THE reviews for Michelle Obama on her overseas debut as First Lady have been fulsome but some of the best-known names in American fashion are not among the cheerleaders. Mrs Obama has mixed her sartorial sources during her first foreign foray - switching between young foreign-born US designers such as Jason Wu and Isobel Toledo, her high street look from J Crew and new foreign names such as Azzedine Alaia (Tunisian-French) and Junya Watanabe (Japanese). But missing from the roster are the big names who have dominated the industry in the US for years. And some of them are none too happy. Leading the criticism was Oscar de la Renta, a favourite of several former first ladies. American fashion right now is struggling, he told Womens Wear Daily (WWD), the fashion industry bible. I think I understand what [Obama and her advisers] are doing, but I dont think that is the right message at this particular point. I dont object to the fact that Mrs Obama is wearing J. Crew to whatever because the diversity of America is what makes this country great. But there are a lot of great designers out there. I think its wrong to go in one direction only. And he had a biting put-down of her look to meet the Queen, observing: You dont...go to Buckingham Palace in a sweater. Vera Wang, another famous name who has yet to be used by Mrs Obama, struck a slightly wistful note. I love seeing young designers and their vision and how they grow, she told WWD. On the other hand, I wish she would consider some of us, because I think we also have contributions to make. Telegraph Donna Karan remained hopeful that her moment would come. I hope and believe that this is just a moment, she said. And I hope to be able to dress her, and not only dress her but address her, sit down - Im interested in her totality as a woman. Bridgey Foley, executive editor of WWD, a must-read in American fashion circles, added her own message to Mrs Obama. Like the auto and financial industries, fashion is in crisis, she wrote. Yet the person in the administration best positioned to support its major players - those whose collective vicissitudes play into the economy in a considerable way and whose individual swings of fortune impact the lives of countless working people up and down the supply chain and their families - is giving them the cold shoulder. And we dont mean Donna Karans. No ones asking for a big-gun bailout, Mrs O (at least not yet). But how about a shout-out? The First Lady stuck to her guns for the wardrobe showdown of the trip, however. For her meeting with her glamorous French counterpart Carla Bruni, Mrs Obama opted for a burgundy coat and dress by Thakoon Panchigul, a Thai-born designer who moved to the US when he was 11. It will come as little consolation to de la Renta et al that Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy opted for Dior - classic French. Telegraph