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Michelle Obama shimmers in dramatic red dress as she returns to designer Jason Wu for Inauguration Ball gown

First Lady wore chiffon and velvet creation by designer who also made gown for 2009 ball
The President and First Lady attend two inauguration balls at the Washington Convention Center on Monday

Mrs Obama wore tailored navy coat by Thom Brown to swearing-in ceremony earlier in the day

Michelle Obama made a daring decision to return to the same designer who created her Inaugural Ball dress four years ago - and the risk paid off.

The First Lady looked stunning in a sweeping, velvet and chiffon, ruby-colored dress by designer Jason Wu. She teamed the dramatic gown with heels by Jimmy Choo and a diamond ring by Kimberly McDonald.

She surprised the fashion establishment by returning to a Wu design which had been custom-made for her.

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First Lady in red: Michelle Obama stuck to what she knows and picked another dress by Jason Wu - a dramatic ruby-colored velvet and chiffon creation made especially for her

Radiant: The First Lady's dress compliment her toned arms as she danced with husband Barack on Monday evening

Let's stay together: President Obama and First Lady Michelle celebrate at his second inauguration ball at the Washington Convention Center on Monday night as Jennifer Hudson sang an Al Green classic

She wears it well: The custom-made dress flattered Mrs Obama's toned arms with the cross-halteneck style:

Sing along: Barack and Michelle sway along to the music as Jennifer Hudson serenaded the first couple

Four years ago at her first Inauguration Ball, Michelle shimmered in an off-white, one-shouldered floor-length couture gown by the designer.

Wu, who was 26 at the time and had only been working in fashion for three years, saw his career take off after the First Lady's surprise decision to wear one of his dresses.

He said at the time that he was unaware she had chosen the gown and had been watching at home on his couch and eating pizza when she appeared.

After her 2013 decision, Wu told 'Mrs Obama likes to keep her secrets. She fooled me again.'

Wu released a women's clothing and accessories collection at Target last year and continues to be popular with the First Lady for official engagements.

Return of the invisible sisters! Sasha and Malia appear on stage with President dad once again... as Obama pays tribute to his 'smart and beautiful daughters'

Malia, 14, and 11-year-old Sasha joined Obama on stage following Election Night victory speech after being kept out of the public eye during grueling campaign
Stark contrast to Republican opponent Mitt Romney who was surrounded by his children and grandchildren on the campaign trail

Four years ago, when Barack Obama was a presidential candidate on the verge of creating history, his young family were often seen by his side on the campaign trail.

But this time around - after four difficult years in the world's most powerful job before a watchful media - there was a noticeable absence during Obama's re-election campaign.

The President's daughters Sasha, 11, and 14-year-old Malia were rarely seen with him - in stark contrast to Republican opponent Mitt Romney, who often paraded his adult sons, their wives and grandchildren at events and rallies.

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Growing up: The President's daughters Sasha and Malia have not been seen with him during this election campaign -  in stark contrast to four years ago (pictured right) when they were often by his side. The girls, pictured left, were on stage in Chicago following their father's victory speech

Delighted: Sasha, second left, and Malia, right, looked thrilled on stage last night with their mother Michelle and victorious father

Change: The President's daughters have not only grown up from four years ago but also look more confident and self-assured in the limelight

Following his election night victory speech at Chicago's McCormick Place Convention Center, Obama was joined on stage by First Lady Michelle and his two daughters.

The 10,000-strong crowd at his Illinois campaign headquarters waved flags wildly and danced around as Obama hugged his delighted daughters. The pair looked proud as their father thanked their mother and also paid tribute to his girls.

Obama said they were ‘two smart, beautiful young women, just like their mother’. But if the girls were hoping that their father's election night success would soften him up to buy another pet, he disappointed them, adding: 'One dog is probably enough’.

The Obamas embraced Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill, along with crowds of relatives and supporters, as Bruce Springsteen's anthem We Take Care Of Our Own blared over the speakers.

Both Sasha and Malia have clearly grown from the young, shy girls of four years ago. After four years in the White House, with their dad as President, their lives are no doubt unrecognizable from how they lived before.

Success:

Millions of terrified Americans wake to life after Sandy: Homes all along the East Coast are under 'six feet' of water, torn apart by winds or smashed by trees, leaving at least 16 dead

The 1,000-mile-wide superstorm lashed towns and cities up and down the New Jersey shore

Thousands are clinging to their roofs as at least six feet of water has flooded their streets and homes

6.2million people left without power after Sandy hit the coast at 8pm last night

Estimated cost of repairs stands at $20billion, meaning this could be the most costly natural disaster in U.S. history

500 people trapped in their homes in Atlantic City after it became too late to evacuate

The town's fabled boardwalk was partially ripped up after the 80mph winds hit the New Jersey shoreline

Deaths reported in New York, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Connecticut

A woman was killed by a falling sign in Toronto as high winds closed in

Sandy is a monstrous hybrid superstorm consisting of rain, high wind and snow

Part of a nuclear power plant shut down and another put on alert

Replica 18th-century sailing ship HMS Bounty goes down off North Carolina

Critically ill patients evacuated from hospitals after backup generators fail and the power goes out

America is waking this morning to scenes of death and absolute devastation after its East Coast was hit with the full force of the biggest storm in U.S. history, leaving 16 people dead and almost 6.2million without power.

As Sandy swept away and west, millions of people will be counting the cost of this natural disaster that has wrecked homes, infrastructure and the lives of those unlucky enough to be in its relentless and violent path.

