Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Decades of glamor: Stunning inauguration dresses chosen by America's First Ladies

Donation: Helen Herron Taft, pictured right at her husband's 1909 inauguration was the
first First Lady to donate her gown to the Smithsonian Museum of American History.

Bolero: Pat Nixon opted for a short jacket and canary yellow dress combination. It was designed for the 1969 inauguration ball by Karen Stark for Harvey Berin

Asymmetrical: Nancy Reagan wore an inauguration gown... The one-shouldered white
embellished dress was designed by James Galanos. 'She knew her style very well,
and it was always simple and elegant,' Galanos told the Los Angeles Times

Possible clash: Arnold Scaasi designed this gown for Barbara Bush.
The designer had already sold three so he called his other clients to
ensure they weren't wearing it to the 1989 ball

Purple reign: Hillary Clinton, often criticized by the fashion pack, took on an
uncharacteristic glitzy style with this gown for the 1993 inauguration ball

First Lady in red: Laura Bush opted for this eye-catching
Michael Faircloth gown for her husbands 2001 inauguration ball

Michelle Obama chose a Jason Wu dress for the inauguration ball in 2009

Michelle Obama stuck to what she knows and picked another dress by Jason Wu -
a dramatic ruby-colored velvet and chiffon creation made especially for her

From Helen Taft to Hillary Clinton and Barbara Bush, Smithsonian Museum of American History exhibition shows off inauguration ball choices of First Ladies gone by - Daily Mail

First Lady wore chiffon and velvet creation by designer who also made gown for 2009 ball - Daily Mail

Michelle Obama Wears Inauguration Jewelry by L.A. Jeweler Kimberly McDonald - Hollywood Reporter

Inauguration Day through the years - CBS News (Slideshow)