Laura Bush Among Four Ladies In Red

(CBS)  Every woman who's ever attended a formal party has had the same concern: What if someone else shows up in the same dress?

As CBS News correspondent Thalia Assurasreports, that's exactly what happened to first lady Laura Bush at Sunday's Kennedy Center Honors, always one of Washington's biggest nights for stars, and glamorous fashion.

With guests in the spotlight at the exclusive White House receptions that go with the ceremony, the designer gowns are always scrutinized.

And on Sunday, four women at the reception wore the exact same $8,500 Oscar de la Renta dress, Mrs. Bush among them.

Letitia Baldridge, Jacqueline Kennedy's chief of staff and White House social secretary, says the gown was beautiful, but oh, what a faux pas!

"They all should have congratulated one another on their good taste and the fact that they could afford the dress. … Jacqueline Kennedy, when she was first lady, made sure, and her couturiers made sure, that nobody else wore that dress that season."

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Photos: Kennedy Center Honors

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The real question, Assuras observes, is, how could this have happened?

"If you're paying (that) much for a dress," Assuras asks, "wouldn't you want to be confident you'll be the only one wearing it? Especially if you're the first lady?"

So, says Assuras, Mrs. Bush made an executive decision.

"She went upstairs and changed," Baldridge says. "Very easy for her to do. Very, the right thing to do. Take the heat off the other three women."

The first lady's office said the mid-course correction was a first, and that she and the president found it quite amusing.

Baldridge says, if she were one of those other three ladies, "I would have laughed and laughed and I would have said, 'Listen, I'm not going to stand next to her because I'm fatter than she is.' But, other than that, I think it's a hoot!"

This is an incident the White House isn't likely to forget anytime soon because, in this year's official presidential holiday photo that goes out all over the world, Mrs. Bush is wearing — that same red dress.

[godofredo29]

I blame myself.

[ihave4rugratshelp]

oh ***! I guess democrats don't dye their hair--did anyone tell Hillary that?

[leahpate1]

I think it's sad that the American Public is concerned about who wears what to events and whether or not they are matching! Come on, is that really the most important thing in America right now?!

I can understand why Mrs. Bush went and changed, but, just leave her alone. She did what she thought was best!

[craftedntx]

This really shouldn't be front page news, but I can explain the big deal. The gown was probably loaned because Mrs Bush would have to report the cost of it if it was a gift. If she wanted to keep it, she would have to buy the gift from the actual owners, the American people. There was actually a small piece in the press not too long ago about a dog that had been given to the First Couple.

The part about guests not wearing the same thing as the First Lady is because she is the hostess and it is never "appropriate" to upstage the hostess. Yes, It's kind of Emily Post but to some people these things really matter.

[observantx]

Z-Z-Z-Z-Z Z-Z-Z-Z-Z Z-Z-Z-Z...

(snort) Huh? What?

Oh.


( y a w n )


Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z

[flolake]

To be sure some of you folks have read & heard that many of the 1st Lady's gowns & formal dresses are "loaned" by the designer. Somehow I can't see Mrs. Bush paying 8,500. for a gown & I doubt G.W. would sanction it either.

It is a grand advertisement for a designer to have one of their creations worn by so visable a figure as a 1st Lady. In any event, the practice of loaning out creations (and jewlry too) is becoming more & more popular. This way the person wearing a creation gets to wear an original, give it back and not get stuck with an 8500.00 bill for material that looks as if it belongs on a sofa.

[hermit22]

I hope they lined them all up for pictures and called it the FAB FOUR!

[hermit22]

Its good to know Laura Bush isn't as bossy as Jackie Kennedy was. Read recently Jackie Kennedy blew $15,000 a month on her clothes. You could raise a family of 6 kids on $4,000 in those days.

Everybody could go to college too.

[gramto7]

thgdriver wrote:
"I hope this blunder puts la Renta out of business!

A lot of folks like our first lady quite a lot, even those that dont like the President, this will backfire on Oscar de la Renta. It's below contemp!!

Oscar de la Renta must be a Democrat to try this sort of tactic."

Is there some sort of rule that says de la Renta can only make one of each dress he designs?

[gramto7]

$8500 is more than I get in a year after taxes!!