Why do we care what the first lady wears?
She is considered to be the first lady of American society.
When Caroline Lavinia Scott Harrison publicized her dress as being American-made, it bolstered her husbands America-first policy.
Design by David Vo
With her Eurocentric fashions,Jackie Kennedysignaled her plans to infuse the White House with high culture.
And when Michelle Obama wore J.Crew gloves, she communicated that she was a first lady for the people.
A look back at many of the inauguration fashions from throughout history, below.
Mary Todd Lincoln in 1861 in what is thought to be her inaugural ball gown.
She accessorized with fresh flowers, worn like a garland sash across her bodice and in her hair.
Mary, notably, frequently wore clothing by designer Elizabeth Keckleya former slaveonce she was in the White House.
For her husbands second inauguration in 1873, Julia wore a metallic ivory brocade dress trimmed with lace.
Julia Grant’s metallic ivory brocade trimmed with lace dress worn to her husband’s second inauguration in 1873.
For added modesty, she added a point-lace fichu around her shoulders, as was the fashion.
The more-is-more aesthetic falls in line with the Victorian tastes for all things decorative.
Ida Saxton McKinley
The wife of William McKinley, Idas life was woefully filled with misfortune.
Caroline Harrison’s gown made by Ghormley, Robes et Manteaux for the inaugural in 1889.
Just after Ediths first-lady tenure ended, the Smithsonian Institute began collecting gowns belonging to presidents wives.
Eventually, the museum received the skirt belonging to her second inaugural gown and fashioned a bodice after photographs.
In doing so, she set a precedent for all subsequent first ladies.
Mrs. Ida Saxton McKinley’s inaugural dress featured lace as she was an avid collector.
Shes also pictured at the inaugural ceremony parade in a suit and wide-brimmed hat.
Eleanor Roosevelt
As Americas longest-running first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt held several inauguration ceremonies and balls.
Eleanor dressed both times in ivory-colored silk satin.
Ida Saxton McKinley photographed in the dress worn to her husband’s inauguration in 1897.
Harry S. Trumans first inauguration was unplanned, taking place in 1945 soon after the death of FDR.
At one, she wore a dark-colored gown with a floral brooch and fur coat.
Their daughter, Margaret, wore a diaphanous tulle gown.
This is a semi-recreated version of the dress Edith Roosevelt wore to her husband’s inauguration in 1905.
Mamie Eisenhower
Just before Jackie wore pink, so too did Mamie Eisenhower.
It was designed by New York-based designer Nettie Rosenstein.
(Judith Leiber made her bag, and Delman made her shoes.)
William Howard and Helen Herron Taft on the drive to his inauguration in 1909.
At the ceremony, she wore a fur coat with a floral corsage.
She carried a bag featuring the letterMon one side and1957on the other.
Never had the presidency seen such style, youth, and culture in its office.
First Lady Helen Herron Taft in her white empire-waist dress in 1909.
Oleg Cassini, costume and fashion designer to the stars, became Jackies unofficial secretary of style.
For the swearing-in of JFK, Jackie wore an A-line dress and coat by Russian-born Cassini.
For the gala, Jackie had a hand in designing her gown.
Eleanor Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and James Roosevelt attend the first of FDR’s four inaugurations in 1933.
JFK had been assassinated, and the world stood still in shock.
For the swearing-in event, she wore a red wool dress and matching hat.
Pleats and a clever V-bodice added architecture to the unadorned gown, designed by John Moore.
Eleanor Roosevelt in her blue silk crepe dress by Sally Milgrim in 1933.
In her true sensible fashion, Lady Bird opted for something she felt had a timeless appeal.
She paired it with a fur stole and hat.
To the ball, it would be a mimosa silk-satin gown designed by Karen Stark for Harvey Berin.
Eleanor Roosevelt in a Sally Milgrim dress in 1937.
Her shoes by Herbert Levine were monogrammed at the right instep.
