Michelle Obama is once again causing a stir in the fashion world, but this time not for her toned arms. A row has erupted over how to classify the colour of a floor-length gown worn by the first lady in a meeting with the Indian prime minister last November.

The description of the dress by its designer Naeem Khan: “a sterling-silver sequin, abstract floral, nude staples gown,” was reinterpreted by the Associated Press as “flesh-coloured,” sending PC pulses racing in the media world. Questions were subsequently asked about whose flesh the dress mirrored, as with its peachy pink hue, it clearly wasn’t Mrs Obama’s.

Since the controversy, AP has revised its description of the frock, classifying it more diplomatically as “champagne” – cue great debate in the fashion world about the use of the word “nude”. And with ‘nude’ shades being a hot trend on spring/summer catwalks this year, it’s bound to cause quite a kerfuffle.

Traditionally, ‘nude’ refers to anything from off-white to gold, but it doesn’t get much more controversial in terms of this debate than InStyle Magazine announcing that “nude is the new black”. But with Michelle looking as stunning as ever in her much debated dress, perhaps it’s time that the dispute was put to bed, and the fashion world realised that black and nude really can go hand-in-hand.

Tags: Associated Press, InStyle Magazine, Michelle Obama, Naeem Khan, nude