Hits Parade!

(NEW YORK) For Jason Wu, la vie becomes more belle by the minute. Yesterday, Wu's website Jasonwustudio.com received a record 4 million hits in response to the press blitz created by Michelle Obama's inauguration gown, which the 26-year-old designed. Although the awestruck designer has no plans to reproduce Obama's custom dress, eager shoppers can find Wu's offerings at over 30 retail locations in the United States, including Bergdorf Goodman, one of his earliest and most ardent supporters.

"We could tell that Jason loves the ladies," said Bergdorf Goodman's Linda Fargo. "Too often young designers concern themselves with trying to deconstruct beauty and trying too hard to be considered in the avant-garde. But there's plenty of women, and I'm not embarassed to be one of them, who are happy to simply look pretty or refined. We fell in love with Jason's soft, feminine vision. Obviously, Michelle Obama did too."

Despite the media circus, Wu remains busy working on his Fall 2009 collection, which will be shown Friday, February 13 at Exit Art.  "I'm doing a significant fur collection, and the message will be all about luxury," he revealed to The Daily last week. "Fashion is also sort of escapism, and women need beautiful dresses to lose themselves in."
ASHLEY BAKER