First Ladiesã¢â‚¬â„¢ Fashion Over the Years
48 photos that show how beginning ladies' fashion has evolved over the years
- First ladies take been some of America'due south foremost political influencers and tastemakers.
- Jackie Kennedy redefined first lady style with glamorous-meets-preppy pieces.
- Michelle Obama wore sleeveless dresses, while Melania Trump gravitated towards high-end designers.
Martha Washington posed in an ensemble consisting of a gown, cloak, headpiece, and gloves, all of which were common styles in the late 18th century.
At the turn of the century, ornate, empire-waist gowns were popular for women, co-ordinate to Fashion Era.
For one portrait, Abigail Adams wore a gown that appeared to have an embroidered collar, which she accessorized with pearls.
While many people at that time took mode cues from the French and opted for satin dresses, Adams reportedly rejected the styles, as she considered them scandalous.
Martha Jefferson Randolph likewise wore the popular styles of the time, like dramatic curls and dresses with big skirts.
Jefferson Randolph served every bit interim offset lady since her female parent Martha Jefferson passed away in 1782. In the above portrait, she seemed to exist wearing a patterned gown adorned with lace and bows, a typical Victorian look.
In the 1800s, it was popular for women to manner curly pilus by wearing it in a high bun, equally seen on Dolley Madison.
Known for her ornate style, people commented that Madison dressed like a queen.
Elizabeth Monroe had a refined sense of style, favoring cap sleeve dresses and shawls fabricated out of a variety of materials.
European trends heavily influence Monroe's fashion sense, as she lived abroad in Paris, France, and London, United kingdom, for four years before her husband became president.
In the 1820s, Louisa Adams followed popular, high fashion trends like short sleeves, dark dresses, and long gloves.
Although it was considered taboo to article of clothing makeup at the time, Adams made and wore her own bootleg makeup products like confront powder and lipstick, solidifying her status as a manner icon, The Cut reported.
Victorian style was popular in the 1830s, and Emily Donelson followed the trend by wearing bonnets and intricate gowns.
As Jackson'southward wife Rachel Jackson passed away about three months before his inauguration, Donelson served as a de facto get-go lady until her death in 1836, co-ordinate to theNational First Ladies' Library. She shared the post with Jackson's girl in constabulary, Sarah Yorke Jackson from 1834 to 1836. As acting first lady, Donelson often wore off-the-shoulder gowns in dark colors.
Sarah Yorke Jackson as well had a straightforward, classic sense of style.
Jackson, who served every bit interim first lady alongside Donelson for two years according to the National Outset Ladies' Library, also preferred dresses with depression necklines and simple updos.
At 21 years quondam, Angelica Singleton Van Buren assumed the part of start lady, and she brought her French-inspired sense of fashion with her to the White House.
Angelica Singleton Van Buren, Martin Van Buren's daughter-in-constabulary, assumed the role of first lady because Van Buren's wife Hannah passed away 17 years prior. She earned her reputation equally the Jackie O of the 1800s by staying on top of the trends like tight ringlets, feathers as hair accessories, and full-bodied, off-the-shoulder gowns.
Due to disease, Anna Harrison never actually made it to the White Business firm, but the portrait beneath shows that she stayed on top of major trends like bonnets, depression buns, and dark floral dresses.
Harrison, who never lived in the White House due to her own illness and and then her husband'south untimely death, is often depicted wearing statement-making hats and dark dresses, according to the National Beginning Ladies' Library.
Letitia Tyler followed the trends of the 1840s, styling her curly hair in an updo.
In the above portrait, Tyler, who was in poor health during her time as first lady according to theNational Starting time Ladies' Library, showed off her subdued sense of style.
Victorian manner connected to exist increasingly pop in the 1840s, as seen on former beginning lady Julia Tyler.
Gowns with a Five-neck bodice, slightly off-the-shoulder sleeves, and broad skirts were specially popular formal wear during this decade.
Sarah Polk is considered one of the well-nigh stylish showtime ladies, every bit she put her own formal spin on then-current trends.
Known for her love of elegant costume-wearable, Polk favored decorative Parisian headpieces and wear made of materials like silk, velvet, and satin, the White Firm Historical Clan reported. Like Dolley Madison, Polk is remembered for dressing similar a queen while acting similar a politico, according to the WHHA.
Margaret Taylor stuck to high-collared, button-upwards dresses, which were often adorned with brooches.
Taylor was often pictured with her hair parted down the middle and styled in two high buns.
Jane Pierce's life was marked by tragedy and spent the first ii years of her tenure in deep mourning, which was reflected in her all-blackness outfits.
