Betty Ford Encapsulated the Iconic '70s Style
You probably don't need us to tell you just how much fashion trends have changed over the years. The clothes that we deem fashionable today would have been garish and outrageous back in the day, and vice versa. But when Betty Ford was living in the White House, she thrived as first lady - and everyone agreed that she encapsulated the iconic 1970s style that was so famous at the time.
Betty loved bold colors and block prints, and she paired all of her outfits with chunky belts, vibrant scarves, and other bright accessories. Of course, we also have to mention her classic '70s-style bob haircut.
Betty Chose an Unusual Color for Her Wedding Dress
When Betty Ford married her husband, many of her family and friends expected her to wear a classic white wedding gown. But Betty didn't like to follow the crowd - especially when it came to her style. So, she decided to include her "something blue" in her wedding dress and wear a sapphire wedding dress. She also paired the long satin dress with a matching blue hat and shoes to complete the outfit.
As if that wasn't enough, she also managed to include the "something old" onto her dress, too. For this, she used the lace from her grandma's old parasol to top her hat.
Rosalynn Carter Recycled Her Dress for the Inauguration
The goings-on in the country often mar the reputation of the first lady, and this was the case for Rosalynn Carter. When her husband Jimmy took over the presidency, the country was in financial turmoil, and the country was looking up to them to fix it. Because of this, the White House decided to make some changes to his inauguration. Instead of expensive tickets, they sold cheap tickets. And instead of wearing an expensive gown, Rosalynn Carter recycled her dress.
For the event, Rosalynn wore a blue dress that she had worn a few years earlier to another official event. And while it was hoped that this would go down well with fans, that wasn't the case.
Laura Bush Became Known as the First Lady in Red
Being the first lady immediately makes you the center of attention - behind the president, of course. And while Laura Bush had no problems making her way into the spotlight from 2001 until 2009, she knew that she wanted to showcase her authentic self. She proved to everyone that she was supportive, intelligent, and incredibly focused on her goals. She also proved that she absolutely loved to wear red clothing.
Yes, while Laura looked incredibly chic whatever she wore, nine times out of ten she would choose to wear something red for official events. She later became an ambassador of the Red Dress Project, which helps to raise money and awareness for heart disease.
Laura Wanted Her Clothes to Mimic Her Passions and Career
During her time in the White House, Laura Bush was able to strike an impressive balance. On the one hand, fans loved her dress sense and saw her as one of the most stylish first ladies in history. On the other hand, she used her clothes to mimic her passions and career. And alongside wearing red to support her charitable causes, Laura also made sure to repeat outfits - something not often done in the limelight.
Laura would often be photographed wearing old outfits she had worn previously, and while some critics slammed her for this, others congratulated her for thinking about fast fashion and over consumerism.
Laura's Wedding Dress Was Simple but Chic
Every style decision that Laura Bush made was quick and natural. She didn't spend too much time mulling over what other people would think, and she just opted for outfits that she thought would suit the occasion while she lived in the White House. But it seems as though this wasn't a new thing for her. The same was the case when she first met George Bush and got married a few months later.
Instead of opting for a giant, floaty wedding gown, Laura chose to wear a simple, chic wedding dress - and it wasn't even white. Her dress was tan, and suited her perfectly.
Nancy Reagan Took Her Hollywood Glamour to the White House
Before Nancy and Ronald became president and first lady of the United States, they were both famous actors. Yes, both had shmoozed with the biggest names in Hollywood, attended the glitziest parties, and walked down red carpets in their fineries. And while Nancy certainly changed her style slightly to suit her new role as first lady, she still brought the glitz and glamour of Hollywood to the straight-laced White House.
And while Nancy tended to stick to tailored suits and gold accessories, she never missed the chance to dress up in her finery and wear some of the most stylish ballgowns we've ever seen.
Nancy's Wedding Dress Was Designed to Hide Her Baby Bump
Before she became first lady and even after her time in the White House, Nancy was always praised for dressing for her body type. She knew how to accentuate her figure and make her small frame look as beautiful as could be - and this is something she used to her advantage on her wedding day, too. After all, it's been noted that Nancy was already pregnant before she married Ronald.
