Designer A-Z

Jason Wu

Autumn/Winter 2010

SHOW SCHEDULES

By Carrie Gorman

After Michelle Obama wore a Jason Wu gown to her inaugural ball, it threw the young designer in to a bit of a quandry.

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Overjoyed at the endorsement, publicity and subsequent sales it brought, but quite possibly pigeon-holed in the public's opinion forever more as the guy who does prom dresses. Specifically long, white assymetric numbers...

For Autumn Winter, Wu took his chance to shake up perceptions and move his reputation forward. With a "big menswear message" as inspiration, he explored oversize coats, plaid jackets and slouchy woollen trousers, all with Irvine Penn's style in mind.

There were still plenty of First Lady looks but on closer inpection, these were not as quaint as they seemed. The polka dot print was actually an enlarged photograph of a cigarette-burn. The paint-splatter effect was PVC embossed over fabric - a bit racy for the White House.

The move in to everyday separates was successful but his finale gowns - especially the tulle and feathered dress and the strapless silk numbers - were what everyone was really there for.