You tend to be low or medium contrast, if you are tan or dark skinned. Slateblue silk crepe evening gown designed by Sally Milgrim for the 1933 inaugural ball.
The belt buckle and shoulder clips are created out of rhinestone and moonstone. A frequent traveler, Eleanor Roosevelt preferred simple outfits that could’ve been worn with various blouses and accessories.
Embroidered with a ‘leaf and flower’ design in gold thread, it featured detachable long sleeves. Understanding that busy people like to buy their clothing ready made, the first lady promoted ‘readytowear’ clothing but cautioned against buying goods made in sweatshops. Grey charmeuse satin dress trimmed with beads, grey velvet, and white net, from the House of Worth in Paris. First lady wore the dress in 1915 for a private dinner party at the White House. A welldressed woman, Edith Wilson gave careful thought to the clothes she purchased. Newspapers reported the first lady’s preference for grey dresses and simple lines. Anyway, her fashionable wardrobe included gowns from the House of Worth in Paris. Fact, it was made by Mrs.
Gold damask and cream satin gown worn in 1880 to the White House New Year’s reception and later to the February reception for diplomats and members of Congress.
She received both praise and criticism for her restrained wardrobe.
She favored modest clothing that covered her throat and arms, while following current fashion. Connelly, a New York City dressmaker. Lucy Hayes had a distinct and unfaltering personal style. Dark brown chiffon and lace flapperstyle dress trimmed with metallic thread and a light brown velvet bow. It was likely shortened to be worn by Maggie’s daughter Lillian. Usually, grace Coolidge gave the dress to her White House maid, Maggie Rogers. It is women copied her hairstyle and dresses. That said, her influence was so great that a false story claiming the first lady was abandoning dresses with bustles hastened the demise of the twentyyear fashion staple. Have you heard of something like this before? Baltimore dressmaker Lottie Barton made the light green velvet bodice. When Frances Folsom married President Grover Cleveland in a White House wedding in 1886, she became an instant fashion icon.
Besides, the floral bodice was created later from fabric taken out of the skirt. Then the original floral chine skirt and peach velvet bodice were probably made around 1895 by the House of Doucet of Paris. They have all had their wardrobes scrutinized by the American public, not all first ladies have popularized fashions. So here is a question. Why are we so interested in what they wear? Perhaps being that we look to their fashion choices for clues to their characters and personalities and maybe even the administration’s politics.
Ladies are expected to provide a dignified and attractive image as representatives of the United States.
When Lou Hoover became first lady she was already considered the ‘best dressed’ women in official lifetime and was the first lady to appear in Vogue magazine.
She always wore ‘American made’ clothes and in 1932 made a point of wearing cotton dresses, including a specially designed evening gown, to promote the cotton textile industry. Philadelphia Times called the incoming first lady a sensible exemplar for American Women. Following the president’s America economic policy, her inaugural gown and quite a bit of her wardrobe were made in the United States. Caroline Harrison was praised for her modest wardrobe. Mrs. Therefore an association with the glamorous first lady was enough to sell everything from hats to costume jewelry. Besides, the Jackie look, copies of the clothes designed for her by Oleg Cassini, sold in stores across America on mannequins that resembled her.
Kennedy wore the dress in 1961 for the administration’s first state dinner, for Tunisian president Habib Bourguiba. Topping p dressed lists, Jacqueline Kennedy was a fashion icon. Dark yellow silk evening gown with an overlay of crepe chiffon designed by Oleg Cassini. She claimed no favorite color but did popularize redish. American women liked Grace Coolidge’s clothes, more sedate versions of the 1920s flapper style. It was ‘wellpublicized’ that the first lady liked to shop and that the president also enjoyed choosing dresses and hats for his wife. Blueish satin flapper style evening gown trimmed with ‘darkblue’ sequins and gold glass beads. Grace Coolidge gave the dress to her White House maid, Maggie Rogers. Now let me tell you something. She patronized famous designers but was just as happy buying ‘mail order’ hats and readymade dresses from discount department stores. It was likely shortened to be worn by Maggie’s daughter Lillian. Mamie Eisenhower loved clothes. Women copied the first lady look and Mrs. Eisenhower’s charm bracelets, close fitting hats, and Mamie pink color preference became fashion trends. Julia Grant claimed to have no interest in leading fashion. Anyways, noted their simplicity, newspapers recorded her elegant ilettes of rich fabrics often accessorized with pearls. Basically corals.