In an effort to hide her growing baby bump, she chose to wear a suit dress that cinched her in at the waist but offered the coverage she needed to keep their secret quiet.
Jill Biden Made a Statement in Her Bold Red Gown
Jill Biden has been in the First Lady business for a long time. And while she wasn't the official first lady back in 2009, she was the second lady to the vice president - which meant that she was still expected to attend official business. During the 2009 Midwest Inaugural Ball for President Obama, she truly blew people away with her presence, both in terms of her personality and style.
As she took to the podium, she wore an elegant red dress by Reem Acra that seemed perfectly fitting for the event. It showed she was interested in style but knew how to dress for her important role.
Melania Trump Wanted to Honor Jackie Kennedy's Fashion
As we've already learned, Jackie Kennedy was a style icon - and it seems as though Melania Trump agreed. During her time as first lady, many people compared her to the former first lady, and it's believed that she wanted to honor Jackie through her clothing choices. After all, Melania was never outlandish with her style. She kept things simple, tailored, elegant, but underplayed, just like Jackie Kennedy used to do.
In fact, Melania wore an outfit almost identical to one Jackie Kennedy previously wore for Donald Trump's inauguration in 2017. This blue tailored coat dress went down a treat with fans, too.
Mamie Eisenhower Brought the "Mamie Look" to Our Attention
With a name like Mamie Eisenhower, you probably don't need us to tell you who this former first lady was married to. And while Mamie knew that almost every eye would be on her husband when they left the White House for official business, that didn't stop her from dressing the part. After all, Mamie loved fashion and had her own unique style that she matched with her love of pink and her famous bangs.
Mamie's style became so iconic that her mixture of full-skirted dresses, pearls, hats, and (ideally pink) gloves was quickly dubbed the "Mamie Look." Even today, she's still considered one of the most fashionable women of all time.
Mamie's Inaugural Gown Made Her the Talk of the Town
What made Mamie so popular wasn't just the overall look of her outfits. While she loved designer garments, she also loved a bargain - so, many of her clothes were thrifted, bought second-hand, or recycled to save money. Of course, that doesn't mean that she didn't splash out sometimes. One of her biggest clothing purchases came in 1953 when she wore a custom Nettie Rosenstein gown for her husband's inauguration.
This hand-embroidered dress was in Mamie's favorite colour, pink, and was also covered in rhinestones to really pop in front of the crowd. As you can imagine, fans went wild for it - and it's now on display at the Smithsonian.
Pat Nixon Knew How Her Style Would Reflect Her Image
Pat and Richard Nixon were at the forefront of the political world for decades. The couple started their congressional campaign over two decades before Nixon eventually became president, and so Pat knew what it was like to be the wife of a politician. She also knew that image was everything, which is why she worked hard to not only be stylish, but also choose clothes that reflected the image they wanted to portray.
To begin with, Pat was a huge lover of color, simple silhouettes, and conservative dresses. But as the feminist movement grew while she was in the White House, she found the confidence to switch to bold pantsuits.
Jackie Kennedy Had a Timeless, All-American Style
Jackie Kennedy had a whole host of incredible traits. She was philanthropic, incredibly intelligent, patient with her husband and the ideal first lady. But more than anything, she was a style icon. From the day that she became first lady, it was clear that she had an eye for fashion - and she nailed the timeless, all-American style. Before too long, women around the world were copying her style by wearing tailored separates, pillbox hats, and oversized sunglasses.
One thing you might not realize, though, is that Jackie Kennedy was only allowed to wear the work of American designers while she served as first lady. But as she loved European fashion, she found a loophole and grew close to French-born fashion designer (and later American citizen) Oleg Cassini.
Jackie Planned Her Inauguration Gown With the Help of Her Press Secretary
Throughout her time in the White House, Jackie used this cunning intelligence to pave the way into the hearts of millions across the globe. She even became the first first lady in history to hire her own press secretary to ensure that she did everything right. And it was with the help of this press secretary that she planned all of her outfits - including her famously simple-yet-stunning inauguration gown.
For this historic event, Jackie chose to wear a chiffon Frankau gown and paired it with a matching cape. As this gown was incredibly well-received by both fans and press, her plan certainly worked.
