The First Lady’s Fashion: Hidden Symbols at the Inauguration

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When the U.S. president takes the oath of office, his wife becomes a familiar face, either from her appearance during the election campaign or from roles she has played at the White House.

The inauguration ceremony has always been an opportunity for the First Lady to make an immediate first impression, often through her clothing choices during the events of Inauguration Day.

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Some of the First Ladies’ attire carried deep symbolism and sometimes sparked controversy, as reported by the American news network “CNN.”

Caroline Harrison

In 1889, First Lady Caroline Harrison chose a fully American-made outfit for her husband Benjamin Harrison’s inauguration to support his “America First” economic platform.

Mamie Eisenhower

Mamie Eisenhower understood the power of the press and publicity. In 1953, she ignored requests from newspapers to reveal details about her inauguration dress.

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The dress, designed by Netti Rosenstein, was adorned with more than 2,000 hand-sewn rhinestones and was accompanied by matching gloves, a rhinestone-studded handbag, and a three-strand pearl necklace. The color of the dress was her signature pink.

Jacqueline Kennedy

Although Jacqueline Kennedy was not the first to realize the role of fashion as a tool of soft power, she became famous for her mastery in using this weapon.

Her most famous choice that day was a small hat, which presented a modern, chic image in light blue.

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Her looks throughout the day reinforced Jacqueline’s status as a new force in the fashion world, supporting her husband’s vision for a new era and transformation in the presidency.

Lady Bird Johnson

As First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson was the first to assume a more active role during the presidential oath, holding the Bible for her husband Lyndon Johnson in 1965, a tradition that has continued since.

The president’s first inauguration was quickly and somberly conducted aboard Air Force One in the hours following John F. Kennedy’s assassination. However, Lady Bird stood out in a stunning red dress amidst a sea of black suits.

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Her bright yellow satin dress and embellished coat that night became one of the most memorable inauguration looks.

Rosalynn Carter

Today, many celebrities are praised for re-wearing outfits at various events, but Rosalynn Carter was one of the first to adopt this trend.

She recycled the gold-embellished dress designed by Mary Matthews for her husband’s 1977 inauguration, a dress she had worn before at his Georgia gubernatorial inauguration.

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While this innovative approach was a meaningful sign of Carter’s accomplishments, Rosalynn’s decision faced heavy criticism from the press and the fashion world. She was visionary but did not receive recognition at the time for promoting sustainability.

Nancy Reagan

In 1981, Nancy Reagan tried to avoid Rosalynn Carter’s controversy by opting for an extravagant white off-the-shoulder dress, decorated with beads and lace, worn at her inauguration.

Nancy exuded dignity and luxury, but could not escape criticism from the press, this time for her lavish taste, while her one-shoulder glamorous dress marked a shift in haute couture fashion.

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Earlier in the day, Nancy wore red, a color closely associated with her during her husband’s two terms, which she also wore at her second inauguration four years later.

Michelle Obama

During her two terms as First Lady, Michelle Obama consistently worked to elevate emerging American designers, choosing local talents whose values deeply aligned with hers, starting with Jason Wu, who designed her one-shoulder white dress adorned with flowers and crystals for the 2009 inauguration.

What drew attention that day were her modest green gloves from J.Crew, which many interpreted as an early symbol of her popular approach to politics.

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