Dinner is Served

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at a State Dinner

Barack Obama, Lee Myung-bak shaking hands as Michele Obama and Kim Yoon-ok look on (© Charles Dharapak/AP)

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama welcome South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and first lady Kim Yoon-ok to a state dinner October 13, 2011. (© Charles Dharapak/AP)

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama welcome South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and first lady Kim Yoon-ok to a state dinner October 13, 2011. (© Charles Dharapak/AP)

An asymmetrical purple dress

Symbolic choice. Michelle Obama often wore dresses by up-and-coming American designers. For the 2011 state dinner that the Obamas held for South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, she wore an asymmetrical purple gown by Korean American designer Doo-Ri Chung to honor both cultures.

Michele Obama in purple dress, walking (© Brooks Kraft LLC/Corbis/Getty Images)

First lady Michelle Obama arrives to greet the South Korean president and his wife on the North Portico of the White House October 13, 2011. (© Brooks Kraft LLC/Corbis/Getty Images)

First lady Michelle Obama arrives to greet the South Korean president and his wife on the North Portico of the White House October 13, 2011. (© Brooks Kraft LLC/Corbis/Getty Images)

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