The people of Atlantic City have been badly hit, as it is mainly under water after the ferocious winds hit its shores. Dozens of people have been rescued from the roof of their properties because many areas are flooded with at least 6ft seawater.

Darkness still shrouds the true scale of damage although it is likely to run into billions of dollars, but new photos show areas like Florida, Washington DC and Annapolis in Maryland have been crushed and are crumbling after being hit by the storm's lethal force.

2,000 residents in the towns of Moonachie, Little Ferry, and Carlstadt in New Jersey were forced to climb on top of their houses after they were inundated with up to five feet of water in just 10 minutes.

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Aftermath: Resident Kim Johnson inspects the area around her apartment building which flooded and destroyed large sections of an old boardwalk

Chewed up: Atlantic City is almost unrecognisable because of the pummeling it has taken from Sandy

 

Smashed: A street sign stands near apartment buildings and destroyed large sections of the historic boardwalk

Totalled: A damaged traffic signal is seen at Pacific Avenue in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy's landfall in Atlantic City, New Jersey

It is also still unclear what has happened to 500 people who were stranded on the Atlantic City's barrier island. They were unable to escape before Sandy - dubbed the Frankenstorm - rolled in.

The storm made landfall at the coast of New Jersey at 8pm EST last night, and the estimated cost of repairs now stands at up to $20billion, making this potentially one of the most expensive natural disasters the country has ever seen.

The 1,000-mile-wide storm lashed towns and cities up and down the East Coast, with cars floating down flood-hit streets in New York City and the 911 system inundated with 10,000 calls every half an hour.

Battered and bruised: This home in Manalapan, Florida, has been ripped up and ravaged by Sandy when it passed through yesterday

Ripped out: A tree rests on Mike and Kelle Barry's home in Annapolis, Maryland as Superstorm Sandy ripped through the East Coast

Carnage: A large tree lies blown down on the National Mall near 14th street after hurricane Sandy moved through Washington DC

Toppled: Pictures from Washington DC this morning show how the wind has grabbed hold of trees and ripped them out by the trunk (above and below)

Crushed: This home on the Florida coast is surveyed by two men astonished by the scale of destruction Sandy has lef

Atlantic City's fabled boardwalk was ripped up by the 80mph winds, down slightly from the 90mph speeds at which they were traveling before hitting landfall, when Sandy was still classified as a hurricane.

Willie Glass, Atlantic City's public safety director, said: 'The city's basically flooded. Most of the city is under water.'

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie criticised Atlantic City's Mayor Lorenzo Langford for advising residents to stay put as Sandy barreled in, leaving it too late for evacuations.

Framed: With the U.S. Capitol shown in the background, a fallen tree lies along the side of

By George, what a show! Clooney and Stacy Keibler look politically polished for Obama fundraiser in LA

He's the unofficial president of Hollywood, and many believe a future politician in the making.

And George Clooney, 51, looked the part for tonight's high profile fundraiser for President Barack Obama held at the Nokia theatre in LA.

The President of Hollywood: George Clooney and Stacy Keibler arrived at tonight's Obama fundraiser at the Nokia theatre in LA with smiles on their faces

He was joined by his girlfriend Stacy Keibler, 32, who was stunning in a fitted turquoise blue dress paired with nude Louboutins, very much in the vein of a politician's wife.

The pair have laughed off a split story in recent weeks to emerge stronger than ever, and if Clooney does have any intention of running for office, he has surely found his ideal partner.

He and all american Keibler have been entertaining George's friends in the political media sphere over the summer at his getaway on the banks of Italy's Lake Como.

They certainly make a great team.

Sharing a joke: The couple walked in with Jon Bon Jovi, and all three enjoyed a laugh

She's got the look: Stacy would make an excellent First Lady, and already dresses the part

Keibler clapped heartily when Clooney appeared on stage, he was joined by Stevie Wonder, Katy Perry and Earth Wind and Fire. 

The President remarked that they all always perform 'flawlessly' before adding 'I can’t always say the same' in a reference to his disappointing debate form with Republican Mitt Romney, as the crowd roared.

Before Obama arrived at the theatre, Stevie Wonder led the crowd in chants of Barack the Vote and sang a rendition of his hit Superstition but changed part of the lyrics to Barack Obama for Four More Years.

Legend: Stevie Wonder arrives ahead of his performance tonight

Hollywood star Angelina Jolie visits Syrian refugees in Turkey as concerns grow that numbers are growing out of control

Turkey is growing increasingly concerned about Syrian refugees on its soil
Jolie said the refugees had told her they were grateful to Turkey for its help

UN special envoy Angelina Jolie with UN High Commissioner for refugees Antonio Guterres

Hollywood star Angelina Jolie met with Syrian refugees in Turkey today to draw attention to the plight of the hundreds of thousands who have fled their nation's civil war.

The trip by Jolie, who is a special envoy for the U.N. refugee agency, comes as Turkey grows increasingly concerned that the number of registered Syrian refugees on its soil - about 80,000 - is becoming difficult to manage.

Turkey has also been frustrated in attempts to persuade the international community to help set up safe havens for Syrian civilians inside Syria.

Hollywood star Angelina Jolie, left, in her role as special envoy for the U. N. refugee agency, speaks at the Syrian refugee camp in Islahiye, Turkey

Jolie and Antonio Guterres, the U.N.