Jane Pierce spent the first two years of her husband'due south term in deep mourning, dressed in undecorated black clothing to pay respect to their 11-year-former son, Benjamin, who was killed in a tragic train accident weeks before Franklin Pierce's inauguration.
Harriet Lane became an overnight fashion sensation when she wore a European-manner gown with a low neckline and floral embellishment to Buchanan'south inauguration.
Lane, who served every bit first lady because her uncle James Buchanan never married, donned popular styles like large, ruffled skirts, according to Time. But, equally the National Commencement Ladies' Library notes, she deviated from the norm in other respects, pioneering trends like lacy necklines, unproblematic hairstyles, and floral accessories.
Like Lane, Mary Todd Lincoln wore European-style gowns and floral pilus accessories.
Lincoln favored assuming, argument-making dresses that price upwards to $2,000, according to Fourth dimension. Lincoln often emulated Lane'due south mode, even going and so far as to replicate Lane's garland-adorned gown for her ain inauguration in 1861, Fourth dimension reported.
Similar many first ladies in the 19th century, Eliza McCardle Johnson reportedly preferred to stay out of the spotlight, and her fashion reflected that.
According to the National Starting time Ladies' Library, Johnson reportedly express her social obligations equally offset lady and seemed to stick to dark pieces with high collars, modest hats, and simple hairstyles.
Julia Grant followed the popular trends of the 1870s, including draped dresses with total skirts, just she often pushed manner boundaries.
Grant likewise favored short-sleeved dresses with depression necklines, although her husband oftentimes urged her to wear more than "small" pieces, the National Starting time Ladies' Library reported.
Lucy Hayes favored dresses with high, lace necklines and large skirts in the belatedly 1870s and early 1880s.
The former first lady largely stuck to embroidered dresses in soft colors, as was the popular way at the time.
Lucretia Garfield notably wore a lavender gown with a high neckband to her hubby's inaugural ball in 1881, according to the National First Ladies' Library.
Although her royal clothes was a promising start, Garfield didn't accept much time to plant a distinct fashion of her own every bit get-go lady. In May of 1881, Lucretia Garfield contracted malaria and had relocated to Elberon, New Bailiwick of jersey, to recover when her husband was shot in July of that year. She spent the remainder of her time as kickoff lady tending to her husband.
Mary Arthur McElroy, Chester Arthur'due south sis and acting first lady, preferred to wearable jersey dresses with slim skirts and frilly details.
McElroy assumed the function of first lady because Chester Arthur's wife Ellen Arthur passed away earlier he took part in 1881. Equally first lady, she oft styled her hair in a simple updo, assuasive her adorned dress to take center stage, as was common do at the time, according to the University of Vermont.
Caroline Harrison gravitated toward gowns with beaded details and floral patterns in neutral colors.
Because of her modest way sense, The Philadelphia Times lauded Harrison equally "a sensible exemplar for American women," co-ordinate to the National Museum of American History.
Frances Cleveland broke barriers by wearing dresses that exposed her neck, shoulders, and arms.
Grover and Frances Cleveland became the first and only president and first lady to wed in the White Business firm when they married in 1886. She was as well the youngest first lady in history at 21 years quondam, making her an instant celebrity and style icon.
Cleveland often wore dresses that showed her shoulders. Her mode elicited the ire of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, which petitioned Frances to stop wearing dresses that they deemed too revealing. She never stopped or responded to their protests.
Edith Roosevelt likewise wore mod styles, like busy, high-waisted dresses with trim skirts and gathered sleeves.
Roosevelt reportedly despised beingness a public figure and hated having her vesture written almost then much that she tried to throw reporters off by repeatedly wearing the same outfits to public events, according to the National First Ladies' Library.
Helen Taft made history by being the first of the former start ladies to donate her inauguration dress, a white gown with an embroidered floral pattern, to the Smithsonian.
In addition to her iconic gown, Taft likewise seemed to love accessories — most notably, large, statement-making hats.
Ellen Wilson cared footling for mode and style, and she ofttimes wore plain or patterned loftier-waisted dresses.
Wilson claimed to spend less than $1,000 a year on vesture, according to the National Offset Ladies' Library.
On the other hand, Edith Wilson, Woodrow Wilson's 2nd married woman, loved way and post-obit popular, European trends.
Wilson preferred sleek black dresses with simple silhouettes, according to the National Museum of American History.
During her time in the White House, Florence Harding favored beaded dresses and eye-catching headbands, which were pop styles in the 1920s.
