She’s worn his design not once, but twice, on the biggest night of her husband’s political career.
When Michelle Obama first stepped out at the Inauguration Ball in 2008, the world was floored by the white one-shouldered gown with embroidered flowers. That was the moment that catapulted Jason Wu into the limelight. Then, in 2012, at the second Inauguration Ball of President Obama’s career, she chose to wear a dress made by him again.
Michelle Obama isn’t the only name who’s on the roster of Jason Wu’s list of famous fans. Celebrities such as Dakota Johnson and Diane Kruger, as well as supermodels Lily Aldridge and Doutzen Kroes are all ardent supporters of the Taiwanese-American designer.
As part of Singapore Fashion Week, Jason Wu is bringing his signature sense of understated glamour and feminine tailoring to our sunny shores. Before his collection hits the runway, brush up on the things you never knew about him.
Images: Showbit, TPG News
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Moving from Taiwan to Canada at the young age of 9, Jason learnt how to speak English through fashion.
“I think I knew how to say ‘hi,’ and ‘apple,’ something like that,” he has said. “I needed to find something to relate to in the language and I found this stack of fashion magazines my mom had left around. I was looking at the shoots, and I wanted to read about the fashion designers. So I got a dictionary and was going back and forth, and that’s really how I learnt the language. I always loved art and design, but that’s really when I started to love fashion, too.”
Despite his fame in the fashion world, Jason still remains largely superstitious. In fact, he has admitted to keeping a lucky penny in his front pocket, no matter where he goes!
After a year of joining a toy company, Jason’s talents took him to the top creative post, when he was named Creative Director of the “Fashion Royalty” line of dolls at the mere age of 17.
When Michelle Obama appeared on television in a white embroidered gown, Jason was shocked. In fact, the designer admitted that he had no idea she had chosen his dress to wear at the Inauguration Ball back in 2008.
In interviews, Jason said he had submitted a design for consideration, but had never met the Mrs. Obama, and was just as stunned as the rest of the world when his design was broadcasted to television sets across the world.
Michelle Obama wore Jason’s design again for her husband’s second inauguration in 2012.
While the rest of the fashion world seems caught up in chasing young Instagram-starlets for major endorsement deals, Jason turned to supermodel Stephanie Seymour to front his 2013 campaign.
“Sometimes when you meet people you idolize, they don’t turn out the way you imagine they would be. Stephanie turned out to be even better. We’ve remained friends ever since,” he stated. “It’s not a 16-year-old girl buying my clothes, and I feel it is important to have women [in my campaigns] who embody what the brand is.”
As a best-selling author in Taiwan, Wu’s mother regularly gives speeches in which she encourages her attendees to chase their dreams and to never give up. The designer has gushed about his mother several times in various interviews, stating that “she really was just the best mom ever”. Awwwww!
Jason spends his time off playing video games and travelling, but the designer has admitted that his biggest weakness is having dessert.