Wu designs hold world approval

Jason Wu's Sping/Summer 2014 collection.

There are other high-profile admirers, too. At the Hugo Boss show in New York, then Oscar winners Gwyneth Paltrow and Reese Witherspoon turned up to give their support, along with actress Diane Kruger.

The influential Suzy Menkes, who writes about fashion for the New York Times, also gushes about Wu's talent. "Jason Wu is the very essence of New York fashion and the incarnation of that elusive American dream," she says.

"He has not only founded his own company but has become a beacon for a new generation of uptown designers, famously dressing Michelle Obama for both presidential inaugural celebrations."

Clearly Wu is enjoying his moment in the spotlight and looks set for a glittering, lucrative and long-lasting career. Despite all the accolades, though, he remains grounded and approachable.

"If it had happened a year before I would not have been ready," he says. "I always think it is like an actor. You have an Oscar-winning movie but after that you need to make other good movies as well. You don't want that Oscar curse where you win it and don't make a movie again. It took two years before the reviews stopped mentioning the inauguration. Now they just talk about my work.

"I am a team player and I always say that I am a creative director, not just a designer. I have to get the best out of everyone and get the best quality of work from people. You have to make it creatively enticing to look at, and also to be able to sell."