De la Renta disses first lady’s dress

Oh, it's on now. Fashion designer Oscar de la Renta was no fan of first lady Michelle Obama's state dinner dress. And he didn't keep his opinions to himself.

Obama wore a red dress from the late fashion icon Alexander McQueen. And while De la Renta didn't seem to have much of a problem with the dress itself, he did openly question the decision to go with a European designer.

De la Renta told Women's Wear Daily: "My understanding is that the visit was to promote American-Chinese trade — American products in China and Chinese products in America. Why do you wear European clothes?"

Click image to see more photos of Michelle Obama's dress

AP

De la Renta added that because of Obama's star power, she could use her name to boost the business of "young, very talented" people who need the publicity. De la Renta isn't talking about himself, he insists. "I'm old and I don't need it."

The Huffington Post explains that this isn't the first time De la Renta commented on Obama's fashion choices. In 2009, he dissed Obama for wearing a sweater to meet Queen Elizabeth. "You don't ... go to Buckingham Palace in a sweater." Apparently if you're the first lady, you do.

-- Michael Krumboltz is a Yahoo! writer.