Michelle Obama wears Bibhu Mohapatra outfit on India trip

American president Barack Obama arrived in New Delhi this morning to attend the country's 65th Republic Day celebrations. Accompanying him is his wife, Michelle Obama, who wore a blue and black, graphic- and poppy-print dress with a matching jacket by Bibhu Mohapatra, an Indian-American designer, who instantly instagrammed a picture after the Obamas landed in the Indian capital. Mohapatra, originally from Orissa, has dressed celebrities including Gwyneth Paltrow, Sonam Kapoor, Lea Michele, Lupita Nyong'o, Ariana Lima and Jennifer Lopez.
Known for her interesting sartorial style, Obama is also partial to designs by Naeem Khan and Rachel Roy - both prominent designers of Indian origin.
The Obamas will be in the country for three days, on what is their second trip after 2010. We didn't get to see the First Lady in a sari on that last visit, but it might happen this time around: Parvez Matin, who has been in Varanasi's weaving business for three generations, plans to give Obama 100 hand-woven silk sarees during this trip.
Varanasi is famous for the silk saris that weavers spend months making and they don't come cheap, with some pieces selling for as much as US$10,000 (Dh36,730). According to Matin, the industry is under threat from mass production units, and hope that Obama will help boost sales and draw attention to the cause of the weavers.
ajhurani@thenational.ae