At the gala, she wore a long-sleeve turquoise gown covered in crystal details by Adele Simpson.
Pats fashions grew increasingly modest as the presidency progressed.
Eleanor Roosevelt in 1941.
Its skirt was ladylike and A-line, and the matching jacket was edged in white piping.
In some photos, shes seen accessorized with a white floral corsage.
Cited asher husbandssounding board, she sat in on her husbands cabinet meetings.
Eleanor Roosevelt in the Arnold Constable gown worn to FDR’s fourth inauguration in 1945.
Her no-nonsense approach carried over into her wardrobe.
At the inaugural ball in 1977, she wore a dress the public had already seen before.
(For the second time around, Rosalynn did refresh the look with a new coat.)
An unidentified man, Bess Truman, Perle Mesta, Harry Truman, Margaret Truman, Edgar Morris, and Arthur Bergman at the Inaugural Ball in 1949.
It was designed by Adolfo.
Once again, she wore Adolfo for the ceremony and Galanos for the ball.
For the second time around, the evening dress and jacket had a demure appeal.
Mamie Eisenhower at her husband’s inauguration in 1953.
In white and silver colors, the looks Art Deco-inspired beadwork reportedly took more than 300 hours to hand-apply.
She topped the look with a cadet blue velour, off-the-face hat by Darcy Creech.
At the inaugural ball, Hillary wore yet another Arkansas-based designer as a nod to her husbands home state.
Mamie Eisenhower posing in her inaugural ball gown in 1953.
At the swearing-in ceremony, Hillary wore his cheerful coral-colored dress and coat set in wool melton.
For the ball, she dazzled in a high-neck, long-sleeve embroidered tulle dress in ivory metallics.
Bush brought a no-fuss flair to her time in office, and the public responded to her reassuring presence.
The pink dress was embroidered with more than 2,000 rhinestones and designed by Nettie Rosenstein.
To the swearing-in ceremony, she wore an elegant winter white cashmere coat and dress.
The dress helped catapult its designer, Jason Wu, to fashion fame.
The look was finished off with a matching belt embellished with metallic paillettes.
Mamie Eisenhower in another Nettie Rosenstein gown, worn to her husband’s inauguration in 1957.
The inaugural ball gown was once again designed by Jason Wu.
Melania Trump
In 2017 Melania Trump wore a sky blue cashmere Ralph Lauren ensemble.
Dr. Jill Biden
At Joe Bidens swearing-in ceremony in 2021,Dr.
Mamie Eisenhower and Dwight D. Eisenhower on their way to view the Inaugural parade in 1957.
The coat is custom-made and embroidered with Swarovski crystals for added sheen.
Of course, the look comes with an accessory never before worn at an inaugural ceremonya face mask.
Later that Inauguration Day, Dr. Jill Biden wore a coat and dress set by Gabriela Hearst.
Jacqueline Kennedy in a suit by Oleg Cassini with John F Kennedy at his inauguration in 1961.
The message was one of unity and togetherness.
Jacqueline Kennedy accessorized the look with a fur muff.
Jacqueline Kennedy in her dress by Ethel Frankau of Bergdorf Custom Salon with Peter Lawford in 1961.
The gown worn by Jacqueline Kennedy to JFK’s inauguration in 1961.
A detail shot of the silk chiffon with a chiffon overlay.
Lady Bird Johnson in a red wool ensemble and Hubert Humphrey at Lyndon Johnson’s inauguration in 1965.
Lady Bird Johnson’s in a silk and sable-trimmed coat and dress set by John Moore worn to the inaugural ball in 1965.
Lyndon Johnson dancing with Lady Bird Johnson at his inaugural ball in 1965.
Pat Nixon models the Harvey Berin gown wore to the inaugural ball in 1969.
The dress was made from a mimosa silk satin festooned with gold and silver embellishments.
