SUSAN DELL DESIGNS BUSH DAUGHTERS’ GALA DRESSES
Byline: Rusty Williamson
DALLAS — Texas designer Susan Dell confirmed on Wednesday that she’s designing the inaugural gala dresses for Barbara and Jenna Bush, 19-year-old twin daughters of President-elect George W. Bush.
For Jenna Bush, Dell has designed a column dress of black French stretch tulle over bias-cut black silk charmeuse. The tulle is hand-beaded with iridescent amethyst and cut black jet beads. The V-back dress has an inset trailing godet panel and is embellished with hand-dyed and beaded silk gazar rose-colored orchid petals and embroidered and beaded silk vines and leaves.
For Barbara Bush, Dell has created a V-neck Empire slip dress made of multi-layered black silk tulle and iridescent pale pink silk chiffon and edged with Fortuny-style antique Venetian glass beads.
“Both girls are very beautiful and also very different,” said Dell from her Austin design studio.
“Their dresses will look good together but each will project a distinct identity. Barbara loves fashion and has more of a laid-back personality. Jenna likes modern, refined fashions with clean lines. Both girls knew what they wanted.”
Dell completes a Texas design triumvirate outfitting the women of the future First Family.
As reported, Dallas custom designer Michael Faircloth is designing the inaugural wardrobe for future First Lady Laura Bush, and Dallas native Lela Rose, now based in New York, is designing the inauguration ceremony styles for Barbara and Jenna Bush.
Dell, who has a ready-to-wear business and custom apparel business with offices in New York and Austin, is known for her sleek and sophisticated social occasion dresses and clean-lined dresses and sportswear. She’s the wife of Dell Computer founder Michael Dell.