EXCLUSIVE
FIRST LADY IN RED
NEW YORK — While the President-elect was building his cabinet, Laura Bush has been constructing her wardrobe. And her first appointment as First Lady was Michael Faircloth, who was virtually unknown outside the Lone Star State a month ago and now has the hottest little atelier in Texas. Here, in a WWD exclusive, is a preview of what Laura Bush will be wearing to the Inaugural Ball, Jan. 20, as sketched by the designer. “It took less than 30 seconds for Laura to say yes when she saw the sketch of the red evening dress after looking at maybe a dozen other possibilities,” said Faircloth. “We both knew the red one was it, and she’s going to look magnificent.” He added that it will take three women 100 hours to complete the crystal-embroidered Chantilly lace dress, which she will wear with a ruby and diamond necklace and earrings from Sue Gragg Precious Jewels in Dallas. For more on fashion at the festivities, see pages 4 and 5, and a look at what some other designers would recommend on pages 6 and 7.