Pat Nixon in a fuschia-colored, double-breasted coat by Jay Sarnoff Custom Couture at the ceremony in 1969.
Pat Nixon wears a blue-green coat to Richard Nixon’s second inauguration in 1973.
Pat Nixon in her second inaugural ballgown, designed by Adele Simpson of New York, in 1973.
Betty Ford wore a casual jacket and dress-set to her husband’s inauguration ceremony in 1973.
Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter, in a Dominic Rompollo coat, in 1977.
Rosalynn Carter in her Mary Matise for Jimmae gown and Dominic Rompollo top coat at the inaugural balls in 1977.
Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter in 1977.
Ronald Reagan, Barbara Bush, Nancy Reagan, Jimmy Carter, and Walter Mondale at Reagan’s first inauguration in 1981.
Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan, in her James Galanos gown, in 1981.
Ronald Reagan dancing with Nancy Reagan, wearing James Galanos, in 1981.
Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan arriving at Kennedy Center Inaugural Ball in 1981.
Nancy Reagan wearing Adolfo at her husband’s second inauguration ceremony in 1985.
Nancy Reagan wearing an art deco-like James Galanos Gown to her husband’s second inauguration in 1985.
George H. W. and Barbara Bush, in Bill Blass, in 1989.
Barbara Bush next to the Arnold Scaasi dress worn to her husband’s inauguration in 1989.
George Bush and Barbara Bush, in Arnold Scaasi, at the gala in 1989.
Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, in Connie Fails, at the inaugural parade in 1993.
Hillary Clinton next to her Sarah Phillips gown.
Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, in a Sarah Phillips gown, in 1993.
Hillary Clinton wore an Arkansas-based designer to her husband’s first inaugural ball in 1993.
Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton (in Oscar de la Renta), and Chelsea Clinton at the second inauguration in 1997.
Hillary Clinton wore a coral-colored Oscar de la Renta set in 1997.
Hillary Clinton also wore Oscar de la Renta to the inaugural ball in 1997.
Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton in 1997.
President George W. Bush, Laura Bush (in Michael Faircloth), Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton in 2001.
Laura Bush wore a red gown by Texan designer Michael Faircloth to her husband’s first inaugural gala in 2001.
George W. Bush and Laura Bush, in Oscar de la Renta, in 2005.
Laura Bush also wore Oscar de la Renta to her husband’s second inaugural ball in 2005.
George W. Bush and Laura Bush in 2005.
Michelle Obama wore an Isabel Toledo dress and coat set to Barack Obama’s first inauguration in 2009.
Barack Obama and Michelle Obama in 2009.
Michelle Obama and the Jason Wu dress she wore to the first inaugural gown in 2009.
Michelle Obama surprised then young designer Jason Wu by selecting his gown in 2009.
Barack Obama and Michelle Obama in 2009.
Michelle Obama, in Thom Browne, with daughters Sasha and Malia at Barack Obama’s second inauguration in 2013.
Michelle Obama in Thom Browne in 2013.
Michelle Obama, wearing a Jason Wu dress, with Barack Obama in 2013.
Michelle Obama opted to wear Jason Wu once again to her second inaugural ball in 2013.
Melania Trump in 2017.
Melania Trump in 2017.
Dr. Jill Biden, wearing a Markarian look, and Joe Biden.
Dr. Jill Biden and Joe Biden at the inauguration in 2021.
Dr. Jill Biden, in a facemask in the same shade as her Markarian dress, and Joe Biden.
Dr. Jill Biden in her post-ceremony look: A coordinating white coat and dress set by Gabriela Hearst embroidered with federal flowers from every state and territory of the United States of America.
Each flower on this Gabriela Hearst coat (and dress) took approximately two to four hours to embroider.
Melania Trump in a navy coat and skirt set by Adam Lippes and a coordinating Eric Javits hat for her second inauguration ceremony look.
Melania Trump in a black-and-white dress by Hervé Pierre.
