Michelle Obama in Christian Siriano at the DNC

Michelle Obama wore a dress by the designer Christian Siriano on Monday at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. Credit Josh Haner/The New York Times

First Lady Michelle Obama looked regal last night at the Democratic National Convention in a cobalt blue, cap sleeved bespoke dress by American designer Christian Siriano.   If you’re like me, you believe that fashion is another way to tell a story and literally make a statement, and the First Lady did just that in this very elegant Democratic blue colored dress. Michelle Obama has always supported American fashion designers, especially emerging designers.  Some of you may remember that she wore Jason Wu and Isabel Toledo when they were relatively unknown.  Mr. Siriano is of course known to many for his appearance on TV’s Project Runway show, but since then he has built a successful and very accessible fashion brand.  Mr. Siriano has collaborated with Lane Bryant on specialty fashion collection and Payless shoes.   He’s also dressed six foot tall actress Leslie Jones for the “Ghostbusters” movie premiere after the actress had challenges getting a dress from other designers.

Michelle Obama in a democratic blue dress by designer Christian Siriano (phot0 via Getty images)

Writer Vanessa Friedman has a lovely article about Christian Siriano this morning in the New York Times, and Mrs. Obama’s choice of his dress for her speech at the Democratic National Convention.   As Freud might say, there are no coincidences in fashion.  Mrs. Obama choose Mr. Siriano for his uniquely American perspective and reputation for being a designer for everyone, from dressing a six foot tall actress to making a “plus-size” clothing collection.  To quote Ms. Friedman’s New York Times piece, ” Fashion is not known for its embrace of togetherness (more for its exclusion). But Mr. Siriano is.”

Unlike Ivanaka Trump,  it appears Mr. Siriano is not using the DNC opportunity to hawk his fashion line.  While Ms. Trump was quick to post her RNC look  on Twitter with a link to buy her dress, I haven’t seen any similar marketing/sales  push from Mr. Siriano.

However, my readers have asked where they can buy a  look similar to what Mrs. Obama wore from Mr. Siriano. Have a look at his dresses from the Christian Siriano for Lane Bryant collection ( there is one cap-sleeved dress) or the dresses on his website,  but there are no exact replicas of the First Lady’s dress for sale that I have seen.  The dress was as unique and classy as Mrs. Obama.