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Today β€” 16 January 2025Main stream

Photos show inaugural gowns first ladies have worn over the last 100 years

16 January 2025 at 06:54
melania trump inauguration gown
Donald Trump and Melania Trump at an inaugural ball in 2017.

Kevin Dietsch - Pool/Getty Images

  • President-elect Donald Trump will be inaugurated on January 20.
  • First ladies have worn tailored suits and glamorous designer dresses to inaugural festivities.
  • Many first ladies' inaugural gowns are displayed at the National Museum of American History.

President Joe Biden will leave office on January 20, and President-elect Donald Trump will be inaugurated for a second term.

While the inauguration is really about swearing in the next president, first ladies throughout history have stolen the show with their tailored suits and glamorous designer dresses.

First ladies traditionally donate their Inauguration Day looks to the National Museum of American History's exhibit of inaugural gowns, which dates back to 1912.

In honor of the coming inauguration, here's a look back at the stylish ensembles that first ladies have worn on Inauguration Day.

Grace Coolidge, 1925
Calvin Coolidge and Grace Coolidge at the 1925 inauguration.
Calvin Coolidge and Grace Coolidge.

AP

Grace Coolidge was all smiles in a gray dress and top hat to match President Calvin Coolidge's during his second inauguration.

Grace Coolidge was an immensely popular first lady whose friendliness balanced Calvin Coolidge's reserved nature, according to the White House.

Lou Henry Hoover, 1929
herbert hoover lou henry hoover inauguration
Herbert Hoover and Lou Henry Hoover.

AP Photo

Lou Henry Hoover wore a velvet dress with a zig-zag pattern to Herbert Hoover's inauguration.

In May 1929, she became the first first lady to appear in Vogue, Katherine A.S. Sibley wrote in "A Companion to First Ladies."

Eleanor Roosevelt, 1933
Eleanor Roosevelt in her inaugural gown.
Eleanor Roosevelt.

Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

The shade of Eleanor Roosevelt's inaugural gown became known as "Eleanor Blue" at President Franklin D. Roosevelt's first inauguration.

Eleanor Roosevelt's dress and matching wrap were made of velvet, The New York Times reported. Her gowns were designed and made entirely in the US.

Eleanor Roosevelt, 1937
Eleanor Roosevelt.
Eleanor Roosevelt.

Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

Eleanor Roosevelt chose a white Sally Milgrim design for her husband's second inauguration.

Eleanor Roosevelt, 1941
Eleanor Roosevelt in her inaugural gown in 1941.
Eleanor Roosevelt.

Edward Steichen/Conde Nast via Getty Images

She wore another ivory dress for Franklin D. Roosevelt's third inauguration in 1941.

Eleanor Roosevelt, 1945
Eleanor Roosevelt in her inauguration looks from 1945.
Eleanor Roosevelt.

Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

Eleanor Roosevelt wore a pink lace gown to her husband's historic fourth inauguration.

In 1951, the 22nd Amendment was ratified, placing limits on the number of terms a president could serve.

Bess Truman, 1945
bess truman inauguration
Harry S. Truman and Bess Truman.

AP Photo

No inaugural ball was held when President Harry S. Truman was sworn in shortly after Roosevelt's death in 1945. Bess Truman wore a matching skirt suit set with a ruffled blouse when her husband took the oath of office.

Bess Truman, 1949
truman inauguration 1949
Bess Truman, left, with members of the Truman family.

AP Photo/stf

In 1949, Bess Truman wore a fur coat to her husband's second inauguration. Later, for the inaugural balls, she wore a gray satin dress with a silver feather pattern.

Mamie Eisenhower, 1953
Mamie Eisenhower’s Inaugural Gown, 1953
Mamie Eisenhower and Dwight Eisenhower.

AP

Mamie Eisenhower wore a pale-pink de soie inaugural gown which was embroidered with over 2,000 rhinestones.

Mamie Eisenhower, 1957
Mamie Eisenhower in her inaugural gown in 1957.
Mamie Eisenhower.

Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

Mamie Eisenhower's 1957 inaugural gown, designed by Nettie Rosenstein, was embroidered with pearls, crystals, and topaz.

Jacqueline Kennedy, 1961
jackie kennedy inaugural ball 1961
Jacqueline Kennedy.

Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Jacqueline Kennedy attended the inaugural balls wearing a sleeveless off-white silk chiffon gown with a matching cape that she helped design in collaboration with Ethel Frankau of Bergdorf Custom Salon.

Lady Bird Johnson, 1963
Lyndon B. Johnson is sworn in as president aboard Air Force One.
Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson consoled Jacqueline Kennedy after Johnson was sworn in as president.

Universal History Archive/Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

After President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, his vice president, Lyndon B. Johnson, took the oath of office in a haphazard ceremony aboard Air Force One. Lady Bird Johnson wore a simple dress with a pearl necklace.

