has managed to never lay herself bare or reveal too much about her. However, it is the choices she makes in her style and comfort that speaks volumes of her personality.  It reminds us that while style can be expressed in what you wear, it is bound up in who you are and what you believe in.

A quote by Steven Kolb, chief executive of the Council of Fashion Designers of America sums up Michelle Obama’s power as an icon “Icon’s a big word and it sometimes gets over used, but I think if we're going to use it, we can use it now," said Steven, adding, "What makes her a real icon is the work that she does and the woman that she is."