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The black-and-red Narciso Rodriguez dress that Michelle Obama wore in Chicago last night? A good deal of the reaction online has been negative ("just short of hideous"), although some critics have applauded the boldness of her choice and the apparent symbolism ("patriotic red bursting out of black like a firecracker out of the night sky.") At the very least, though, it should provide a nice boost for Rodriguez, who has struggled to build a business in recent years and parted ways with Liz Claiborne several weeks ago after the two sides had "creative differences." Take heart, Narciso: Maria Pinto, the Chicago-based designer who dressed Michelle for several campaign events, says she's seen retail orders increase 45 percent over the last year.