Lady Bird Johnson, 1965
Lady Bird Johnson in her yellow inaugural gown in 1965.
Lady Bird Johnson.

White House Photo/LBJ Library

When Lyndon B. Johnson was reelected in 1965, Lady Bird Johnson wore a bright-yellow gown ordered from Neiman Marcus.

Pat Nixon, 1969
Pat Nixon's inaugural gown in 1969.
Pat Nixon.

Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

Pat Nixon also wore a yellow inaugural ball gown. Hers was made of silk satin and featured Swarovski crystals.

Pat Nixon, 1973
Pat Nixon.
Pat Nixon.

Bettmann/Getty Images

Pat Nixon wore a turquoise gown designed by Adele Simpson for President Richard Nixon's second inauguration.

Betty Ford, 1974
Betty Ford and Gerald Ford on inauguration day.
Betty Ford and Gerald Ford.

Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

There were no formal inaugural festivities after Richard Nixon resigned and President Gerald Ford became president in 1974. Betty Ford wore a blue skirt suit for his swearing-in ceremony.

Rosalynn Carter, 1977
Rosalynn in a blue and gold embellished long sleeve gown and Jimmy in a black tuxedo.
Rosalynn Carter and Jimmy Carter.

Peter Bregg/AP Images

Rosalynn Carter's blue chiffon inaugural gown, designed by Mary Matise for Jimmae, was the same dress that she wore to Jimmy Carter's inauguration as governor of Georgia.

Nancy Reagan, 1981
Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan at the 1981 inauguration wearing formalwear
Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan.

Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

Nancy Reagan wore a one-shouldered lace gown over silk satin to the 1981 inaugural balls. The dress and gloves were designed by James Galanos. Her beaded shoes were from David Evins.

Nancy Reagan, 1985
ronald reagan nancy inaugural gown 1985
Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan.

Courtesy Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

Nancy Reagan wore another James Galanos gown for her husband's second inauguration. The white chiffon gown was embroidered with glass beads that reportedly took more than 300 hours to apply by hand.

Barbara Bush, 1989
george barbara bush
George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush.

AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

Barbara Bush wore a royal-blue gown with a velvet bodice to the inaugural balls. The dress' designer, Arnold Scaasi, called her "the most glamorous grandmother in the United States," according to the Smithsonian.

Hillary Clinton, 1993
Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton at the 1993 inauguration.
Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton.

Jim Bourg/Reuters

Hillary Clinton wore a violet beaded lace sheath gown with a blue velvet silk overskirt to the 1993 inaugural balls. The dress was designed by Sarah Phillips and made by New York theatrical costume designer Barbara Matera Ltd.

Hillary Clinton, 1997
Hillary Clinton's 1997 inaugural gown.
Hillary Clinton.

Wally McNamee/Corbis via Getty Images

For Bill Clinton's second inauguration, Hillary Clinton wore an ivory gown with metallic embellishments by Oscar de la Renta.

Laura Bush, 2001
bush family 2001
George W. Bush and Laura Bush with their daughters Jenna Bush and Barbara Bush.

Brooks Kraft LLC/Sygma via Getty Images

Laura Bush attended inaugural balls in a red gown by Texas designer Michael Faircloth. The dress was made of Chantilly lace embroidered with crystals over silk georgette.

Laura Bush, 2005
Laura Bush and George W. Bush at the 2005 inauguration.
Laura Bush and George W. Bush.

Jason Reed/Reuters

Laura Bush chose a silver Oscar de la Renta gown for the 2005 inaugural balls.

Michelle Obama, 2009
michelle barack obama inauguration
Michelle Obama and Barack Obama.

Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Michelle Obama wore a custom white inaugural gown by Jason Wu. The dress was made of white silk chiffon and sparkled with organza flower embellishments containing Swarovski crystal centers.

Michelle Obama, 2013
Michelle Obama at the inauguration in 2013.
Michelle Obama.

Rick Wilking/Reuters

She wore Jason Wu again in 2013, this time choosing a red cross-halter strap gown.

Melania Trump, 2017
melania trump inauguration gown
Donald Trump and Melania Trump.

Kevin Dietsch - Pool/Getty Images

Melania Trump wore an off-the-shoulder white gown with a slit accompanied by a thin burgundy ribbon to the inaugural balls. The dress was designed by HervΓ© Pierre in collaboration with Melania Trump.

Jill Biden, 2021
Jill Biden Joe Biden Inauguration night
Joe Biden and Jill Biden.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

There were no inaugural balls in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Jill Biden did change into a white dress and matching cashmere coat by Gabriela Hearst for the small evening celebrations. The coat was embroidered with flowers representing every US state and territory.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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