Jackie Kennedy's Original Wedding Dress Was Ruined
Although Jackie Kennedy married JFK years before they moved into the White House, she had always been a fashion lover. In fact, she had once scored a job as an intern at Vogue Magazine! As a result, she knew that she wanted her wedding dress to be the most beautiful dress she had ever worn - and she gave designer Anne Lowe the job of bringing this dress to life.
Anne spent the next two months crafting a stunning wedding gown, which was completely ruined when her studio was flooded. In the end, Jackie had to wear a backup made in just 48 hours.
Lou Henry Became the First First Lady to Appear in Vogue
Lou Henry was a force to be reckoned with before she even became first lady. As if getting into Stanford University and dating Herbert Hoover wasn't enough, she was also the only woman at her college studying geology. She wasn't afraid to stand out from the crowd - and this was seen in her style, too. To this day, Lou is considered to be one of the most fashionable first ladies of all time.
Lou loved to shine a spotlight on up-and-coming American designers, and she regularly opted to wear cotton dresses that became the talk of the town. In fact, she became the first first lady to ever appear in Vogue Magazine.
Michelle Obama's Inauguration Outfit Turned Heads
Michelle Obama truly shined as the first lady from 2009 until 2017, and fans fell in love with her multi-faceted presence in America. And while some presidents and first ladies hide from view when their time is up, both Barack and Michelle still make their presence known - and they did just that when they attended Joe Biden's inauguration in 2021. As you can imagine, Michelle blew everyone away with her choice of outfit for the event.
For the inauguration, Michelle ditched the classic dress and opted for a burgundy jumpsuit with matching accessories from designer Hudson. Fans loved the break from tradition and thought it suited her perfectly.
Grace Coolidge Had to Make the Most of a Bad Fashion Situation
From the outside, Grace Coolidge was a stylish and popular first lady. But those close to her knew that her life was a struggle - especially when it came to her relationship with her family and the government's perception of her. Grace's mother never approved of her marriage to Calvin Coolidge, which affected her life. Alongside this, Calvin wasn't allowed a fancy inauguration, so they didn't allow Grace to make her mark with a stunning gown.
Although Grace made do with a simple-yet-elegant dress, this spurred her on to wear whatever she wanted as the years went by. And while she didn't break barriers with her clothes, she knew how to dress for herself.
Florence Harding Had a Modern Take on Fashion
Florence Harding knew what it was like to work her way to the top. She married Warren Harding at the beginning of his career when he was a struggling newspaper publisher, and she stood beside him as he worked his way up the political ladder to become president. This allowed her to see the world in a progressive way, and she became a huge figure within the post-suffrage movement. In fact, this inspired her style.
Instead of sticking with the stuffy, boring style of former first ladies, Florence decided to break the mold and add a modern touch to her clothing. And she regularly wore bright, bold gowns with beading and rhinestones.
Eleanor Roosevelt's Blue Dress Solidified Her Status as a Style Icon
It's long been said that Eleanor Roosevelt paved the way for future first ladies. She was one of the first in history to play an active role in the presidential administration, and she proudly walked by her husband's side - rather than behind him. And while it's fair to say that Eleanor wasn't someone who paid much attention to fashion, she unwittingly became a style icon anyway. Especially when it came to her official gowns.
Her most famous gown of all was worn at the 1933 inaugural ball, where she wore a blue silk dress designed by Sally Milgrim. It even had detachable sleeves for extra comfort.
Lady Bird Johnson Used Her Inauguration Gown to Inspire Hope
When JFK was assassinated, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in to take over the job. This had been an unexpected turn of events and something that took the whole country by surprise. As the country mourned their president, they were reluctant to welcome the new president with open arms - and this left First Lady Lady Bird with a big job on her hands. She needed to inspire hope.
While political change and action ultimately changed the opinions of many, there's no doubt about the fact that Lady Bird's inauguration gown had a big part to play. After all, she chose a simple but bright yellow satin gown for the event - and she oozed happiness and hope.
Helen Taft Became the First to Donate Her Gowns
Helen Taft was a first lady enigma. As she grew up in a political family, she knew what it took to thrive in the political sphere - and she also knew what she needed to do to help her husband rise to the top. And when Helen, who went by Nelie, became first lady, she knew that her appearance mattered. So, she put a huge amount of time and attention into her outfits, and she quickly became a style icon.
