Donna Ricco is an American fashion designer who heads a company of the same name.Ricco was born and raised in Milwaukee, and studied Fine Arts at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee for three years before transferring to the fashion department of neighboring Mount Mary College.

After graduation, she and her business partner and future husband moved to New York City and launched the Donna Ricco label.In June 2008 Michelle Obama, wife of U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama wore an off the rack Donna Ricco dress while co-hosting the TV program The View.

This selection attracted attention from the non-fashion news media, garnering the designer a degree of fame (and a sudden surge in sales).Michelle Obama's off the rack Donna Ricco dress that she wore during her guest hosting gig on The View has become an instant hit. The dress costs only $149 and is selling quickly at White House/Black Market. Ricco’s own Web site hadn’t yet caught up with her sudden fame. On its home page is a model in a blue satin summer dress.

A site page labeled “As seen in” includes a Vogue cover and references to E!, “Wheel of Fortune” (including a gallery featuring Vanna White in Donna Ricco designs) and Woman’s Day... but not “The View” or the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee’s stylish wife.“A dress is a great choice for her to wear,” Ricco told Vieira. “No one else is wearing dresses in the campaign. I think it gives her kind of an edge. Women want to feel feminine; they want to look pretty. Wearing a dress, especially this one, is I think a very powerful image and it can help her stand out from the crowd.”Ricco didn’t have to add that it’s helped her stand out from the crowd, as well.