Harding'due south way existed where traditional hinged on modernistic. She wore seamlessly composite gimmicky details like beaded dresses and fur pieces with retro loftier-waisted skirts and frilly tops.
Grace Coolidge followed trends that were popular in the jazz historic period, like sleek shift dresses, long pearl necklaces, and feathered hats.
Coolidge also loved to wear bright colors, like red, co-ordinate to Time.
Contrasting with Coolidge's trendy fashion sense, Lou Hoover kept her aesthetic more subdued during the Bang-up Depression.
When it came to mode, Hoover kept things simple, favoring American-made dresses, putting an emphasis on cotton clothing and jewelry in 1932, according to the National Museum of American History.
Eleanor Roosevelt's wardrobe consisted of basic pieces that she could dress up or downwardly with accessories.
Roosevelt oft opted for practical tea-length skirts and suit-similar pieces (like the outfit pictured above), large hats, and, if the occasion called for it, elegant gowns.
Bess Truman followed pop trends of the time, like patterned shirtwaist dresses with tea-length skirts.
Like the first ladies of the 1800s, Truman was reluctant to accept her role as a public figure and didn't like talking to the press well-nigh her fashion choices, every bit she considered that a individual matter.
Mamie Eisenhower often wore color-coordinated ensembles that featured kitschy patterns and costume jewelry.
In add-on to being a fashion pioneer in the 1950s and 1960s, Eisenhower was also an early adopter of trends that are still popular, similar micro-bangs and millennial pinkish.
Jackie Kennedy redefined first lady fashion, favoring glamorous-meets-preppy pieces like gowns, oversized sunglasses, and patterned scarves.
By finding a way to put her own spin on everything from dresses to jeans and a T-shirt, Kennedy left a lasting legacy and an enduring mark on American mode.
Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson was the epitome of glamor and elegance, often pairing bold evening gowns with long, white gloves.
For formal events, Johnson often opted for stain gowns, which she paired with fur stoles, gloves, and delicate jewelry. But for day-to-day events, she preferred uncomplicated, colorful adjust-like ensembles.
Pat Nixon was known for pushing way boundaries, equally she wore miniskirts and pants to official events.
In addition to her then-radical outfit choices, Nixon too wore more traditional pieces like long skirts and adjust jackets, according to the National First Ladies' Library.
Betty Ford gravitated toward mod way, peculiarly high-neck tops, colorful pieces, and patterned scarves.
Before becoming get-go lady, Ford worked in fashion equally a department store model.
Rosalynn Carter preferred high necklines, subdued patterns and long sleeves, according to a 1977 Washington Postal service article.
While she was first lady, Carter didn't care much for contemporary fashion, The Washington Post reported.
Nancy Reagan had a glamorous sense of style, preferring feminine dresses, tailored suits, glitzy accessories, and white gloves.
A old extra, Reagan took style very seriously, according to the National First Ladies' Library. The one-time first lady favored suits with piping, shirtwaist dresses, and just nigh anything in a bright, distinct hue dubbed "Reagan Red."
Barbara Bush oft wore preppy outfits in cerise, white, and blue patterns.
The former first lady's sartorial signatures were red lipstick, suit jackets, large pearls, and "Bush Blue."
Hillary Rodham Clinton is known for her iconic pantsuits, which she oftentimes pairs with classic statement jewelry.
While Clinton afterward became known for her trademark pantsuits when she ran for president in 2008 and 2016, she didn't start wearing them regularly until her last twelvemonth as first lady, as they remained controversial, co-ordinate to the National Starting time Ladies' Library.
Painted past the artist Simmie Knox, the first Black portraitist to paint an official presidential portrait, Clinton wearing pants in a first lady portrait was a historic commencement.
In improver to her pantsuits, Clinton as well wore many stylish dresses during her tenure equally showtime lady.
Following in Clinton'due south footsteps, Laura Bush-league often wore tailored suits in a diversity of colors and textures, like this sparkly green ensemble.
Bush-league, who had an overall conservative fashion sense, also favored colorful evening gowns for formal occasions, co-ordinate to the National Beginning Ladies' Library.
Michelle Obama redefined showtime lady style with her beloved of sleeveless dresses, assuming patterns, argument jewelry, and sweaters.
Obama had a distinctly preppy sense of style, lending frequent comparisons to Jackie Kennedy, and became known for her sleeveless dresses.
"I wore a sleeveless aubergine dress to Barack'south address to the joint session of Congress and a sleeveless black sheath dress for my official White House photo, and suddenly my arms were making headlines," Obama wrote in her 2018 memoir "Becoming."
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