First Lady Inaugural Ball Gowns

Continuing my review of First Lady fashion--I like to focus on the really important things in life on my blog after all. Here is a comparison of Michelle Obama's inaugural ball gown and some of the dresses other First Ladies have worn. As always we must keep in mind the fashion of the day and the age and figure of the wearers. Michelle Obama is definitely lucky to be so tall and slim because she can wear virtually anything. And since we are of an age--may I say, she's quite young compared to other First Ladies. :O) For the deets: Michelle Obama is wearing a cream-colored one-shoulder dress by Jason Wu with a fitted bodice and flared skirt.

Laura Bush's first inaugural gown is a red chantilly lace by fashion designer Michael Faircloth. It was given to the Smithsonian. Her second gown was the silver and blue tulle, Oscar de la Renta. The second gown was considered more successful than the first, but that may reflect the fact that she was slimmer in the second after going on a fitness kick.

For the 1993 Inaugural Ball, Hillary Clinton went with a violet-and-lace, crystal encrusted gown designed by Sarah Phillips. I remember the blue dress sparkled beautifully when the lights hit it as they danced. I don't particularly remember the gold lace/sequin number by Oscar de la Renta for the 1997 inaugural.

Barbara Bush wore this ugly number by Arnold Scaasi--in 1990--letting down all larger sized women by choosing an unflattering dress with no redeeming qualities. It didn't flatter her figure, the neckline was awful and the color combinations of black and royal blue only belongs on a bruise. And if you were going with black and blue, for pity's sake, go with the black on the skirt, not the top.

For the 1981 Inaugural, Nancy Reagan took a beating for "borrowing" designer fashions such as her James Galanos inaugural gown (price tag: an estimated $10,000). It was a white, one-shoulder sheath gown of lace over silk satin; fern pattern of lace accented with crystal and chalk beads and raise bugle bead stems. It was deemed too Hollywood by the hoity-toity Washington DC types. I will say, though, that hair was a huge mistake. Her second gown was much more successful, imo. She had an affection for white, I guess. The second dress was also James Galanos.

Rosalynn Carter was an original recessionista. Her blue chiffon evening gown and coat, trimmed with gold braid, by Mary Matise for Jimmae was the same dress she wore six years earlier when her husband became governor of Georgia. I gather she took some heat for recycling.

First lady Pat Nixon's mimosa yellow, double-faced silk satin gown, bejeweled with Austrian crystals, was designed by Karen Stark of the Harvey Berlin Fashion House for the 1969 Inaugural ball. I was stunned when I saw this. What a blast from my past. My mother had an outfit very like this. Yes, it's official, I am OLD.

Of course no review of First Lady fashion is complete without a nod to Jackie Kennedy.

Not a great view of this dress with the cape and all. Supposedly, this was self-designed, then, made by Bergdorf Goodman's Ethel Frankau. It's hard to know for sure with all the rumors about where her dresses really came from--Givenchy? Oleg Cassini? Who knows. She was stylish, and her clothes were really beautifully made. I know because I examined them closely when there was an exhibition of her dresses at Chicago's Field Museum back in 2005. People looked at me like I was nuts but I pressed my face to the glass to get the best look I could at the details and facings, the seams and hems, etc. I don't know how they have stored her clothes-but they are still in perfect condition--forty-eightish years later.