On Tuesday 20 January 2009, Barack and Michelle Obama made history.

After months of exhausting campaigning, Barack’s inauguration as president not only symbolised the fact that they had succeeded (and, in Michelle’s own words from her book Becoming, ”were good enough”): it also represented the moment that the USA, a country known for racial tension, put down its prejudice and welcomed the first ever black family to live inside the White House.

Michelle knew that whatever she chose to wear on this day would be significant. Not only because women in power are always scrutinised over their fashion choices, but because the importance of this day for black and American history meant that images of the new First Family would be captured in history and on the internet forever.

It was for this reason that the new FLOTUS – always keen to use her platform with purpose – approached Isabel Toledo, a Cuban American visionary and fashion designer, and asked her to design her outfit for the 2009 inauguration parade.

Why late fashion designer Isabel Toledo meant so much to Michelle Obama