Photo: Official White House Photo by David Lienemann
Second Lady Jill Biden (pictured) reminded everyone she has spent some time in Africa recently with her style choice for the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit White House Dinner on Tuesday night.
Biden took everyone by surprise when she wore a strapless turquoise wax print dress, courtesy of the Congo.
Last month, she made several trips across the continent, including Zambia, Sierra Leone, and Congo, to speak with leaders on education, gender-based violence, and economic development with a focus on women.
While in the Congo, she visited the popular Vlisco store, where she fell in love with the bold prints and colors. Vlisco Group Director Madame Monique Gieskes wears many hats in Kinshasa: she is the sewing shop owner and actively trains local women impacted by gender-based violence “to become tailors and eventually run fashion-based businesses of their own.”
By the end of the visit, Biden had chosen the perfect dress for the upcoming White House dinner.
Biden told the Washington Post, “For me, the fabric and style of this dress embodies the beauty and strength of the women I met throughout my visit to Africa last month.”
The ladies of Vlisco were reportedly in a pinch for time in completing the Second Lady’s dress, since she was headed back to Washington the next day, but a seamstress completed the dress in time.
Gieskes told the Washington Post, “It can take three to four days usually, but we knew she was leaving the next day.”
Biden’s choice to wear the beautiful wax print dress says much more about the women behind the dress, “A woman anywhere in the world, you see – no matter the continent, no matter the color – what she chooses to wear is supporting what another woman is doing in her country,” said Gieskes.
RELATED: South Sudanese Call for Unity During U.S.-Africa Summit
Anthony Madu, the 14-year-old Nigerian dancer from Lagos who gained admission to a prestigious ballet…
Actor-host Wayne Brady recently opened up about his early financial struggles in his now thriving…
Mia Arianna, also known as @mia.ariannaa on TikTok, helped her son become an honorary team…
Alvin Gauthier, a Grand Prairie USPS postman, recently went above and beyond to brighten a…
Maj. Gen. Fatuma Gaiti Ahmed is the first female commander of the air force and…
Benjamin E. Mays High School brought together its 272 senior class members for a meeting…
Afrika Owes' emotional response to learning that she had passed the bar exam on her…
A 49-year-old New York attorney was on April 26 sentenced to 10 years in federal…
During an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show on Wednesday, pop legend Cher opened up…
Authorities in Florida said an 11-year-old boy was accidentally shot and killed by his 14-year-old…
The famous Taylor Schlitz family is making headlines once more as the youngest of the…
Sony Pictures Entertainment has appointed Tahra Grant as its Chief Communications Officer. She replaces Robert…
Meet Ashley M. Fox, the founder of Empify and the first in her family to…
Tyra Banks, the iconic former host of Dancing With the Stars, has made a delightful…
A Brazilian woman named Érika de Souza, 42, is under investigation for manslaughter after authorities…
View Comments
And she looks beautiful in it.
I LOVE the dress Vice President Biden's Wife is wearing. Beautiful.
Absolutely gorgeous!