Michelle Obama State Dinner Gown: First Lady Dons Tadashi Shoji Dress To Help Honor Japan Prime Minister

First lady Michelle Obama, 51, attended the State Dinner Tuesday night in honor of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife, Akie Abe, wearing a blue gown by Japanese-born fashion designer Tadashi Shoji. The Chicago-born wife of U.S. President Barack Obama wore the flowing dress and within minutes the designer, 67, known for elegant evening wear, began trending on social media sites Facebook and Twitter.

Michelle Obama looked STUNNING in a purple @tadashishoji gown at the White House State Dinner: http://t.co/DLG2FHTOon pic.twitter.com/S0D5YPyL99
- Lucky Magazine (@LuckyMagazine) April 29, 2015

.@MichelleObama in another #TadashiShoji look - FLOTUS wears a Fall 2015 gown to tonight's White House State Dinner. pic.twitter.com/Cwwk2yyijD
- Tadashi Shoji (@TadashiShoji) April 28, 2015

“OMG…the DRESS,” one Twitter user said of Obama’s choice of evening wear.

OMG .. the DRESS.. @MichelleObama #FLOTUS White House State Dinner 4 #Japan pic.twitter.com/42gTeqmNA0 #TadashiShoji Fall 2015 gown
- Nancy Mitchell (@NancyWonderful) April 30, 2015

Some called the first lady’s fashion choice diplomatic, since she chose to don the design of a Japanese designer to meet with the Prime Minister of Japan.

Michelle Obama made a very diplomatic choice in attire for a State Dinner: http://t.co/5zngbJL2M0 pic.twitter.com/IMDZI3iwB8
- InStyle (@InStyle) April 29, 2015

Shoji’s designs are carried in more than 700 major department and specialty stores in more than 50 countries. The designer launched his own line in 1982, and has maintained a loyal fashion following worldwide, with celebs such as Katy Perry, Helen Mirren, Octavia Spencer, Dita von Teese and Kate Beckinsale counted among his fans.

Japan Michelle Obama Twitter Barack obama