The Obama Family Dressed to Impress the Canadians at White House State Dinner
Sophie Grégoire-Trudeau in Lucian Matis, first lady Michelle Obama in custom Jason Wu, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and President Obama
Spring has sprung — at least according to the dresses worn at the state dinner in Washington, D.C., Thursday night. While Michelle Obama called on her old friend Jason Wu for a custom floral gown, her equally stylish Canadian counterpart opted for a bright magenta gown with orange appliqué. Meanwhile, their husbands chose traditional tuxedos. (Photo: AP)
Ryan Reynolds in Burberry, with Blake Lively in Ralph & Russo
Blake Lively, who famously doesn’t use a stylist, proved she definitely doesn’t need one when she showed up to the White House wearing a robe-like gown from Ralph & Russo. The silk number could easily have been mistaken for bathroom wear, but her sartorial prowess made it appropriate for the black-tie affair. The California actress accompanied her Vancouver-born husband, Ryan Reynolds, who was wearing in Burberry for the occasion. (Photo: Reuters)
Malia Obama in Naeem Khan
The 17-year-old attended her very first state dinner — and her dear old dad got really emotional about it. “When I first elected to this office, Malia was just 10 and Sasha was 7. And they grow up too fast,” the president said during his opening remarks. “Now Malia is going off to college … and I’m starting to choke up.” (Photo: Getty Images)
Sasha Obama in Naeem Khan
Sasha Obama was the picture of cool in a gown from Naeem Khan featuring sheer panels and embroidery. She made it all her own by styling her hair in a braided crown and tying a thin ribbon around her neck as a choker. Sasha — who along with her sister has grown up in the White House — received praise from Prime Minister Trudeau, the offspring of a politician as well. “Quite frankly, the memories for me of being a kid and not being old enough to attend these kinds of events with my father almost makes me wish I had gone through my teenage years as a child of a world leader — but not quite,” he joked, before adding, “I admire you very much, both of you, for your extraordinary strength and your grace, through what is a remarkable childhood and young adulthood that will give you extraordinary strength and wisdom beyond your years for the rest of your life. The one thing that you have received from your extraordinary parents is the tools to be able to handle the challenges and the opportunities in front of you.” (Photo: Getty Images)
Sandra Oh and Lev Rukhin
The “Korean Canadian Los Angeleno” actress embraced the forthcoming season for the state dinner wearing a kelly green maxi skirt and a floral top. (Photo: Getty Images)
Sara Bareilles in a red mullet skirt and black turtleneck
The singer, who performed for attendees, called Trudeau and Obama “true diplomats. Graceful. Intelligent. Articulate.” She added in an Instagram post that the leaders inspired her to write down some of her thoughts: “I hope we remember to strive for a kinder, more forgiving world. I hope we elect officials who stand up for the kind of principles that will guide us there. I hope we have the courage as a country to continue to nourish a legacy for the future generations that breaks down walls — not one that builds them.” (Photo: AP)
Mike and Kelly Myers
Mike Myers is all grown up (at least his hair is). The comedian showed off his new (old) ’do for the first time on Thursday night. (Photo: Reuters)
Michael J. Fox and his wife, Tracy Pollan
(Photo: AP)
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California and her husband, Paul
(Photo: AP)
To welcome Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, his wife Sophie Grégoire-Trudeau, and their three young children to the United States, it only makes sense that the first lady and the president would invite their coolest Canadian friends to a state dinner.
On Thursday, Michelle — dressed in a custom navy blue and floral strapless gown from Jason Wu, the designer who made her inauguration dress in 2008 — Barack, Sasha, and Malia Obama welcomed Sara Bareilles, Sandra Oh, Michael J. Fox, and more prominent people from the Great White North to the White House. Blake Lively, who wore a silk robe-like design from Ralph & Russo, accompanied her Vancouver-born husband, Ryan Reynolds (clad in Burberry), to the event. Mike Myers shocked by showing off, well, his shock white hair, and Nancy Pelosi glowed in a light-blue gown.
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