For the 100th White House Correspondents' Dinner in May 2014, Michelle Obama opted for a white Marchesa gown with sheer, off-the-shoulder draping. She wore long drop earrings in silver and looked every bit the glamorous first lady that guests were hoping for. The event was bookended by other events in which Michelle wore additional high-end designer outfits. the back-to-back glitziness, however, raised criticism about how much the first lady was spending on clothes.
In June 2014, just one month after the illustrious Correspondents' Dinner, various publications, including CNBC, CBS News, Tampa Bay Times, and USA Today, published articles inquiring about the first lady's clothing budget, with the Marchesa gown being a talking point. Marchesa gowns can range in price, but it wouldn't be unusual to see a price tag of $2,000 to $6,000, depending on the style.
Although the glitzy gown led many to scrutinize her spending, it should be noted that taxpayers never pay to clothe the first lady. As USA Today noted, Michelle paid for her own clothing and may have received discounts because of how well-publicized the design would be. Despite the fact that taxpayers didn't foot the bill, some felt Michelle's clothing was excessively opulent, but she was also in a difficult position. As the first lady, she was expected to look sophisticated, and that often come at a cost.
