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mericans treasure the legacies of their FLOTUS, the swag abbreviation of the First Lady of the US, from Martha Washington to the incumbent Michelle Obama.

The French are proud of their chic '€œPremiere Dames'€, including Bernadette Chirac and the supermodel-cum-singer Carla Bruni Sarkozy. But Indonesians have also had their fair share of wonderful first ladies since independence in 1945.

Iriana Widodo is our latest First Lady and since last Monday she began her new era as the Ibu Negara of the world'€™s third largest democracy.

Her fashion ensemble at the inauguration ceremony, an orange, flowery kebaya kutubaru style and sogan batik cloth with a chain and a garuda (giant eagle) pattern, had fashionistas buzzing about how her outfits personified her character as a smart, dignified and no-fuss kind of woman.

Throughout our history, fashion has played an important role in our diplomacy. Although not widely acclaimed, this type of diplomacy is alive and well developed among the main actors of diplomacy and international relations. Fashion is applied as a media to voice one'€™s national identity.

A vintage photo of first president Sukarno riding a bicycle with then first lady Ibu Fatmawati comes to mind. A youthful Ibu Fat was elegantly dressed in kebaya, batik cloth and a see-through hair veil.

Though perhaps simply a regular costume of the day, her look was considered to echo Indonesia'€™s patriotic spirit in supporting the fight for independence.

However, in a wired, instant world, what'€™s the best way for the current First Lady to attain successful fashion diplomacy as well as running her programs and functions?

Fashion diplomacy and her other programs can only be well arranged and successfully executed through the concerted efforts of a team of experts '€“ not one stylist.

People say behind each great president, there is a great first lady '€“ and behind her is a great team. Naturally, next in line for Ibu Iriana is to assemble the brainiest personnel to assist her in the First Lady'€™s secretariat.

When Michelle Obama rose to prominence, several professionals were handpicked to serve in her secretariat.

The FLOTUS is headed by a chief of staff, perhaps parallel to the head of the first lady'€™s secretariat in Indonesia.

Five other directors and director-level officers include those in charge of communications, policy and projects, the White House social secretary and the press secretary.

They are tasked with designing programs for the first lady and also in ensuring their smooth organization. Be it fashion, society, education, health, gender and other areas of interest, the team must thoroughly observe such issues and provide briefings for the first lady. Therefore, these top positions are always filled with the best individuals.

The result is the triumph of American fashion diplomacy through Michelle Obama'€™s outfits in most of her engagements.

This was an achievement founded on an intensive cooperation between the FLOTUS secretariat with American designers to carefully design costumes that do not only echo her personality but also represent American values.

This is why Mrs. Obama is always enchanting in a majestic evening gown by Oscar de la Renta, just as she also looks stunning in an athletic hoodie and gym pants by Alexander Wang. At the event or shortly afterward, her press secretary generally makes public the name of the designer who made the outfit.

In line with a 2012 presidential regulation, the first lady is entitled to two assistants under the presidential secretariat '€“ a very modest comparison to the FLOTUS. From Tien Soeharto to Ani Yudhoyono, the first lady has always been equipped with a team, including a private secretary.

There is, however, no mention about a social secretary, press secretary and others.

Continuing the successful programs of former first ladies in the social, education and environment fields is always noble.

However, it is necessary to embark on a new focus that is worthy of the national and international spotlight.

A concerted focus on fashion diplomacy would add to the First Lady'€™s stance on promoting Indonesian fashion as part of our creative industries.

This would be in line with President Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo'€™s intention to replace Western-style suits for formal events with outfits of batik and other Indonesian traditional cloths.

The First Lady has now the undeniable privilege to gather not only Indonesia'€™s who'€™s who in the fashion industry but also the best scholars and historians of our wide array of traditional clothes from Sabang to Merauke.

With this arrangement and the support of related ministries and agencies as well as the private sector, Ibu Iriana would be able to not only promote but also do more to support the protection and preservation of near extinct traditional cloths, including various batik, woven ikat, songket and others.

The time is now for the First Lady to select experts who are true professionals in their fields and who are willing to go the extra mile in ensuring that her main programs reap fruitful outcomes.

Ibu Iriana once stated that she always taught her children to be modest, including in the way they dressed. However, as symbols of our beloved tanah air (homeland), modest wear should not in any way mean unplanned, ugly and shabby.

This has a lot to do with our pride and dignity as a nation.

The husband can be the President, but it is the wife that receives the attention.

If Mrs. Obama can take our breath away by showing off her favorite American designers'€™ evening gowns and sporty dresses, then let Indonesia show the world that our Ibu Negara can also look beautiful in an intricate hand-embroidered kebaya and hand-painted batik silk and cashmere sarong by Josephine Obin Komara, topped off with a matching batik bag and sandals by Novita Yunus, for example.

Let all nations gaze upon the beauty and richness of Indonesia'€™s traditional cloth and diverse culture by Ibu Iriana, who will hopefully become the leader of Indonesia'€™s fashion diplomacy.

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The writer is a diplomat studying at the School of Law at the University of Sydney. The views expressed are his own.