Famous for wearing stunning, bejewelled gowns and beautiful accessories for official business, she was elegant and sophisticated. And she even became the first first lady to donate her inaugural gowns to the Smithsonian.
Edith Bolling Stepped up to the Plate With Her Elegant Style
Edith Bolling wasn't like many of the other first ladies on this list. Instead of marrying her presidential husband before he rose to the top, she married Woodrow Wilson after he became president. This meant that she was thrown into the world of politics - something she had no interest in. Despite this, she stepped up to the plate when her husband's health declined and made an effort to make more public appearances as the years went by.
As a result, her style evolved over the years. In the later years of her husband's life, she regularly wore sleek and elegant gowns that showed off her feminine figure while still being modest.
Kamala Harris and Jill Biden Know How to Complement Each Other
Sometimes, the true style and fashion status of a first lady is enhanced when other political figures surround them. This was seen in 2021 when Jill Biden accompanied her husband and Vice President Kamala Harris to the U.S. Capitol. The two women wore complimenting looks on this occasion - with Dr Jill wearing a blue dress and coat and the VP wearing a different (and bolder) shade of blue. They complemented each other perfectly.
In fact, nobody was really looking at the President on this occasion. They were instead focusing on how fashionable the Vice President and FLOTUS looked that day.
Barbara Bush Oozed Glamour at the Inauguration
By the time George H.W Bush took over the presidency, he was 64 years old and his wife Barbara Bush was 63 years old. As a result, she already had a whole host of life experiences under her belt - and she had already figured out her personal style and the fashion that she enjoyed the most. And while she wore slightly less modern clothes compared to some of the other first ladies on this list, she still become iconic.
In fact, many claimed that Barbara was a 'glamorous grandma' - and this was proven at her husband's inauguration when she wore a blue gown designed by the prestigious Arnold Scassi.
Ida McKinley Oozed Opulence in Her Fashion Choices
During the presidency of William McKinley, fashion trends were a little different to how they are today. And while there was more of a focus on more modest clothing, First Lady Ida McKinley knew that she didn't want to be boring and modest - she wanted to stand out. As a result, she's generally regarded as one of the most stylish first ladies of all time, and this was all thanks to her upbringing.
After growing up in a wealthy family in the Midwest, Ida knew that appearances mattered. She later developed her signature style - flowy ruffled dresses with high collars and extra ruffles to match her incredible jewellery.
Elizabeth Truman's Inauguration Dress Was a Masterpiece
Elizabeth 'Bess' Truman made it known from the get-go that she wasn't a politician. She had no interest in politics but happened to be married to a politician. And so when the time came for her to step into the shoes of the first lady, she decided that she didn't want to be at the forefront of everyone's attention. Instead, she wanted to be a homemaker and step away from the public eye.
However, Bess did attend her husband's inauguration, and she wore a stunning gown for the event. It was a woven gray satin gown with a silver feather design, and it's now on show at the Smithsonian.
Frances Cleveland's Wedding Dress Was Romantic and Dainty
Frances Cleveland is famous in the realm of first ladies. To this day, she's still regarded as the youngest first lady of all time, as she was just 21 when her husband Grover became president. But while she was young in age, Frances knew how to dress like the wife of the president. She generally wore flattering and modest gowns that suited her place within the world of politics, but her wedding dress was a little different.
For her big day, Frances wore a romantic, dainty, flowing dress with a tight corsage and a large skirt. The overall look was beautiful, and one that made her the style icon she was.
Caroline Harrison Was Known for Her All-American Style
One thing you might not realize is that first ladies generally only choose to wear clothing designed by American designers - and this was the case back in 1889, too. Thankfully, Caroline Harrison didn't have a problem with this, and when her husband became president, she knew that she wanted to wear an American designer for the inaugural ball. In the end, Ghormley Robes et Manteaux created her gown for the prestigious event.
The all-American gown was also a homage to her home state, as the fabric featured a brocade oak pattern - and she even had the designer sew an actual acorn into the fabric.