Last month, Oscar de la Renta, along with many others, openly criticised First Lady Michelle Obama for wearing non-American designers.

In response to Michelle Obama’s choice of an Alexander McQueen gown, worn to a state dinner with Chinese President Hu Jintao, de la Renta said: “Our industry right now is having a very difficult time. I think it would be great if the First Lady dressed in American styles. There are a lot of talented people here too.”

Since then Obama has hit back. At a press luncheon at the White House on Tuesday, she commented on the controversy: “This is my philosophy. I hope that women learn to wear what they love … like to patronize American designers, and the vast majority of the clothes that I wear are. But there are a lot of other designers that have cute stuff, too.”

“I don’t think that I’m any different from any other woman, other than the fact that people see what I wear and then they talk about it.”

We at Talent Management couldn’t agree more. Obama shouldn’t be judged for wearing labels outside of America, after all, she has played a huge role in supporting US newcomers such as Isabel Toledo and Thakoon.